The Contracted Marriage

CHAPTER THREE: The Ground Rules

"I am 100% sure," I replied-my voice much steadier than I felt inside-"I have my reasons."

"Great," he said, his hand reaching up to hold my face gently and guide my gaze into his. His touch was so much more tender than I would have thought given the dominating aura he relayed just a second before. "Oh, and call me Evan-or honey, if you can make it extra believable."

He smirked slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting as he added, "Come on."

Before I could utter a word, he took my hand and showed me through the house to a part of it I hadn't previously seen. He led me into a huge, opulent space and flourished his arm around me.

"Welcome to Hotel Brandt," he said, smiling. "All expenses paid."

"Are you sure about this?" I asked, my voice tentative as I looked around the opulent surroundings. "I can sleep on the couch. I really don't mind."

Evan laughed and shook his head in dismay. "Katie, are you serious? I wouldn't mind if you chose a different room for every day of the week."

Evan continued to talk, his voice easy and yet threaded with authority. "I have plenty of room. Sleep."

"Thanks," I said softly, tracking him with my eyes as he turned to go. "Good night," I said suddenly, just as he reached the door. It halted him, and he turned back to me as I corrected myself. "Mr. Brandt-no, sorry! Evan."

He took another step closer to me, a slight grin playing on his lips. "We need to set some ground rules," he said, his eyes serious, locking onto mine. "Look, what or who you do after my contract is fulfilled, that's your business. But while you're legally married to a Brandt, you need to watch out for the paparazzi and all that stuff."

Paparazzi, I told myself in disbelieving wonder. Just before my brains could actually wrap themselves around what that meant, I nodded and said, "Trust me, you really don't have to concern yourself with any of that. I will abide by your rules and our relationship." Out went my hand, stretched to shake it.

Evan clasped my hand briefly, but as he pulled away, I felt something cool and sleek in my palm. I looked down to find a black credit card resting there. I was speechless, my eyes wide with surprise.

"Treat yourself to whatever you want," Evan said offhandedly, as if handing over a card with unlimited possibilities was an everyday occurrence.

"Evan, you really don't have to do all this," I protested, overwhelmed by the gesture.

He stepped closer, his soft touch tilting my chin up. His gaze softened, and his voice was firm but kind. "I mean it. I'm your husband now. If you need anything, anything at all, you come to me."

I nodded, not finding the words, my mind racing. "Uh. Thank you," I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

He pulled his hand back and gave me one last look before he turned and left the room. As the door closed behind him, I let out a shaky breath and fell onto the couch behind me, as my legs gave out from the sheer shock of the evening. I sat there, trying to process everything that just happened.

The next morning, I was rushing around, the phone pressed between my shoulder and ear as I tried to get ready. The voice at the other end of the line, sharp and hurried, was my boss.

"Hurry up, Katie. If you're late for work one more time, I'll be forced to fire you."

"I'm sorry! I'll be right there," I promised, my voice breathless. I ended the call, juggling my shoe in one hand, the other already on my foot. In my haste, I lost my balance, stumbling forward.

Before I could hit the floor, strong arms caught me from behind, steadying me. "Be careful, Katie," Evan's voice was calm, his grip firm as he helped me stand.

Flustered, I turned toward him-the concern in his eyes. "Where are you heading to this early morning ?" he whispered gently into the air but curious.

I probably shouldn’t tell Evan I had a side gig, I thought to myself, biting my lip. Not to mention, it's kind of embarrassing.

"Nowhere," I replied quickly, trying to sound casual. "Just going to meet a friend."

Evan's brow raised slightly, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. "A friend that's a man?" he asked, his voice low and controlled. He reached for my hand, holding it gently but firmly. "If you have a boyfriend, you can just tell me."

I quickly pulled my hand away, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks. "It's nothing like that," I said, shaking my head. "I don't have a boyfriend."

Evan studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. The silence between us stretched, thick with unspoken words. I could feel my heart racing, unsure of what he would say next.

Evan’s eyes narrowed slightly, his voice calm but firm. "Katie, I should tell you this now, I don’t tolerate anyone lying to me."

I felt a surge of indignation rise within me. "Lying? I’m not lying. We might have a contract, but you don’t own me. I’m still free to go out, right?" My voice was steady, though my heart raced.

Evan’s gaze didn’t waver as he responded, "Correct. Just remember my ground rules." He folded his arms across his chest, his stance relaxed but authoritative.

I lifted my chin defiantly. "I’m not breaking any rules here. The contract says you only need me for certain events. So... if there are no such events, I’ll be going." I bent down to grab my small handbag, opened the door, and slipped out, not looking back.

As the door clicked shut behind me, I felt Evan's eyes burning into my back. Inside, he remained still, arms still folded, watching me leave.

"She's definitely hiding something," Evan muttered to himself, a thoughtful frown crossing his face.

I picked up the package for order number 48 and walked outside. A sleek black car sat parked at the front waiting. As I approached, I saw three girls and one boy inside, their chatter coming to a stop as I drew close.

I smiled politely, balancing the package in my hands. "Hey, I've got order number 48 for you," I said, offering the box.

In one second, their faces had changed from lazy curiosity to something a bit more pointed: surprise and ridicule combined. A girl who had her hair curled just right and a smile that never quite reached her eyes leaned forward, the tone of her voice oozing amusement. "Oh. My freaking goodness. Is this not Katie Marshall?"

The others joined in with soft laughter, their gazes sliding over me like I was some sort of curiosity on display.