Ella’s POV:
Sitting on my bed, I stared blankly at the ceiling, the events of the day swirling in my mind like a storm that refused to pass. I had been feeling off-balance ever since that lunch with Arec, the one where he stood up to Klaus on my behalf.
That mont had shifted sothing in , a subtle but undeniable shift in how I saw him. I’d always respected Arec as my boss, but seeing him defend with such quiet strength, against soone who had once ant so much to , had stirred up emotions I wasn’t prepared to deal with.
But now this? A proposal for a contract marriage? It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under . Did he really think so little of that he could casually suggest sothing so ludicrous, like I was so piece in a business transaction? My mind kept circling back to that question, trying to make sense of it.
Why not Joanne? God knows she’s always flaunting herself around him, practically begging for his attention with every overly enthusiastic greeting and calculated laugh. She’s the perfect candidate if he wants soone who’s more than willing to play pretend. But no, he had to ask . Why ?
The thought of a contract marriage with Arec unsettled in ways I couldn’t fully articulate. It wasn’t just the idea of being in a fake marriage; it was what it represented. It dredged up mories of Klaus, of how I’d allowed myself to get so deeply involved in soone else’s life, only to be shattered when it all fell apart.
The scars from that ti still ran deep, making wary of entangling myself in any relationship, let alone one as complex and potentially damaging as this.
I couldn’t make sense of it on my own. My mind was spinning in circles, chasing its own tail. I needed advice, soone to talk this through with, soone who knew better than I knew myself. Without another thought, I grabbed my phone and called Kate, my best friend and the one person I trusted to help navigate this ss.
"Hey, Ella! What’s up?" Kate’s voice was as bright and cheerful as ever, a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing in my mind.
"Can I co over? I really need to talk to you," I said, trying to keep the tremor of anxiety out of my voice.
"Sure, co over! I’m just finishing up lunch, so I’ll have the wine ready when you get here."
Wine. Yes, wine sounded like exactly what I needed. I quickly changed into sothing comfortable, threw on my jacket, and headed out the door, my thoughts still spinning as I made my way to Kate’s apartnt.
When I arrived, she greeted with a big hug and a glass of wine, leading straight to the couch. "Alright, spill it. What’s going on?"
I took a deep breath, the words tumbling out of before I could stop them. "Arec asked to marry him."
Kate’s eyes widened in shock, and she nearly dropped her glass. "Wait, what? Did I just hear you right? The sa Arec who’s your boss?"
I nodded, feeling a flush of embarrassnt creep up my neck. "Yes, but it’s not what you think. He asked to marry him as part of a contract, a business deal."
Kate’s shock quickly morphed into amusent, a wide grin spreading across her face. "Are you serious? Your life just keeps getting more interesting by the day! Is this the sa boss you had a one-night stand with before you knew he was your boss?"
I rolled my eyes, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "Yes, Kate. The very sa."
Kate let out a laugh, clearly entertained by the absurdity of my situation. "Oh my god, this is too much! And now he wants to marry you? In a business deal? Ella, this is like sothing straight out of a soap opera!"
I groaned, sinking back into the couch as I took a large gulp of wine. "It’s not funny, Kate. I don’t know what to do. It feels wrong, like he’s reducing our relationship, our work relationship, to so kind of transaction. Why ? Why can’t he ask his friend Joanne? She’s always after him anyway."
Kate took a sip of her wine, her expression turning more serious. "Maybe Joanne’s not an option. She could be in a relationship or have so other complication you don’t know about."
I frowned, not entirely convinced. "But still... it feels like he’s using . I don’t want to be a pawn in so twisted family ga. And besides, I’ve already had my fill of complicated relationships. I’m not ready to jump into another one, especially one as fake as this."
Kate set her glass down and turned to face fully, her expression thoughtful.
"Ella, I get where you’re coming from, but let’s think about this logically for a second. Arec’s rich, he’s handso, and he clearly respects you. If this is just a business deal, you could get through it, collect your money, and be set for life. You could finally do all the things you’ve been dreaming about, start your own business, travel the world. You wouldn’t be tied down to anyone."
I shook my head, feeling a mix of frustration and disbelief. "That’s the thing, Kate. It wouldn’t just be a business deal, not for . I know myself, I’d get too involved, too wrapped up in it all. I don’t want to complicate my life any more than it already is."
Kate sighed, leaning back and crossing her arms as she studied . "You’re overthinking this, Ella. It’s not like he’s asking for a real marriage. It’s just a few years, tops, and then you’re free. No strings attached."
"Except for the part where I have to live with him, pretend to be his wife, and deal with whatever crazy demands his family might throw at ," I retorted, feeling a bit overwheld by the whole situation.
Kate reached over and gave my hand a squeeze, her tone softening. "Look, I know this is a lot to take in, but maybe it’s not as bad as you think. Arec isn’t Klaus. He’s not going to use you and then toss you aside. He’s your friend..."
"Friend?" I cut her off, raising an eyebrow. "We’re not friends, Kate. We’re barely even that. I’m his assistant, and he’s my boss. We keep things professional."
Kate tilted her head slightly, giving a pointed look. "Except for that night when you didn’t."
I winced, knowing she had a point. That night had been a mistake, a lapse in judgnt driven by the hurt and anger I’d felt after Klaus. It was never supposed to an anything more than a one-ti escape from my reality. "I didn’t know he was my boss then," I shot back.
"Okay, fine," Kate conceded, her expression softening. "But he did stand up for you against Klaus, didn’t he? He didn’t have to do that. It shows he cares about you, at least on so level."
I nodded, thinking back to that day. Arec’s defense had ant a lot to , more than I had admitted to myself at the ti. But was that enough to justify agreeing to this insane proposal? Could I really trust that his intentions were as harmless as he claid?
Kate leaned in closer, her voice gentle yet firm. "Ella, you’re one of the strongest, most independent people I know. You’ve been through hell and back, and you’ve co out stronger for it. I’m not saying you should jump into this without thinking, but maybe... just maybe, this could be a way to take control of your life again. To do sothing on your own terms."
I looked at her, seeing the sincerity in her eyes. She genuinely believed this could be a good thing, but I wasn’t so sure. The idea of being tied to Arec in any capacity, even temporarily, made my heart race in a way I wasn’t comfortable with.
"And what happens if I start feeling sothing for him?" I asked quietly, voicing the fear that had been gnawing at the back of my mind. "What if this fake marriage turns into sothing real for ? I don’t think I could handle that."
Kate didn’t have an imdiate answer for that, and we sat in silence for a mont, both of us lost in thought. Finally, she spoke, her voice steady. "You won’t know until you try. But if you don’t want to do it, then don’t. No one’s forcing you. Just... don’t let fear hold you back from making a decision that could change your life for the better."
I nodded slowly, feeling more conflicted than ever. Kate was right, fear was a big part of what was holding back. Fear of getting hurt again, of making a mistake I couldn’t undo. But there was also a part of , a small, rebellious part, that was intrigued by the idea. A part that wondered what it would be like to live in Arec’s world, even for just a little while.
"I’ll think about it," I finally said, not sure if I was trying to convince her or myself.
"That’s all I’m asking," Kate replied with a smile. "Just think about it. And whatever you decide, I’ll be here for you."
Her words were comforting, but they didn’t ease the knot of anxiety in my sstomach
I knew that whatever I decided, it would change my life in ways I couldn’t yet predict.
Kate leaned back against the couch, a contemplative look on her face as she twirled her wine glass between her fingers.
"You know, Ella, maybe you should talk to Arec about this. Get more clarity on what he’s really expecting from this... arrangent. I an, if you’re going to consider it, you should know exactly what you’re getting into."
I sighed, the thought of confronting Arec making my stomach churn. "I don’t know if I’m ready for that conversation, Kate. What if it just makes things more complicated?"
Kate gave a reassuring smile. "Or it could make things clearer. You’re the kind of person who needs all the facts before making a decision. I think talking to him might help you see the situation more objectively."
She had a point, as much as I hated to admit it. Avoiding the conversation wouldn’t change the fact that I needed to make a decision soon. And if I didn’t have all the information, how could I make the right choice?
"Okay," I said, taking a deep breath as I ntally prepared myself. "I’ll talk to him. But I need to be clear with him about my boundaries. I won’t agree to anything that makes uncomfortable, and I need to know that he respects that."
Kate nodded, her expression serious. "Good. Stand your ground, Ella. You deserve to be treated with respect, and if Arec can’t give you that, then you walk away. No matter how tempting the offer might be."
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