Sentenced to Marriage by MadlainQ

By Aren Lan’s order, Mr. Errington organized a room for me… and a group of babysitters in the form of IT specialists who were supposed to check if I wasn’t a secret spy who merely pretended to help. I expected that to happen. After all, I was given access to their sensitive information, like their tenders and bidding offers. Aren Lan didn’t engage in the process. He only instructed Mr. Errington to inform him of the results. I took it as a good thing. I didn’t think I could stand him as one of my babysitters, leaning over my head and constantly looking at the screen.

I quickly established that the infection hadn’t missed a single computer in their company. It couldn’t be a coincidence. It looked like a planned, precise attack aimed at stealing intel, and the bug must have infected their system no more than a few days ago.

Supervised by steadily frowning IT specialists, I called Alan and Norton and told them about the problem. Fortunately, we had already found the best way to fight the pesky worm when we treated our client’s computer a month ago. We had even written a simple program to delete each infectious part of the worm.

The IT specialists stood in disbelief while I eliminated the plague spreading across their system. I grinned inwardly, watching how they were ineptly trying to register my moves, but I was too fast for them. I was too good for them; I was way better than most of the specialists hired by big companies. Norton once said that I was a “computer fairy” because I had a sixth sense, getting to the problem faster than anyone else could. Of course, I laughed at the name he had given me, but I was never going to deny my worth. I was confident about my abilities. Period.

It took me six hours to clean up the entire system, and, thank God, I wasn’t dealing with the entire Lan Diamond Corporation network. My babysitters decreased hour after hour, and by the time I finished, there was only one of them, sitting next to me. He was looking at the screen with his sleepy eyes. Well, he was forced to take a lot of overtime since it was 2 AM when I could finally say that my work there was done.

“Finally…” he mumbled, struggling to get up from his seat.

I smiled wryly, looking at him. “Thanks for your support… I guess.” I was unable to stop the sarcastic tone from surfacing, but he seemed to be too tired to notice.

“Yeah, whatever,” he tossed my way before pulling out his phone and sending someone a message.

“So… what now?” I asked, slightly nervously. I did my part of the deal, and I wasn’t leaving without a sign of proof that we could stay in our workshop even if I had to chain myself to the desk in this office.

“The security will tell you,” he said faintly, walking out of the door and leaving me there.

“Jerk,” I muttered under my breath.

He should be thanking me. If that infection worked as it was meant to, he would most likely lose his job… he and the entire department! It pissed me off that I saved their sorry asses and didn’t even hear a thank you. Moreover, they all dared to look down on me, first only because I was a woman, and then even more, after I had to give my personal data for the contract, and they had found out that I didn’t have a diploma… Surely, I had long acknowledged the fact that this freaking piece of paper could change everything in my life. Nonetheless, I still couldn’t stand assholes who felt superior because they had something I didn’t.

I grabbed my jacket and purse and left the office soon after. As soon as I walked out into the corridor, I saw two security guards dressed in black suits that made them look like they were Secret Service agents. Both of them stood firm with their chins slightly lifted. Their faces were expressionless to the point where if one of them didn’t move, I would take them as wax figures.

them

Lan told us to take you to him,” one of the

did…” I mumbled, instantly becoming

still at work at 2 AM? I wished he wasn’t. I would rather not stand before him right now. I had no strength to deal with arrogant guys. Not to mention that after six hours of staring at the computer screen, I probably looked like

my hair completely flat and ruffled. I ignored my company and started combing the messy strands with my fingers and wiping the panda circles below my eyes. It didn’t

my inner feminist immediately raised an argument that I wasn’t going there to impress him with my looks. I did an awesome

the empty, dimly lit top-floor corridor. There was only one intense source of light, and it was coming through the opaque windows surrounding the CEO’s office. Once we got there, one

in.” Lan’s voice

doubled my anxiety in an instant. I wasn’t even sure why I was always so nervous in front of him. I did my job well, and he could only thank me for dealing with their security breach. Still, shivers ran down my spine when his gaze shifted from the

space between us. A single chuckle escaped his throat, and he crooked his four fingers, making

mischievous grin. “You don’t

replied, too tired to think about the

before pulling some documents from his

document. I might have said that it was my condition for taking care of their computer problem, but

for five hundred dollars a month, but after the company

the catch?” I asked, narrowing

of the deal. You did your job exquisitely… This is the company’s

forming a wry smile. I couldn’t tell why I felt a little prick in

in the contract?” The firm tone

out nervously. “T-thank you.” I reached into my purse and pulled

the contract on his desktop and leaned over. It wasn’t until I saw his eyes flicker in amusement did I realize I exposed every ounce of my cleavage wrapped in a tight white