She leaned against his shoulder, crying even harder.
Giles looked at me and spoke slowly.
"Fine. One million."
A cold smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
He was just like all my exes before him, trying to squeeze money out of me.
I kept my expression neutral.
"Deal."
I took out a pen and paper and wrote an IOU.
Ivy Gilbert hereby owes Giles Weiss one million dollars, to be repaid within one month.
Lissa took the IOU, glanced at it, and tucked it away carefully.
She smiled at me. There was a hint of triumph in that smile.
I smiled back.
Four more days.
After four days, we'd see who had the last laugh.
On the final day, I'd already packed my bags.
Two hours left until the one-year pact expired.
Over those four days, I'd listened to Giles and Lissa in the master bedroom every night. I'd watched them cuddle on the couch. I'd endured Giles's constant jabs.
"Number Twelve, go take out the trash."
"Number Twelve, get out of the bathroom. Lissa needs to shower."
"Number Twelve, the food you made is too salty. Lissa can't eat this."
Number Twelve.
He didn't call me by my name. He called me "Number Twelve."
I endured it.
That morning, Giles got a phone call.
"Really? That's amazing!"
He was shaking with excitement.
"Gilbert Group wants to produce my album! And they're getting a famous songwriter to write the songs!"
Lissa was just as thrilled.
"Giles, you're going to be a star!"
I sat in the spare bedroom listening, a small smile curving my lips.
A Gilbert Group album?
A famous songwriter?
I'd arranged that a month ago.
Back then, I still thought Giles was someone worth investing in. I wanted to give him a hand up.
Looking back now, the irony was rich.
Giles's voice drifted in from outside the door.
"The second it hits midnight, I'm going public with our relationship."
I shook my head in my room.
Did he seriously not read his contract?
There was a clause in that signing agreement.
During the contract period, the artist shall not publicly disclose personal relationship status without authorization. Any violation will be treated as breach of contract...
And the consequences of a breach?
Ha.
Just thinking about it was entertaining.
One hour left. I called the family chauffeur.
"Come pick me up after midnight."
Giles was leaning against the doorframe. He raised an eyebrow.
"Found your next meal ticket already?"
I smiled.
"We've broken up. Why are you still so interested in my business?"
He scoffed.
"Number Twelve, don't flatter yourself."
"And remember, don't go dropping my name out there. I'm about to blow up. Don't try riding my coattails."
I smiled and said nothing.
Midnight arrived in the blink of an eye. I sent my father a message.
Dad, the one-year pact is up.
He sent back a thumbs-up emoji.
Good girl. Tomorrow I'll announce that you're the successor to the Gilbert Group.
I let out a long breath, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I truly smiled.
I checked the location the chauffeur had sent me. Ten minutes out.
I carried my luggage to the living room. Most of it was headed for the dumpster, honestly, but I wasn't about to leave anything behind for Giles and Lissa to ruin.
Then a notification popped up on my phone. An alert from someone I followed.
Giles had actually done it. Right on the dot, he'd gone public.
@Lissa Perry, here's to the rest of our lives together.
Lissa replied almost instantly.
@Giles Weiss, here's to the rest of our lives.
The comments section flooded with friends of theirs.
"Oh my God, it's official! Are you two getting married?"
"Giles is finally marrying his dream girl! Congrats, man!"
Giles and Lissa exchanged a blissful look, then leaned in and kissed each other right in front of me.
Three seconds later, his phone rang.
I glanced at the name flashing on the screen.
There it was.
The death knell. It had finally arrived.
