Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHRISTINE’S POV

“So what do you think of this one?” Angela asked while holding out her phone with a profile picture of a man in a fitted navy suit, leaning against a shiny black car. He looks decent enough with clean cut , tall and confident smile. But something about his bio makes me cringe and roll my eyes.

“I work hard, play hard and love spontaneous adventures??, seriously ? that sounds like “I’ll disappear for two week without an explanation

Angela laughs, scrolling past him. “Okay, I think that’s fair enough. What about this one?” She shows me another guy. This one’s a Blonde, slightly older, and standing on a golf course with a golden retriever.

“Golf is a red flag,that’s for like old people ” I say flatly.

She laughs so loudly that a few heads turn in the cafe. We’re sitting at our usual spot near the window, laptops open in front of us as a decoy for the real mission: husband hunting.

“Okay, so no gym guys, no golf dads, no men who say ‘I work hard, play hard.’ You’re narrowing your pool quite fast, .”

“Good,” I mumble, sipping my iced coffee. “If I have to marry someone on a contract , it at least has to be someone I can at least tolerate for the rest of my life.”

Angela’s smile fades a bit . “I still can not believe this is what is actually happening . Like, you’re actually considering marrying a stranger just to be the CEO.”

“What choice do I have?” I whisper, staring at the clouds . “I’ve worked my entire life for DreamSpace. I can’t just let it go. Not like this.”

Angela reaches across the table and she thengg go squeezes my hand. “We will definitely find you someone amazing, okay? Someone who will worship the ground you walk on.”

I force a smile, but my chest feels empty. Someone who worships me. Someone who won’t leave. Someone who wont..I close my eyes shaking my head, cutting off the thought before it finishes.

My phone vibrates . It’s Katy, calling on video. I quickly connect, putting the phone against my coffee cup. Her smiling face fills the screen, and immediately,she looks at us with suspicion.

“Why do you two look like you’re planning a heist?”

Angela laughs. “Not fully But Close enough.”

“Don’t tell me” Katy’s eyes widen as she leans closer to the screen. “Oh my God. Something I thought I’ll never see. Christine Paige, are you on dating apps now?”

I sigh, massaging mu temples . “Please don’t make it weirder than it already is.”

Katy gasps. “Wait, is this about that clause your dad mentioned? The marriage thing before your birthday?”

Angela nods. “Yep. We’re trying to save her CEO dreams here.”

Katy’s expression softens immediately. “Oh, Chris I am so sorry” She falls silent for a few seconds, then her eyes flick to Angela with some sort of mischief and I know shes about to say something she’s not meant to “So did Adrian propose yet?”

I groan “Ugh don’t even start” Angela just laughs

But Katy grins. “What? I’m just saying. He’s hot, powerful, and he clearly wants to help you. I mean he’s always been kind of obsessed with you in a weird, annoying, enemies-to-lovers type way. you never just saw. Thought it was you guys kink” She says

“Stop romanticizing my misery,Adrian has always been a bully ” I snap, though a reluctant laugh escapes me. “He’s the last person I would ever marry. Ever”

Angela raises a brow. “Last person or last last person?”

“Don’t you start too,” I mutter, glaring at both of them. She raises her hands up in surrender

“Okay, fine,” Katy concedes, rolling her eyes. “I’m just saying if you end up with Adrian, I won’t be mad. The man is a billionaire with abs sculpted by the gods. I totally ship it. Hell if I was presented with the opportunity I’ll marry him ”

I groan again, leaning back into my chair as Angela chuckles. “Ignore her,” Angela says. “We’re focusing on the dating apps first. No Adrian. No exes. Just fresh, decent option

“Exes,” Katy repeats, frowning thoughtfully. “Brian is he really out of the picture for good?Not an option at all?”

“Yeah,I don’t really see us together again ever ” I say quickly, looking away before she sees the quick flash of pain in my eyes. “He is.”

She studies me for a moment, although sensing there’s something I’m not saying, but thankfully, she lets it go. “Well then,” she says brightly, clapping her hands, “let the dating games begin. And Chris no matter what happens, we’ve got you, okay?if I have to marry you myself to secure that position I will ”

I nod silently, my chest tightening. Angela squeezes my shoulder in support as Katy begins rattling off dating profile tips. Their voices fade into the background as I stare out the window again, wondering how my life turned into a twisted romcom.

Marry for love? I’ve stopped believing in that a long time ago.

Marry for duty? I hate that even more.

Marry for survival?

And deep down, as much as I hate to admit it, there is a small, dangerous part of me that wonders what marrying Adrian Kellerham would truly feel like. And that’s really scary to say the least because I had never imagined this happening at all but if it’s what I got to do to make it work then I’ll do it.

I will not be letting my handwork and dreams go to waste and give this people the satisfaction of seeing me fail.