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.

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

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 no reason to be upset with him. She needed to remember

bring you this," Kylan told her as soon as he

far 100

after flashed.

saw that Kylan was holding a rather large, square object, wrapped in light brown paper. He handed is to her, and she took

Kate," Kylan told

you, sir,"

he turned away from her and left, just like the night before

and carried it precariously to her kitchen table. She set it down and then switched the light of the chandelier above the table on Aaron and Maine came to stand on either side of her while

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

stared down at the painting. The painting from the exhibit. The first

snowscape. The beautiful, transcendent scene that she fell

bought it for her, though it had

Chapter 34

delivered it to her, even though he lived

glossing over the gold frame that adorned the painting. Her heart flip-flopped in her chest, even as Maine

below, the knew Kylan was

traveled to her living room window, where outside on the

found she had never wanted to both thank him and

Kylan had 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

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

staring at the

you're about to pass the f*ck out." His voice mapped her out of her

few times. He and Maine were both looking at her with equal

I'm. Gosh. I'm fine

but also curiosity too,

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 washing

who definitely doesn't give people gifts, just bought you a painting from Mr. Wilson! The Mr. Wilson. You know, the artist that sells his paintings for like. At least ten thousand dollars apiece."

of gesture

the artist is," she mumbled while she began to cut the stem

it isn't. The fact that Aaron wouldn't let it go without more

grip the counter,

wanting me to clarify all of it for you, but truthfully, I can't I can't because I don't know.