Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss

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

Kylan showed her in his closet during the night

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

that he was here, she wasn't

what to do. Or what

a second too long, and she hurried to her feet, the hem of her sundress

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

took his seat, picking up the menu on the table in front of him and avoiding her gaze entirely while he

tea in question to take a sip of it. The coolness of the liquid did very little

then there was

Awkward, unbearable silence.

Chapter 101

Charged silence.

A congested silence

The ring that now felt like

and practiced were 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

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

watching trails of condensation trickle down the cup, painting the tabletop with small rings of water. "I know he would never admit it

not anymore. Kylan and I have a complicated relationship now." His words were strained and quiet, barely making their way to her ears over the roar of

frowned at him, watching him shift and move like he wanted to leave. To get away from her. Or from his own ghosts,

leave, were it not this moment. This pivotal

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..

clenched teeth. "Please, don't talk about her. Don't talk about something you weren't there for. You weren't a

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

why did you invite me here!" James snapped at her, ignoring the waiter entirely when they brought his tea. He made no move

married in two weeks. In New Zealand." This wasn't the way she practiced this.

ring once more. "Congratulations. I'm happy

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, forcing herself

Kylan. And that's all 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 what's important. Not really. Not anymore." She laughed bitterly, shaking

face. She met James' gaze,

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 the table in front of Jaimes and then retracted her hand, ignoring

breath, pretending she didn't see the way James eyes widened as he looked at the envelope on the table. "It would

and the made no move to say anything else. She

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

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

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

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