5. An Offer

“We do,” Corvin replied.

It left Kayla speechless for a while. She was familiar with Marlowe International and how powerful and wealthy they were. She had read their feature in a magazine, and now she was surprised to realize she was actually standing in front of someone so influential.

When she recovered, she took his hand and accepted the handshake. His palm was soft and warm against hers, sending a chill down her spine.

She quickly let go.

Corvin then popped the champagne. Only then did she notice the pair of champagne glasses she hadn’t seen earlier.

“Are you sure you’re fine with champagne? I thought you’d want something to eat,” he said, handing her one of the glasses. He filled it almost to the brim.

Kayla shrugged. She didn’t really feel hungry. She hadn’t eaten all day, and this champagne was technically her meal. She was used to fasting–it helped her stay fit and maintain her figure.

“Are you on a strict diet or something?”

For a guy, Kayla thought he was quite talkative. Her first impression of him had been that he was the quiet, mysterious type, the kind who would command rather than ask questions, especially personal ones.

“Not really,” she replied. As soon as he finished pouring, she lifted the glass and took a sip. She figured it was her turn to ask something. “Why are you here?”

Just moments ago, she was certain she would have the entire place to herself. She hated crying in front of people, so she always made sure to do it somewhere private. But she’d been wrong this time. Contrary to what she thought that the place was closed for the night, it clearly wasn’t closed to the owner.

“Because I saw you coming up here.”

That made her raise a brow. His eyes had indeed followed her the entire night.

“Now, why are you broken-hearted again?”

The question made Kayla finish the rest of her glass. She held it out for more. Corvin didn’t speak. He simply refilled it.

“Because what people see isn’t really the truth,” she began. “Well, for a brief moment, it was. We were actually in love. But that ended just a while ago. We broke up, and now I have to pretend that everything’s okay between us.”

Kayla and Derek had started as a love team in an online series. It unexpectedly clicked with viewers and earned them thousands of fans. People loved their chemistry and how real everything looked between them.

Because of all the champagne she’d consumed, Kayla’s emotions started to overwhelm her. She began talking about the contract they had both signed, binding them together for at least seven years.

It had been three years since signing, and she thought everything was fine. But then Derek started becoming this hot-tempered, impatient person who shouted and screamed at staff and crew. It shocked Kayla, and for a moment, she wondered if she had ever really known him.

Derek’s treatment of her changed too. They used to be so in love, so sweet, affectionate, always together. Then suddenly, he was never around and would ignore her calls and texts. She felt as though she were being pushed aside, and it made her heart ache. Still, she held on. Not just because of the contract, but because he was the man she loved.

But maybe all good things must come to an end. Their arguments grew worse–Derek shouting, screaming, snapping at her. Whenever they were alone and the cameras weren’t pointed at them, he became a completely different person. Misunderstandings piled up, quarrels became more intense, until she could no longer take it.

She decided to break up, and he agreed without a fight.

Kayla didn’t realize she was crying as she told Corvin the story, until he offered her the same handkerchief again. This time, she accepted it without hesitation.

“And we signed a contract! I want to move on, but how can I when we’re still supposed to be together? When we still have to see each other every day?”

The contract was valid for seven years. One of its clauses required them to stay together as a love team turned “real couple” for that duration to maintain the fantasy for their fans. It brought enormous profit to the company, so the rule was strictly enforced. They both benefited from it, so they had agreed to continue.

But it was becoming harder for Kayla, especially since she was still in love with him.

It would be hard to move on because another clause of the contract strictly forbade them from being with other people except for work projects. They couldn’t fall in love. They couldn’t be with anyone else but each other.

“And you know what’s funny?” Kayla mumbled, a mix of laughter and pain in her voice. “He can’t even pleasure me! Whenever we make love, it’s always about him! I have to do all the work, and when he’s done, I’m all alone. I’m left to take care of my own needs. How crazy is that?”

Her emotions were running wild, and Kayla really wasn't thinking through her words. She was feeling hurt, regret, and betrayed, all at the same time, which is why she didn't really care about the words that came out of her mouth.

“He’s my first everything… But I never really had a real orgasm with him. It’s always fake. I’m always responsible for my own satisfaction.”

Kayla suddenly started hearing the words she was saying. She realized how private the information was and that she'd forgotten she was talking to a man she barely knew.

When she realized that, she fell silent, and so did Corvin.

Silence fell over them as the words finally sank in.

How could she share that? How could she forget it was intimate information between her and Derek? What would Corvin think of her now?

“God, I’m so sorry,” Kayla quickly said. “Oh my God, I wasn’t supposed to say that!”

She brought the glass to her mouth, but it was empty now. Corvin readily filled it, and she murmured a quick thanks before downing it in one go.

She’s gone crazy, she thought.

She thought Corvin wouldn't say a word, but he did.

“It’s fine,” he replied. There was something in his voice that she couldn’t quite distinguish.

“I’m really sorry. That’s private information!”

This time, Corvin didn't reply. They fell silent again. Kayla suddenly wanted to run away. But her feet seemed to be glued to the floor and her body frozen on the bench.

She’s really crazy.

“You never had true orgasm?” He asked. Out of all the information she shared, that was the first question he asked.

Kayla shook her head, still embarrassed. “I… I’m always responsible for my own… orgasm.”

When she looked at him, she saw him nodding. But she could see he was deep in thought.

She was suddenly feeling anxious now, also curious about what was going through his head.

He took a slow sip of his own drink, his eyes never leaving hers, and a thoughtful, almost predatory look settled on his face. “You’ve given me quite a lot to think about, Kayla,” he said, his voice low and steady. “And honestly, I find myself deeply intrigued.” He paused, leaning forward just slightly. “It seems to me, you have needs that aren’t being met. Needs that a woman like you absolutely deserves to have satisfied.”

He placed his glass down on the bench.

“I propose an arrangement..” He started, and Kayla was holding her breath, anticipating his next words. “Do you want to feel what it’s like to have a real, great orgasm?”

Kayla couldn’t reply. Her thoughts were mixed up and running in every direction.

“I can offer you the satisfaction and the attention you’ve been missing. No strings, no future obligations, and certainly no illusions of a relationship. Just for tonight.”

Corvin’s face had shifted–no teasing, no smirk, just quiet seriousness. And Kayla knew he wasn’t joking.

“Just two adults acknowledging a mutual curiosity,” he continued, his voice low. “It would be my pleasure to make sure you never feel like you’re on your own again.”

Kayla’s breath caught. The room felt smaller, warmer, as the weight of his words settled between them. She didn’t answer right away—this wasn’t a decision to make lightly.

But as his steady gaze held hers, she realized she could do it. Derek had been with other women, and a small part of her wondered if maybe this was something she needed too.

So, with an answer she hadn’t fully thought through, she replied, “Okay.”