A/N: This was kinda a boring chapter in my opinion, I dont even remember what its purpose was, I wrote it so long ago.
Chapter Five:
Logan sat in his kitchen, staring blankly at the automatic coffee machine as it slowly dripped fragrant liquid into the pot below. He'd gotten maybe three hours of sleep the night before, spending countless hours staring at the ceiling above his bed, contemplating the events of the night before.
Maybe it was just an after effect of complete shock, maybe it was just complete denial, but it still hadn't phased him that by tomorrow afternoon, he and Max would be married. Yesterday afternoon, good friends, tomorrow, husband and wife.
He didn't know when Max's hypothetical questions had stopped being hypothetical, but they had stood at opposite ends of the room, far away as humanly possible, negotiating their marriage as if it was some high stakes business merger. It all came down to that for twelve months, Max would be one Mrs. Logan Cale, and Logan would be in his own private hell.
He knew perfectly well that he felt more for Max than he would if they were 'only friends' as they both had always claimed to be. He also knew he was a little more than halfway in love with her, but he would never make the first move, not wanting to risk the close friendship that they had, even if it was a frustrating and unresolved one. But all his good intentions were sent UPS straight to hell, as getting married, whether it be in name only or not, it was a surefire way to ruin the friendship that he'd worked so hard to preserve.
It was simple really, a very uncomplicated plan. Max was moving into the guestroom that morning, tonight they'd go to his uncle's house, as he was the executer of Logan's parents will, and announce their engagement. Tomorrow morning, they'd be married by a contact of Logan's, one of the few judges left in the city who wasn't corrupt. Twelve months later, they'd be quickly and quietly divorced.
"Real simple." Logan muttered, wondering how such a 'simple' plan had so many consequences. He finally snapped out of his thoughts to notice the coffee had long since finished brewing. He poured coffee into its mug and walked into his office, sitting heavily in his chair, rocking back to stare at the painting above the computers.
It was demeaning, really, to see the startled horror on Max's face when she had read the document on his parents will. Sure, it hadn't been exactly the best news in the world to Logan either, but the way she had practically run out of the room, it had hurt, even though he knew it shouldn't have. Jumping out of the window had been only slightly more effective.
So he and Max had negotiated, both of them understanding the unspoken agreements that were best left unsaid.
Max demands that she be able to do whatever she wants when she wants to, Logan having no say in her life. Yet another insult to add to the growing list. He was doing all this for her; he was gaining absolutely nothing from this plan. He was helping her save her sister, and she was making demands.
So Max wanted a business like marriage? Logan thought as he picked up the phone. So be it. Logan pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes as he hit one of the numbers he kept on speed dial.
Chapter Five:
Logan sat in his kitchen, staring blankly at the automatic coffee machine as it slowly dripped fragrant liquid into the pot below. He'd gotten maybe three hours of sleep the night before, spending countless hours staring at the ceiling above his bed, contemplating the events of the night before.
Maybe it was just an after effect of complete shock, maybe it was just complete denial, but it still hadn't phased him that by tomorrow afternoon, he and Max would be married. Yesterday afternoon, good friends, tomorrow, husband and wife.
He didn't know when Max's hypothetical questions had stopped being hypothetical, but they had stood at opposite ends of the room, far away as humanly possible, negotiating their marriage as if it was some high stakes business merger. It all came down to that for twelve months, Max would be one Mrs. Logan Cale, and Logan would be in his own private hell.
He knew perfectly well that he felt more for Max than he would if they were 'only friends' as they both had always claimed to be. He also knew he was a little more than halfway in love with her, but he would never make the first move, not wanting to risk the close friendship that they had, even if it was a frustrating and unresolved one. But all his good intentions were sent UPS straight to hell, as getting married, whether it be in name only or not, it was a surefire way to ruin the friendship that he'd worked so hard to preserve.
It was simple really, a very uncomplicated plan. Max was moving into the guestroom that morning, tonight they'd go to his uncle's house, as he was the executer of Logan's parents will, and announce their engagement. Tomorrow morning, they'd be married by a contact of Logan's, one of the few judges left in the city who wasn't corrupt. Twelve months later, they'd be quickly and quietly divorced.
"Real simple." Logan muttered, wondering how such a 'simple' plan had so many consequences. He finally snapped out of his thoughts to notice the coffee had long since finished brewing. He poured coffee into its mug and walked into his office, sitting heavily in his chair, rocking back to stare at the painting above the computers.
It was demeaning, really, to see the startled horror on Max's face when she had read the document on his parents will. Sure, it hadn't been exactly the best news in the world to Logan either, but the way she had practically run out of the room, it had hurt, even though he knew it shouldn't have. Jumping out of the window had been only slightly more effective.
So he and Max had negotiated, both of them understanding the unspoken agreements that were best left unsaid.
Max demands that she be able to do whatever she wants when she wants to, Logan having no say in her life. Yet another insult to add to the growing list. He was doing all this for her; he was gaining absolutely nothing from this plan. He was helping her save her sister, and she was making demands.
So Max wanted a business like marriage? Logan thought as he picked up the phone. So be it. Logan pulled off his glasses and rubbed his eyes as he hit one of the numbers he kept on speed dial.