Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

Chapter 101

Chapter 101

Chapter 101

She readjusted her posture for the umpteenth time, her left foot mindlessly tapping along the tile beneath the small, two-person table where she were seated. Her heart skipped an occasional beat, and her hands were clammy against the iced tea she fiddled with absently. It's two weeks before the wedding and she didn't want to be, but she was nervous, Despite how much and how often she had rehearsed this situation in her mind, she wasn't prepared for it. Not really. Even though this was the right thing to do, she still harbored a sick feeling in her stomach.

Kylan had no idea what she was doing. She left their home under the guise that she needed to run a few last-minute errands before their flight to New Zealand in a few days. He didn't question her too much, and she was both glad and terribly guilty.

She couldn't tell him what she was doing, though. If she did, and if it all went wrong, it would only hurt him. He had enough pain, enough ghosts that still threatened to swallow him whole at random times.

ity that this would backfire entirely

He didn't need the weight of this conversation. The heaviness of the very real possibility

It was easier, less r messy, if he didn't know right now.

Her fingers subconsciously found the solid band of her engagement ring and the spun it a few times, taking notice of the ridges and outlines of the beautiful stone situated at the center. She licked her lips, rolling her shoulders before checking the clock on her phone for the seventh time in the

last five minutes.

He was late. Two minutes late.

What if he didn't show?

He hadn't exactly been thrilled when she found his phone number amidst Kylan's contacts and then proceeded to message him a few days ago. Her stomach churned uncomfortably, her eyes scanning the busy street in front of her. The weather was sweltering now that summer was in full swing, and she could feel a layer of sweat coating the hack of her neck.

She glanced at the time again.

Four minutes.

Okay. This was New York City. Traffic was impossible. He was n doubt casing him in on all sides..

most likely stuck at an intersection, waiting among the loud hors of the cars no

"Katrina?"

Her neck snapped to the direction where her name was being uttered, only just avoiding knocking her tes over in her haste.

And there he was.

The man who grew up with Kylan. The man who once knew Kylan as well as she was lucky to now. The man who had loved the woman that Kylan aho cared for

him from the picture Kylan showed her in his closet during the night that

was in the photo, and his eyes didn't reflect the same level of happiness

he was

what to do.

at him for a second too long, and she hurried to her feet, the

remembered this wasn't that kind of meeting. She closed her hand into a that and sat back down, gesturing to the

avoiding her gaze entirely while

of it. The coolness of the liquid did

there was

Awkward, unbearable silence.

Chapter 101

Charged silence.

A congested silence

her finger. The ring that now felt like it weighed

nowhere to be found. Missing among the sea of 100 much to say "Why did you ask me here, Katrina?" James broke the awkward tension first, his voice guarded, his hands folded on the cable in front of him. She inhaled purposefully, taking another drink of her tea for good measure, and then she forced herself to look at

Kylan. She was doing this for Kylan. Because even if he wouldn't admit it, she knew this was important. She knew this conversation needed

She was surprised by how measured her voice was coming across. She gripped her glass between her fingertips, watching trails of condensation trickle down the cup, painting the tabletop with small rings of water. "I know he would never admit it out

Kylan and I have a complicated relationship now." His words were strained and quiet, barely making their way to her

he wanted to leave. To get away from her.

were it not this moment. This pivotal

chair, leaning toward him a fraction on her elbows. "No, you're still important to him." She was firm. Steadfast. Hopefully leaving no room for him to rebuttal. "I don't know everything that happened between you.

cut her off, speaking through sharply clenched teeth. "Please, don't talk about her. Don't talk about something you weren't

I wouldn't meet him until six years after everything. Ended. She shook her head, fighting back a sigh "Look, I wasn't there. I don't understand, like I said. But I didn't ask you to meet me to argue about Yasmin." She tried to redirect the conversation, ignoring

you invite me here!" James snapped at her, ignoring the waiter entirely when they brought his tea. He made

married in two weeks. In New Zealand."

"Congratulations. I'm happy for you." He didn't sound sincere. Not

that was building to a crescendo inside of her. "He would never say this, but I know he would love it if you were there, James He... He's lou a lot. He's been through a loc. I know you know all of that. I know you blame him for what happened to Yasmin, bur. It isn't fair." She held up a hand when James opened his mouth to probably protest. "I understand wanting to blame someone, anyone, when a terrible thing happens. I get it. I really get it. I blamed myself for my mom leaving for years. I'm sure I still do, on some level. But I know it wasn't my fault. I know she made that decision because of her, and not because of me." She licked her lips,

it was, James. An argument. An argument because Kylan had feelings for Yasmin, and Yasmin wanted to be with you. I don't know if Yasmin ever returned Kylan's affection, and that isn't

of her face. She met James' gaze,

his mother died. All of that. Those memories: They don't go away. You might never be what you were before, and that's okay. I understand that some things.... Some things change and shift in ways that you can never come back from. I get why that happened between you and Kylan. But, James, Kylan mases you. I know he does. I can tell he does" Sull holding his stare, she reached into her purse next to her and withdrew a large, white envelope. She set it on

you and your girlfriend." She took a deep breath, pretending she didn't see the way James eyes widened as he looked at the envelope on the table. "It would mean

few minutes, and the made no move to say anything else. She let him think.

way she intended to. She wasn't

she would do if the worst-case scenario happened, and James lost

regret trying to make Kylan happy like this. Not when he worked every day to make her

314PM

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