Contract Marriage: Mr. CEO, Please Love Me Tender

Our Dreams

Arsenio sighed annoyed. No more this talk, "Do you want to come or not?" He returned the direction of the topic of conversation that was spreading everywhere.

Being treated by Arsenio wasn't a bad thing from the experience Sofia had.

'Maybe I need it too ...?'

Sofia's phone vibrated in her bag. She checked briefly from whom, if from family or friends, she intended to ignore it because she was satisfied with getting a 'congratulation' message from them. But seeing Dominic's name there brought mixed feelings back.

From: Dominic

Can we talk alone, Harrington?

I think you owe me an explanation.

***

Sofia refuses Arsenio's invitation after receiving a message from Dominic. She knows there's a lot to talk about once the wedding is really official.

Unexpectedly, Arsenio protested using the excuse that there was no point in discussing what had already happened, then he for the second time offered back with the tantalizing addition that she was allowed to choose where she wanted.

Sofia really wanted to, especially since there were so many dessert restaurants she wanted to go to, but still, she had to resist the urge for Dominic.

'Apartment number 100, huh ...?'

The apartment that yesterday was a silent witness to her debate with Dominic before she left with intense emotions to register her marriage.

Their quarrel ended very badly, but Dominic was still willing to be a witness to her marriage with Arsenio.

Dominic despite being silent with a hard-to-read facial expression during the swearing-in process, clapped louder than Arlyne who was enthusiastic about her wedding.

Sofia could feel Dominic's frustration in wanting to get her attention after during the wedding process she refused to look or just glance, her eyes focused on Arsenio's handsome face in a silver tuxedo with a big smile on his lips.

'He didn't raise any objections though.'

Sofia had high hopes that Dominic would object, and then like all the romantic movies she'd seen, he gripped her hand tightly, asking her to run away with him.

How high her hopes were.

Sofia let out a long breath, her tired eyes staring blankly at the pink diamond ring around her ring finger. Before this all happened, she had always been happy to see the ring, the ring that had made her five-year relationship finally enter a deeper step.

Who would have thought that the ring that puts a smile on her lips every morning she wakes up to be the initial disaster of her marriage to Arsenio?

Sofia took another deep breath, then looked straight at the brown door that had the number on it: 100. Her hand went up ready to knock, but it was too late, the door opened slightly first.

Not seen Dominic peek or greet her. Looks like he just opened it then went back inside.

Just from the way he opened the door, Sofia realized that Dominic felt the same way. She went inside and the door locked automatically after that.

Not far from her, Dominic sat on the bed with his back to her.

Sofia approached with a heavy heart, and without saying anything, she hugged from the side the body of the man she loved weakly, when not rejected, her arms hugged tightly, spilling all her sadness in hopes of forgetting what happened.

Seconds passed, they remained like that.

Sofia herself, in the midst of her sadness, could hear Dominic's heart pounding, healing a little wound in her heart, meaning that he still considered her special.

"I don't know where to start," Dominic muttered gloomily, too disillusioned by what had happened the past two days.

Sofia tightened her arms around Dominic's slender waist, "Then don't," she whispered pleadingly.

"You know we can't," Dominic refused subtly, "as hurt as this, I want to hear what you have planned after your wedding."

Plans after the wedding?

To be honest, Sofia hadn't thought about it, Arsenio hadn't asked her anything either.

Their marriage just happened.

Of course he protested a little but did not change his mind to marry her.

"Is it important?" Sofia asked.

"Of course," Dominic replied quickly disapprovingly, "I'm sure he's up to something. I know how Arsenio is, he's not a man who can easily agree to a serious relationship like this."

Sofia agreed, but she remembered what Arsenio had said before he came here, "He reasons that he has self-respect that he must protect, especially since Arlyne suspects our relationship."

Dominic suddenly remembered the reason Sofia went to Las Vegas, his thick black brows furrowed in annoyance, "You should be able to ask me instead of doing something stupid like that."

Sofia let go of the hug, her brows furrowed in annoyance as well, "You should have activated your phone in the first place ...!"

"Me? If only you had a little patience, you wouldn't fall for their cheap gossip."

"Cheap gossip ...!?" Sofia screamed with all her might until her cheeks turned red, "You gave her the ring, and responded to your office friends to be patient to see how your relationship continued after Las Vegas. You think I can put my mind at ease with that cheap gossip!?"

Dominic's anger dimmed at the sound of Sofia's screams echoing through the room, ringing painfully in his ears. He realized they were talking about the same topic as yesterday, "Listen," He grabbed her shoulder which was tense with anger, staring as gently as possible to bring the situation under control again, "I allowed the gossip to make me even more likely to take the CEO's seat."

"But you weren't promoted," Sofia muttered weakly, "why should you keep blowing the gossip?"

"Not everything you say seems easy. Arlyne is the owner of the company I work for," Dominic said, "you have to understand the situation."

Sofia had understood, since five years ago. What else does she not understand? "Are you going to marry Arlyne because I married Arsenio?" she asked weakly. She was afraid he would do it as a form of revenge on her.

"What? No," Dominic objected, "there's only one woman who's going to be with me at the altar, and that's you, Sofia."

Sofia's cheeks flushed red, touched by her boyfriend's words, "Me too," she said enthusiastically.

Dominic's face suddenly turned disinterested, "You too? I didn't see it when you swore with Arsenio using my proposal ring," he said sarcastically in his calm voice even though his heart was burning with anger.

"Dominic ..." Sofia was forced to use the ring he gave her because of the sudden wedding, especially when she was carried away by emotions after a fight so she didn't think straight.

Arsenio said he would soon replace it with a new ring so as not to keep adding salt to Dominic's wound.

Dominic's face calmed down again, "It hurts, but it happened. He may get you, but not with your heart."

Sofia nodded shyly, agreeing.

Dominic caressed Sofia's blushing cheeks, looking cute in the reflection of his blue-grey irises using the back of his hand, "Listen to me Sofia."

"Hmm~?" Sofia mumbled a hum, enjoying Dominic's gentle touch.

"During living with Arsenio, don't let him get too close to you," Dominic said with emphasis on each word, "I don't believe his lame reason. I'm sure there are other reasons like he secretly likes you."