Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

Chapter 98

Chapter 98

"Are you okay if we stop off and pick up some curry?" Aaron asked fifteen minutes into the drive to his apartment.

ay there.

Maine wasn't actually with him, opting to finish cooking at said apartment while they made their way

She nodded in the front seat next to him, her eyes focused on the nearly dark world outside the windows of the car. "Curry sounds amazing. honestly," she agreed with a smile. "Hell yeah," Aaron echoed, grinning at her widely while he took a sharp right turn.

She sat back in her seat, content and warm being with her best friend.

commercial part of

part of the city, and it

A few minutes later, she realized she didn't recognize the area Aaron was driving them to. This wasn't an overly co could hardly be considered part of the inner-city limits at all, really. over at him with a frown ON her face

"What's the restaurant called?" she tried to clarify with Aaron, looking ov

honestly don't remember. It's some hole in the wall that Harry recommended to me a few weeks ago. Aaron shrugged, turning down a side

He parked the car a few minutes later in a sort of half alleyway, cutting the engine.

"Parking is a bitch right in front of the building. Do you want to come in with me?" Jean asked her, unbuckling his seatbelt,

She looked outside at the imposing red, brick building on her right. "Yeah, I'll come with you." She unlatched her buckle, opening her car door and carefully stepping out onto the rough pavement.

Aaron was at her side only a moment later, offering her his arm to help her walk around to the doors of the building in her heels. Curiously, confusingly, the front of the building didn't present as a restaurant at all. It almost looked. It almost looked like.... "Aaron Why is there artwork in the windows?" she inquired slowly, walking up the few steps to the double glass front doors

Aaron only grinned at her, an air of mischief suddenly surrounding him. She narrowed her eyes at him when he pulled one of the doors open, indicating for her to walk inside first. She did so hesitantly, incredibly suspicious about where they actually were and what they were doing

It was definitely an art gallery, that much was obvious. Though, it didn't appear to be open. The only lighting illuminating the space, were several small, backlights that cast a warm, orange glow along the various windows and soft, white walls.

It was cozy, and if anything, she was eager to glance at even a few of the many pieces of other people's creativity.

Aaron took hold of her hand, leading her down a long hallway off to the left of what she assumed was the main gallery. She took in his appearance more fully, noting the nice pants he was wearing, along with the nice button down. It looked like he had even combed his near mullet

This was a setup of some kind, she was sur

was sure of it.

more, cherry wood doors with gold handles. Aaron turned and met her

"Happy Birthday. Katrina""

of the gallery she now stood in more pieces of artwork being illuminated by soft lights. Her eyes widened as she took in the full scene in front of her. And damn,

a long banquet table with an equally long tablecloth glass dishes, flowers of all kinds, candles of all shapes and sizes nestled atop it. A quiet glow from the candlelight, even solter music, twinkling lights carefully strewn around the perimeter of the room... li was gorgeous. But what was more, were the people

Oscar. Maine, Vincent, Jean,

handsome in a black suit with an equally black tie, was her love. Her best friend. Her

Her f

Kylan

caught in her

you. Thank you" Whate hot tears filled her eyrs, and she did little to fight them back. She

in an immediate hug. "Happy Birthday, kiddo." he breathed, his deep voice soothing her

Thank y

Jesus, it's so good to see you." Her voice broke on the end and Oscar held her a bit

here, Kate, Oscar withdrew just enough to look at her, a smile lighting up his face. "I wanted to tell you in person." He clutched one

for more." She hugged him one more time, smiling with such

other friends greeted her, each of them hugging

table, watching her with a softness in his eyes that wasn't lost on her each time her gaze met his. Katrina knew, even without him telling her as much, that he was responsible for

it not

ne his face.

man himself, and she finally walked over to him, her

evening," she asked him quietly; her friends chatter in the background all but fading into nothing

her body with a quiet admiration he reserved only for you. "I didn't. I had to put together this dinner for my girlfriend. She turned thirty today," he quietly mused, reaching out for her,

to be able to host a dinner amongst the art She gestured around the

resting his forehead against her

this. All of this. It's more than I could have ever imagined" She meant every word, every feeling of gratitude, love, happiness. All of it, each one overtaking her heart in equal waves of

deserve every bit of it and more. I wouldn't miss your birthday, Kate. Not yours." Kylan pressed

really love you," she vowed to him

angled his face closer to hers. "I love you," he breathed,

us would like to keep our appetites," Aaron grumbled from somewhere

around and offering a glare to her best friend. "If you're

dinner a moment later, but not before sending a rather pointed

containing all of her favorites, laughing and conversing with

of the meal, she walked around the gallery with Kylan in tow,

a date a long time ago, when her relationship with Kylan was pretend, a seemingly simple farce that both confused and thrilled her, she described each painting,

held her. Only this time. This time, all of it was real. All of it was safe. And the happiness that she