Chapter 2

FIONA'S POV:

I nervously sat in the front seat, as Rowan's tobacco scent surrounding me like a blanket. This was the first time that I would be riding with my boss.

Once the car door shut, Rowan walked over to the other side and sat in the driver's seat.

"Are you sure you agree to this contract marriage, Fiona? I will have my lawyer draft the contract. Once we divorce, I will settle you with some shares from my company, a 20% stake. I believe by then, the Carson Group will have developed more than it is," Rowan said, and my cheeks flushed, listening to his deep voice.

The naive me nodded, as I avoided meeting his blue eyes. "I agree, sir, even if it's to be your wife on paper for only one year. I want to be with you."

"Mmm," Rowan pursed his lips as I peered at his face. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he looked away.

"Remember the rules, Fiona. No love attached. You should grip your heart firmly and know that I am only doing this to take over my grandfather's assets before it gets to the orphanage homes," Rowan reminded me the purpose of the marriage, before reminding me to fasten my seatbelt.

"Alright, sir," I replied, sealing my lips. I took out my phone to distract my brain as I was already sweating in the car. Despite the air conditioning, I was already aroused, sitting in the same car as my boss and breathing the same air that he breathed.

I did not look at him; instead, I texted Mary, "I am getting married to my boss today."

"What?" Mary gasped, replying to my chat immediately.

"Are you serious, Fiona? You are marrying Rowan Carson. He is way out of your league, and he has a fiancée," she pointed out, doubting if I was telling her the truth.

Sliding the phone downward as Rowan's gaze was on the road, I lowered my phone screen and captured a snapshot of his well-defined profile.

"Yeah. Have a look, we are on our way to the marriage registry. Though he says it's only a contract marriage. We will be married on paper for two years," I briefed Mary, and she shrieked, sending me emojis that were shocked.

"Okay, I will chat with you later. We have arrived at the marriage registry," I informed Mary, and she asked me, "Are you sure you will be able to do this? I cannot believe that you're getting married to a billionaire for two years. This is risky, Fiona. Won't you have sex with him?"

My heart raced as my cheeks flushed. "I can do it. It's just a short-term marriage. Since I know he has a woman, I won't fall in love with him," I quickly replied.

"Fine. I just hope you will let go when that time comes," Mary reminded me, and though my heart ached painfully at her words, I forced a tight smile and replied, "Of course."

After the chat with Mary ended, I saw Rowan looking at me as he sat in the driver's seat.

"Who are you chatting with that makes your face red and blushing to yourself?" Rowan asked me, his deep voice made my thighs to clenched, and his sharp blue eyes locked on mine with suspicion.

Wanting to keep my phone in my handbag, I replied nervously, "My best friend."

"A man or a woman?"

"What?" My eyes widened at his inquiry. "A woman of course," I quickly replied.

"Let me see the chat," Rowan demanded for my phone, and though I frowned because he didn't trust me. I waved the pang of pain in my heart and handed my phone to him with a trembling hand.

"Unlock the chat, let me see. You should know that part of our marriage agreement says that you will not cheat on me while we are married. You will be married to me alone, Fiona. I hope you can keep up with this clause?" Rowan pointed out the bitter truth as I input my phone password.

"I will. You should keep up with the clause too," I replied sternly with a challenging gaze.

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

"Must you read my private chat? I don't have access to your phone, or who you chat with. Do you not think it's inappropriate for you to read my chat?" I told him as his brows furrowed upon reading my silly chat with Mary. He also saw the short video of the two of us in his car.

Shutting off my phone screen, Rowan handed it back to me and cleared his throat, meeting my nervous gaze.

"You cannot have access to my phone. Do not forget, I am your boss, and I am still in love with Sage. The only thing is that you will be with me for these two years until Sage returns. Once she is back, we will end our marriage. You do not expect me not to chat with Sage, do you?" he inquired.

My heart hurt, and I asked him eagerly, "So that means I can have a secret boyfriend too, right?"

"No, Fiona. No boyfriend. Do you have a boyfriend? You have to break up with him during the course of our marriage," Rowan replied, and my face fell as I lowered my head.

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

"Yes, sir," I replied, though my eyes were filled with tears. 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, and no sex with other men during our marriage. You will be my wife, only at home and to accompany me for family events. But you will not post about our marriage to the public or tell anyone apart from your family and a few close friends that you are my contract wife, not my main wife or true love."

Blinking my tears, I looked away and replied, "Got it."

"Fiona, are you sure that you can do this? If it's too hard, I will get another woman?" Rowan asked me softly.

"I can. I have already arrived here, so let's get the marriage registration done," I told him, and he nodded.

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

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

"Fiona, are you sure that you want this contract marriage? You should be aware that Rowan has a lover, and he is still in love with Sage Andrews. Are you sure you want this contract marriage? Haven't you thought of the possibility that another man might like you?" Albert pointed out.

"Albert, what's that supposed to mean? We are already 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 asking me personal questions.

As we stood beside Rowan's car, the sun bathed us, and Albert said, "Rowan, I have to be sure that this is what Fiona wants. Whether I have feelings for her or not has nothing to do with this, but she is too pretty and humble to be used and dumped by you," Albert retorted, as he was Rowan's best friend.

Rowan's jaw clenched as he shifted his gaze to look at me. Just as I lowered my head and avoided the two men's gazes.

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

Meeting Rowan's gaze and Albert's gaze as they both waited to hear my response for the umpteenth time, I took a deep breath and replied with trembling lips, "I will marry you."

"Fiona, you don't have to do this," Albert said, his voice cold, and I shuddered.

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

Albert breathed out hotly and walked away.

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

"Alright," I smiled nervously and lowered my head as my cheeks flushed. A part of me knew that Albert was concerned, knowing I was getting into a loveless marriage. But I didn't realize that Albert liked me before.

Nervously, I followed Rowan into the marriage affairs building.