006

Kai's Point of View.

The moment I stepped out of the sitting room, the echo of Katherine’s voice still lingered in my ears. “We’ll see.” Such defiance. Such fire. 

I had expected her to push back, maybe even try to negotiate her way out of this mess. However, the way she stood her ground, unbending, made me believe her to be more than just a piece on a chessboard.

Not that I’d let her know that.

“Lex," I called out, as I strolled down the hall, the sound of my voice sufficient to bring him out of the darkness. He suddenly stood beside me, face expressionless as usual.

“Yes, boss?”

“Make the arrangements,” I said curtly. “ The marriage should be made public but its ceremony details should be managed by us. No leaks.”

Lex gave a short nod, his expression unreadable. “Do you trust her?”

I stopped walking, turning to face him. “Trust isn’t part of this equation. She's a variable I can manipulate in some way.

He paused for a nanosecond, but I saw it. “Understood,” he said, though his tone suggested otherwise.

I got back on my feet walking again, while my thoughts kept circling the people shown on the board. Katherine had agreed to marry me, however she did not know what that really entailed. Not yet.

If I went back to the office I wasn't thinking clearly. The perception replay of Katherine's behavioural response occurred, in my mind, with a sharp tongue, a moment of fear in her eyes quickly transmuted into resolute resolve. 

Most people crumbled under my presence, but not her. She was, of course, unpredictable, but not the irresponsible sort I'd envisioned. There was something calculating about her, something I hadn’t fully grasped yet.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.

“Come in,” I said, already knowing who it was.

Katherine stepped into the room, her posture tense but her chin held high. She wasn’t afraid, at least not visibly. Instead, she seemed…curious.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I inquired, tilting back in my seat and gazingly at her, quite mildly.

“You said the arrangements would be made immediately,” she said, her tone clipped. “I want to know what that entails.”

I smirked, gesturing to the chair opposite me. “Take a seat.”

She stopped, but then yielded, settling on the edge of the seat, as if ready to take flight the very next second.

“Details will be handled by my team,” I began, swirling the whiskey I had poured earlier but never finished. “A ceremony, minimal guests, all for show. After that, you’ll move into my home—”

“Your home?” she interrupted, her tone sharp.

“Yes, my home,” I said, my voice firm. “It’s a necessary part of the arrangement. A married couple living apart raises questions.”

She crossed her arms, leaning back slightly. “And what exactly will my role be in this…arrangement?”

I tilted my head, studying her. “You’ll be my wife. You'll keep to yourself, appearances in public, rare happenings, etc.”

“Stay out of your way,” she repeated, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Sounds thrilling.”

“You agreed to this, Katherine,” I said, my tone dropping to a warning. “Don’t forget that.”

She met my gaze, unflinching. “I agreed because I didn’t have a choice. But don’t expect me to play the obedient little wife.”

A laugh escaped me, low and amused. “Obedient isn’t a word I’d associate with you.”

She didn't answer but a burning in her eyes glowed brighter.

“Good,” I said after a moment. “Keep that fire. You’ll need it.”

The days leading up to the ceremony passed quickly. Katherine spent the majority of her waking hours in the guest wing, though she would sometimes be escorted out, by guards. I made it a point to observe her, watching how she interacted with the staff, how she moved through my world with quiet defiance.

She was learning, I realized. Adapting.

The day of the ceremony arrived with little fanfare. A private gathering, in the ballroom of one of my properties. Katherine was led to the service by Lex, both in a resigned and determined way. She wore a simple dress, elegant yet understated, and for a moment, I was struck by how composed she looked.

The ceremony was quick, almost clinical, as though it were a business transaction—and in many ways, it was. 

Yet, when the minister asked if she wanted to agree to marry me, a hush fell over the congregation, there was a pause for a gasp or two, which was just visible to me, as if my presence on that doorstep just became very, very heavy.

“Yes,” she said finally, her voice steady.

I slipped the ring onto her finger, the weight of that instant felt too by both of us.

We then went back to the estate in the evening and arranged for a small reception. Katherine remained by my side, her expression neutral as she greeted the few guests in attendance. 

She played her role well, but I could see the cracks in her façade—the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers toyed with the edge of her glass. As the last of the guests left, I turned to her.

“You did well,” I said, my tone unreadable.

“Thanks,” she replied dryly.

I smirked, stepping closer. “But the real challenge starts now.”

Her gaze met mine, unwavering. “I’m not afraid of you, Kai.”

“Good,” I said softly. “Fear makes people predictable. I prefer you like this—unpredictable.”

For a moment, we stood there, the air between us charged. And without her even saying a sentence, I headed straight toward the exit and walked away, leaving her in the middle of the empty ball room.

As the night wore on, I found myself in my study, the whiskey in my glass unattended, and my mind too restless to be soothed.

I married Katherine, indeed, in order to save her, and myself. But, when I replayed the events of the day, I couldn't help but feel that I had misjudged her.

She was a pawn on the board, yes, but she wasn't a pawn I could not easily manipulate. And that both intrigued and unsettled me.

Katherine wasn’t just a pawn. She was becoming something far more dangerous.

A queen.

And if I wasn't careful, she could even take the board away from underneath me.

—