THE CEO'S CONTRACT WIFE

Chapter 6:THE WEDDING NIGHT

The Master Suite was not a room; it was a sanctuary.

It took up the entire south corner of the penthouse, with glass walls offering a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline. The bed was king-sized—no, emperor-sized—covered in dark grey silk sheets.

Elena stood in the middle of the room, clutching her arms. The silence was heavy. The door clicked shut behind them, locking them in together.

"The bathroom is through there," Julian said, pointing to a frosted glass door. "You can change in there. I’ll wait."

He walked over to a sleek leather sofa near the window and began to loosen his tie. He looked tired. The armor of the 'ruthless CEO' was starting to c***k just a little, revealing a man exhausted by his own life.

"Okay," Elena whispered.

She retreated into the bathroom. It was just as luxurious as the rest of the house, with marble floors and gold fixtures. She looked at herself in the mirror. The diamond on her finger flashed under the bright lights.

Mrs. Thorne.

"Okay, Elena," she muttered to herself. "Just take off the dress, put on the pajamas, and go to sleep. You can freak out tomorrow."

She reached behind her back to find the zipper of the silk dress.

It was stuck.

She strained, twisting her arms, trying to pull the tiny metal tab down. It wouldn't budge. The dress was tailored so tightly to her body that she had zero leverage.

"No, no, no," she groaned. She tried again, harder. Panic started to rise. She was trapped in the dress.

She struggled for five minutes until her arms ached. There was no other option. She had to ask him.

Elena took a deep breath, opened the bathroom door, and peeked her head out.

Julian was sitting on the sofa, typing on his phone. He had taken off his jacket and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, revealing a glimpse of tanned skin.

"Um... Julian?"

He stopped typing and looked up. "Yes?"

"I... I have a problem," Elena admitted, her face heating up. "The zipper. It's stuck. I can't reach it."

Julian stared at her for a moment, his expression blank. Then, he set his phone down and stood up.

"Turn around," he said quietly.

Elena stepped out of the bathroom and turned her back to him. She moved her heavy hair aside, exposing the nape of her neck and the invisible zipper running down her spine.

She heard his footsteps on the plush carpet. Then, she felt the heat of his body standing directly behind her.

"Hold still," he murmured.

His fingers brushed against her bare skin. Elena shivered. His touch was warm, contrasting with the cool air of the room.

Julian hesitated for a split second before gripping the zipper tab. He didn't just yank it; he was careful. His knuckles grazed her spine as he worked the fabric loose.

The air in the room felt suddenly thin. Elena held her breath. She could smell his cologne—sandalwood and rain.

Zzzzzzip.

The sound was loud in the quiet room. The dress loosened instantly, the cool air hitting her back.

"Done," Julian said. His voice was rougher than before.

He didn't step away immediately. For a heartbeat, he stayed there, close enough that she could feel his breath on her neck. The tension was palpable, a magnetic pull between them that neither of them had signed up for.

Then, he cleared his throat and stepped back.

"Go change," he said, turning away to look out the window. "I'll turn off the lights."

Elena clutched the front of her dress to keep it from falling and rushed back into the bathroom. Her heart was hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird.

When she came out five minutes later, wearing a pair of oversized silk pajamas she found in the closet, the room was dark.

Julian was lying on the sofa, a blanket thrown over him, facing the window.

Elena crept toward the massive bed. She climbed in, pulling the duvet up to her chin. The sheets were cold and smelled like him.

"Julian?" she whispered into the darkness.

"Go to sleep, Elena," he replied from the sofa, his voice tired but not unkind. "Tomorrow is going to be a long day."

Elena closed her eyes. She was lying in a stranger's bed, married to a billionaire, with five million dollars promised to her name.

It was the craziest day of her life. But as she drifted off to sleep, the only thing she could think about was the lingering warmth of his fingers on her back.