Chapter 5
Aaron tossed his phone aside, a self-deprecating smirk tugging at his lips.
Girls had always flocked to him, desperate for a second of his time.
He had never needed to chase, let alone fixate on someone. It was beneath him.
When he finally finished work, he hesitated for a long time before pulling up her number again.
He hit dial.
The ringing went on and on.
He found himself swallowing hard, his chest tightening in anticipation of her voice.
The call went to voicemail.
Dial again?
His pride flared.
A man like him didn’t beg for attention.
Aaron stared at the darkened screen, let out a cold, sharp breath, and walked out of his office.
He was waiting for the elevator when a figure approached.
“Aaron? Married so suddenly? You didn’t even hold a reception to let us offer our congratulations.”
Ethan sauntered over, a fake smile plastered on his face.
Aaron’s brow furrowed.
“My wife isn’t fond of the spotlight. And I have no intention of parading her around for your entertainment.”
“Is that so?” Ethan smirked. “Strange how we’ve never heard of this woman. Which family is she from? Surely she’s not a secret you’re ashamed of.”
The elevator arrived with a sharp ding.
Aaron stepped inside and fixed Ethan with a chilling stare.
“Why exactly are you so interested in my wife?”
Ethan’s smile faltered, and he stayed back.
As the doors slid shut, Aaron irritably yanked his tie loose.
When he returned home, Kinsley wasn’t there.
Aaron threw his blazer onto a chair and downed a glass of ice water in several gulps.
He wanted to believe she was a woman of her word.
The girl he had seen over the last twenty-four hours was an open book.
Simple, transparent.
He didn’t think he’d misjudged her.
As night fell and she still hadn’t returned, Aaron began to pace the terrace, his eyes fixed on the front gates.
He called her several more times.
No answer.
Did she run?
No, impossible.
He tried to rationalize it.
Even if she disappeared, the marriage was legal, and the paperwork for the chairmanship was already in motion. His power was secure.
But he couldn’t stop the spiraling thoughts.
Was she just a better actress than he thought?
Or had he scared her off?
Then, his phone buzzed.
Kinsley’s name flashed across the screen.
He swiped to answer instantly.
“Where the hell are you?!”
He could barely mask the strain of unease in his voice.
There was a brief silence on the other end before Kinsley’s voice came through, hesitant.
“I’m so sorry... the production called me in for some reshoots. I didn’t think it would take this long.”
Aaron closed his eyes, letting out a long, heavy breath of relief.
“I don’t even remember where you live,” she said.
His tone shifting to one of feigned annoyance.
“Drop a pin and stay put.”
--
Aaron sped through the night, his heart rate finally settling back to a steady rhythm.
Recalling that timid, careful voice on the phone, a ghost of a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
She didn’t run.
Just moments ago, he had already been running through contingency plans in his head—search parties, lawsuits, and a series of other unpleasant escalations.
Thank God none of that was necessary.
Before long, he spotted a figure standing under a streetlamp.
The night breeze caught the hem of her short skirt, exposing her long, slender legs.
Aaron’s throat tightened as he watched her.
But remembering the frantic headache she’d just caused him, his expression darkened.
He slammed on the brakes, the car screeching to a halt beside her.
Kinsley jumped back instinctively, startled by the sudden intrusion.
When she realized it was Aaron’s car, she pouted, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face.
“You almost gave me a heart attack!” she muttered.
“Get in.”
“Thanks for picking me up.”
Kinsley buckled her seatbelt, stealing a cautious glance at his expression.
Aaron didn’t respond, silently pulling back onto the road.
The air inside the car was frigid.
“I’m sorry. We aren’t allowed to use phones on set. I didn’t expect you to call.”
“Enough,” he interrupted, his voice sharp. “I don’t want to hear your excuses.”
Kinsley bit her lip, her fingers twisting together in her lap.
Her scenes were supposed to have wrapped yesterday, but the director had called an emergency reshoot.
She had been filming since the afternoon, and it wasn’t until she finished that she saw the string of missed calls from Aaron.
Only one thought had flashed through her mind: I’m in so much trouble.
When she hailed the cab, she realized with a jolt of panic-- she hadn’t even memorized the address to Aaron’s estate.
She’d been forced to call him, braced for the worst.
But to her surprise, he’d agreed to come get her, though his cold shoulder spoke volumes.
What was going on in that head of his?
Had he forgiven her?
Ornot?
Kinsley barely dared to breathe.
She sat so still hopingshe might become invisible.
The hum of the engine swallowed the silence between them, but it did nothing to soothe her nerves.
If he terminated the contract because of this stunt, how much would she owe him in damages?
If the penalty was too high,she wouldbe paying him back for the rest of herlife.
But it wasn’t just the money.
Aaron’s silence left her feeling hollow and restless.
For the first time, she felt a desperate urge to keep this contract—or more accurately, to stay by his side.
The car’s AC was blasting.
Noticing her skirt had ridden up, she carefully tugged the fabric down to cover her thighs.
As she turned her head, her eyes locked with his—intense and searing.
--
Back at the house, Kinsley showered and went to change.
It wasn’t until she stepped out of the bathroom that she realized the nightgown she’d grabbed was a black lace number.
The neckline was dangerously low, the hem far too short, leaving her curves and long legs completely exposed.
She hurried to the walk-in closet to find something—anything—else, but Aaron was already there.
He was leaning against the doorframe, his shirt unbuttoned halfway to reveal the hard muscle of his chest.
His eyes tracked her every move.
“Come here,” he said, his voice still holding that icy edge.
She approached him slowly, tugging at the lace to try and cover herself.
Great. The boss is still pissed.
“Aaron, I’m sorry about today,” she whispered, keeping her head down. “I’ll make sure I’m reachable from now on. I promise.”
The silk was thin, and he was close.
She could feel the heat radiating off him, sending a fresh wave of goosebumps across her skin.
Aaron stared down at her, something dark and turbulent swirling in his eyes.
After a heavy silence, he finally spoke.
“Do you have any idea what I was thinking?
She looked up at him, shaking her head slightly, her amber eyes shimmering with a naive light.
He let out a cold, sharp breath.
“I thought you ran.”
“No, never. I’m not going anywhere.”
His hand, braced against the doorframe, tightened.
Yet his tone remained casual, laced with his usual derision.
“And how do I know the same thing won’t happen tomorrow?”
“It won’t,” she promised, stepping even closer to him in her haste to explain. “I’m actually... happy with you. I have no reason to leave.”
Aaron’s gaze dropped to her eyes, then settled on her lips.
“Can I trust you?”
She smiled, a small, genuine thing.
“You’re quite the catch, aren’t you? You have such control over yourself, you’re dependable, and you actually showed up for me today...”
She caught his stare and trailed off.
The fire in his eyes was blazing now.
“I...” her voice grew faint. “I’ll honor the contract...”
His fingers brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, his palm lingering against her cheek.
“What happened today—I never want a repeat of it.”
They were so close she could feel his breath ghosting over her skin.
Kinsley’s heart hammered against her ribs.
“Okay... I promise...”
His eyes locked onto her mouth.
“Remember your role.”
“I will...”
He kissed her then, the movement swallowing her words.
It was a desperate, searing kiss—a slow burn that had finally caught fire.
His tongue sought hers, probing, teasing, entangling.
A broken whimper escaped Kinsley’s throat.
Her role?
She was his wife—
Legal, acknowledged, and claimed.
Kinsley wrapped her arms around Aaron’s neck, meeting his heat with a newfound intensity of her own.