Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

It was no surprise when Kylan chose a nice restaurant near the heart of the city, for lunch. Katrina climbed off his bike and took his hand by second nature, walking with him into the restaurant. She was guided to a table in the far corner, and she let go of Kylan's hand,

shimmying out of her jacket and scarf and draping them over her chair.

Kylan didn't say anything, and she didn't either. She both looked over

dover the

menu, ordering both tea and water alike when the waiter car

came by She looked at Kylan, studying his face as he kept his eyes trained on the menu. She noticed how his brow furrowed slightly, and how the corner of his mouth sat in what she was certain was a near-permanent downturn

She took record of his black hair as it nearly fell into his eyes, and the resisted the urge to push it back for him. He looked nice, peaceful even, were it not for the frown on his face.

She decided that she liked seeing Kylan outside of the office and in the real world. The real world that he could choose to be a part of, and not the role of CEO that she wondered how he was coaxed into.

She had questions for him, of course, she did. There was so much she didn't know about Kylan. So much that she wanted to know about him. She picked through her mind in search of an appropriate thing to ask him.

"Have you always lived in New York City?" she decided to ask. It seemed like a relatively safe thing to ask, and she took a drink of her water while she waited for him to respond.

Kylan glanced at her for a moment, before he looked back down at the menu. "I'm originally from Rhode Island," he surprised her by saying "Bristol" he added.

Her eyes lit up and she felt herself smile at him. "You're from a small town, too?" she asked him excitedly.

Kylan rolled his eyes and nodded. "I am. I moved to New York after my mom uh, died. I lived with Keith before I started Ross Corporation with Ryan," he told her, grabbing hold of his tea and taking a sip. He made a dissatisfied noise that she chose to ignore. "What made you want to start Ross Corporation?" she asked him, happy that he was talking to her like this, Casually, when there wasn't to really be talking other than that she wanted to talk. any reason

sickly tried to redirect the

She saw Kylan visibly tense, and she knew she had asked the wrong thing. Tm sorry, Sir. It's none of my business," she quickly conversation, "I think I'll get the filet mignon, what about your" she added licking her lips and staring at her own menu. "Justice," Kylan said quietly,

y, his voice impossibly solemn now

She looked at him, but found he wasn't looking at her, but rather out the window at the front of the restaurant. He seemed to be far away, though. he still sat at the table with her.

"Justice, Sir?" she asked him, her own voice shaking with nerves. She knew this was entirely uncharted territory, and she needed to t tread carefully. "Justice, Kate Kylan turned his gaze to hers and she frowned at him. He looked.. lost, almost. And sad. Sadder than she had ever seen him look. "I see." She took another drink of water in an attempt to wet her now dry throat. "Did you find the justice you were looking for?" she ventured to ask

Kylan clasped his hands under his chin and bummed quietly. "No, I never have he told her softly, his voice a mere mumble now

She frowned at him. "I'm sorry, Sir, I hope you know how many people you've helped with your drones, though. That and the security cameras, oh, and even the doorbell cameras. You've undoubtedly helped solve and prevent several crimes, both with the stealth drones and cameras."

It felt important to lift K Kylan up, to remind him of his incredible accomplishments. All of which was true, too.

Kylan scoffed and shook his head, sighing and sitting up straighter in his chair. "You sound like Ryan," he told her, raising an eyebrow at her She couldn't help but laugh at him. "Maybe Ryan has a point, then," she said with a shrug

The corner of Kylan's mouth twitched into a shadow of a smile, just for a second. Just for a fleeting moment, and then it was gone. But it was enough to make her smile brightly in return.

-0-0-0-

They spent the rest of their meal talking aimlessly, mostly swapping stories about growing up in her respective coastal towns. She struggled to picture Kylan of all people, going sailing on the weekends or willingly stepping onto a sandy beach at all. But even so, that's what he told her he used to do,

By the time she was leaving the restaurant, she felt lighter than she had all weekend. She felt happy, even.

you something?" Kylan asked her while he handed her her

cocked her head to the side,

then she was

minute later, and she grinned at him

She followed him, smiling to

her to amule more. When she did come here

every bit of dewalk that the

annoyaner, but the truly

particularly large leaf next and feeling happy when

Rylan

was definitely amusement

to step on

when Kylan pulled her down a path that opened into an area with a large, empty fountain, no doubt absent of water perparation for the coming winter. There were several benches full of people around her, and she wondered

pocket and began to wipe down

yes" he

chess she admited, sining down in one of the chairs

ther one

glare but she only smiled at him. He sighed and walked to throw away the used wipes, then came back and spritzed

instead. He offered her some next and she

how?" Kylan asked as

twice but not since high school,"

Kylan nodde

teach you." he offered, looking at her with a

the various rules and pieces of chess, his voice incredibly serious as

then he still didn't seem to be this passionate. She paid close attention the entire time he talked, deciding

she had the base gast of the game down by the end of kylan's instructions,

him. She enjoyed watching hun ponder his next move, and she found equal joy in trying to outsmart him,

But he wasn't ang about it. In fact, he seemed

Kate." he praised her as he stood from his chair and adjusted his

She smiled

again. "Thank you

told him

hold of her hand. Together, she began the trek

father?" Kylan asked her a while later, just as his bike came into

flight is slated for this weekend," she told him, looking at his side

10

Chapter 36

let go of her hand, only to then wrap an arm around her waist instead. He pulled her into

to her door, and she gave up trying to tell him

the elevator. Her mind called back to Friday, and

she had a surprisingly pleasant time with Rylan today, but the contract still remained. A slip-up was a

to pause. "Can I double-check

him. "Um, sure. It isn't like you to

soon as she stepped inside, she was thrown off balance, quite

up, and it was then that she realized Kylan had pressed

more time. It bothers me, Kate. It infuriates me that you had a man in your bed this morning." He was close to her, so close to her And she was nothing but frozen in place while she looked at him with wide eyes. "I told you. Aaron's already engaged with Maine."

dripping with dangerous honey that made her toes curl. He then gripped her hip with a firm hand and stepped so that his body nearly stood flush

you are, Kate. To the world, you're mine. It's binding, this contract. Her signature is on it, is