I bobbed my head in confirmation. “Is it too long?” I hope he would say yes. “We can shorten it to six months if you want. It seems the one-year is bothering you.”
Christian chuckled, “Isabella, I am worried about you falling in love with me.” His eyes danced with mirth. “You might end up nullifying this before the year ends.”
“You wish.”
“Are you sure, love? Because I will take full responsibility if you fall head over heels for me. Feel free to do so.”
“I won’t.” I said, sounding so certain. I held his gaze unwavering. “Do not bother yourself with such useless thoughts.”
Christian looked as though he wanted to say something more, but he decided against it. Instead, he picked up a pen, twirling it between his fingers as he drew his gaze back to the contract, to the dedicated pages where he will write his own terms, and he went ahead scribbling it down. He did so for a minute or two, his brows drawing in-an action I noticed he tends to do a lot when he is trying to stay focused as he wrote his own clauses. And when he was done, he turned it around, and pushed it towards me.
I picked it up, eying him warily because the smile he held up at the act did not sit right with me. I just know he will do something I might not be on board with, and I was right, because his very first request had me regretting my decision all over again.
“Dates every weekend?” I repeated the first clause he had written down. He nodded his head, then added before I could argue.
“That is non-negotiable by the way.”
I gave him a deadpanned look. “I have a business to run.” I stated as a matter of fact, “And so do you. We don’t have time for dates-which I do not see any need for by the way.”
“We will make time for it.” He sounded so certain when he said it. “And like I said, if you want me in this, my terms are nonnegotiable. I am certain yours aren’t as well regardless of what you say.” He is not wrong. So, I did not argue further.
Sighing, I read the next clause there. “Hold a real wedding?” That is the most absurd one he has written there. Dropping the paper, I gave him a blank look. “Not happening. We only need to be married on paper.”
Christian leaned back in his seat, unbothered by what I said. “Do you really think anyone will believe you and I had a wedding low-key? What about our families?”
“My family does not care.” My dad does, but I am certain he will understand I did not want a big wedding.
“My family does.” He bit back, unwilling to back down. “So, if you want this to work, we need to have a real wedding ceremony-guests and all.”
“We are getting divorced in one year,” I tried to reason with him. “A wedding will only make it messy for us later on.”
“Let us deal with that when the time comes then.” He did not seem as though he will budge on this, so, I caved in against my will.
“Fine.” I huffed out a breath, earning a victorious smile from him. My gaze landed on the last clause there. “Move in together?” When I thought of that, I hoped we would both continue on with our lives-living where we are for like I said, marriage on paper alone. Christian is taking this to a whole other level.
He gave me a look that asked whether I have two heads. “We cannot get married and live in separate places, can we?” I hate to say it, but he is right-especially not if we are going to through with that wedding as a whole. God, I am seriously regretting this.
But, I cannot back down. So, after hesitating for a short while, I huffed out a breath. “Fine.” I gritted out, dropping the contract. “Fine, I agree with your terms. Is that it? Can we do this now?” I asked, picking up my pen and scribbling my name and signature on the contract, no longer willing to back out.
He nodded, offering me a satisfied smile. “Of course. Let’s get married.” With that said, he dragged the contract towards him, and was about to sign it when I spoke up, stopping him.
“Aren’t you interested in knowing why I want to marry you?” I hadn’t mentioned it, and he hadn’t as well. I was curious why he hadn’t asked when I know he must be curious. I intentionally left it out. “Shouldn’t you know before you sign?”
Christian did not hesitate even for the briefest second as he signed the contract away. “I don’t.” His tone held every bit of earnestness as he signed it completely, dropping the pen and closing it as a done deal. Meeting my gaze again, he smiled. “You’re mine now, that is all that matters.”
I searched his eyes to see if there are any hints of him kidding, but there was none, and that knocked the breath out of me. I watched as he pushed himself to get on his feet, rounding the small coffee table between us to come to stand in front of me, before extending his hand out. “Shall we seal the deal now?” He inquired, with a small smile.
I stared at the hand, then nodded. Lifting my hand, I placed it in his awaiting one and got on my feet. However, just as I was about to shake his, the minute I was set on my feet firmly, he tugged me towards him, and in a swift action, I was in his arms, chests pressed against each other and his hand going to hold my waist firmly, our faces mere inches away I could practically feel his minty breath fanning my face.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.