Chapter 4
Kinsley woke up the next morning with a dull ache radiating through her body, a souvenir of spending the night curled on the very edge of the bed.
She shifted stiffly and opened her eyes, only to find Aaron’s face inches from her own.
Startled, she bolted upright, clutching the blanket around her like a shield.
Then, the reality of the contract hit her.
She was his wife now.
While he still seemed asleep, she began to inch backward, hoping to put some distance between them.
“Morning,” he said, his voice thick with the low, gravelly rasp of sleep.
Damn it, he’s awake.
“Morning,” she replied, forced to loosen her grip on the duvet to try and look at ease.
“Sleep well?”
“Fine.”
He sat up, a flicker of amusement dancing at the corner of his mouth.
“I had no idea that on a bed this size, the most comfortable spot was the very edge.”
She pursed her lips, unable to stop a small smile from breaking through.
“See? I’m a man of my word,” he said, heading toward the bathroom. “I don’t breach my own agreements.”
The smile was faint, but it lifted her spirits.
Kinsley felt a twinge of guilt for painting him as the villain the day before.
--
The dining room was filled with the savory aroma of breakfast.
Kinsley followed Aaron inside, where the maid greeted them with a respectful bow.
“Good morning, sir. Good morning, Madam.”
The words felt heavy, foreign on her ears. It wasn’t just a greeting; it was an assignment of status.
Kinsley wasn’t used to the deference, but everything around her—the silver, the marble, the quiet servitude—told her it was time to embrace the role.
The spread was lavish, but she only managed a few bites. Her mind was too crowded for an appetite.
“Something wrong? You’re not eating.”
“My car is still at yesterday’s filming location... but I have classes today.”
“Not a problem. Give the keys to the driver. I’ll drop you off at campus.”
His tone was easy, utterly unbothered, as if solving herproblems was a mere afterthought.
His gaze wasn’t as cold or piercing as it had been the day before.
The knot of tension that had lived in Kinsley’s chest since yesterday finally began to loosen.
Maybe he wouldn’t be so difficult to live with after all—he kept his word, and he was surprisingly decent.
She had spent a day oscillating between regret and resolve.
But now, she felt she could actually see this six-month contract through to the end.
Breakfast was over.
A shimmering, electric-blue Rolls-Royce Spectre was idling out front.
Aaron held the passenger door open, motioning for Kinsley to get in.
A flash of yesterday crossed her mind—that girl who had followed a stranger to his office just to “verify” his identity.
She was quietly stunned by her own audacity.
Neither of them spoke as the car pulled onto the road.
The interior was filled with soft music, creating an unexpectedly cozy atmosphere.
Kinsley realized she liked the faint, clean scent of his cologne.
She took a few discreet, deep breaths and stared out the window.
She still hadn’t figured out the “rules” of their engagement.
Was she supposed to keep her distance?
Or act with a certain level of intimacy?
He hadn’t said a word.
She stole a glance at him.
Actually, when he handed her that tissue yesterday, a flicker of attraction had caught her off guard.
If it hadn’t, she never would have followed him to the café in the first place.
But the story shifted into something she could neverhave imagined.
It was more than she could process, leaving her to spend the rest of the night in a haze of nerves and second-guessing.
Just as the thought crossed her mind, Aaron glanced sideways at her.
Kinsley jerked her gaze away, pretending to be fascinated by the distant scenery.
--
The Rolls-Royce glided onto the campus, and Aaron slowed down.
The hum of the tires against the asphalt was the only sound in the quiet morning air.
Kinsley pointed ahead.
“You can drop me here. I’ll walk the rest of the way.”
Aaron’s grip on the steering wheel tightened almost imperceptibly.
“The building is further up. Why walk?”
She gave him a stiff smile.
“I just don’t want my classmates seeing me in your car.”
Aaron’s mouth set into a thin line.
He said nothing but pulled the car to the curb.
Kinsley grabbed her bag, ready to get out, but suddenly recoiled, diving toward his side.
“Oh my god, it’s my roommates!” she hissed, her voice panicked. “They’re going to see me!”
On the sidewalk, students were passing by in small groups.
Two girls nearby suddenly squealed with excitement.
“Is that a Spectre? Wait, I have to get a picture!”
“Definitely. My feed needs this.”
They stood right next to the car, pouting and posing for selfies from every angle.
Their faces were practically pressed against the tinted glass, separated from her by only a few inches.
Kinsley’s body went rigid.
She pressed herself against Aaron, pulling her long hair forward to shield her face.
“They’re going to see me...” her voice was thin with panic.
“So what?” Aaron’s face darkened. “You are my wife.”
“But it’s a fake marriage! I can’t let them know.”
Aaron’s eyes went cold.
“If you’re so terrified of being seen, allow me to help you.”
Without another word, he leaned in and captured her lips.
Kinsley’s body went rigid for a heartbeat.
She wanted to push him away
But when her hands landed on his chest, she hesitated.
It is... the only way.
His lips were wet and searing hot.
She had expected a cursory brush—a mere performance—but as his tongue deepened the kiss, demanding and relentless, she realized he wasn’t faking.
His scent enveloped her, and he systematically stole the very air from her lungs.
Kinsley’s mind went blank.
She tried to pull back, but he held the back of her head in a firm, steady grip.
The kiss deepened, turning raw.
She stifled a soft moan in the back of her throat, terrified that the people just inches away outside the window might hear.
The laughter on the sidewalk continued, but Kinsley was already coming undone, drowning in him.
A faint tremor radiated from deep within her, and her tense muscles finally gave way.
She clung weakly to his lapels, her body shivering.
Time seemed to stretch. She felt herself melting into the leather seat.
He showed no intention of stopping, his tongue tangling with hers in a slow, possessive dance.
Finally, the girls outside laughed and ran off.
Kinsley shoved against his chest with everything she had left, and he finally let go.
She slumped back into her seat, gasping for air, her brain completely short-circuited.
Aaron reached out, hooking a finger under her chin to turn her face toward him.
His grey-blue eyes seemed a fraction less icy than before.
“They didn’t see you.”
“Right... thanks...”
She jerked her gaze away, frantically smoothing her hair and skirt before throwing the door open and bolting.
Aaron watched her panicked retreat, a faint, amused curve touching his lips.
He traced his thumb over his own lip, watching her until she turned a corner and vanished.
With a low, private chuckle, he shifted into gear and drove off.
--
Aaron had barely stepped into his office when he found Albert already waiting for him.
“Aaron, you’re officially the most efficient man I’ve ever met.
“A wedding in half a day? Absolutely incredible!”
Albert flipped through a stack of documents, spreading several out across the desk.
“Now, sign here.”
Aaron pulled out his pen and scrawled his signature in a bold, fluid stroke.
As he finished, his hand faltered for a fraction of a second.
The memory of signing those papers with Kinsley flashed through his mind.
“Great!” Albert snatched up the documents, giving them a triumphant shake.
“You’re looking at the new Chairman of the Board.”
He tucked the papers back into his briefcase.
“So, tell me. Which lucky socialite did the deed?”
Albert leaned in, a gossipy smirk spreading across his face.
Aaron paused for a beat before answering casually.
“I found... an actress.”
“An actress?”
Albert burst into a laugh so sudden he almost choked.
“Pure transactional genius!It’s the perfect play. Pay her for the performance, and when the curtain falls, she’s gone. High-IQ move, Aaron.”
Aaron didn’t join in the laughter.
“Did you run a background check?”
“No.”
“What?!”
Albert’s jaw dropped.
“Are you out of your mind?You’re making trouble for yourself.
“Even with a contract in place, if she turns out to be a disaster, I’m the one who has to clean up the mess.”
“She won’t be,” Aaron replied quietly. “I trust her.”
“You don’t trust anyone! What if she’s a grifter? The tabloids, the lawsuits... do you have any idea the kind of headache we’re looking at?”
Albert was practically shouting now, as if the lawsuits were already piling up on his desk.
Aaron looked at him calmly, then gave a dismissive wave of his hand.
“Just go, Albert. Get the paperwork filed immediately.”
Albert left, still swearing under his breath.
The rest of the morning was a blur of files and back-to-back meetings.
When Aaron finally caught a break, he leaned back in his chair, exhausted.
He realized it was the exact same time he had spotted Kinsley at the café yesterday.
So much had changed in just twenty-four hours.
He stared out at the city skyline, letting his mind go blank.
He picked up his phone, intending to call her.
But when he pulled up her number, his thumb hovering over the screen for a long time.
He never pressed dial.