"Yes, Phoenix, I'm sure," Alex confirmed exhaling a huge breath before continuing. "Remember that girl your brother always had a crush on but never confirmed who it was?"
I had no idea where Alex was going with this but muttered 'yes' anyway.
"I think Talla Knight was that girl."
How was it that even though Nathan has been dead for four years, I still learn news things about him every so often? We grew up in the same house. We shared the same teachers and basically shared the same friends. And yet he still found ways to surprise me.
"Sorry Nix. I probably shouldn't have brought that up." Alex mumbled and I could sense his embarrassment. "You wanna meet up tomorrow? There's a new rooftop bar opening, it's been hyped up for the last couple of weeks..."
"Sure what's it called? I've heard that there's a couple opening around the same time." I needed a drink or two after this experience anyway.
"It's called The Roof- ironically enough." Alex laughed and sent me the details before the phone went dead.
I shoved my phone back into my pocket, picked up the same pen that Talla had a mere half and hour ago and signed my name on the dotted line beside hers.
It was only two years... what could go wrong? And if Nathan had a crush on Talla, then she must have been someone special, right?
---
As I exited the staircase that led up to the office, my father and mother cornered me in between an overly large potted plant and the wall.
"So did you sign it?" My mother gushed, clearly anxious that something went wrong in the office while I was alone. Perhaps she thought that I was going to rebel like Nathan would have... or would he considering Talla was his crush?
"Yes Mum. I signed it." I put on my best fake smile, and straightened the cuff of my white button up shirt. "Looks like I'm engaged now. Where's my congratulations?" I purposely made sure that the tone I used had a sense of playfulness it it, and that it matched the, most likely, cocky smile on my face.
My Mum squeal and tightly clung onto my Dad's bicep. He didn't flinch nor did he look impressed at my decision. I'm unsure if it was because I began arguing with Mr. Knight right after a marriage proposal was brought up, or if it was because he simply didn't give two shits about me and wanted this for the company.
"Phoenix, darling, did you sign it too?" Phoebe Knight cooed from the entrance of the dining room, which was situated a mere five meters away from the staircase leading up to the office.
I liked Phoebe Knight more than I enjoyed her husband's presence, maybe because she constantly wore a caring expression on her face that reminded me a little of my own mother back when Nathan and I were little kids.
Growing up Mum used to help Nathan and I with homework every evening after work, before she went for a shower or went to a late night business meeting. She always wore a smile on her face, even when she was beyond exhausted. And Sundays... those where her special days. Sunday was when the family's cooks got sent home and Mum would take over all the baking and cooking. Her favourite thing to make was a Sunday roast, healthy raspberry or blueberry muffins and an double (sometimes triple- depending on how bad her own week of work was) cookies. All that stopped after Nathan died.
"Phoenix? You alright darl?" Mrs. Knight chimed in again. I must have zoned out and been staring. "You got really pale. Do you need something to eat? I can get dessert to come out early if you want."
"Uh... no thanks Mrs. Knight-"
"Please call me Phoebe." She cut off, her soft smile lighting up her face again.
"Sorry Phoebe. I think I'll head home actually. Signing the contract has left me a bit emotionally and mentally drained." I sighed, rubbing my temple.
"Oh sure thing darling. Talla went home too-I cannot imagine the stress you both underwent during that ordeal." The soft smile returned again.
"Can I ask a favour?" I questioned, right as Phoebe was turning her back to following my parents into the dining room.
"Sure thing, Phoenix." She responded, striding towards me a little, probably for privacy reasons.
"Can I please have Talla's phone number? I'd like to get in contact with her sometime so we can discuss the contract's details. Like when I need her to work for me and that kind of stuff." I clarified and I saw that the fine lines on her face became a little harsher.
"Sure thing Phoenix, give me your phone I'll put it in for you." I did as she asked. "And Phoenix" she tisked as I made for the heavy front door.
"Yes, Mrs. Knight?" I called over my shoulder.
"Please be careful with what you say to Talla..." A pause. "She's had a rough life in the past couple of years. She's not the person she once was and I don't think she'll ever be that person again."
---
"Nix! Good to see you bro! Feels like it's been forever." Alexander chimed, when I exited the elevator and stepped foot into The Roof.
I smiled, and made my way over to the bar, where Alexander had already made himself comfortable, a Margarita resting next to his left forearm.
"Only you, my friend, would be drinking this early in the morning." I laughed, to which Alexander shrugged and joined in laughing seconds later.
"There is no textbook definition of when is a suitable to time drink. And technically I'm not a day-drinker. The requirements for that it to start as soon as you wake up and to do it everyday."
"Alexander... I hate to break it to you. But that's called being an alcoholic. Day-drinking is just when you're a casual drinker, but your doing while the sun is still up." I retorted, ordering myself an Espresso Martini.
The conversation died off a little after that and we both sat there and drank our drinks silently. That's what I liked about Alexander, he seemed to understand when I wanted to talk about my problems and when I didn't. And today, was one of those days were I wasn't in the mood for talking, for I was still wrapping around my head what occurred last night at the Knight residence.
"So... did you end up signing the marriage contract?" Alex asked after two rounds of cocktails were finished and a third was on its way.
I silently nodded my head yes, and reached for my new glass of Espresso Martini, wanting to drown out last nights memories. I could feel the alcohol slowly beginning to affect my system. I was never much of a drinker, to the point where even the lightest of alcohol could affect me in the most bizarre ways.
At Alexander's 21st birthday, I had a total of two glasses of wine and one can of Canadian Club and I was off my face.
"I have her number. Should I call her and ask to schedule a meeting with her? To sort this crazy shit out?" I spat out.
"Is the alcohol affecting your brain already? I thought when you first sat down, that you said you wanted to forget about last night?" I think that mixologist was a little heavy handed with the alcohol because Alex was slurring his words- and he was a decent drinker.
"Yeah but... I feel like we're on the same page. I have this feeling she didn't sign the contract for her family- or her Dad a least. I think she signed it for herself."
The bartender glanced at Alex and I, then at his watch. It was only midday.
"And why do you say that?"
"Because I only signed it because she signed it. And she didn't seem to know me, Mum or Dad giving me an idea that she wouldn't have known Nathan."
"So..." The slurring was getting thicker and his volume was getting louder. "You originally think that she signed it because she liked Nathan? Dude you have to let your brother go- I'd hate to be the one to tell you this again but he's gone and he's not coming back."
"No. No. No. I didn't sign it at all because of Nathan and his mystery crush on this girl. I did it because she looked, I dunno, depressed. Like she needed this- or the money. I mean, I read the fine print and Talla and I both get a pretty impressive amount." I could feel myself getting defensive, and I knew it was nothing to get myself worked up over.
Alexander didn't get drunk often, but when he did, he tended to become one of those people that just doesn't process information the same.
"Excuse me." The bartender cleared his throat. "I've called a taxi for the both of you. I think it's best you leave- you're getting rowdy and it's disturbing our other guests."
Grumbling Alex polished off the rest of his drink and threw a couple of extra dollars as tips on the bar top. Unlike my best friend, I gave the mixologist a large tip and thanked him before following Alex down to the lobby where a yellow taxi was already waiting.
"At least they give good service here." Alex grinned and clambered into the car, demanding to be taken back to my house, where he suspected we'll continue on into the night.
---
Hey everyone. I have a feeling updates won't be coming as frequently after this but I'll try to update once every fortnight. I still have three days left of my school break, so I'll try to write a chapter then.
If you liked the story please comment, vote, add to your reading lists and share it with friends.
Have a lovely morning/afternoon/evening/night and stay tuned for the next chapter.
-ThorandSparky