Contract Marriage With My Rival

Chapter 3

Paula's POV.

"Nope." I blurted out before I could stop myself, and Mum furrowed her eyebrows at me.

"Why? I thought he was your man?" Mum blinked at me and I bit my lips.

"Of course, but isn't a wedding too fast? We still have all the time in the world to..." I was about to say when Dad cut in.

"You don't. According to you, the only reason why this relationship was being hidden was that you thought we wouldn't support him, but now we do, so you guys are getting married." Dad told me and I could feel a lump forming in my throat.

"But.."

"No buts, you will do as I say." Dad scowled, and I flinched while Mum tried to calm him down, and he looked away.

He seemed pissed.

"Paula, to call off your wedding with Dante completely, you have to be married. Your fiancée or husband has to be known." Mum explained and I dropped my hands in surrender.

I thought since Christian already played along, I just had to see him, explain, then call it off and lie to my parents afterwards that we broke up, but it seemed like it was going to be more complicated.

'I am sure Christian played along because he thought it was a one-time thing. How do I explain to him now that we actually have to get married?' I pondered as I excused myself from my parents' presence.

I got my car keys and drove to Christian's company. As expected, immediately his employees saw me, their eyes widened in shock.

I waved at them before taking the elevator to the top floor where I was to see him. Immediately, the elevator opened, I was greeted by assistant Kim.

He was Christian's Korean assistant who flashed me a welcoming smile and led me towards Christian's office.

"Mr. Cole is already waiting for you." He said, and I nodded at him with a grin, knowing the employees downstairs already informed them of my arrival as soon as I entered the building.

"Hope I am not disturbing anything?" I asked immediately as I stepped into his well-equipped office, and Christian laughed.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" He asked as he gestured for me to sit down in front of him. I looked at this young, handsome dude sitting in front of me and tried not to gawk.

I felt the urge to run my hands through his dark, curly, styled hair as his green eyes flashed at me beautifully. I could feel butterflies in my stomach.

Christian had a strong jawline, chiseled features, and an athletic, muscular build that his shirt could barely contain.

"Why did you play along earlier?" I questioned him, getting straight to the point and the side of his lips curled.

"Play along?" He repeated as if he was confused and I frowned at him.

"Don't play dumb," I warned and he grinned.

"I am not."

"Then?" I drawled as I tapped my foot against the tiled floor impatiently, I wasn't ready for his games today.

I had more pressing issues at hand and did not even know where to start with my proposal for him.

"I am just saying that I didn't play along because we are secret lovers,"Christian said and I stiffened, staring at him like he was insane while he continued with his annoying smile.

Just then, I cracked and had to cover my mouth to control myself from laughing hard.

"When did you turn into a Joker?" I snickered and Christian shrugged.

"I am serious. We are secret lovers. At least for our families and the press." Christian told me and I narrowed my eyes at him in confusion.

I was so lost.

"I don't get you." I felt my hands trembling in my lap for an unknown reason, especially when he got up and walked around the table to where I was sitting.

He leaned close, like he was about to kiss me, his breath falling heavily on my face as I tried hard not to inhale his chocolate cologne.

"I am offering to kill two birds with one stone here." He began and I could feel my heart skipping a beat as he raised a diamond ring I didn't even notice he was holding in his hand towards my face.

"Paula, marry me." My stomach dropped at his words.

'What the heck was going on?' I pondered in surprise as saliva gathered in my mouth. I gulped them down, scratching my hair nervously.

"What a-are you s-saying?" I stuttered and Christian smirked before moving away from me.

"It's not that hard to grasp, Paula, or did your IQ suddenly reduce?" Christian asked, and I glared at him, wondering if my parents put him up to this.

Why were they just so desperate for me to get married?

"I know you are engaged to Dante, but I can help you not to get married to him if you get married to me, it would be a contracted marriage." Christian told me, and I stiffened.

How the hell did he know about the engagement? Wasn't it supposed to be a secret?

"Why?" I asked and he went back to his seat, playing with the glowing diamond ring in his hand.

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Nope." I shook my head sideways.

"Then you don't need to know." Christian grinned and I felt like punching it off his face.

"So you expect me to just marry my rival in everything without a reason?" I scowled and he nodded.

"Yes but if you are not okay with it, you can make use of the door." Christian gestured towards the exit and I gritted my teeth against one another.

Christian smiled because he knew he had me. I couldn't leave since I already told my parents we were dating.

"Besides, I already made things easier for you because, according to my knowledge, you are supposed to propose this marriage to me." Christian grabbed the bottle of water on his table and drank it.

As I watched him gulp the water, I sudde

nly felt thirsty.

"How do you know about my marriage to Dante?" I decided to ask, curious.