Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss (Kylan and Katrina)

Chapter 30

Per Kylan's guidance, Katrina changed into an off-shoulder, knee-length, black gown. She put on a pair of sheer nylon stockings and her best red flars. She paired the look with a black shawl and then reapplied her makeup and styled her hair in a half updo. Kylan waited for her in the car this time, and she was thankful to have a moment to herself. She had no idea where they were going for her date, but based on her clothing, she could assume it was somewhere nice.

She reached the lobby of her building and was surprised to see Rylan standing near the fireplace. He turned at her approach, and she watched as he took her appearanor

"You look nice. Kate," he echoed his sentiment from one of her earlier dates, and she smiled,

"Thank you, Shall we go?" she asked him as she readjusted her shawl across her shoulders

"h's still raining ourside. Stay close to me." Kylan reached for her hand, and she held onto his in return.

He was right. It was sti raining steadily outside. She kept close to him as he instructed, and he guided her to the car. She bid Oscar a hello and be promptly took off in the direction of wherever it was they were going. "Are you hungry now, or would you prefer to eat later Kylan asked her from the seat next to h

her.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Whichever you prefer, Kylan, she responded with another smile.

Kylan nodded his head and looked out the window, one hand propped under his chin. "To the exhibit, Oscar" he instructed her driver.

"Exhibit" she asked Kylan curiously.

He didn't answer her, instead, he stared out the window of the car for the entirety of the drive.

Twenty minutes later, Oscar palled over and let her and Kylan out of the car. She stared up at the two-story, brick building she was near. It didn't look like anything of significance on the outside, and she wondered what kind of exhibit it could be

Kylan took her hand and began to lead her up the few steps to the front doors of the building. He gestured for her to go inside first, and she listened. He rested a hand on her lower back as she crossed the threshold into the building. She recognized what kind of exhibit it was immediately.

"An art exhibit?" She couldn't keep the excitement from seeping into her voice as she turned to look at Rylan

Rylan's face was neutral, but he wrapped an arm around her waist and guided

ed her further in.

It was a nice exhibit. The interior of the building echoed a modern industrial design, with exposed high beams made from a deep, cherry red. wood. There were several waiters walking around with full glasses of champagne, and she eagerly accepted a glass. Kylan refused, not to her surprise

Each piece of artwork had a small light shining on it specifically, effectively highlighting each of its significant details and features.

She walked through the gallery slowly, taking care to look at the pieces carefully. She thrived in an environment such as this. Though, it didn't seem like something Kylan himself would particularly enjoy doing. It also wasn't the most public of places for a date, either. The other patrons kept to themselves, quietly murmuring as they looked at the gallery

There was soll jazz playing in the background of the exhibit, and it only further relaxed her.

She felt happy, excited even. She stopped in front of one particular painting, enjoying the rich lines of the moscape that it portrayed.

"Why did you choose this place for our date?" she couldn't help but ask kylan.

He looked at her and she looked at him. "You enjoy art, do you not?" he responded flatly.

She smiled at him. "I do, yes," she said almost sheeposlily.

She felt her cheeks flush and looked back at the painting. Did she really come here only because Bylan knew she liked and Why would he care to chouse something she was interested int

"I don't understand what you even see when you look at this stuff," Kylan admitted gruffly

She cocked her head to the side as she observed the painting. "I don't think it's what you see, but rather what you f

feel. Art is emotional. Each kind of art form, and each piece of artwork, evokes a different emotion," she tried to explain to him.

"What do you feel when you look at this one?" Kylan asked quietly

She considered her answer for a moment, her head still turned to the side a little bit as she pondered the painting in question. "I feel.. peaceful. The way the artist depicts such a serene and calm snowscape. It makes me wish I was there. It makes me long for a cabin in the woods, where I

Chapter 30

p of coffee and

od just exist" the was speaking

have a fire and a book to keep me company. A place where I'm able to curl up with a blanket and a cup wistfully, allowing her mind to picture the scenario she was describing

She fich Kylan looking at her and not at the painting. "It should be tea," he said, his warm breath blowing against her cheek as he spoke.

She glared at him playfully. "Always with your tea," she replied with a small sigh.

"Tell me about more of the paintings" Kylan suggested, steering her in the direction of another row of paintings.

And so, Katrina did. She lost track of time, going from one painting to the next and describing how each of thern individually made her feel. If Kylan was ever bored, he didn't act like it, nor did he say anything to suggest he would rather be doing something else She finally finished describing the last painting to Kylan, and he walked her back to the front of the gallery, where they waited for Oscar to pull the CAT around.

for that, Kylan. That was truly wonderful she told him sincerely.

-Thank you f

He looked down at her and nodded wordlessly. He lightened his arm around her for a moment, before Oscar pulled over and ushered her into the

Kylan picked a quaint, but still obnoxiously fancy, soup and sandwich restaurant for dinner. Again, it didn't quite seem like his style, but she was too happy to indulge in a warm bowl of tomato bisque and a gourmet grilled cheese with pesto mayo. Kylan himself ordered a bowl of Italian wedding soup and a glass of whiskey. She ate in silence for a momeni, her gaze fixed outside at the softly falling rain. She still fell happy, content even.

"Kylan, thank you for sticking up for me this afternoon. 1.. I appreciate it"

I suddenly seemed like the most important thing in the world to tell Kylan of her gratitude. She knew how much he stuck his neck out for her and even if it surprised the hell out of her, she was thankful.

"I didn't do anything special, Kate. Those pricks have had it coming to them for years. I'd have fired the lot of them, were it not for Ryan," Kylan responded, drinking the rest of his whiskey, and dabbing at his mouth with a cloth napkin.

"Even still. 1 appreciate it" she reiterated, toying aimlessly with her spoon in the remnants of her soup.

"I told you that I meant it. Katrina. You're important to m- the company. You're important to Ross Corp.," Kylan said in a rush, clearing his throat and waving the waiter over to get the check.

Her eyes widened slightly. She thought he was about to say she was important to him. Which would be preposterous, really. She was an asset to the company, not Kylan.

"Thank you," the breathed as Kylan paid for their meal and then helped her stand and put her shawl back over her shoulders.

The drive to her building was comfortable, if not a little bit quiet. When Kylan helped her out of the car, he seemed to hesitate for a minute, and

she looked at him

"Kylan?" she asked him curious

usly

"There are a few people looking," Kylan replied quietly.

"Yes, that tends to happen when we go out, Kylan," she said slowly,

Without warning, Kylan stepped forward and grabbed her face between his hands gently. He looked at her eyes for a fraction of a second, before he leaned down and met her lips in a kiss.

She froze for a beat, then she wrapped her arms around Kylan's waist and pulled him closer to her, returning his kiss without even thinking twice about it. She angled her head to deepen the kiss, and Kylan almost seemed to go for it, until he broke away and leaned his forehead against hers

instead.

He was breathing a little heavier than normal, and she had no doubt she was in much the same boat. "Get some sleep, Kate," he murmured.

She held him in place, staring into his grey eyes that were now as stormy as the perpetual rainclouds. "Take your sleeping medication, Kylan," she said just as quietly

The corner of Kylan's mouth turned up in a slight smirk, and he moved to place a kiss on the center of her forehead. She closed her eyes against. the admittedly pleasant sensation. He pulled back a second later, and her body missed his warmth immediately. "Hopefully, ah, someone snagged a picture," Rylan said a little awkwardly as he opened the back door of the SUV.

"Right. Of course, Sir," she said with a small mile

"Goodnight, Kate," Kylan nodded at her and then disappeared into the car

She watched as he drove away, her lips still tingling from his kiss.

0

Chapter 30

She took the elevator to her floor in a daze, drained from an exhausting day. It had ended well, at least. Right?

Just as Kylan told her, she allowed him to control when and if they ever kissed again. But she didn't think she'd ever get used to it, really. Each of their three kisses had been different, but all of them had made her feel. warm Too warm.

She pushed the memories from her mind as much as she could and quickly got undressed to take a shower. Just as she was about to step into the warm stream of water, her phone chimed with a notification. She was sure she knew what it would be, but even when she saw the three-thousand dollars from Kylan, she couldn't help but feel a little bit deflated.

No matter how good of a time she seemed to have with Kylan, or how much he may be enjoyed her company too, the reminder of the contract was never far behind.