Chapter 4 _ The Flip

**Fiona's POV**

Seeing my moody state, Rowan cleared his throat and apologized. "I am sorry about the call, but you know I love Sage very much. I just had to explain what our marriage is all about to her. You don't have to get mad at me because of it."

I nodded, even though what I really wanted to do was yell at him and tell him I never wanted to hear about Sage again. I pressed my lips together and looked away as Rowan started the car. My stomach rumbled, as I hadn't eaten yet. He drove me away from the bureau of marriage affairs and navigated along the road.

"Where are you taking me? I am famished," I asked weakly, avoiding his gaze.

"Oh, that's right. We should stop at a nearby restaurant for breakfast. I also want to drop by a jewelry store to get our wedding rings so my grandfather won't think we are faking it to claim his wealth," Rowan said softly, keeping his eyes on the road as he turned the steering wheel toward the nearest restaurant in the city.

"But it's a fake marriage. We don't need to wear rings," I argued, not wanting one—especially after hearing how intimately he spoke to Sage on the phone.

Rowan drew a sharp breath and gritted out, "Fiona, you agreed to marry me, so you will wear my ring. There is no need to argue about this."

I pressed my lips together and looked away as he pulled the car to a stop outside the restaurant.

"Let's go in for breakfast. We have a lot to catch up on today," Rowan said.

I nodded and got out of the car with him. As we walked inside, I heard the other patrons whispering and gossiping.

"Oh my god! Isn't that Rowan Carson, the billionaire CEO of the Carson Group? I heard he is in a relationship with the model Sage Andrews. How is he here so early with another woman? Do you think he is cheating on her?"

Some of the young women glared at me. I lowered my head and walked beside Rowan as he led me to a table for our meal. The table had four chairs, so Rowan and I took two seats before the waitress came to take our order.

"Welcome to our restaurant, sir, ma'am. What are your orders?"

Rowan looked at me. "What would you like to eat?"

Glancing at the menu, I asked, "Is a plate of pasta available?"

"Yes. Will that be all, madam?" the waitress asked.

I nodded without looking at her face. She glanced at Rowan and asked, "How about your order, Mr. Carson?"

It hadn't occurred to me how popular Rowan was. This was the first time I had ever gone to a restaurant with him, and I assumed he must have brought Sage Andrews here before. She was his true love, after all—why wouldn't he hang out with her?

"Whatever she chooses," Rowan said, gesturing toward me.

The waitress's eyes widened. She looked at me and replied, "On it."

When the food arrived, Rowan and I began to eat. I did not raise my head to meet his gaze, though I could feel his eyes all over my body. *Why is he staring at me like that? Does he regret marrying me now?* I wondered silently, not bothering to ask.

My phone rang in my handbag resting on my lap.

"Excuse me, sir," I said, knowing Rowan was watching me like a hawk.

I quickly pulled my phone out and glanced at the caller ID, my mind racing with the thought that Mary Silas was calling back to see if the wedding went through. Instead, I was stunned to see my father's name etched across the screen. Clearing my throat, I quickly answered the call. "Hello Dad."

"Fiona, where are you?" Dad asked, his voice cold.

"Dad, I went out with my boss today," I replied nervously, acutely aware I had secretly gotten married without informing my parents.

"Fiona, did I not tell you to meet Josh Edwards today? You are to marry Mr. Edwards's only son. How can you forget what we discussed on Monday?" Dad snapped, and I froze.

"Dad—" My cheeks flushed. Mr. Edwards was a business man and Rowan's competitor. We had met once before he rushed over to my parents to propose. How could my father think I wanted to marry him? Josh flirted with many women, and he had even flirted with me at the office.

"Fiona, come home now. Josh is coming today by 2:00 PM, and you need to go on a date with him so you can marry. You're twenty-two years old and old enough to marry. When I married your mother, she was eighteen," Dad said firmly.

"Dad, those were the old days. This is the twenty-first century. I cannot marry a man I do not love," I replied with a cold voice, even though I knew I was lying. I told him I couldn't marry a man I didn't love—yet here I was, married to my boss under a two-year contract.

"Fiona, this calls for no negotiation. Come home quickly, and I won't tell you twice. Before 2:00 PM, you should be home to welcome the Edwards son. Got it?" Dad demanded, his voice giving me no room to argue.

I avoided looking at my boss, though I could feel his gaze crawling over my skin.

"Got it, Dad," I replied bitterly, feeling the tension spike around the dining table.

"Good. I will call you later," Dad said, before ending the call.

The moment I dropped my phone, it rang again. I picked it up, still avoiding Rowan's blue eyes, which had turned the table gloomy.

"Hello, who is this?" I asked, seeing an unknown contact. My mind immediately suspected it was Josh Edwards.

"Is this my future wife, Fiona Gabriel? I told you I would marry you, didn't I?" Josh asked, his voice laced with amusement.

I dared not meet Rowan's gaze, certain he might snap and snatch my phone away. My boss had never been angry with me in the six months I had worked for him, but now his mood was growing glacial.

"Mr. Edwards, how did you get my number?" I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral to show Rowan I hadn't given it to him.

"Your dad, of course. Ever since I saw you at the Carson Group, I haven't been able to stop dreaming about you. I see you in my dreams every night, and I can't stop thinking about the beautiful kids we'll have together, Fiona. How much does Rowan pay you? From what I found out about his company, he only pays you two hundred thousand per month. You should quit that job. I will pay you one million. Besides, you will be my wife, and with your potential, I'm sure the Edwards Group will climb to the top of the global corporate ladder," Josh said, bubbling with excitement.

A cold sweat broke out on my forehead. Before I could respond, Rowan rose to his feet, snatched the phone from my ear, and startled me as he yelled into it: "Josh, Fiona is never going to marry you. She is my wife. Forget about her coming to work for you or marrying you. We are legally married. Do not call her number again."

I stared at Rowan with wide eyes as he ended the call and blocked Josh's number on my phone. Anger flared inside me as I noticed the other patrons staring in shock after hearing Rowan publicly declare me his wife.

"Mr. Carson, why would you end my call like that? You promised to keep our marriage a secret because you have a true love. What right do you have to interfere in my personal life?" I queried him coldly.

I couldn't believe his double standard. He told me I was only a wife on paper and shouldn't broadcast our marriage—a trophy status any other woman would proudly post on social media. Yet here he was, snatching my phone and dismissing a potential suitor. Was this how I interfered with his relationship with Sage?