Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Katrina stayed in the bedroom for most of the day, occupying the balcony with the throw from the couch wrapped around her shoulders. She spent hours people-watching and numbing her mind against any and all intrusive thoughts. Kylan never bothered her, but she wasn't surprised. She also wasn't surprised when lunchtime came about, and Kylan told her he was too busy to accompany her to the cafe in the lobby

She ate a mostly stale sandwich and sipped on a hot chocolate by herself, picking at bits of bread on the plate in front of her while she sat at a small table situated at the back of the cafe.

Her phone vibrated in the pocket of her jacket, and she took it out, glancing and seeing that it was Aaron calling her. She considered not answering

for a moment. She wasn't in the mood to talk, least of all about Kylan. Who she was positive Aaron was calling to hear about

With a loud sigh, Katrina wiped her hands on her lap and answered the phone, holding it to her ear. "Hey, Aaron" She sounded exhausted, she realized. She internally cringed hoping Aaron wouldn't pick up on her mood. "That's all I get? A "hey, Aaron? Come on. Kate. How are you? How's it been in Portland?"

She frowned at the remnants of her sandwich, breaking a bit of bread apart between her thumb and index finger. Memories. genuinely good memories, floated to the forefront of her mind. Now though, they almost felt as if they belonged to someone else.

"It's been fine. We'll be back late tonight" She couldn't bring g herself to be more expressive, it was too draining to put on a front right now

"Are you okay, Kate? You don't sound okay. Did your

ur dad not like Kylan or something?"

She only just barely refrained from snorting, but she did roll her eyes. "No, my dad really likes Kylan. All he had to do was speak to him in French, and he was sold."

It was difficult to admit that her father truly did approve of Kylan. A fresh wave of guilt washed over her. She had intentionally been deceitful to her dad, and none of it felt worth it anymore..

"Kate, what happened! I know something happened. Don't bullshit me."

She pinched the bridge of her nose, her shoulders hunching forward, her hair proving to be a welcome curtain around her face. She wasn't certain how honest she should be with Aaron. Things with Kylan are just.. Weird. Maybe having him come meet my father wasn't the best idea"

That seemed okay enough to say. She wasn't lying, anyway. This felt like a step that was too much, too soon. Or rather, it was something that shouldn't have happened at all, truthfully,

"I mean, of course, things are weird. You're pretending to marry our boss, Katrina."

She laughed bitterly, running a hand down her face, and then putting that hand under her chin to prop it up. "Yeah, You're right. though, Aaron. I've got this."

Katrina knew she sounded anything but confident, but she needed Aaron to accept her words at face value, for once.

sure, Kate? Can we go out

It'll be fine

her eyes filling with tears

okay? I'm going to go. I need to get ready for dinner soon." She hung up the

head to help empty her thoughts, cleared her table, and forced herself to return to the suite that she knew would be

-0-0-0-

stayed either on the phone or his computer until just before it was time to go to dinner with her father. She watched as he silently loaded her luggage in the reistal

expression as neutral as possible, though her heart was aching, and

a look at him, frowning when she saw he still appeared just as hollow as before. She couldn't help but wonder if he would be able to put

you in the right frame of mind to do this tonight?"

herself, Kate" came

reply.

his side profile for a moment. Her eyes caught the sharpness of his jaw, the angle of his cheekbones, the

the

him, staring instead out the window at the p passing

favorite French restaurant for dinner, wanting Rylan to experience an authentic meal before sending them back to New York City and getting ready for the wedding himself. As soon as the car

hand out for her to take. He still didn't look at her, but she pretended that didn't bother her as her hand closed around his. He guided her into

the decorations soft and unassuming. A vor occupied with sweet iris

the ambiance and allowed herself to be coaxed into relaxation. As it was, Kylan's hand was suff in hers, his shoulders pulled up taut and his face fixed and focused on anything

br swept away in the safety of his embrace. Instead, she hugged him for

that.

How was your

sweetheart?" her father asked her before he brought a glass of water

on Kylan's leg for a fleeting moment. He glanced down at the contact and she pulled away immediately. Too far, apparently. "We walked along the beach near the lighthouse, and then today, we took it easy and spent the day coried up near the fire and enjoying each other's company. That hotel is quite romantic."

did you find Portland? Was it to your liking?" her father asked the question with a polite smile, just before the waitress came to collect their

ready to get back to work, though, I don't do well away

and she wondered if he could feel the invisible wall between the two of them. It was certainly all

surely Katrina is an ideal company to keep, no?" Her father's voice was still light and kind, but she could sense an

"Can you tell me about your preferred fishing technique, Alois? I myself haven't done fishing since I was a teenager" He changed the subject, and her

he dove into an animated conversation about different rods to use, the right kind of

stayed quiet unless she was addressed directly. Her father carried the conversation, Kylan interjecting expertly in order to keep it flowing She was reminded that he could talk to people when be

looked at her, not a single time. She continued to act as though his behavior didn't bother her. Because it shouldn't. It shouldn't bother her that he wasn't holding her around the shoulders or waist, and it shouldn't bother her that he wouldn't look at

end of the meal, she was ready to leave. She was ready to go home and have a moment