Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

ADRIANS POV

I sit in my office, staring blankly into my office at the towering skyline beyond my window. The sun is high up casting sharp shadows across my glass table. I take a sip of my coffee that has been in my hand and it taste turns bitter.

What the hell did I just do?

Offer to Marry Christine Paige? That’s bollocks even the thought alone is enough to make me laugh, a dry humorless laugh.If someone had told me years ago that I would one day offer to marry Christine, I would have called them insane. Yet here I am.

The door opens quietly, and Mark steps in without knocking.As he always does. He never needs to. Dressed in his usual tailored suit, tie slightly loosened, like he just came from a meeting he looks every inch the confident, ruthless boss he is except for the flicker of concern in his brown eyes.

“You okay?” he asks, closing the door behind him and taking a seat across from me without waiting for an invitation. Like I said as usual.

I shrug and lean back into my chair. “Define okay.”

Mark exhales slowly. “I just spoke to Sophie. She said you cancelled your two o’clock with marketing. She’s worried. I’m worried.”

I glance over to where Sophie, my ever-efficient PA, has neatly arranged files on a side table. She’s been working with me for three years now, hardworking, discreet, and the only person other than Mark who dares to remind me to eat.

“I’m fine,” I mutter.

Mark leans forward, clasping his hands. “Talk to me. What happened at the meeting with Dreamspace? Is it Christine? I know you guys always fight.”

I snort quietly. Then I say “I offered to marry Christine.”

His brows shoot up so fast I almost laugh again. “You what?”

And then he starts laughing like full on laughing hysterically like a hyena.

I rub my temple tiredly. “I offered to marry her. To help her keep her CEO position. As that was a clause they just have her”

Mark is silent for a long moment, studying me. “Is that really why you did it?” he finally asks , voice low. He is looking at me deeply.

My jaw tightens. “What other reason could there be?”

He raises an eyebrow. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe the fact that you’ve been obsessed with her since we were kids?”

I glare at him “I won’t say obsessed” I say under my breath but he just chuckles softly. We’ve known each other since high school, he helped me after my fathers death and I wanted to get Adove back from Stakeholders , and now run Adove side by side. If anyone sees through my bullshit, it’s Mark.

“She’s something else stubborn but just something ,” I say after a moment. “Always has been. Even back then, she never let me win without a fight. And I know very well she will put up a fight about this.”

“Yeah,” Mark agrees with a grin. “You two were always bickering and fighting over everything. Who got the best grades. Who ran faster in PE. Who gave the better speech in debate club.”

I smile despite myself, the memories flooding back. Christine in her skirts and ponytail, glaring at me from across the classroom as she scribbled down notes furiously. It was amusing. Christine in college, confidently pitching internship projects I secretly admired. Christine now, all sharp suits and sharper words, her eyes blazing with determination every time she looks at me.

God, I’ve always admired her. Always wanted her. Even if I spent years pretending otherwise by always fighting with her.

I swirl the coffee again, watching it slosh against the sides. “Her dad told her about the marriage clause today. She looked defeated and really sad about the whole thing eveh stormed out during the meeting I know she was holding back tears . I couldn’t stand it.”

Mark leans back in his chair, folding his arms. “So you swooped in like some corporate knight in shining armor.How convenient .” He chuckles

I chuckle humorlessly. “Something like that.”

We sit in silence for a while, the only sound is the faint tick of the clock in my office.“You know your mother is going to throw a party the second she hears.”

I roll my eyes. “She’s been nagging me to get married for years. Always suggesting Christine, too. She will be thrilled. I might not tell it’s a contract marriage though she will feel I manipulated Christine No matter the good intentions ”

“Yeah, she has good taste,” he says with a smirk. “Smart, beautiful, driven and she hates your guts. The perfect wife for you.”

“Thanks a lot man” I mutter sarcastically.

Mark’s expression softens slightly. “But seriously, Adrian are you sure you’re ready for this? It’s not a game you know contract or not”

“I know,” I say quietly.

But I don’t tell him the whole truth . I don’t tell him the part that keeps twisting in my gut like a knife. The part where I know I didn’t do this just for her CEO position. Or even just to get my mother off my back. The part that might make her hate me.

I did it because of Brian.

Because I was the reason their relationship ended. I could not stand it anymore not because I was jealous or anything but I knew she deserved better even if it made her spend nights crying in her room but I know I had to do what needs to be done. I hope she understands from my angle and see reasons even if I meddled but it needed to be done.

But the truth is darker than business strategy.

I did it because I couldn’t stand the thought of her marrying anyone but me.

“Earth to Adrian,” Mark says, snapping his fingers in front of my face. I blink, dragging myself out of my guilt ridden thoughts.

“What?”

He sighs. “I asked what you’re going to say to her.”

I stare out the window again, “Nothing. She doesn’t need to know of the reasons at all.”

Mark shakes his head. “You’re an idiot.”

“I know.”

He stands and claps my shoulder lightly. “Well, idiot or not, you’re still my partner. I’ve got a board call now. Text me if you need anything.”

“Yeah.”

Once he leave the office falls silent again and I close my eyes settling in my guilt and my decisions.

Christine Paige will be my wife.

Not because it’s the right thing to do.

Not because it’s noble.

But because Adrian Kellerham never loses.

And he’s done watching her from afar.