Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Katrina slept restlessly that night, her mind plaguing her with dreams of Kylan, for the first time ever. When she awoke the next morning, she was all too grateful that it was Saturday.

She vaguely remembered it was her birthday, and she spent the next few hours reading comments on her social media and Kylan's alike, all from people hoping she would have a good day.

She also saw a few pictures from the ball already circling the internet, each one from people romanticizing herself and Kylan. Then a picture of the scaled invitation was also posted. Good thing they covered the place and time of the wedding or else, the paparazzi and those uninvited will be flocking on the day of the wedding. They couldn't afford to let someone ruin their special day, even if it is fake.

It made her feel sour if she was honest. The memory of Kylan's kiss had her completely conflicted. But his reaction afterward, deflated any positive feelings she may have had about it at all.

right

She was happy when she changed into sweatpants and an oversized sweater. She was happy when Aaron and Maine arrived with just the ri amount of junk food and scary movies that she desperately needed to distract her.

She was happy when her dad called to wish her a Happy Birthday until he asked about her visiting and she begrudgingly told him when her flight

WEL

She did her best to enjoy her time with her friends, she really did. They were going above and beyond to help her ring in her last year in her twenties, and she was thankful for them.

But her mind was back in the hallway with Kylan pressed against her, and her hands in his hair.

She hated that she couldn't stop thinking about the kiss, or about him. It was inappropriate, a fact she was reminded of when she transferred the money he sent her to her bank.

Why did it make her feel sick to accept the money y now? Why was she so uncomfortablet

Halfway through her third scary movie and half a bottle of wine, there was a knock on her front door.

Aaron paused the movie and walked to answer it for her. She couldn't see who it was in the darkness of her apartment

"It's uh, Kylan." Aaron came back to tell her, a curious look on his face.

She rolled her eyes at him, having no doubt he would fire way too many questions at her the second he could

She completely forgot Kylan had asked her if he could stop by on her birthday. She wasn't ready to see him, but she knew she had no choice.

looked far less put together than she usually did around him. She walked to her door

was waiting for her, also looking more casual in a light blue button-down and black slacks. Visions of her kiss and through her head and she tried not to glare at him. She really had

I only wanted to bring you this," Kylan told her as soon

his usual stoic facial expression and seemed far 100 calm, considering what

after flashed.

square object, wrapped in light brown paper. He handed is to her, and she took it, surprised by

told her a little

sir," the

stared at her for another minute, and he looked like he might say more, but then he turned away from

present into her apartment and carried it precariously to her kitchen table. She set it down and then switched the light of the

she gasped, and tears sprang to her eyes of their own

stared down at the painting. The painting from

transcendent

her, though it had cost

Chapter 34

it to her, even though he lived

adorned the painting. Her heart flip-flopped in her chest, even as

the knew Kylan

living room window, where outside on

she had never wanted to both thank him and yell at him

never so much as addressed her birthday in the past, let alone gotten her a gif of any kind. She didn't even receive a Christmas bonus, for heaven's sake. And now! Now, he had spent a ridiculous amount of money on something that he had

she was Now she felt sick to her stomach. Now she felt warm, the same kind of warns she experienced when Kylan was

staring at the painting until Aaron reached a hand out and touched her arm

f*ck out." His

moved to has and she blinked a few times. He and Maine were both looking at

I'm. Gosh. I'm fine

but also curiosity too,

felt herself take a single, shuddering breath, and then she licked her lips and walked over to her kitchen counter. She busied her shaking hands with

you a painting

her in his shoes, she would be just as curious and weary. This kind of gesture from Kylan was completely out of character, even with how things had been between

is," she mumbled while she began to cut the stem n off from each

that it isn't. The fact that Aaron

hands to grip the counter, her knuckles already turning white

understand half the shit that Kylan does anymore, okay! I really don't. I know you're wanting me to clarify all of it