Chapter 2: Contract Marriage Offer

The contact on Eleanor’s lips lasted only a few seconds. Yet to Eleanor, time felt as though it had come to a complete standstill.

Her body froze. Her heart was beating so violently that she felt as if anyone nearby could hear it. A deep flush spread across her cheeks, leaving her struggling to draw breath.

She looked up to find Archie gazing at her with a soft expression, but she remained rooted to the spot, stiff as a board.

What on earth had just happened?

Why had Archie kissed her? She was nothing more than an ordinary staff member at his company. Their relationship was strictly professional—that of a boss and a subordinate.

In fact, Eleanor only ever interacted with Archie during shared meetings.

Beyond that, there was no closeness whatsoever. So why had he taken the liberty of kissing her out of nowhere? Archie had truly lost his mind!

Archie’s expression remained gentle as he looked at Eleanor, but it hardened instantly as his eyes turned back to Greta.

Greta’s jaw tightened. “You’ve completely lost your mind, Archie!” Her face flushed bright red with fury.

She pointed a finger back and forth between Archie and Eleanor. “The two of you...” Greta shook her head slowly. “I don’t believe this.”

A faint smirk played on Archie’s lips. “No one asked for your opinion.”

“One thing is clear—I never joke about what I say.” Archie’s gaze sharpened on Greta.

Eleanor nearly choked when she heard those words.

Our relationship?

Eleanor stared at him in disbelief. Was her boss—a man infamous throughout the company for being cold and uncompromising—really lying right through his teeth?

She was utterly speechlessness. Then she heard Archie speak again.

“I have already chosen the woman I am going to marry. And I will never accept the arranged marriage between us.” Archie’s gaze remained sharp and unwavering as he stared Greta down.

Greta’s hands balled into tight fists at her sides. Her jaw clenched, her face burning red with rage.

How could she possibly lose to an ordinary woman like Eleanor?

She couldn’t accept it; Greta felt deeply humiliated by Archie’s decision.

Her glare toward Eleanor was no longer merely condescending—it was an explosive rage at having to lose to a woman who wasn't even remotely on her level.

Greta’s eyes flashed with venom as she fixed them on Eleanor.

Pointing a finger at Eleanor, she demanded, “Are you serious about choosing her over me?”

Archie stared back blankly at the hysterical woman.

His silence served as a crystal-clear answer.

Greta let out a forced, theatrical laugh to vent her utter disbelief.

“Fine.” Greta’s eyes gleamed with malice.

She reached out and snatched a glass of water off the table. Without hesitation, she splashed its contents straight toward Eleanor’s face.

Before Eleanor could even comprehend what was happening, shock took over as Archie stepped directly in front of her, shielding her from the incoming water.

Now, the back of Archie’s expensive suit jacket was drenched.

Eleanor stared in shock at Archie, who had actually protected her. Archie’s expression made his displeasure abundantly clear.

Greta gasped, hastily setting the glass back down.

“You...” Greta seethed with frustration that Archie would go so far as to cover Eleanor. Finally, she grabbed her purse and stormed out without another word, leaving Eleanor and Archie alone.

After Greta’s departure, Eleanor continued to stare at Archie, who stood directly in front of her, impossibly close.

“Why did you do that, sir? Why did you drag me into your mess by claiming I’m your lover?” Eleanor asked, her eyes full of confusion.

“In that case, marry me.” Archie looked at her with utmost seriousness.

Eleanor gasped, staring at him in utter disbelief.

“Y-You must be joking, Mr. Richter.” She stared at him incredulously. A second later, she let out a soft laugh, convincing herself he was only teasing. “Are you still caught up in the charade you were playing, sir? You really gave me a fright.”

Archie’s gaze never wavered. He kept his eyes locked on her before speaking again. “I am entirely serious. Marry me. Since you’re already involved in my mess, we might as well see it through.”

Eleanor’s laugh cut off abruptly. Her face stiffened, her eyes widening in disbelief.

“Why on earth should I marry you? I may be your subordinate at the company, Mr. Richter, but that doesn’t mean you can just propose to me out of nowhere.” Eleanor delivered a firm, implicit rejection.

“Then what if the reason isn’t because we’re boss and employee, but to save your pride?”

Eleanor went quiet, staring at Archie as a deep frown formed on her forehead.

“What do you mean, sir?” she pressed.

Archie’s eyes grew intense as he heard her question, and he explained, “Didn’t your fiancé just throw you away for another woman? By marrying me, you can silence everyone who ever looked down on you.”

Eleanor gasped. “You heard all of that?”

She stared at him, unable to believe it. How could Archie have overheard the argument between her and Julian?

Eleanor had to admit her voice had been raised earlier. Especially when Julian had blatantly insulted her—mocking the fact that she had been cast aside and disowned by her own father, even going so far as to say she was nothing more than a bargaining chip in a business deal.

She had been deeply hurt by those insults. They were targeted directly at her, tearing her heart to pieces.

“A contract marriage. What do you say? Do we have a deal? We’ll only be married for one year, and after that, you’ll be free.” Archie spoke again after a heavy silence fell between them.

Eleanor remained quiet, lost in thought. As furious as she was with Julian, was marrying Archie really her only way out?

Yet, when she recalled how her father had treated her all these years... perhaps a contract marriage with Archie wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Eleanor looked up at Archie. She swallowed hard before speaking. “Alright, I accept. It’s strictly a contract marriage, right?”