The Rules
1051 Words
The next morning, Emerald woke up earlier than usual.
For a few seconds, she forgot where she was.
Then she saw the unfamiliar room.
The expensive furniture.
The large windows.
The wedding ring resting on the bedside table.
Reality came rushing back.
She was married.
She sat up slowly.
“Right…”
She reached for the ring and slipped it onto her finger.
Then she walked into the bathroom.
After getting dressed, Emerald made her way downstairs.
The villa was strangely quiet.
She expected to see servants everywhere.
Instead, there was only one woman arranging flowers in the living room.
The woman turned when she heard Emerald approaching.
“You must be Emerald.”
“Yes.”
“I'm Mrs. Kate.”
Emerald smiled politely.
“Nice to meet you.”
Mrs. Kate smiled back.
“Mr. Kingsley asked me to make sure you have everything you need.”
“He did?”
“Yes.”
Emerald looked around.
“Where is he?”
“The dining”
“Does he always wake up this early?”
“Usually.”
Emerald nodded.
That sounded exactly like him.
Mrs. Kate pointed toward the dining room.
“Breakfast is ready.”
“Thank you.”
Emerald walked toward the dining room.
She stopped when she saw Chris sitting at the table, already dressed in a dark suit.
He was reading something on his tablet.
He looked up.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
Emerald sat across from him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Chris put down the tablet.
“We need to discuss something.”
Emerald immediately became cautious.
“What?”
“The rules.”
She frowned.
“Rules?”
“For the marriage.”
She leaned back.
“Of course there are rules.”
“There have to be.”
“Fine. Let's hear them.”
Chris folded his hands on the table.
“First, neither of us discusses the arrangement with anyone.”
“Agreed.”
“Second, our private disagreements stay private.”
“Agreed.”
“Third, when we're in public, we behave like a married couple.”
Emerald nodded.
“That's reasonable.”
“Fourth, you can continue seeing your family whenever you want.”
Her expression softened.
“Thank you.”
Chris noticed the change in her face.
“You don't need my permission.”
“Still, thank you.”
He nodded.
“There is one more.”
Emerald waited.
“You don't interfere with my business.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“I wasn't planning to.”
“Good.”
“And you don't interfere with mine.”
Chris looked at her.
“What business?”
Emerald paused.
“I don't have one yet.”
His eyebrow lifted.
“Then what were you talking about?”
“My life.”
Chris stared at her for a moment.
Then, unexpectedly, the corner of his mouth lifted.
“Fair enough.”
Emerald smiled.
“So that's everything?”
“Yes.”
She picked up her fork.
“Then I have one rule.”
Chris looked at her.
“What?”
“You don't treat me like I'm helpless just because you're paying me.”
His expression changed.
“I don't.”
“You hired me because I needed money.”
“I hired you because the arrangement benefits both of us.”
Emerald studied him.
“Exactly. So we're equals.”
Chris held her gaze.
After a moment, he nodded.
“Fine.”
“Good.”
She returned to her breakfast.
Neither of them noticed Mrs. Kate watching them from a distance.
The conversation sounded less like two strangers and more like a married couple negotiating their first disagreement.
---
Later that morning, Chris prepared to leave for work.
Emerald stood near the entrance.
“You're leaving?”
“Yes.”
“When will you be back?”
Chris stopped.
He looked at her.
“Why?”
She blinked.
“I was just asking.”
“I'll be back this evening.”
“Okay.”
He reached for the door.
Then he paused.
“Emerald.”
“Yes?”
“Tonight, we're having dinner with my family.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Your family?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Seven.”
Emerald stared at him.
“You're telling me this now?”
“I forgot.”
“You forgot to tell your wife she's meeting your family?”
Chris looked almost amused.
“You'll survive.”
She folded her arms.
“You're very confident.”
“I am.”
He opened the door.
“Wear something appropriate.”
Emerald's eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
“Something my family won't criticize.”
“That's not very helpful.”
Chris looked at her for a moment.
Then he said quietly,
“Wear whatever makes you comfortable.”
And with that, he left.
Emerald watched the door close.
She sighed.
“This man is impossible.”
But she couldn't stop the small smile that appeared on her face.
---
That evening, Emerald stood in front of her mirror.
She had chosen a simple, elegant dress.
Nothing too extravagant.
Nothing that would make her look like she was trying too hard.
She touched her wedding ring.
Meeting Chris's family made everything feel more real.
This wasn't just an agreement anymore.
Tonight, she would have to convince the people who knew Chris best that she was genuinely his wife.
Downstairs, a car pulled into the driveway.
Chris had returned.
Emerald took one last breath before leaving her room.
When she reached the staircase, Chris looked up.
He stopped.
For several seconds, he simply stared at her.
Emerald noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're staring.”
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
Chris cleared his throat.
“Are you ready?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
He extended his hand.
Emerald looked at it.
Then at him.
Slowly, she placed her hand in his.
His fingers closed around hers.
Warm.
Steady.
Familiar.
Neither of them spoke.
But as they walked toward the waiting car, Chris found himself thinking about something he couldn't explain.
For the first time, he wasn't wondering whether the arrangement would work.
He was wondering what would happen when it ended.
And that thought unsettled him.
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