CHAPTER 3: THE ICE KING'S RULES
794 Words
96 days left.
That's what I kept telling myself as I stood in front of the mirror.
Today was my first day as "Mrs. Voss" for real. No gala. No scandal. Just normal CEO wife stuff.
Normal. Right.
Mrs. Lim knocked. "Mrs. Voss, Mr. Voss wants you in his car in 10 minutes."
I took a deep breath and walked out.
Damian was already in the back seat, working on his laptop. Black suit. No tie. He looked up when I got in.
"Morning," he said. No smile.
"Morning."
"Today you meet the board wives. Lunch at 12. Don't be late."
"Okay."
"And Maya." He closed his laptop. "About last night's press conference..."
I tensed. "Yes?"
"It wasn't part of the contract."
"I know."
"So don't expect it again." His voice was cold. "I'm not your real husband."
My chest hurt. "I didn't expect anything."
"Good." He looked away. "Because I can't give you anything."
The car went silent for the rest of the ride.
---
The lunch was at Voss Tower, 50th floor. Private room.
5 women. All in designer clothes. All with perfect hair. All staring at me like I was a zoo animal.
"So you're the new Mrs. Voss," said the oldest one. Mrs. Tan. Wife of CFO. "We heard about the... situation."
Situation. Nice way to say scandal.
"Yes," I said, forcing a smile. "Nice to meet you all."
For 2 hours they asked me questions.
"Where did you meet?"
"How long have you dated?"
"Is it true you were a cleaner?"
Damian wasn't there to save me this time.
I answered everything with the script we practiced. Smile. Lie. Smile again.
By the end, my cheeks hurt from smiling.
Mrs. Tan leaned in. "Dear, can I give you advice?"
"Sure."
"Damian Voss doesn't keep things for long. Toys get boring. Be careful."
I nodded. "Thank you."
When I got back to the car, Damian was waiting.
"How was it?" he asked.
"Fine."
"You look tired."
"I am."
He handed me a bottle of water. First time he did something nice without cameras.
"Drink."
I did.
---
At 4 PM, my phone rang. Aira.
"Kak, the nurses keep asking about you and the rich husband," she said, excited. "They saw the news! Are you really married to Damian Voss?!"
I walked to the balcony. "Yes, Air."
"Is he nice? Is he treating you well?"
I thought of the cold man in the car. Of the man who kissed me on TV. Of the man who played piano at 2 AM.
"I... I don't know yet."
There was a pause. "Kak, are you okay? You sound sad."
"I'm fine. Just work is busy."
"Okay. But Kak... if he's hurting you, tell me. Even if he's rich."
Tears pricked my eyes. "He's not hurting me, Air. Don't worry."
We hung up.
---
At 8 PM, Damian came home.
He looked exhausted. Suit jacket gone. Sleeves rolled up.
"Meeting went 3 hours over," he said, pouring whiskey. "You ate?"
"Yes."
"Good." He sat on the couch. "Come here."
I sat on the other end. Far.
Damian sighed. "Closer. We need to talk."
I moved. Still 1 foot away.
"Closer."
I moved again. Now our knees were almost touching.
"Better." He took a sip. "About the board wives. Did they say anything stupid?"
"Just the usual. That you don't keep things long."
Damian laughed. Bitter. "They're not wrong."
"Why did you marry me then? Really?"
He looked at me. Really looked.
"Because you were the only person in that room who wasn't afraid of me. And because I needed someone who wouldn't ask for love."
"And now?"
"Now..." He ran a hand through his hair. "Now it's complicated."
My phone buzzed. Elise Hart.
Damian saw the name on the screen. His jaw tightened.
"Don't answer."
"She might have more to say."
"I said don't." He took my phone and declined the call. Then blocked the number. "She's trouble, Maya. Stay away from her."
"You're telling me who I can talk to?"
"I'm protecting you."
"From what? The truth?"
Damian stood up. Angry now. "The truth is that this contract is the only thing keeping your sister alive. The truth is that the moment this ends, you'll go back to being nobody. And the truth is that I don't do relationships, Maya. Ever."
He walked to his room and slammed the door.
I sat there alone.
96 days.
But tonight, for the first time, I realized something.
I wasn't scared of the 100 days ending.
I was scared of what would happen to me when it did.
Because somewhere between the gala, the scandal, and the piano...
I started to want the Ice King to melt.
And that was the most dangerous thing of all.
- Writer
