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

recognized him from the picture Kylan showed her in his closet during the

was in the photo, and his eyes didn't reflect the same level of happiness that his younger self had, but it was him.

was here,

do. Or what to

realized she had been blinking at him for a second too long, and she hurried to her feet, the hem of her sundress billowing as

Katrina Morgan." She awkwardly held out her hand for her to shake, and then she grimaced to herself when she remembered this wasn't that kind of meeting. She closed her hand into a that and sat back down, gesturing to the seat across from her. "I wasn't sure what you might want to drink, but I can find the waiter for you."

him and avoiding her gaze entirely while he looked it over. "The iced lea any good?" he

it. The coolness of the liquid

then there was

Awkward, unbearable silence.

Chapter 101

Charged silence.

A congested silence

him looking at the ring on her finger. The ring that

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

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

her fingertips, watching trails of condensation trickle down the cup, painting

shifted in his seat, looking as uncomfortable as she felt. "Maybe I was a long time ago, but I'm not anymore. Kylan and I have a complicated relationship now." His words were strained and quiet, barely making their way

shift and move like he wanted to leave. To get away

leave, were it not this moment.

Steadfast. Hopefully leaving no room for him to rebuttal.

speaking through sharply clenched teeth. "Please, don't talk about her. Don't talk about

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 the way her heart

snapped at her, ignoring the waiter entirely

I are getting married in two weeks. In New Zealand." This wasn't the way she practiced this. None of this

once more. "Congratulations. I'm happy for you." He didn't

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

condition. She would have had the heart condition, with or without the argument happening with Kylan. And that's all it was, James. An argument. An argument because Kylan had feelings for Yasmin, and Yasmin wanted to be

the sweaty expanse of her face. She met James' gaze, realizing her eyes were swimming with

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,

along with hotel and rental car reservations for 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 a lot to Kylan if you were

the made no move to say anything else. She let him think. She let him

if she got her point across the way she intended to. She wasn't sure if she just royally f*cked up the already tumultuous relationship

wasn't sure what she would do if the worst-case scenario

She couldn't regret trying to make Kylan happy like this. Not when he worked every day to make

314PM

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