Married to my CEO Crush

Chapter3

THE WEDDING

As Emma surveyed the room, she felt like a fish out of water. Everyone looked so refined and polished, while she felt out of place in her less-than-stellar dress. She sat at her table, nursing a glass of champagne, feeling like an outsider. The bride, her former friend, barely even acknowledged her. And even though the wedding was beautiful, Emma couldn't shake the feeling of awkwardness. Why had she agreed to come to this wedding? She wished she could just leave.

Emma's eyes darted around the room, desperate for something to distract her from the sea of judgmental faces. And then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dylan walking towards her, holding a glass of champagne in one hand. She instinctively turned away, using her purse to shield her face, but it was no use. Dylan had seen her and was coming to talk to her. She felt like a deer caught in headlights.

"Hey," Dylan said, flashing a smile. "You don't seem like the type to be at a fancy wedding like this. I would have figured you'd be out clubbing on the weekends, not sipping champagne at a country club." Emma rolled her eyes. "What do you want?" she asked, trying to hide her annoyance. "Now, now," Dylan replied with a chuckle. "That's no way to talk to your boss." Emma groaned. "We're not at work, you're just some random guy right now," she snapped.

"The groom, or the bride?" Dylan asked, a curious glint in his eye. "The bride and I used to be close friends, but then she met her now-husband, and it's like she completely forgot about me," Emma said, a hint of bitterness in her voice. "If you're not that close anymore, then why did you even accept the invitation?" Dylan asked. Emma sighed. "It's a long story," she said. "But, do you want to get out of here?" Dylan asked, extending his hand to her. Emma hesitated for a moment, then took his hand. "Sure, why not,” Emma would rather be anywhere else than be among the crowd who she felt judged her every second she was there.

Dylan revved the engine of his sleek sports car and sped away from the venue. Emma gripped the armrest of her seat tightly, as Dylan took turns with reckless abandon. "Where are we going?" she yelled over the roar of the engine. "To a private bar," Dylan replied. "Trust me, you'll love it!" Emma wasn't so sure. But, she also didn't have many other options at the moment. So, she held on tight and prayed they'd make it to their destination in one piece.

As they pulled up to their destination, Emma's jaw dropped. The private beach house was stunning, with its pristine white walls and turquoise shutters. The ocean glittered like diamonds in the sunlight, and the air smelled of salt and sea breeze. "Oh my god," Emma breathed, stepping out of the car. "This place is amazing!"

Dylan led her to a small, rustic tavern, where they got drinks. "This place is incredible," Emma said, taking in the ocean view. "I could stay here forever." Dylan just smiled and sipped his drink.

Did Dylan remember who she was, or was he just trying to get her to sleep with him again? She wondered, She looked at him, but his expression was unreadable. As they talked, Emma couldn't stop wondering what Dylan was thinking. Was he just being a typical playboy? She looked at him, really looked at him, for the first time. His golden hair was slicked back, and his brown eyes were even more charming than she remembered. But she didn't want to get her hopes up. After all, he was the CEO of a major company, and she was just an average girl who worked for him.

“I have a proposal for you,” Dylan said, bringing Emma back to reality. “Oh! I thought this was just an apology for the way you spoke to me at work, there’s a catch?” Emma said smiling. “So what is it?” She asked. “let’s get married,” he said. Emma was taken aback by Dylan's sudden proposal. "What?" she said, her voice cracking slightly. "You want us to get married?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "I mean, a contract marriage," he clarified. "What do you mean by that?" Emma asked, her mind racing. "A marriage of convenience," Dylan said. "A way for us to help each other out, without any romantic entanglements." Emma stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest.

"But... why do you need to get married?" Emma asked, her mind reeling. "It's not about need," Dylan said. "It's about respect. I'm tired of people seeing me as this young, single CEO. No one takes me seriously. But if I were married, I think they would. Plus, my mom is always nagging me to get married." He paused, then added, "So it's a win-win for me." Emma shook her head. "But what about me? What's in it for me?" she asked.

"Ten million dollars," Dylan said, his voice even and casual. Emma's jaw dropped. "What?" she gasped. "Do you think I can be bought so easily?" she asked, trying to sound strong and confident, but her voice wavered. "It's not about being bought," Dylan said. "It's about making a mutually beneficial agreement. I get the respect I deserve, and you get a life-changing amount of money." Emma was silent, trying to process what he was saying.

Her mind turned to her family, to her father's debt, and to how ten million dollars could change their lives for the better. “You know what, let’s do it,” Emma said, “let’s get married!” She added.

"Really?" Dylan said, his eyes lighting up. "You're serious?" Emma nodded. "I'm serious," she said. "Let's do it. f**k it, right?" Dylan smiled and reached out to shake her hand. "I knew you'd come around," he said. "But remember, this is just a contract. No catching feelings, okay?" he added, a mischievous glint in his eye. Emma looked him in the eye and smiled. "Just business," she said. "Nothing more."

Emma's head was spinning. She had just agreed to a marriage contract, something she never thought she would do. She knew she had to keep it a secret, at least from most people. Her mother wouldn't care, but she didn't want to be seen as a gold digger by everyone else. She would have to be careful about how she presented the situation. Maybe she could convince people it was a love match, rather than a business arrangement.