EPISODE 2

FIONA.

I knew the marriage registration would take time. So I nervously got into my boss's car after he carefully opened the door for me to sit in the front seat. This was the first time I would ride with my boss.

His tobacco scent surrounded me like a blanket, and I gulped heavily.

Once he shut the car door, Mr. Carson walked around to the other side and sat in the driver's seat.

"Are you sure you agree to this contract marriage, Fiona? I will have my lawyer draft the contract. Once we divorce, I will settle you with a 20% shares from my company. I believe by then, the Carson Group will have grown more than it has now," he said.

My cheeks flushed as I listened to Mr. Carson's voice.

The naive me nodded, avoiding his eyes. "I agree, sir. Even if it's to be your wife on paper for only two years, I want to be with you."

"Mmm." Mr. Carson pursed his lips. I peered at his face. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he looked away.

"Remember the rules, Fiona. No love attached. You should grip your heart firmly and know that I am only doing this to take my grandpa's assets before they go to orphanages," he replied, before reminding me to fasten my seatbelt.

"Alright, sir," I said, sealing my lips.

I took my phone to distract my brain, already sweating in the car. Despite the air conditioning, I felt aroused, sitting in the same car as my boss and breathing the same air he breathed.

I did not look at him. Instead, I texted Mary: "I am getting married to my boss today."

"What?" Mary gasped, replying immediately.

"Are you serious, Fiona? You are marrying Rowan Carson. He is out of your league, and he has a fiancée," she said, doubting my truth.

Sliding my phone screen as Rowan kept his gaze on the road, I lowered the screen and captured a snapshot of his well-defined profile.

"Yeah. Have a look. We are on our way to the marriage registry. Though he says it's only a contract marriage, we will be married on paper for two years," I briefed Mary. She shrieked and sent me a shocked emoji.

"True. I will chat you later. We have arrived at the marriage registry," I informed Mary, and she asked me, "Are you sure you can do this? I cannot believe you're marrying a billionaire for two years. This is risky, Fiona. Won't you have sex with him?"

My heart raced as my cheeks flushed. "I can do it. It's just a short-term marriage. Since I know he has a woman, I won't fall in love with him," I quickly replied.

"Fine. I just hope you will let go when that time comes," Mary reminded me, and my heart ached at her words.

I forced a tight smile and replied, "Of course."

After the chat with Mary ended, I saw Rowan looking at me as he sat in the driver's seat.

"Who are you chatting with that makes your face red and blushing?" he asked, his voice cold and his eyes laced with suspicion.

Wanting to keep my phone in my bag, I told him, "My best friend."

"A man or a woman?"

"What?" My eyes widened at his inquiry. "A woman," I quickly replied.

"Let me see the chat?" Rowan asked for my phone. Though I frowned because he didn't trust me, I waved away the pang of pain in my heart and handed him my phone with a trembling hand.

"Unlock the chat. Let me see. You should know that part of our marriage agreement says you will not cheat on me while we are married. You will be married to me alone, Fiona. I hope you can keep up with this clause?" he asked, as I input my phone password.

"I will. You should keep up with the clause too," I replied with a challenging gaze.

"Sure," Rowan smiled. His cold demeanor softened as he read my chat with Mary.

"Must you read my private chat? I don't have access to your phone or who you chat with. Don't you think it's inappropriate for you to read my chat?" I told him, as his brows furrowed upon reading my silly chat with Mary and seeing the short video of us in his car.

Shutting my phone light, Rowan handed it back and cleared his throat, meeting my nervous gaze.

"You cannot have access to my phone. Do not forget, I am your boss, and I am still in love with Sage. The only thing is that you will be with me for these two years until Sage returns. Once she is back, we will end our marriage. You do not expect me not to chat with Sage?" Rowan asked coldly.

My heart hurt, and I asked eagerly, "So that means I can have a secret boyfriend too, right?"

"No, Fiona. No boyfriend. Do you have a boyfriend? You have to break up with him during the course of our marriage," Rowan replied. My face fell as I lowered my head.

"Fiona," Rowan called my name like he always did in his office.

"Yes, sir," I replied, though my eyes filled with tears. I raised my head to meet his gaze.

"Why are you crying? Do you want to back out? I told you: no relationship from you, and no sex with other men during our marriage. You will be my wife only at home and to accompany me to family events. But you will not post about our marriage to the public or tell anyone apart from your family and a few close friends that you are my contract wife—not my main wife or true love."

Blinking my tears, I looked away and replied, "Got it."

"Fiona, are you sure you can do this? If it's too hard, I will get another woman," Rowan asked softly.

"I can. I have already arrived here, so let's get the marriage registration done," I told him, and he nodded.

"That's fine. My lawyer, Albert Paulson, is here," Rowan gestured to his best friend, as I recognized Albert as our company's lawyer.

When Albert saw me get out of Rowan's car, his eyes widened in shock, and he frowned.

"Fiona, are you sure you want this contract marriage? You should be aware that Rowan has a lover and is still in love with Sage Andrews. Are you sure you want this contract marriage? Haven't you thought of the possibility that another man might like you?" he asked.

"Albert, what's that supposed to mean? We are already here, so do your job and stop asking Fiona ridiculous questions. Or are you interested in marrying her?" Rowan asked, clearly annoyed that his best friend and lawyer was asking me personal questions.

As we stood beside Rowan's car, the sun bathed us, and Albert said, "Rowan, I have to be sure this is what Fiona wants. Whether I have feelings for her or not has nothing to do with this, but she is too pretty and humble to be used and dumped by you," Albert retorted, as he was Rowan's best friend.

Rowan's jaw tightened as he shifted his gaze to look at me. I lowered my head and avoided both men's gazes.

"Go on and answer his questions, Fiona. Do you want to marry me or not?" Rowan asked, his voice laced with irritation.

Meeting Rowan's gaze and Albert's gaze as they both waited to hear my response for the umpteenth time, I took a deep breath and replied with trembling lips, "I will marry you."

"Fiona, you don't have to do this," Albert said, his voice cold, and I shuddered.

"Albert, if you do not want to draft the contract terms, it's fine. I will get another lawyer to do it," Rowan said coldly. Albert glared at me and replied, "Fine. I will draft the contract since it's what Fiona wants. I hope she doesn't regret it in the end."

Albert breathed out hotly and walked away.

Rowan looked at me and said, "Let's go. You shouldn't worry about Albert's behavior. He has mood swings sometimes, like a pregnant woman."

"Alright," I smiled nervously and lowered my head as my cheeks flushed. A part of me knew Albert was concerned, knowing I was entering a loveless marriage. But I didn't see that Albert liked me before.

Nervously, I followed Rowan into the marriage affairs building.