Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

Chapter 6

Chapter

6

The short walk back to her office and to the chair behind her desk was spent in a sort of daze. Was this happening? Did she really sign that contract? Were Ryan and Max actually okay with all of this? How would this all work, exactly el but

Katrina's head was spinning, and her legs felt like they might give out on her without a moment's notice. She couldn't help feel foolish, and... used, somehow. She had agreed to such a ridiculous farce because of money. Even if there were other reasons involved, like helping the company she worked for, it had ultimately come down to money. Shouldn't she be ashamed of that? She honestly didn't know.

She had agreed and signed the contract before she had really thought much of anything else, which surprised her most of all. She usually thought about things to an obnoxious extent. It was the reason she was sure she made for a great assistant, in the first place. But this.. This had the potential to be messy. Really messy.

She would have to keep up every false pretense in front of her coworkers, her friends, and her dad. Could she even tell someone like Aaron the truth? She hadn't thought to ask Kylan. She needed more clarifications, if there was any hope that this could actually work. Could it work? Her head was throbbing by the time she sat in her chair.

Kylan had a relatively slow morning, with only a few conference calls that he didn't need her to sit in for. He would send her footnotes on the conversations later, as well as any instructions he would have for her to complete. Thus, she decided it was an optimal time to go through her various emails and weed out the important ones, from the ones she could send to the junk folder.

She was focused for the first while. She was even thankful for the distraction from the incredibly odd morning she had. But then, her mind began to wander, and she was hopeless from there.

What would their first date consist of? What would the public reception be of her relationship? Would people like her? What if they didn't?

She had been in a few photos here and there during her three years as Kylan's assistant, and her company bio was also on Ross Corporation's public website. But so far, she had been able to keep mostly out of any and all kinds of the spotlight. People were really only interested in the man who had begun a billion-dollar company, at the shocking age of twenty-five. That, coupled with Kylan's naturally elusive personality, had created an endless amount of speculation about the seemingly unobtainable bachelor. Up until this point, Kylan had never cared to set any of the various records straight or quell any

ny of the rumors that circulated about him.

Katrina supposed she would probably wonder for herself, what his private life was like if she didn't work closely with the man. There was a certain charm and appeal to a person like Kylan. But his horrendous personality made it easy to let that kind of train of thought flicker out for her. That, and he was her boss.

She wasn't sure how long ago her hand had gone stagnant on her mouse, or when exactly her computer screen had gone to sleep, but the sudden knock at her door caused her to jump.

Aaron let himself into her office, and she took a deep breath and cleared her throat.

"Hey," she said breathlessly, taking care to sit up in her chair a little more and keep her face carefully neutral.

It was useless, though. Aaron was already looking at her oddly. "What's up with you? Your face is like... Weird. And you look pale. Are you sick?" he asked, plopping himself down in the seat in front of her desk. Katrina made sure to roll her eyes. "I'm fine. It's Thursday, so I guess I'm just anxious for the weekend." She shrugged her shoulders.

Aaron raised an eyebrow at her. "You're a shitty liar, Kate. But I don't care right now. I wanted to make sure you're not bailing on me for drinks tomorrow?" he asked, reaching forward and grabbing a pen off her desk. He repeatedly began to click the top of it over and over, while he eyed her carefully.

She opened her mouth to answer when the door to her office opened again, and Kylan entered the room this time. Her stomach gave a nervous flutter at the sight of him, and she fought the blush that threatened to rise on her face.

Kylan looked at Aaron pointedly, but he put his hands in his pockets and then turned his attention to her. "Can I take you to

Chapter 6

things we need to go over," her boss asked her

wondered if he was also feeling nervous or strange, just as she was. It was impossible to know, what with the emotionless mask he constantly chose to wear on his damn face. Aaron was still clicking the pen while he looked between her and Kylan, his eyes narrowed to near slits. She avoided his gaze and

you downstairs in fifteen minutes, Sir," she responded, hoping her voice sounded just as indifferent as

one swift motion. "F*ck off, Kirstein. I don't

Sir. I'll... Go. Bye, Kate." He waved half-heartedly before he practically ran out of her

Sir?" she asked, turning back to her computer and beginning to respond to one or

her eye. "He's a little shit. Maybe the prototype wouldn't have been a week

but he's also like a

here as often as he is," he amended quietly. He sighed and left her office, his

left, before sending

-0-0-0-

smiled when she saw him eating gummy worms from a small bag. She needed

asked him, coming

of candy. "Always regular. I'm not the biggest fan of anything sour," he

Oscar," she

over her shoulder. He shoved the bag of gummy worms into his

into the back

give Oscar a reassuring smile as she slid into the car. She adjusted her dress and

as Oscar got into the car and carefully pulled out of the parking

his elbow resting on the door and a few fingers against his mouth. He

Dumont," he

of the city, and she hid her surprise. Did he want to go somewhere like that? Just for lunch? Was this actually their first date? Nerves filled her system, and she swallowed them as much as possible. Kylan was quiet for the entire car ride, and Katrina couldn't bring herself to strike up any kind of conversation with him either. It made for a tense,

was thankful when car finally pulled over to let them out of the car in front of the restaurant. Kylan let himself out of the car first, and

her to take. Katrina stared at it for a moment. His hand was pale, just like the

had also never touched Kylan in

surprised when he had brought up things like kissing earlier. She was once agam

help her out of the car the rest

hand for a beat, before he let go and gestured for her to lead the way into the restaurant. The sound of her heels hitting the sidewalk with every

This

moved to open the door to the

the establishment. Kylan pulled her chair out for

across from her, and she eyed him as he adjusted his suit jacket. He was wearing a

moment later, and Kylan glanced at her. "Two glasses of

nodded and headed off

hands atop the silk tablecloth in front of her. "I prefer mine on the

"Ice is preposterous. It hurts your teeth," he said as if it should be

her. She began to read over the various entrees, doing her best to ignore the ridiculous prices for everything, even for

ordered roast beef and potatoes. The waiter left them again, and Kylan took a long drag from his whiskey. She noticed he barely even flinched at the taste, and she couldn't help but be mildly