Chapter 38

Zayden

I opened the door for her, my eyes never leaving hers. It's not something I usually do but I just can't help it.

Her cheeks turned pink." This is the first time you're opening the door for me. Did you perhaps hit your head on something?"

I was shocked at what I did." I'm trying to be a gentleman,here."

She chuckled." We both know you're not."

I shrugged, getting into the driver's seat. We just left the registry. We were now married, I somehow found it hard to believe but she signed the papers. I had expected it would be difficult to convince her but here we were.

There was this bubbly feeling that had been messing with my thinking since last night. She was yet to sign the contract, though. According to her, She would make the rules, and I was to oblige.

" Wait, do not tell anyone we are married. No one can find out about this." She grasped, worry written all over her pretty face.

I took a left turn, heading for the office." As long as my dad doesn't request a wedding then our secret is safe."

She sighed." Anyway, as for the contract." She opened her purse and brought out a sheet of paper.

" I wrote it last night. All you have to do is print it out, and I'll sign them then We're good to go." She handed it over to me.

I glanced at her and the steering wheel."Do me a favour and read out the terms."

She eyed me but began reading." First, from my experience in romance books, I assume we would play the loving couple in front of your father or in public if need be."

I chuckled." Those are fiction, it doesn't have to happen in real life."

She smacked my hand with the paper." Don't Interrupt me."

I raised a brow, forcing myself to bite back a smile.

" You will do anything and everything I ask."

I nodded, seems fair to me." As long as you don't ask me to .........."

She smacked the paper this time on my face." I'll do the talking."

I should be mad right? But right now, I can't explain the bubbling feeling in my chest.

I nodded and waited for her to speak.

"I'll have access to anything that belongs to you ." She continued

I nodded.

" you are to keep your anger in check,if you get so angry that you can't think straight,walk away."

I nodded in response, my eyes fixated on the road ahead.

"You can't dictate or control what I do and who I spend time with."

I frowned." What does that mean?"

" It means that I'm allowed to be with whoever I want, man or woman. Our marriage is a contract and will last for six months. So you're free to date who you want during this time, and I'm free to do the same." She phrased.

My hands tightened in the wheel." Hell no! We are married and you'll honour that till the contract ends."

She shook her head, disagreeing with me." If you think I'm going to be one of those Female leads who ends up falling for their contractor, then you're wrong. I'm dating who I want and you can do the same, take it or leave it."

I gritted my teeth." That's exactly what the Female lead would say."

She repeated." Take it or leave it."

She's becoming feisty, and I know without a doubt that if I don't control my speech, then this contract won't get signed.

" Fine."

She smirked." Good. Next up, you're free to fall in love with me but don't expect anything in return. This is a loveless marriage and it will remain so."

I scoffed, she's unbelievable." What makes you think I'll fall in love with you."

She flipped her hair, shoulders and chin high." I'm lovable,Sweet little me."

I had to laugh." You're crazy."

I pulled over into the garage and we got out.

" Try not to fall for me Mr Kent, or you'll fall hard." She flipped her hair again and walked out, heading towards the elevator.

I bite down on my lips, watching her sway her curvy hips. I hope I don't; I can only hope I don't, or I would fall and won't be able to get back up.

*****

My father was sitting comfortably behind the desk in the boardroom. I placed the paper on his desk for him to see.

" That's what you wanted."

He scanned the envelope, his wrinkled eyes glancing through the words." It's not a marriage if it's just on paper."

I nearly rolled my eyes.

He made a call and Helena came rushing in." Make an official announcement." He ordered

" Let the world know my son is getting married." He said.

Helena's eyes widened. She looked from me to my father before bowing her head and leaving.

" I can't say I'm surprised." He continued.

I sighed." If there's nothing left to talk about then I'll take my leave."

He smacked his lips." I don't approve of her, I've done my research and she doesn't have a good background. No parents, no inheritance; she's not even a heiress. Just a low born."

My jaw ticked." She's the one I choose, your opinion doesn't matter."

He shrugged." It won't matter now, I'll let this slide. Go find a way to appease Sage's father, and make sure I don't lose his partnership."

I turned to leave." He's barely contributing to this company; if he wants to terminate the partnership, then so be it."

He chuckled." If she's who you choose then so be it. Invite her over tonight; I would like to see my daughter-in-law."

I nodded, turning to leave but he called me back.

My father remained silent for a few seconds, his eyes calculating." You lost the contract with Hale Corp. They sent in their review this morning. Your model wasn't good enough."

His words hit me hard." What?"

His voice was stern." You heard me right, they refused to make a deal with us. And it's your fault. The trash you showed them was poorly constructed. Aiden's was better."

The trash I wrote? I didn't write any trash; Lillian rewrote the presentation.

I clenched my fists, calming myself." That's not possible, everything was perfect." The urge to punch something was slowly eating at me. I shouldn't have listened to her. I should have written that presentation myself.

Anger boiled low in my chest, slowly rising to my throat. I was clenching and unclenching my fist, trying to control my rage.

" We've lost millions of dollars, Zayden." He yelled." Do you know how much resources we put into this!"

I remained silent.

" You just gave the board members another reason to remove you as CEO." He spoke harshly." Not even this marriage would fix this if you don't find a solution."

My voice was hoarse." They're making a mistake, it has to be."

He shook his head from side to side."Once again, I'm disappointed. Get out, and find a way to sort this mess you've created."

I stormed out of the boardroom, heading towards my office. I didn't create any mess.

It was Lilian. It was her idea and I was stupid enough to let her rewrite my presentation.

Lillian caused this mess. It's her fault for not knowing her place. I should calm down; the last time I didn't control my anger, I ended up hurting her. But right now, I was uncontrollable; all I wanted was to vent my anger on the one that caused it.

This project meant a lot to me; it meant I was one step ahead of Aiden, it meant I was one step better than him, but now I'm back to square one.

I began seeing red. My thoughts crumbled into wild pieces. There was a voice screaming at me to be careful with what I do with my hands next.

But at this rate, all I could think of was how her head would look on a stick with blood dripping down her pretty face.