Chapter 3

The restaurant sat at the top of one of the largest buildings in the city, floor to ceiling glass wall giving a clear view of the busy city.

Damien Stark sat alone at a private table set apart from the restaurant with a glass of untouched water in front of him, his posture straight and his expression unreadable although he checked the time occasionally with quiet impatience.

A server approached and asked if he needed anything, but he dismissed him with a short nod that carried no warmth and the server left immediately as though relieved to escape the cold silence around him.

Damien reached for his phone instead and placed a call, holding it to his ear while his gaze stayed fixed on the entrance of the restaurant.

The call connected almost immediately.

“Father,” Damien said simply, his voice lacking patience.

Donald Stark’s voice came through. “Has she arrived?”

Damien leaned slightly into the chair, his eyes narrowing a little as he watched the entrance again. “No.”

“She will come. Just wait a little longer…” Donald reassured.

Damien’s jaw tightened slightly, “You know I don’t like wasting time.”

Donald’s tone darkened instantly. “This is not a negotiation, Damien. It is a contract, you signed it, she signed it and you both must fulfill it. Even if she doesn’t show up today, the wedding is tomorrow, and she’ll have no other option but to show up.”

Damien exhaled softly, almost inaudible and ended the call without another word, placing the phone back on the table table with a controlled precision.

Minutes passed again before the entrance door finally swung open and a woman stepped in, dressed in a black satin dress that hugged her curves perfectly.

Katie moved carefully at first, her eyes scanning the entire room for the man she was supposed to meet. Damien watched her without reacting, already recognizing her from the photograph he had been shown earlier that morning.

When Katie’s eyes finally landed on him, she paused briefly but noticeable. She had not expected Damien to look exactly like the picture, or way more dangerous than the picture.

She exhaled softly, then adjusted her grip on her bag and walked towards him.

Damien watched her approach without standing, his expression unchanged as she stopped in front of him.

Then Katie sat down across from him, her movements careful but not timid.

Damien studied her before speaking. “I didn’t expect you to be late despite the agreement. Isn’t there meant to be a penalty for that?”

Katie looked at him directly, “I didn’t realize there was a penalty for being late to meet my future husband.”

The words landed cleanly, and for the first time something subtle shifted in Damien’s expression.

He gestured slightly towards the seat opposite him. “Sit properly.”

Katie adjusted her posture slightly but didn’t look away. “So, I assume we are both here because neither of us had a choice right?”

Damien nodded, “that’s correct.”

Katie leaned back slightly. “Then let’s make everything between us simple.”

Damien tilted his head. “Go on.”

Katie placed her hands together on the table. “Good, I don’t want any interference in my personal life. No control over my business and no ordering me around like I am a puppet. Just three clear and simple rules.”

Damien listened without interrupting and when she finished, he responded calmly. “Agreed.”

Katie blinked slightly. She had expected resistance or maybe questioning. “We make appearances in public, nothing more.”

Damien leaned forward, elbows resting on the table. “Appearances would be required, the rest are negotiable.”

Katie frowned a little. “Negotiable?”

He looked at her. “We will both live in the same house.”

Her expression tightened. “No, I have my own house and I can do everything without you…”

Damien’s voice remained calm, “You will share a room with me.”

Katie scoffed. “That wasn’t part of the agreement I understood.”

Damien's voice stayed even, almost detached. “Then you didn’t study it well.” He folded his arms. “The agreement was simple: for one year, you would be my wife in every necessary form.”

Katie leaned back. “Necessary form?”

Damien held her gaze. “Yes. You will bear my child, Katie.”

The way he said her name made her stomach warm but the words hit her like a slap. He said it as though it was not a sensitive topic to discuss but a conclusion.

Katie stared at him for a moment then she scoffed loudly shaking her head as if trying not to process the impact emotionally.

“Bear your child?”

The memories of Madison…her first night with Brian…his gentle words. “We’ll train her together, Katie.” Everything that had happened until Madison’s last breath replayed itself all together.

“Dream on,Mr Stark!”

Out of anger, Katie pushed her chair back immediately standing up with a controlled frustration, her grip tightening on her bag as she turned slightly away.

But before she could take another step, her eyes caught two familiar faces at the entrance and Katie’s body went rigid.

Rita and Brian…

Her breath caught in her throat as she watched the both of them. It felt like she was being stabbed in her chest.

Rita laughed softly at something Brian had said, their steps too close for normal friendship. For a moment, the world seemed to stop moving except the two of them.

Damien was watching her now. “Is there a problem?”

Katie turned back immediately forcing a polite smile then lowered herself back to the chair.

“I’m in.”

Damien studied her, “you’re sure?”

Katie’s eyes didn’t move from his. “Yes…Absolutely.”

A pause settled between them.

Damien leaned back slightly, “Then we proceed.”

Katie gave a small nod but her attention flickered to Brian and Rita. This time, Brian pecked Rita’s forehead while she blushed sheepishly.

Isn’t it Rita who got an overseas opportunity? Isn’t it Brian who had abandoned her? Wow…what a surprise.

Damien furrowed a brow, his voice lowered. “Do you have anyone from your past? Someone who would interfere with this arrangement?”

Katie’s breath caught. Brian. Would he be a hindrance? No he won’t…at least Brian had forgotten about her.

Katie clenched her fist so tight that her nails dug into her palm, then with a feigned innocence, she replied. “No…not at all.”

Damien accepted the reply without a reaction.

Katie crossed one leg over the other. “What about you?”

Damien didn’t hesitate. “No,”

Katie's hand tightened slightly around the table. “Well…that makes us even.”