Contracts Aren't Created For The Lovers Who Care, Only The Exes Who Scheme

Day 246 - 252 of The Andie Chronicles

GG, Andie and Sophia

Day 246

For some reason, when Sherry hires a private jet, I don't seem to object. It's probably the way she goes about doing it.

She doesn't hold her money and her power over me. Sherry welcomes me without an expectation I do something for her or kiss her ass. She makes me feel like what she has is mine, too. 

The hypocrisy is not lost on me. It shouldn’t make sense. Yet, she wasn’t my ex trying to push me into directions I didn’t want to go. And she isn’t manipulating my friends behind my back. It had nothing to do with men versus women.

Or the haves and have-nots. It had everything to do with feeling like a person amongst people who could easily put me in my societal place.  

Sherry was waiting on the tarmac by the plane when Cooper and I approached the plane. I smiled as I saw her from a distance, leaning into Cooper to compliment her.

“I can't believe she standing there waiting for us. I assumed she would be inside drinking champagne and tapping her toes, wondering where we were.”

“Oh no, not Sherry. She grew up with absolutely nothing. She made her wealth during a time when women weren't meant to become successful. Here’s what you need to know about her: she’s polite because she knows she has to be. But also, because she wants to be.”

He paused and squeezed my hand. “That's why, in my opinion, she's the best.”

As Sherry and I embraced, I thought about what I was doing. Sneaking away on a private jet. Fooling my ex into thinking that I was doing this to help his business. And lying to my best friend about how I was getting to this location. 

I felt as deceptive as the people around me who had been tricking me for months. Yet, I didn't plan on keeping any of this a secret. As soon as I knew how we could get our business back away from the tyrant Douglas Gallo, I would let them in on my plans. 

I would tell them exactly what's been happening the moment I could. Unless they gave me a reason not to, I mused. 

The flight to Brisbane was only a couple of hours. But I wished it lasted longer so I could keep picking Sherry’s business brain. It wasn't her first professional adventure into retail. She had many successful stores, and even one department store, to her name.

And the retail business that surrounded her wrestling endeavours was her most lucrative of the lot. I never realised that ‘Ring Wear’ was her brand until we got on the plane. 

At that moment, I was lamenting to myself, knowing I should have done more research about Sherry. Yet, she seemed to enjoy my naïveté. "Most people seem to gush about my achievements. You have this more refreshing attitude about them.”

“I like people telling their own story. What you read on the internet, what you learn about someone based on other people’s perceptions, that's not real life.”

What I couldn't say was, ‘I was sick of living in someone else's life’ and ‘I hated the way other people spoke about me like I was needed in the conversation about my own story’.

“I want to help you make Highway a viable business that is run by you. I obviously want to invest and be your primary investor. I want to put you in offices in Melbourne where you can design and be in charge of what happens within the business. But I need to know your biggest hesitations before I put an offer on the table.”

She was frank and to the point, laying out her cards, zero poker face. Another thing to admire, Sherry, I contemplated. No secrets. No going behind my back. No making me feel like I didn't belong. 

I did have a reservation, though. A big one that had been following me around for a long time now.

“I don't know how I'm going to get out of this contract my friends had signed me up to with Douglas Gallo. And not just Douglas; his brother and other investors, too.”

I patted the side of my tote bag, which I had resting on the seat beside me. “I brought it with me. The contract. I've read it over and over again, and I don't understand the implications. Can you help me figure that part out?”

“Of course I can. And even if we don't go ahead with this deal, at least you know what's going to be in that contract. I can't watch another good woman get walked over.”

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Day 247