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

picture Kylan showed her in his closet

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

he was here, she wasn't

do. Or what

him for a second too long, and she hurried to her feet, the hem of her sundress billowing as

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." She was speaking too quickly, her voice trembling, and her head buzzing

up the menu on the table in front of him and avoiding her

a sip of it. The coolness of the liquid did very

then there was

Awkward, unbearable silence.

Chapter 101

Charged silence.

A congested silence

feel him looking at the ring on her finger. The ring that now felt like it weighed far more than it truly

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

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

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 Joud, but 1 also know you're an important person

ago, but I'm not anymore. Kylan and I have a complicated relationship now." His words were strained and quiet, barely making their way to her ears

like he wanted to leave. To get

leave, were it not this moment. This pivotal moment.

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. I won't pretend to understand thr.. Confusion

James abruptly cut her off, speaking through sharply clenched teeth. "Please, don't talk about her. Don't talk about something you weren't there for. You weren't a

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

invite me here!" James snapped at her, ignoring the waiter entirely when they brought

weeks. In New Zealand." This wasn't the way

to her ring once more. "Congratulations. I'm happy

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, forcing herself to continue

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 what's important. Not really. Not anymore." She

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

You guys were with each other all the time. You were instrumental when 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

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 there. If you came. If you saw him get married," she finished speaking, allowing

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

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

the worst-case scenario happened, and

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

314PM

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