《The Marriage Contract》Chapter 6: The Lawyer
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A/N: dedicated to @Stargazer_8, thank you for following the story.
his chapter is mainly of Drake's POV (that is why I titled it as such). He may not be the male protagonist but his view is a great contribution for us to understand our hero of the story.
To all of you who spare their time to look into my work/story, thank you very much.
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It has been a daily happening in Drake's life eversince he became a lawyer that he will be called by his client(s) because of a certain problem.
More often than not, they will call him to come over or to have a private meeting especially if it concerns legalities or legal issues, both personal and business related, he is a lawyer after all. Some are so demanding that they want him to drop anything he is currently doing and be on his way towards them. So when Drake received the call from Lucas and said that there was a situation in his office, he thought at first that it is purely business-related, since they are still currently working on the contract for one of his acquired company. It is also one of the reason why he decided to drop by the office later that afternoon - he needs to discuss with him some stipulations on the draft contract he is finalizing. But since he was called upon by his client, not to mention his bestfriend as well, he instructed his secretary to cancell all his appointment that day and that he will be at the 35th floor of the building. Yes, his law firm is situated at The Harrison building. He knows that it will not take up much time going there and coming back, but he have this feeling that something is not quite right, his instincts are on full alert - like there is an impending doom, so better to cancel everything and to focus on with the problem that he know he will face together with Lucas.
His instincts are always right most of the time, and with the terse way on Lucas voice during the call, he is thinking of some worse case scenario both related to business and personal. Some of the reasons are the following: that one of the company he wants to acquire was suddenly bought by another competitor, or maybe a previous owner of a company he bought wants to take it back again - meaning to reacquire the business that he already lost and it will take so much time with all the necessary papers and reviewing the legalities of such. Another is that, the problem maybe purely personal, that someone is claiming 'again' that he - meaning Lucas, fathered a certain child, it is not impossible not because of his friend's wayward behavior according to many, but the fact that this will not be the first time. It did happened before, not once or twice but five times already. It happened so many times that it threathens Lucas' sanity. So for Lucas' peace of mind and his as well, he decided to make a special document which is legally bound if such situation arises again. That if the woman is lying about the claim, Lucas has a right to file a legal lawsuit for the pretense. They know it take so much time and resources to get the truth, but they both risk it in order for them to acquire necessary evidence to counter the falsehood of the said claim.
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His resolved that the problem is a personal one is strengthen when he went up not ten minutes later and Ms. Sophie told him that Lucas has a lady visitor. So he came up with another idea - maybe, the visitor is one of his old flame that cannot let go of the fact that Lucas moved on from her. A too personal problem, he knows, but sometimes Lucas will call him to be a mediator when something like that will come up - and it do come up most of the times. His friend has a very short temper especially with women who are still pursuing him even after he ended their 'relationship' of sort. What with his bestfriend's fleeting relationship with women, he was even tagged by a gossip magazine to be a 'man who changes his woman more often than changing his underwear', such a cliché, but they both know that although it is just a metaphor, it is in a way true.
So he prepared himself before he entered the door to be the mediator that he knows he can be when the situation arises. He met Lucas first, gave a brotherly hug and then turned his attention to the lady to be introduced. All the problems he thought in his head all vanished when he heard the name of the woman - it rings a bell - and he eventually froze when Lucas finished the introduction. The lady has the same name as the fake wife Lucas conjured up months ago. He got one thing right though, the problem is personal.
This is the very first time he was rendered speechless, him being a lawyer and all, must be quick-witted. It is a must, especially during a trial, he must always have a comeback to anything that was thrown at him.
He barely noticed when Lucas ushered and sat him in one of the settee. A glass of cold water was directed to his lips and he instinctively drank and swallowed the content without a break for air.
'This is such a dilemma.' He thought after he took his fill of the water. 'This will be a big problem.' He added to himself.
He was already hesitant at the very beginning of the plan, voicing his doubts to Lucas. He very well know that what they did will have a repercussion of some sort. He already thought of different scenarios and the counteractions that they must do, such as: Lucas' family finding out that he married and demanded to meet the lady that is his wife - so they must hire someone to pretend to be the wife like Lucas thought before; or that there will be a slip of the tongue somewhere along the filing and registering, and that someone who acquired the knowledge will come wagging his or her tongue to the reporters or worse, to paparazzis in exchange of money, this can be easily managed by paying that person for his silence or giving a light threat if the former failed; or that he will eventually meet and fall in love with a woman and decides to settle down. This situation will then sprout another problem, wherein the woman whom Lucas chose to marry will suddenly come to know that her fiancé is already tied to another female - although a non-existent one will be enough reason for them not to be married legally. Another thing is that once happen will be mainly his problem, for if Lucas suddenly decides to be married for real, they need to nullify the previous record, which concerns him the most. For how can he process a separation of a couple if the wife only exists in their imagination?
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All of these problems he concocted on his mind were nothing by a long shot compared to the real predicament that they are in now. 'Such a mess, really...' Never in all this months since he decided to comply with Lucas' idea he thought that something like this will happen - that a real person will appear with the same name as of the wife that Lucas thought to put in that fake marriage contract.
When he was able to gather himself, his gaze turned to the woman sitting calmly on the sofa. He was amazed to find that the lady is quite beautiful, she is someone that Lucas will be into, someone he will pursue if they met under different circumstances. She maybe Lucas' type, but she is not the bimbo type which mostly his past flames are.
He turned his eyes to his friend only to find him staring at the lady like a besotted fool, which was a first, given how long their friendship is, this is the first time that he saw his friend became smitten. Although he appeared to be calm and collected masked by a poker-face, there are some subtle hints like a slight upward tipping of his lips, which you will only notice if you have known him for a long time. 'The fool had it already and is not realizing it yet.' he thought to himself. He will have a day with him when the time comes. His gaze returned to the lady present. She's unaware of the attention Lucas is giving her, it is as if he is not even there, also a first. He is used to all the women fawning over his friend, this lady is either insensitive, someone who swings the other way or is simply unaffected of the charming male species in the room - including himself. He may not be as handsome as Lucas but he is not that behind when it comes to looks. He do understand that many females prefer his friend than him, but this revelation is astonishing - someone is immune to the looks and charm of his friend. This calls for a celebration but with the problem at hand, he will do it some other time.
He cleared his throat first before addressing the lady. "Hello, I'm sorry about what happened a while ago, it never happened before."
"I know and I do understand and believe that this is the first time it happened. It is not everyday that you and your friend will come up with something this big and somebody will just pop out of nowhere claiming to be the wife. Unless, you will do this habitually." She said with a playful glint on her green eyes.
"No, of course not!" Lucas exclaimed, coming out of the stupor he is from gazing stupidly at the lady, he smiled to himself, it took so much effort for it not to show on his face.
"Okay Ms. Sullivan -" he was interrupted before he can finish his sentence.
"Please, call me Claire, Ms. Sullivan is so formal, and if it is okay with you, can I call you Drake, or do you prefer to be addressed with Atty. that befits your profession?" The lady asked him demurely.
"It is okay with me if you will call me by my name, I don't mind at all." At his response, Claire beamed at him.
Her smile disturbed him, not because he felt some connection but how Lucas scowled and glared at him, it is subtle, but he had known him for a long time that is why he detected it. He smirked at himself, the fool is already feeling jealous - another thing to add to torture his friend.
He again cleared his throat before proceeding. "Okay Claire, I want to know how you found out about you being my friend's wife?" He asked leaning back in his chair, in his lawyer mode and tone.
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I am loving Drake now, lol! Do you?
At first I made this chapter with only the first part alloted for Drake's POV, but I find it lacking and incomplete after I finished the chapter. So after much thought and deliberation, I decided to expound it and make it as Drake's own chapter. I hope it did not confused you at all. I just want to have another person's POV to better understand the story.
I am thinking of doing Drake's very own story in the future, what do you think?
Please comment your insights or send me a message if you are too shy to do so. You know that I do appreciate it.
Do not forget to vote as well if you are loving this.
Thank you for reading!
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