STUCK 2

Chapter 40

They sat in front of each other. 

Tara's dwarfness in front of the man highlighted due to the favour of difference in chair heights. The great distance between them employed by the giant table, adoring piles of files only increased her hesitance. 

She looked awkwardly up to Enzo and attempted a smile who did not return the gesture, vividly aware of Don's presence and very much in love with his life. 

Don went through the papers, reading way faster than Tara had imagined. He must be used to reading official papers, Tara thought, forcing herself to think that Don would be pleased to find the contents as much as she was.

By the time he reached the last page, only ten minutes had passed. She ghastly realised that the word-to-word document had taken her seven days to draft with the help of her fast typing assistant (Enzo). Her efforts were now reduced to ten minutes of reading. Somewhere, unnecessarily, it hurt her. 

Originally, she did not think she needed anyone's help. She had no doubt that amongst everyone in the Frantino mansion, no one had a match to her typing speed which currently raced at one fifty words per minute. But soon she came face to face with the fact that she had no device, nor would she ever have access to a computer as stated by the strict instructions of her husband. She knew it was only fair that he took precaution after her rough adventure three and half years ago, but it now meant that someone else had to type the content. 

When he turned the last page of thirty one pages of report, he swung it swiftly on the table in an uncaring manner, finally giving her a glance. His face showed no glimpse of emotion and she understood that it was not a good sign.

"Leave" he ordered, staring her down. 

Her eyes widened, having not had expected an outburst such as that but when Enzo started to leave, she realised his secretary understood her husband more than her. 

"He should stay" she spoke innocently, suddenly afraid of being left alone, looking at Enzo's leaving figure as he did not stop moving for a second. 

Donavan was pleased to see that Enzo did not respond to Tara's request, finally grasping who did he take orders from. 

When he left, there was silence. He looked at her sternly, unable to understand how her brain worked. Although he had memorised the so-called contract that he had an urge to push down the dust bin, he wanted her to explain it. 

"What is this?" his eyes pointed at the compilation lying on his desk, and back to her, questioning. 

She wondered whether her attempt at organizing their relationship was so stupid for him to react in such manner. 

"It's a contract of peace" she muttered, looking at the front page of the contract, suddenly unsure of it. 

"And what purpose do you think it will serve?" There was hardness in his voice that she did not like. 

"Don't pretend as if you don't know how I feel about you. I've been running from you my entire life. I didn't want you even before I knew who you were", Donavan felt hurt at her words but continued to listen without showing it, "And I don't feel the same way now. I don't want to take Ina away from you, I don't think that'll be fair to her, or you. There's a possibility that I...like you and would be yours forever"

"Then why do we need a fucking contract?" he didn't see her point.

"It will ensure you a guarantee that I won't run away, and me a promise that you won't do something to hurt my daughter" 

She didn't want the repeat telecast of her life, occurring with her daughter. No matter how deep in love she thought she was, she could not afford to forget who he was, and what had he done, and what could he do.