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.

we go out soon and talk about all of this

It'll be fine

the surface. She could feel her eyes filling with tears and she sucked

get ready for dinner soon." She hung up the phone before giving Aaron an opportunity to say

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

-0-0-0-

to dinner with her father. She watched as he silently loaded her luggage in the

to keep her expression as neutral as possible, though her heart

was in the car and Kylan was on the road, Katrina chanced 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 out a front for her

mind to do this tonight?" Her voice was tintid, and it almost felt strange to address him at all

Kate" came

reply.

the sharpness of his

the road

deepened and she angled her body away from him, staring instead out the window at the p passing town that once felt so full

father had picked his 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 was parked, she willed the sadness

on the sidewalk, already extending a 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.

The lighting was low, the decorations soft and unassuming. A

have gladly taken to 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

of her. She resisted the urge to run to him, or to allow herself to br swept away in the safety of his embrace. Instead, she hugged him for only a few seconds and then withdrew. She slipped into her seat. Kylan following sun next to her. He didn't pui his arm around her shoulders as he usually did, and it took far more effort than

that.

How was your

brought a glass of water to his lips

PR specialist. She could pretend. "It was wonderful. Kylan took me to a candy shop downtown. I don't think I've ever seen so much chocolate in one place" She forced out a giggle, placing her hand 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

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

quite ready to get back to work, though, I don't do well away from the office for too long. He

and she wondered if he could feel the invisible wall between the two of them. It was certainly all too present, an almost constant reminder

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

shifted around a bit, and she found herself looking down at the table. "She is, yes." He cleared his throat once more. "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 shoulders slumped a

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

addressed directly. Her father carried the conversation, Kylan interjecting expertly in order to keep

didn't bother her. Because it shouldn't. It shouldn't bother her that he wasn't holding her around the shoulders or waist,

was ready to leave. She was ready to go home