Chapter 7

Fiona's POV:

The thought of grasping Rowan like that and kissing him passionately made my thighs clench, my intimate area throb with primal desire to feel my boss touch me there. But I shook my head, reminding myself it was a fake marriage. I shouldn't get my heart involved.

"Fiona," Rowan called my name. I gritted out, "Got it. You don't have to remind me of my duties as your fake wife."

"Fine. We've arrived at your father's house," Rowan said as he parked his car at the familiar black gate.

My heart raced, wondering how my parents would welcome my boss. This was the first time Mr. Carson had come to my house.

I breathed out heavily, unfastened my seatbelt, and got out of the car. I tried to avoid his gaze; his masculine tobacco scent lingered in my nostrils.

Rowan exited through the other door and locked the car. He walked with me to the gate. I glanced at his tall, formidable features—he towered above me. I didn't reach his shoulder, even in my heels.

I knew Sage Andrews was taller than me. I pushed open the small black gate and asked, "Sir, aren't you driving in?"

"No." Rowan replied calmly and grasped my left arm, pulling me closer. "Fiona, I warned you not to call me sir."

"Alright, my husband," I replied, my cheeks flushed as we stepped into the vast compound. The gatekeeper looked surprised to see my boss and me, but I greeted him and led Rowan to the front of the bungalow where my parents lived.

Hearing my footsteps on the veranda, the front door swung open. My mother stepped out in a blue dress that fell past her knees. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw Rowan standing in his shining black shoes.

"Good afternoon, Mom," I greeted quickly. She was slender despite being a 48-year-old woman. Tall, she smiled and welcomed us.

"Fiona, where did you go? Who are you, sir?" Mom asked, even though she knew my boss.

Rowan smiled politely and introduced himself. "Good afternoon, ma'am. I'm Rowan Carson, CEO of Carson Group."

"Oh. You're the man who secretly married my daughter. Come in," Mom said, ushering us into the vast parlor. My brothers were home—they didn't work weekends.

Sunny and Max sat at the dining table, eating their dinner. Seeing me step into the living room, their jaws dropped as Rowan followed.

"Good afternoon, brothers," I greeted them; they were older than me.

"Fiona, what's going on?" Sunny asked, peering at me as I nervously walked to the dining table. Mom stood with Rowan in the living room.

Dad was still in his room.

"Is it true you got married to your boss? Why didn't you tell us?" Sunny asked coldly. I pouted and lowered my head.

I couldn't bring myself to explain to my brothers why I'd married my boss.

Sunny was a videographer, while Max was a footballer who hadn't signed with an international team yet. He played locally, but they paid him generously.

"Boys, it's okay. Since Mr. Carson is here, you shouldn't take it out on Fiona," Mom said softly, glancing at my brothers. They could be gentle or tough.

"Mm." Sunny pressed his lips, not responding. He wasn't happy that I hadn't told him about my short-term marriage before leaving that morning.

Dad strode out of the corridor into the living room. The atmosphere shifted as I turned to face him.

"Dad, good afternoon," I greeted. He wore a white top and black trousers. His eyes narrowed at me, but he stayed calm and took a seat in the living room.

Rowan quickly greeted my father. "Good afternoon, sir."

"Afternoon. Are you my daughter's boss?" Dad asked; he didn't know who my boss was.

"Yes, sir. I'm Fiona's boss," Rowan replied nervously, standing before my parents while Dad ordered me over.

"Come here, Fiona. You know how marriage works in our village. You can't secretly marry any man without our knowledge and blessings. Do you want the marriage to have problems?" Dad asked furiously, trying to keep his voice calm in front of my boss.

"Dad, I knew you and Mom wouldn't approve. It's a short-term marriage," I announced. My parents gasped.

"What?"

"What's a short-term marriage, Fiona? What's wrong with you? Is this the result we get from sending you to university?" Dad asked, struggling to control his temper.

"Calm down, honey. Fiona, what do you mean by short-term? Is this what you both agreed to?" Mom asked, staring from me to my boss.

Rowan didn't back me up. He sat like a king, letting me face the interrogation alone.

"Mom, my boss needs my help to get his grandpa's wealth. After two years, we'll divorce. It's not an official wedding—no one will know we're married until the term expires. Then I can marry whoever I love, even Josh Edwards if you want," I said. My parents fell silent.

My brothers said nothing either.

"Is this the agreement you have with my daughter?" Dad finally asked, glaring at Rowan.

"Yes, sir. I'll pay Fiona 20 percent shares by then. We won't have children to avoid complications. But she'll move in with me and act as my wife."

"And will you both have sex?" Mom asked. My cheeks flushed as I lowered my head.

Rowan coughed, avoiding the answer.

"I'm not sure," he lied, even though he'd already told me it was inevitable.

"I find it hard to believe you won't touch my daughter. In case you don't know, Fiona hasn't been in a relationship before—she's still a virgin. We hoped to secure her marriage with Josh Edwards, but you've ruined it and called it off. No man will want to marry Fiona after you use and dump her. We can't support this. Fiona, you have to get a divorce," Mom said firmly. My jaw dropped.