Just A Contract, Not Love Yet

Rhea’s POV

One minute I was with my father, answering his questions about boyfriends. Next, I was seated in Mr. Rowan Langston’s office, my hands clasped tightly in my lap as I waited for him.

According to my dad, Rowan needed a fake bride. Someone discreet. Clean. No drama. No ill intentions. One year. That was all.

In return, I’d get an internship… Dad’s project would finally be approved, and a bright future would be waiting for me.

If only they knew I had darker plans. My father thought I was doing him a favor. He had no idea he had just handed me my obsession on a silver plate.

Just then, the door creaked open and a shadow broke through it. Mr. Rowan Langston stood there in his full glory. He walked toward me with a dominance that made my stomach churn.

He stopped right in front of me.

“What’s your name?” he asked, reaching out to my jaw and lifting my face where I had bent it nervously. His cold touch sent shivers racing through my body. Our eyes met and God… it felt like I was floating.

I swallowed hard, my throat tightening as if something solid were lodged there. “R… Rhea,” I stammered.

“Rhea,” he repeated, tasting my name. Oh, it sounded so good coming from him.

“How old are you?” he asked.

“I’m nineteen,” I said hurriedly. I caught the brief flash of dissatisfaction on his face. “I’ll be turning twenty in a few months,” I added quickly, like it would somehow change anything.

“Hmm.” He replied before moving to his seat.

“Your dad filled you in, right?” he asked, already seated, his legs crossed.

I nodded faintly.

“You have to use your words, Rhea.”

His voice dripped with dominance, forcing the words out of me. “Yes… he did.”

“Good.”

His eyes were already fixated on the file he had picked up from the table. My fingers dug into my thighs, trying to steady myself as my eyes betrayed me.

“Come closer.”

His deep voice echoed from where he sat. I bit my lip as I managed to stand, my legs turning to jelly. The gown I’d worn to look professional suddenly felt like a mistake. I dragged my feet toward the chair opposite him. Thankfully, he didn’t look up right away.

“Here.”

He handed me a file, finally lifting his head. His grey eyes locked onto mine, trapping me there until I felt a light nudge against my fingers.

“Oh,” I mouthed as I took it.

My hands were sweaty as I flipped through the pages, lost and unsure what I was even staring at.

“That’s everything you need to know about me, and a little fake storyline of how we met,” Rowan said, as if he noticed the confusion written all over my face. Or maybe he did.

I nodded slightly and began to read afresh.

The first page listed his full name and academic achievements. I smiled softly. Smart—obviously. I flipped through the mundane details, but each time I glanced up, his grey eyes were glued to me. My stomach knotted under his unblinking gaze.

Finally, I reached a more interesting section: his likes. Some I already knew, I was his stalker after all. I skimmed through his allergies and preferences; nothing about him was as mysterious as he himself was.

Then came the dislikes. The first: biting lips. I swallowed hard. Was that why he kept glaring at me?

Instinctively, I pressed my lips together and moved on. The rest were straightforward, with a note that more would be disclosed later.

As I reached the last page, his hand suddenly held mine. It was cold and warm at the same time, and heat shot through me instantly.

Then, just as quickly, he let go.

“Before you continue, I want to ask.” He paused, his face resting on his jaw. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Huh?” I replied without thinking. That was the last question I expected. Even with the air conditioner humming, heat pooled across my body.

“Do you?” he asked again, sharper this time.

I shook my head. “No, Sir.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Any exes I should worry about?”

I shook my head again. “No, Sir.”

“Okay, you can continue,” he said, as if he’d just checked inventory.

He returned to his phone, leaving me staring at him, trying to read his expression.

I flipped to the next page. Rules, printed boldly. Wow! There were plenty.

No relationships for a year. Any sex partner must be discreet—I hummed, biting my lip. Our eyes met for a fraction of a second, and I quickly looked back down at the file.

We were only a couple by name; in our private lives, we were separate. The thought spiked my pulse.

I moved on, scanning page after page. The contract was full of dos and don’ts, secrecy clauses, and boundaries I had to respect. Each one reminded me how different our worlds were.

When I finally finished the last sentence, I let out a long sigh of relief. It had been exhausting. I raised my head and realized Mr. Rowan was gone. I must have been so engrossed that I didn’t hear him leave.

Confused, I wondered if I should wait or leave. After a few moments of hesitation, I straightened my gown and headed for the door.

My heels clicked softly as I walked out with practiced composure, feeling eyes on me. I kept my head straight, forcing myself to appear calm.

As I stepped outside, a wave of relief washed over me. I reached for my phone to order a ride when a car screeched to a stop in front of me.

I instinctively stepped back as the window rolled down.

“Get in,” Mr. Rowan said from inside.

Sharing a car with him? No way. My stomach dropped. I felt like I might collapse right there.

“I’ll just order a…” I started, but his deep voice cut me off, sterner this time.

“Get in. I don’t want to bear Mr. Daniel’s wrath for leaving his precious daughter behind.”

Forcing a quick smile, I climbed in, hands trembling as I closed the door. Perched on the edge of the seat, I kept my distance and prayed for the ride to end quickly.

The car was quiet. He mostly scrolled on his phone, while I stared out the window, trying not to think about the scent lingering in the air, his cologne, that masculine presence. It was intoxicating.

I pressed my palms against my face, trying to calm myself, but the ache only intensified. My body demanded release, and all I could think of was my little Rowan at home—only it could ease this hunger burning through me.

Finally, my house came into view. Relief surged through me, and the car stopped. I practically jumped out.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said quickly, rushing inside.

“Rhea.” His voice called me back. I froze, turning to see him standing a few feet away.

“Is Mr. Daniel in?” he asked.

I glanced around, but saw no sign of my father. “I think he left,” I replied.

“Park the car,” he said to the driver, then turned back to me. “I guess I’ll wait for him.”

As he walked toward me, a shiver ran through me, as if a bell had just rung in my chest.

“Huh?” I whispered to myself.

“Lead the way,” he said.

No escaping him now. I slumped my shoulders in defeat as I moved toward the door. One careless stone shifted under my heel, and before I could steady myself, I was already tipping forward. Rowan caught me instantly, my body pressing against his.

“Careful,” he whispered, his breath grazing my neck.

An electric shiver ran through me, from my neck straight to my knees weak. Heat pooled between my legs, and I could only imagine what he thought— that I was clumsy or fragile.

“Thank you,” I murmured as I finally regained my balance. I quickly unlocked the door and slipped inside.

“Erhm… you can have a seat,” I stammered, my voice strange even to me.

“Thanks, Miss Rhea,” he said, expression unreadable as ever.

“What can I get you?” I asked, trying to sound composed, a proper host. He waved his hand dismissively, eyes glued to his phone. Great.

I bolted to my room, sending a quick text to my dad to let him know I’d arrived. He said he was on his way.

Relief washed over me, but my nerves refused to settle. I paced, heart hammering, before finally deciding to calm myself the only way I knew.

I undressed, taking a long, deliberate shower, letting the warm water soothe my racing pulse. When I stepped out, my panties were damp—evidence of the ache Rowan stirred in me.

I tightened the towel around my chest and reached for the only relief I had. The soft hum filled the room as I pressed it to the ache Rowan had left behind. My head tipped back, teeth catching my tongue to hold the sound in, while my hips moved slowly, steadily, chasing the release building under my skin.

I was lost in it… until a soft knock at the door jolted me upright.

“Rhea, are you busy?”

My heart leapt as if lodged in my throat. My hand flew to cover myself, and I scrambled to stand. When the knock came again, I panicked and blurted, “Come in!”

Regret hit immediately as the door clicked open.

Rowan stepped inside. My towel became my shield. His eyes lingered on me for what felt like an eternity, longer than five seconds, before he finally looked away. As if noticing something, he glanced around the room, then back at me.

“What’s buzzing?”

It hit me like a thunderclap. I had left the vibrator on… at full power. And it was fucking loud.