9:6PM
1123 Words
Kayla couldn't see a wink of sleep.
Everytime she closed her eyes, the message kept rolling back
*Tomorrow, 6pm*
And worse
*You'd understand everything thing then*
Her chest tightened.
“Why did I say yes?” she muttered to the ceiling.
The ceiling didn’t answer.
Her phone sat on the bed like it knew she’d check it. And she did.
No new messages. No warning. Just silence.
Kayla sat up, heart hammering.
“Wait,” she whispered, fingers pressed to her lips. “What if it’s a trap?”
Her brain supplied the worst case.
“Or worse? He’s an organ harvester.”
She barked a laugh, then immediately sobered.
“What if this is Irene’s trick?”
The thought froze her.
Irene didn’t need to threaten her directly. She just needed an opportunity.
And a secret meeting with a stranger? That was a perfect one.
Kayla stood up fast.
“No. I’m not walking into anything blind.”
Her phone lit up the second she said it.
*You should go to sleep. Tomorrow will be a long day*
Kayla’s breath hitched. She spun around, eyes scanning the dark room like he was watching her through the walls.
“Curse you, A,” she hissed, fist in the air.
★★★
*The next day. 5:42 PM.*
Kayla checked the time again.
She’d arrived early. Thirty minutes early. Like a desperate fool with nothing better to do.
The lounge was quiet.
Too quiet. It carried an air of expensiveness and was completely empty.
The glass words gave an air of elegance, low lighting, everything screaming she didn't belong to this kind of world.
She sighed depressively.
She stood by the window, arms folded, staring at the city below.
*You should sleep.*
The message from last night echoed in her head like a free Spotify ad.
Her phone vibrated.
She snatched it up.
Nothing.
She was so tense her own phone was pranking her now. Great.
5:58 PM.
Kayla set a timer.
When it hits 6:00, I leave. With my dignity intact.
She counted along
8…
7…
6…
5…
4…
3…
2…
1…
6:00 PM.
She exhaled. “I’m out. Goodbye, mysterious Mr. A.”
She grabbed her purse and turned for the door.
It opened before she reached it.
He stood there.
His suit tailored to kill and steal hearts, no tie, collar slightly open like he didn’t need to try. Like he came to seduce on purpose
Hair slicked back, one damp strand stuck to his forehead.
But it was his eyes that made her pause.
Grey and sharp. The kind that seemed like they could see through you, not at you.
Eyes she hadn’t seen since that night.
Kayla froze.
“Andrian,” she whispered.
He stepped inside, letting the door shut behind her with a soft click that felt final.
“Should I feel honored you remembered, Ms. Carter?”
Kayla straightened, jaw tight.
“You’re early.”
“So are you.” His gaze swept over her, slow, assessing. Not checking her out just full blown mockery
“I didn’t think you’d be dumb enough to show up.”
Kayla blinked.
“Excuse me?”
Andrian closed the door fully, leaning against it like he owned the room.
“You got a text from an unknown number telling you to meet alone at night in a private lounge, and you came. Just like that.”
He clicked his tongue.
“Naive, Kayla. How reckless you are. Did you think I was the one texting you?”
Her chest tightened.
“Were you?”
Andrian’s lips curved, but there was no humor in it.
“If I wanted you here, I wouldn’t hide behind a phone. I’d drag you here myself.”
Kayla’s face burned.
“So you think I’m stupid?”
“I think you’re desperate.” He said it flat, like he was stating the weather.
“And desperation makes people stupid. Your father’s board is circling around you like vultures, and you think some mystery texter is your savior?”
He shook his head.
“You should be careful who you trust, Ms. Carter. Not everyone who texts you wants to help.”
Kayla opened her mouth to argue, but he wasn’t done.
He pushed off the door and stepped closer. Too close.
“And since you’re here, we might as well talk about why I actually called you.”
Kayla swallowed.
“The contract?”
Andrian’s eyes darkened.
“No.” He walked towards a seat and held it out gesturing for Kayla to come sit on it. “You may need to sit for this one Kayla”
Kayla raised a brow and still walked with slow steps to the chair and Andrain took a seat right after.
“Ethan” he called as a guy stepped into the room with a black suitcase.
Kayla looked at the guy slowly. She remembered him as Andrian’s personal assistant.
He nodded to her as a greeting as she stared at him for too long and she nodded back.
Andrian open the briefcase not in a hurry. His long slender fingers caressing the lock.
Kayla's patience was wearing thin but Adrian didn't make her wait for long.
He slid a piece of paper over to her and she picked it up and the heading made her froze.
MARRIAGE CONTRACT was written in bold as the heading.
Kayla chuckled in amusement for a long while. Soon after she bursts out laughing, hard. This was the funniest thing she's seen all week.
Andrian didn't say a word he was just observing her, amused also.
“Mr Vance must be joking” Kayla started again as she finished laughing
But Andrian's serious face told her he wasn't
“I don't make jokes Ms Carter”
He studied her face as the words hit.
“Marry me, Kayla. Sign the contract, and Carter Enterprises gets the Vance deal. You get to keep your mother’s legacy.”
Kayla stared at him, mind blank.
He couldn’t be serious.
He couldn’t just… say that like it was a business proposal.
“You’re insane,” she whispered.
Andrian smiled coldly. His gaze turned sharp and demeaning.
“Maybe. But I’m the only one insane enough to save you.”
He leaned in slightly, voice dropping to something almost gentle.
“So be careful, Kayla. Next time you run to meet a ghost, make sure it’s not me waiting on the other side.”
Kayla’s hands trembled.
Marriage contract.
Now.
Like that.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She didn’t check it.
Because Andrian was right in front of her, and for the first time since she came back, Kayla didn’t know if she wanted to run or stay.
- Writer
