t the language used clearly expresses, and the contract must be construed to mean what on its face it purports to mean.' " Barefoot, at 43, quoting Hartford Acc. & Indem. Co. v. Hood (1946), 226 N.C. 706, 710, 40 S.E.2d 198 (internal citations omitted). [P33] According to section 5a. of the August 2001 agree