Contract Marriage with Billionaire

Years later, I was back in New York. Inside, I felt both a tension and a great excitement to confront my past. They didn't know I had returned yet, but today we would meet again. I wanted to show them by looking into their eyes that I was no longer that fragile and broken girl. Years ago, Christian had said I was too weak for him; he believed I didn't belong in his world. But now, I was about to face him as a woman stronger than he could have ever imagined. After adjusting my tight black Versace dress and refreshing my blood-red lipstick, I knew I looked breathtaking. When my car stopped in front of the upscale restaurant, Liam opened my door. Liam was my close bodyguard. He was a cold man and hardly ever spoke unless necessary. Alex never allowed him and the others to leave my side for a moment. He might be the most protective person on this planet. It wasn't unjustified since success brought threats with it. Our dear partners were hoping this would be a pleasant introduction dinner, yet I was eager to see the expressions on their faces. As I entered the restaurant, the first glance was already directed at me. It was Scott, Christian's closest friend and right-hand man. His shock grew evident on his face, despite his attempts to hide it. Amy, who used to be my best friend, looked at him for an explanation, gently taking his hand. Scott subtly gestured towards me and murmured something. Probably he didn't want to alarm the others. I was certain they couldn't guess I would soon be joining their table. As I approached, Amy's gaze found mine. I could swear there was a deep longing and regret in her eyes, but it was too late for that. From the unease at the table, I could tell Christian was becoming suspicious. The woman sitting with her back to me and the other men were oblivious. The only one who knew I would be there today, the unsuspecting Mr. Anderson, stood up from his chair as soon as he saw me. All eyes turned to me and their shock, no matter how well hidden, was evident. From here, I could see the tremble in Amy's hand holding her glass. But there was only one person I was curious about, and he hadn’t turned around yet. Upon reaching the side of the table, Mr. Anderson shook my hand, with my back still to Christian. After the handshake, I faced the table. Suddenly, those cold and stern eyes found mine. It was clear he hadn't expected to see me after all these years, but his emotions were so well concealed, it was impossible to decipher what he was thinking. Mr. Anderson: "Allow me to introduce Miss Grace. She's one of the board members and shareholders of Montenegro Holding. As I mentioned earlier." Mr. Montenegro said he could only trust you for this deal, Miss Grace. I hope we can persuade you." Raising my head with a smug expression, I replied, "I hope so." I could feel Christian's gaze on me. Standing up, he came over, and with all his arrogance, extended his hand, "Pleased to meet you, I'm Christian Elrod." Shaking his hand, I matched his challenging gaze. After shaking hands with everyone, the sorrow in Amy's eyes as we greeted each other was hard to miss. But it was too late for that; I needed her friendship years ago. As everyone settled and small talk about business ensued, Christian's challenging stare never left me. The occasional exchange of glances between us was filled with challenge and tension, yet I still felt uncomfortable looking at him for too long. As the conversation turned casual, with everyone sharing personal tidbits about their lives, the most intriguing revelation was Amy and Scott's engagement and the blonde next to Christian who kept touching him under various pretexts. She seemed to look at me with jealous eyes, perhaps resenting the attention I was receiving. Amy's curious question brought my attention back to her. Amy: "Scott never mentioned you before, Miss Grace. Does Alex Montenegro have a special reason for choosing you for such an important task?" Choosing not to give a straightforward answer, I further piqued their curiosity. After all, everyone knew about the rumors of Alex's beautiful love he had been hiding from the media for years. Grace: "Actually, Alex and I have been inseparable since university. Everyone knows that after refusing his family's help, he established and grew his business in Italy. We founded the company together. With my 8% share, I'm the second-largest shareholder after Alex." Scott: "You must be the Angela Alex talked about. The famous 'guardian angel.' I genuinely thought your name was Angela." I just gave a slight smile without answering. When my gaze shifted to Christian, I noticed him gripping his glass tightly. His eyes were blazing. To avoid further probing, I excused myself to the restroom. Walking down the corridor towards the ladies' room, I was suddenly pulled into a secluded spot by a strong arm. Recognizing the familiar scent of the salty sea, I knew exactly who it was. "What game are you playing, Grace?