All On Contract

Chapter 114 - Not Fair

"Nathan should learn to keep his mouth shut." I state and look away from her again.

"Oh come on, Marshall." She tuts. "You can't just push downs your feelings." She says.

"I don't wanna talk about this." I mumble.

"I don't care." She says. "You're going to talk about it." She adds.

"Tess-" I start but stop talking when she makes her way towards me and sits down on my lap.

"I hate seeing you like this." Tessa says as I lean back into my chair and look away from her. "You never come out of the studio. You stop eating and sleeping. You stop talking to me and everyone around you." I stay quiet and listen to her talk. "Marshall. Talk to me." She tuts when I don't say anything.

"I have a deadline to meet." I state as I start to get up but she pushes me back down.

"I'm not letting go of you." She tells me as she wraps her arms around me.

"Tess, i'm working." I sigh.

"No. You're blocking us all out and locking yourself in your studio." She mumbles as she places her head on my shoulder. "I'm not letting go of you until you talk." She says as she plays with the chain around my neck.

"Then you're going to be here a very long time." I mumble and feel her shrug against me which makes me let out a long sigh. "She wants to see Iris." I finally speak after a couple of seconds, making Tessa lift her head up slightly. "My mom. She wants to meet Iris." I state.

"That's a good thing...Right?" Tessa says slowly.

"I don't want her within ten feet of Iris." I state. "And Kim...She doesn't like the fact that we adopted Iris." I tell her.

"Well...Just ignore her." Tessa shrugs.

Yeah, if only it was that easy.

"She threatened me with the kids." I add, making Tessa sigh.

"I hate that woman." Tessa mumbles.

"Well you're not the only one." I mumble and place my hand on her lower back as I kiss her shoulder, making her smile lightly. "There I talked. I need to work." I tell her.

"No can do." She shakes her head.

"Tess. You need to leave me alone." I sigh.

"No." She says and sits up. "Just...Take a break." She adds.

"I need to work." I state as I sit up.

"I don't care." She mumbles and pushes me back down. "Just relax a little....Take a break and forget about Kim and your mom." She adds.

"I don't have the time-" I start but get cut off.

"Relax, Marshall." She tuts. I don't say anything and let her unzip my jacket before she helps me takes it off and dumps it on the floor. I lean back into my chair with Tessa against me before she places her hands on my shoulder and starts to massage me, making me let out a small sigh. "Just relax." She adds as she places a kiss on my cheek before she places her face between my shoulder and neck and carries on massaging me.