Chapter 2

Fiona's POV:

I knew the marriage registration would take time.

That morning, I felt nervous as I climbed into my boss's car. He opened the door for me to sit in the front seat—the first time I would ride with him.

Nervously, I settled in, his tobacco scent enveloping me like a blanket. I gulped hard.

Once the door shut, Mr. Carson walked to the driver's side and sat down.

"Are you sure you agree to this contract marriage, Fiona? My lawyer will draft the contract. Once we divorce, I'll settle you with a 20 percent share from my company. By then, Carson Group will have grown even more."

My cheeks flushed as I listened to Mr. Carson's voice.

The naive me nodded, avoiding his eyes. "I agree, sir—even if it's just to be your wife on paper for one year. I want to be with you."

"Mmm." Mr. Carson pursed his lips. I glanced at his face; his Adam's apple bobbed, and he looked away.

"Remember the rules, Fiona. No love attachment. Grip your heart tight and know I'm only doing this to claim Grandpa's assets before they go to the orphanages," Mr. Carson replied. He reminded me to fasten my seat belt.

"Alright, sir," I said, sealing my lips.

I pulled out my phone to distract myself. Sweat beaded on my skin despite the air conditioning. Sitting in the same car as my boss, breathing his air, aroused me.

I avoided looking at him. Instead, I texted Mary: "I'm getting married to my boss today."

"What?" Mary replied immediately, gasping in the message.

"Are you serious, Fiona? You're marrying Rowan Carson. He's way out of your league, and he has a fiancée," she wrote, doubting my words.

Rowan's gaze fixed on the road. I lowered my phone screen and snapped a photo of his well-defined profile.

"Yeah. Look—we're on our way to the marriage registry. He says it's only a contract marriage; we'll be married on paper for two years," I explained. Mary shrieked back with shocked emojis.

"True. I'll chat later. We've arrived at the registry," I told her. She asked,

"Are you sure you can do this? I can't believe you're marrying a billionaire for two years. This is risky, Fiona. Won't you have sex with him?"

My heart raced, cheeks flushing.

"I can do it. It's just short-term. Since he has another woman, I won't fall in love," I replied quickly.

"Fine. I hope you let go when the time comes," Mary warned. My heart ached at her words, but I forced a tight smile and typed, "Of course."

After my chat with Mary ended, I noticed Rowan watching me from the driver's seat.

"Who are you chatting with that makes your face so red and flushed?" Rowan asked, his voice cold, eyes laced with suspicion.

I moved to tuck my phone into my bag. "My best friend."

"A man or a woman?"

"What?" My eyes widened at his question. "A woman," I replied quickly.

"Let me see the chat." Rowan demanded my phone. I frowned at his lack of trust, but I pushed aside the pain in my heart and handed it over with a trembling hand.

"Unlock it; let me see. Our marriage agreement includes no cheating while we're married. You'll be faithful to me alone, Fiona. I hope you can keep that clause," Rowan said as I entered my password.

"I will. You should keep it too," I replied, meeting his gaze with a challenge.

"Sure." Rowan smiled. His cold demeanor softened as he read my chat with Mary.

"Must you read my private messages? I don't have access to your phone or your chats. Isn't this inappropriate?" I asked as his brows furrowed over my silly exchange with Mary.

Rowan also spotted the short video of us in his car.

He turned off my phone's screen, handed it back, and cleared his throat, meeting my nervous gaze.

"You can't have access to my phone. Don't forget, I'm your boss, and I'm still in love with Sage. You'll be with me for these two years until she returns. Once she's back, we end the marriage. You don't expect me not to chat with Sage?" he asked coldly.

My heart hurt. "So that means I can have a secret boyfriend too, right?"

"No, Fiona. No boyfriend. Do you have one? You'll break up with him during our short-term marriage."

My face fell, and I lowered my head.

"Fiona," Rowan called my name, as he did in the office.

"Yes, sir," I replied. Tears filled my eyes. I raised my head to meet his gaze.

"Why are you crying? Do you want to back out? I told you: no relationships from you, no sex with other men during our marriage. You'll be my wife only at home and for family events. But you won't post about our marriage publicly or tell anyone beyond your family and a few close friends that you're my contract wife—not my true love."

I blinked back tears, looked away, and replied, "Got it."

"Fiona, are you sure you can do this? If it's too hard, I'll find another woman," Rowan asked softly.

"I can. We're here, so let's get the registration done," I told him. He nodded.

"That's fine. My lawyer, Albert Paulson, is here." Rowan gestured to his friend. I recognized Albert as the company's lawyer.

When Albert saw me step out of Rowan's car, his eyes widened in shock, and he frowned.

"Fiona, are you sure you want this contract marriage? You know Rowan has a lover and still loves Sage Andrews. Are you certain? Haven't you considered another man who might like you?" Albert demanded, glaring at me.

"Albert, what is that supposed to mean? We're here, so do your job and stop asking Fiona ridiculous questions. Or are you interested in marrying her?" Rowan asked, clearly annoyed that his best friend and lawyer was prying.

We stood beside Rowan's car, the sun warming us. Albert said,

"Rowan, I have to ensure this is what Fiona wants. Whether I have feelings for her or not is irrelevant, but she's too pretty and humble to be used and dumped by you," Albert retorted as Rowan's best friend.

Rowan's jaw clenched. He shifted his gaze to me. As I lowered my head to avoid their stares,

"Go on and answer him, Fiona. Do you want to marry me or not?" Rowan asked, his voice laced with irritation.

I met Rowan's gaze and Albert's as they waited for my response—again.

I took a deep breath and replied with trembling lips, "I will marry you."

"Fiona, you don't have to do this," Albert said coldly. I shuddered.

"Albert, if you don't want to draft the contract, that's fine. I'll get another lawyer," Rowan said coldly. Albert glared at me and replied, "Fine. I'll draft it since it's what Fiona wants. I hope she doesn't regret it."

Albert exhaled sharply and walked away.

Rowan looked at me. "Let's go. Don't worry about Albert's behavior. He has mood swings sometimes, like a pregnant woman."

"Alright." I smiled nervously, cheeks flushing, and lowered my head. Part of me knew Albert was concerned about my loveless marriage. But I hadn't realized he liked me.

Nervously, I followed Rowan into the marriage registry building.