Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

Chapter 97

Chapter 97

One Month Later

"That's perfect, thank you so much." She smiled at Kylan's dining room table

the

hired mover who had just spent the last ten minutes hanging a piece of her artwork near

She was finally completely moved in, little reminders of fall speckled throughout Kylan's normally black and grey penthouse because of her. The smell of the apple cider-scented candle she hit walled through her nostrils each time she inhaled a deep breath, only adding to the general ambiance of feeling like she really was at home.

Kylan was working late tonight, and she promised she would be completely done with everything by the time he was finished.

He had honestly been working late several nights lately, and it was beginning to grate on her nerves. He was the CEO, and she knew he could delegate, if he really wanted to. But for whatever reason, he chose not to

Now, though. Now, she wanted him home. She wanted him near her. She wanted to enjoy this new, this exciting step in their relationship.

She leaned her elbows atop the kitchen counter, fumbling her phone out of her pocket to call the man whose penthouse she now shared. Just as she unlocked the screen, Kylan entered the kitchen, dark circles lining the area beneath his eyes. He was still wearing his leather jacket, his cheeks dusted a nice shade of pink from the mid October cold.

"Hi" She couldn't help the p

grin th

that spread across her face, crossing the kitchen to hug him at once.

Kylan returned the gesture, holding her securely to him. "What is that smell?" He sighed into her hair, kissing the top of her head. He was obviously struggling to avoid swearing with her in his presence but she still appreciate it

She withdrew from his arms and rolled her eyes at him. "It's a fall candle. Don't even act like you don't like it," she chastised him.

Kylan rolled his own eyes, pulling off his jacket and yawning "Time exhausted. Let's order dinner and I'll go take a shower," he suggested tiredly

She nodded her agreement. "Italian okay?" she asked, already finding the food service app on her phone and choosing her favorite Italian restaurant to order from.

"Sounds good" Rylan made to leave the kitchen, and then he paused, his eyes seeming to fall on the artwork above his table. He turned back and looked at her, a thoughtful expression upon his face. "Welcome home, Katrina," he told her with unbridled warmth She grinned at him, her cheeks hurting from just how wide her mouth was drawn up at the corners. "It's good to be home, Kylan," she replied to him honestly.

"You look... Nice, here," Kylan commented, gracing her with a beautiful, quick smile of his own before disappearing down the hallway.

With a renewed sense of belonging, she went ahead with ordering dinner for her and Kylan to enjoy, and to celebrate the start of a new chapter in their lives. -0-0-0-

Two weeks later

"Aaron, for the last time, I don't need to do something big just because I'm turning thirty. It's not a huge deal. I really only want to spend is with Kylan, maybe watching scary movies at home or something. Honestly, its been really nice, having things slow down since moving in with him. It's comfortable." She shrugged her shoulders, though he couldn't see her through the phone.

"I swear to God, Katrina. It's okay for things to be about you, for a day. Plus, tomorrow is also Halloween, so you're celebrating with Maine and I. at the very least. You can spend time with Kylan any day, especially now that you live with the man. Don't break your birthday tradition, please. We'll pick you up around seven. Okay?"

She couldn't help but smile at the computer screen atop her desk Aaron had valid points and truthfully, she knew she could benefit from a night with her friends. She sighed audibly, teigning annoyance. "Fine, since yo

better get the movie theater butter popcorn. Her voice was lighthearted, her heart warming to the idea

with Aaron and

Kate. I love you.

heard a knock. Kylan was leaning

and locked her phone, glancing at her office doorway his chest while

"Birthday planning?" he mused.

to her computer screen to put the machine to sleep for the night. "Yeah, Aaron was insistent on keeping our tradition going. I hope you don't mind. If you're free, I was going to ask

Chapter 97

unfortunately. I have that executive meeting I can't

guiding her to

back the disappointment that found purchase in her heart. "Oh, of course. I'm not sure how I forgot about that, I guess I don't keep track of your schedule quite as closely as used to." She forced herself to smile at him, pressing the button to call the

celebrate tonight? Open a bottle of wine, watch a movie if you'd like, get food from that sandwich spot down the road from our house." He let her step into the elevator first.

she teased, turning to wrap

doubt in her eyes.

on her hips, his face still irritatingly composed. "You only

hands intertwined again. "I won't say no, in any case Your face is my favorite chair, darling" She smiled at him coyly, continuing to walk

shaking her head and sighing,

-0-0-0-

her eyes, she yawned and scanned the birthday messages she already had to filter through on her phone. With the intention of

while she stumbled her way to the bathroom. She went through the motions of getting ready

making her way to the kitchen for some much-desired coffer. She paused

its way out of

the corner, finding her boyfriend standing in front of the stove, a black apron tied around his waist, protecting the white button down and grey slacks he was wearing. With the sleeves rolled

she could smell French toast. Her grin widened, walking further into the kitchen so she could wrap her arms around Kylan's waist. She rested her cheek along his upper back, breathing in

morning, my love," she mumbled back, perfectly content to stay just as she was for as long as he would allow

around and she sighed in protest. She promptly stopped as soon as his arms

moved to cup her cheek in his hand, his thumb tracing the space below her eye softly. "I'm sorry I can't be with you as much as I would like today, but I wanted to make you breakfast" He gestured to the steaming skillet

tips of her toes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "Thank you for

a plate," be

his element like this, it was special. Something

a world where Kylan was a powerful CEO, and she was the head of P for his

glad to be doing something normal like

Kylan

-0-0-0-

she was overwhelmed in the best way. Her coworkers made her feel thought of her assistant even going as far as gifting her a beautiful bouquet

but she didn't mind.

Corporation. It helped dull the sting of Kylan not being able to see her for the rest of the day, if only just She was looking forward to sharing her evening with Maine and Aaron, but she

with reminders that he would be at her home to pick her up within

might need the rest of the night; she made her way down to the

no longer the one driving her home at the end of a long day, but she did her best to ignore the feeling with the silent promise

a tough week of work. The autumn weather was dreary and wet, making the atmosphere for Halloween

into her building just as her phone rang. She fumbled

the nearby wall, her eyes on the illuminated members as they increased while the elevator climbed several floors. "Have