Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

Chapter 4

Half an hour later, she was back in an SUV with Oscar, waiting for Kylan to make his appearance. Every two weeks, she had dinner with Keith, Kylan's uncle. He was an angel investor for Ross Corp, and the only thing he asked in return, was to have dinner with Kylan. Keith was someone that Kylan could tolerate slightly more than others, much like Ryan and herself. Sometimes, he asked her to go to dinner too, and other times he let her go home instead. She wasn't surprised he would want her involved today, with the extra prevalent Kylan finally made his way into the back seat of the car. He sat next to her, with only the middle seat in between them. She gave him a small smile, and he nodded his head at her.

shadow hanging over his head.

"Did you-" he began.

She knew what he was going to ask. "Your dry cleaning was picked up and taken home," she told him calmly.

"And what about-" he added.

"Your suit for the gala this weekend? Pressed and tailored. It's at your home, too," she said with the same calm tone.

Kylan nodded at her slowly, eyeing her carefully. "Right. Good work," he said curtly.

It was the closest her boss ever came to saying thank you, and she smiled at him again in response.

Twenty minutes later, Oscar was dropping Katrina and Kylan off at the latest upscale restaurant Keith chose. Kylan had the decency to hold the car door open for her, and she nodded at him in thanks as she climbed out.

Keith was already waiting inside when they walked in, and the two of them made their way over to him, Kylan on her heels. She sat down across from Keith, with Kylan on her right.

"Ahh, my dear Kate. You're still working for this grumpy little shit?" Keith asked her, lifting his glass of a far too expensive Cabernet Sauvignon, and taking a long drink from it. She laughed and nodded. "I am."

Kylan scoffed and lifted the glass of whiskey Keith had already ordered for him. "I wanted it neat, old man," he complained about the ice in his cup.

"I'll take that one if you don't want it. I'll order you a new one," she offered her boss.

Kylan eyed her curiously before he handed her his whiskey. Katrina drank it easily, wincing as the fiery liquid skirted down her throat.

Dinner went as it always did, with Keith poking and prodding at Kylan relentlessly, and Kylan responding with less and less patience as time wore on.

Katrina entered the conversation where she felt it was relevant, but she spent the majority of the time enjoying her steak and vegetables quietly. It was really the only true draw from these fancy dinners: the expensive food.

She noticed that Kylan was looking at her more so than he usually did. She couldn't read his expression, as always, but it was making her increasingly more on edge as time went on. She didn't know what was on his mind, and it was making her nervous. Finally, she finished dinner, and Keith stood to say farewell. "I still don't know why you're working for this one. You could do a lot better, Kate. Does he even pay you well?" Keith asked her, putting on his jacket in the process of speaking.

"He pays me well enough. I'll forever have a mountain of student debt, but that's not his fault. It's just what happens when you have to pay your own way through school."

Katrina shrugged nonchalantly, avoiding Kylan's gaze. She didn't normally discuss her pay with anyone and especially not in front of her boss.

Keith laughed and shook his head. "Give your assistant a raise, you damn brat," he chastised Kylan.

face grow warm and looked down at the table in embarrassment. "Really, Keith. I'm fine. Thank you for the dinner, as always," she told the older gentleman politely. Kylan glowered at Keith but made no move to say anything at

was used to his behavior and simply ruffled his hair, before he turned and walked

her again, and she met his stare

to stare at her for a moment longer, and she began to

on my face?" she asked him, grabbing a napkin and wiping her mouth

Kylan said quietly, standing from his chair

but Kylan seemed to be especially tense for the entirety of the ride. When Oscar dropped her

his behavior,

way inside after an especially exhausting day, she kicked off her cursed heels and drew a bubble

stripped her clothing and soaked in the warm, inviting soapy water for a long time. By the time her skin was properly wrinkled, she had got out and dressed in her usual nightgown. She brushed her teeth and removed her makeup. She finally

plug her phone in to charge when she received a text message. By this point, it was nearing midnight, and she was confused about who would be talking to her this

Kylan. He never communicated with her this way. It was either always through email, an in-person conversation, or via

our usual meeting,

all right,

"Go to sleep."

Why was he acting so strangely? What did he have to talk to her

"Yes, Sir. Goodnight."

respond after that, and she was left feeling restless for a long while before her body finally allowed her

~0~0~0~

dress that stopped just above her knees. She chose a pair of black heels and paired the ensemble with a pair

quickly with practiced hands. She finished her makeup with a bold red lip. Katrina then grabbed her briefcase and

later, she arrived at Ross Corp., Kylan's tea and her coffee in hand. She was doing her best not to be nervous about what Kylan

up Ryan and his idea that Kylan finds someone to publicly date to marry, no matter how fake it should be. Katrina had merely spoken her mind, but

in her office. She squared

his tea down in his usual spot, and then took a seat in

and he had his hands in the pockets of his black suit pants. He turned around to face her, and she was surprised to see he was only wearing a white button-down shirt. It was wrinkle-free and tucked in, as

to his forearms, and the first two buttons of his shirt were undone. He looked... different, and she fought to avert

she never paid him any mind

read Kylan's facial expression while he approached her. He came to a stop in front of Katrina, leaning back on his desk and folding

long, drawn-out moment, and the sudden unexplainable tension in the room around

she finally suggested, doing her best to keep

there." He gestured to the center

him a weird look, but she still put her coffee down on his desk. Katrina then rose from her chair and walked to where he pointed. She stood with her hands clasped in

began to slowly circle her. She followed him with her eyes,

like she was under a microscope. Of what kind, she wasn't certain. Katrina only knew that Kylan was looking at her, all of her. Was something wrong with

you doing, exactly?" she asked him slowly, swallowing against her suddenly