20: HER PLACE
1320 Words
Kayla was fed up.
Whoever this A was, they always knew the exact time to text. Always keeping tabs on her. Frustrating her
She dialed the number and it gave off three beeps. Showing the number was invalid.
Panicking, she didn't know what to do.
She felt like A had something to do with Andrian.
A chill ran down her spine.
And for some reason, telling Andrian about A felt wrong.
Her countenance changed and Andrian who was besides her noticed
What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She replied immediately after, quickly locking her screen.
Andrian's eyes narrowed.
"You don't look like it's nothing."
"It's just spam."
She forced a smile.
"I'm fine.”
Andrian's jaw clenched. It wasn't like he could pry the answer out her mouth anyway.
He studied her for a moment before letting it go.
If she didn't want to tell him, there wasn't much he could do. For now.
An awkward silence settled between them.
Kayla glanced down at the marriage certificate still in her hands.
It felt so surreal.
Just a few hours ago, she was Kayla Carter. Now, she was Mrs. Vance. The thought alone made her heart skip.
Andrian cleared his throat.
"You already have a copy of the agreement."
His voice had returned to its usual calm businesslike tone.
"Keep it safe."
Kayla looked up. For some reason, she felt disappointed.
A moment ago they were husband and wife. Now they were discussing paperwork again.
"Congratulations, Ms. Carter."
The corner of his lips lifted slightly.
"Looks like Carter Enterprises finally secured its deal with Vance Industries."
Kayla couldn't help smiling.
‘Take that, Irene.’ she thought
"I'll have the finalized documents delivered to your house," Andrian continued.
"If there are any clauses you're uncomfortable with, let me know."
Kayla nodded. "Okay."
Then Andrian said something that made her freeze.
"You should move in with me."
Her head snapped up.
"What?"
A faint amusement flashed through his eyes.
"You haven't forgotten that we're married, have you?"
Heat rushed to Kayla's face.
Right. They were married, legally.
"I..." she started before looking away.
"I'll figure something out."
Then after a brief hesitation, she added quietly,
"Andrian... can we keep the marriage secret for now?"
The amusement disappeared from his face. For a moment, he simply stared at her.
"Why?"
Kayla lowered her gaze.
Because this wasn't real.
Because she didn't know if he'd still want her two years from now.
Because she'd rather enjoy this while it lasted than be publicly humiliated when it ended.
But, she couldn't say any of that.
"I just think it's better."
A shadow crossed Andrian's expression.
It was gone almost immediately.
"If that's what you want."
Kayla missed the disappointment in his eyes.
Andrian didn't let her either. His expression turned back to normal almost immediately.
He adjusted the cuff of his sleeve and looked away first.
"Then we'll keep it private. Like you suggested."
The words should have relieved him. Instead they left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"So. Ethan will be here to take you home in a moment."
"I have things to do this morning. Let's keep in touch?"
Kayla nodded sheepishly then he nodded back and walked off.
Ethan soon arrived to escort Kayla downstairs.
The ride back was strangely quiet.Kayla stared out the window the entire time.
Every now and then her fingers drifted toward her handbag where the marriage certificate rested safely.
Then she'd quickly pull her hand away again. As if touching it would somehow make everything more real.
Mrs. Vance.
She really was Mrs Vance now.
The title still sounded foreign.
By the time she arrived home, she still hadn't figured out how she felt about any of it.
The moment she stepped into her room, she threw herself onto the bed.
A muffled scream escaped into her pillow.
She was actually married. To Andrian Vance
If someone had told her a month ago that this would happen, she would have laughed in their face.
Yet somehow it had. A smile crept onto her face.
Then she buried herself deeper into the pillow before she could start smiling like an i***t.
"No." She shook her head violently
"We are not doing this."
Unfortunately her heart disagreed. After calming down, she finally sat up.
If she was moving into the Vance residence, she'd need to start packing.
The thought alone made her freeze.
She stood and began looking around her room for empty boxes.
Halfway through, her phone rang. It was Ethan.
"Hello?"
"Ms. Carter, I'm outside with the finalized documents."
Kayla glanced at the pile of things scattered around her room.
"Oh. I'm actually busy at the moment."
There was a brief pause.
"Should I return them to the office?"
"No."
Kayla shook her head instinctively before remembering he couldn't see her. "You can leave them on the front porch."
"Understood."
Then the call ended. Satisfied, Kayla continued sorting through her things.
Outside the Carter residence, Ethan placed the package carefully beside the front door before returning to his car.
Unfortunately, someone had been watching.
Isla stood behind the curtains on the second floor.
Her gaze followed the expensive black car until it disappeared from view.
A frown formed on her face.
Who was that?
And more importantly...
Why was he talking to Kayla?
Curiosity quickly won. A few minutes later, she slipped downstairs.
The package was still there. She glanced around.
Nobody was around. Slowly, she picked it up.
The sender's information caught her attention immediately.
Vance Industries.
Her expression changed.
"No way..."
Without hesitation, she carried the package upstairs and locked her bedroom door.
Then she opened it.
The moment she saw the documents inside, her face darkened.
Her grip tightened.
Kayla had actually done it, she had secured the deal with the Vance industries.
A deal executives had chased for years.
A deal Lucas himself couldn't obtain.
The jealousy hit instantly.
"No."
Her voice came out as a whisper.
"No. This can't be happening, it can't be real"
Her hands trembled as she flipped through the documents.
The further she read, the uglier her expression became.
The signatures were real. The agreement was real. Everything was real.
Kayla had actually secured the deal.
A deal that would instantly elevate whoever brought it to the company.
"No..."
Her voice shook.
"Think Isla, think What will mom do?"
Without hesitation, she grabbed her phone and dialed her mother.
The call connected almost immediately.
"Mom."
Irene immediately noticed the panic in her voice.
"What happened?"
"Kayla secured the Vance contract."
Irene was in disbelief. For a while there was a brief silence then she broke it.
"What?"
Isla quickly explained everything.
The car, the package, the documents, the signatures.
Every single detail.
The longer Irene listened, the colder her expression became.
By the end of the call, her face looked terrifying.
"Are you certain?"
"I've checked three times."
A dangerous silence followed.
Then Irene laughed softly.
The kind that usually meant trouble.
"Well."
"What do we do?" Isla asked nervously.
"What do we do?" Irene repeated.
"As far as I'm concerned, Kayla was never involved."
Isla froze.
"What?"
Irene leaned back comfortably.
"Who has the contract right now?"
"I do."
"And who can present it to the board?"
"I can."
A slow smile appeared on Isla's face.
Realization finally dawned on her.
"Mom..."
"Listen carefully."
Irene's voice became serious.
"Tomorrow, you'll walk into that boardroom with those documents."
"You'll tell them you secured the deal."
"But–"
"No one will question you."
Irene cut her off immediately.
"Especially not Kayla."
"And if she does?" Isla asked.
Irene's smile widened.
"Then let her prove otherwise."
The words sent a chill down Isla's spine.
Because they both knew the truth.
Without those documents, Kayla had nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
"Hide the contract," Irene instructed.
"Don't let Kayla see it."
"And tomorrow..."
Her smile turned vicious.
"We'll finally put her in her place.”
- Writer
