CEO’s Secetaries Contract

Chapter3

Later that night, once Doris had retired into the guest room, Rosa's mind was filled with questions. How would she explain this deception to her best friend, the one who knew her better than anyone else? More importantly, how long could they keep this intricate act running before it crumbled?

Rosa joined Doris in the guest room, bracing herself for the expected grilling. "Alright, Rosa," Doris said seriously, "spill."

Rosa poured. She confessed everything, from the cutthroat CEO to the contract marriage and the unforeseen connection that threatened to change the entire story. As she spoke, a sense of relaxation rushed over her.

Doris listened intently, her countenance a mix of surprise, concern, and amusement. When Rosa finished, there was a long hush in the room.

"You do realise this is crazy, right?" Doris eventually spoke, releasing a trembling breath.

"Crazy?" Rosa repeated, a protective tone seeping into her voice. "Maybe. But there is something about him, Doris. It's more than just a contract.

Doris reached out to squeeze Rosa's hand. "I trust you, Rosa," she murmured softly. "But take care. This billionaire world is a power game, and you may get hurt."

Rosa considered her best friend's words. There was truth to them, a danger lurking behind the lavish masquerade. However, the spark she felt with Henry, as well as the vulnerability she saw, were too strong to ignore.

As they talked late into the night, Rosa knew one thing was certain: this contract marriage was going to get a lot more complicated, and the line between pretense and reality was beginning to blur

A Storm Brews

The news of Rosa and Henry's "engagement" went quickly across New York City's social circles. Photographs of the seemingly in love pair adorned the pages of gossip publications, stoking suspicion and envy. While portraying the happy couple in public, Rosa and Henry's conflict simmered under the surface.

Doris' unexpected entrance had put a kink in their carefully planned facade. Rosa felt a nagging uneasiness as she prepared to explain their position to her best friend. She resolved to turn the tables, taking Doris' presence as a chance to push the limits of their contract.

"You know," Rosa said one morning as they sat across from each other in the lavish, high-rise kitchen, "Doris is staying for a long. Consider inviting her to join us at upcoming events.

Henry, who was skimming through a business report, looked up, surprise in his blue eyes. "Could you invite her? "To a charity gala or a business dinner?"

"Why not?" Rosa challenged him with a raised eyebrow. "She's my best friend, and frankly, pretending to be a couple feels a little… hollow without someone else in on the charade."

Henry grimaced, his thoughts suddenly coming to a halt. "It could be awkward," he said, showing weakness in his voice.

"Awkward?" Rosa scoffed. "Isn't that the entire idea of this charade, Mr. Blackwood? With a mischievous gleam in her brown eyes, she said, "It might be interesting to see how you navigate a social setting with someone who isn't easily swayed by your… charm."

A smirk tugged at the corner of Henry's mouth. He was captivated by the challenge in her eyes. He had a feeling Doris would not be deceived by their faked adoration.

"Alright," he said, amused. "Consider this a test run. But don't come crying to me if your dearest friend sees through our deception."

Their lively banter was in stark contrast to the formal encounters they were accustomed to. Rosa experienced an unanticipated warmth that went beyond the parameters of their agreement.

Doris' appearance to a charity event that evening was received with raised eyebrows and gossip. Introductions were made, and stories were manufactured. Despite the difficulty of the setting, Rosa thought it amusing to see the typically confident Henry stumble through a talk about Doris' art career, a total fiction.

Doris, for her part, stayed calm and alert. While playing along, her keen wit and intelligent questions had Rosa and Henry on their toes. Rosa felt a subtle shift in the relationship between her and Henry during the evening. The strained conversations of the previous several days evaporated, leaving behind a relaxed banter that seemed remarkably natural.

However, the night was not without challenges. A slinky blonde woman wearing a stunning green gown approached them with a predatory smirk. "Henry, darling," she murmured, her eyes glinting with hatred at Rosa. "Didn't expect to see you here tonight."

Rosa's blood became chilly. This woman, who exuded entitlement, gave Henry a creepy vibe. Doris rushed up before Henry could introduce the woman, her voice cold.

"And who might you be?" she asked, her stare steadfast.

"Ella," the woman said, forcing a grin before shifting her attention to Rosa. "Henry's… old friend."

The emphasis on "old friend" weighed heavily in the air, a jab thrown squarely at Rosa. A tight quiet fell over the gathering, as the weight of whispered secrets threatened to destroy the carefully created façade.

Rosa felt a rush of rage and a twinge of uneasiness. This "Ella" had a confidence bordering on arrogance, and the way she greeted Henry left no mistake about their shared history.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ella," Rosa responded, her voice reflecting none of the inner anguish. She faked a grin, determined not to allow this woman to frighten her.

Henry, noticing the tension, cleared his throat. "Ella, this is Rosa, my… fiancée," he murmured, with a tinge of possessiveness that astonished even himself.

Ella's smile faltered briefly, a spark of jealousy across her carefully painted face. "Fiancée?", she repeated, her voice full of doubt. "Congratulations Henry, I had no idea."

The words felt laden, implying a past Rosa dearly wanted to learn more about.

Doris, ever the observer, appeared to catch up on Rosa's unsaid inquiry. "How long have you two known each other?" she asked, her eyes fixated on Ella.

Ella smiled again, but it appeared strained this time. "Oh, we've known each other for years," she remarked faintly. "Back in… university days, wouldn't you say, Henry?"

Henry only nodded and avoided Ella's look. The forced conversation lasted a few more agonising minutes before Ella excused herself, leaving a palpable sense of discomfort in her wake.

Rosa turned to Henry with a question in her eyes after she left. "Who was she?", she inquired, her voice barely above a whisper.

Henry sighed, as if grappling with his own thoughts. "Ella was someone from my past," he explained. His blue eyes had a glimmer of sadness, revealing a tenderness Rosa had never seen before.

Doris moved forward before Henry could elaborate. "Let's get some fresh air", she said, her tone forceful. She escorted Rosa to the balcony overlooking the lively city, leaving Henry alone among the sparkling crowd.

On the balcony, the cool night air flowed over them, providing a little respite from the oppressive mood inside.

"That woman," Doris continued, her voice full of concern, "knows something. Something you aren't telling me.

Rosa returned her gaze to Henry, who remained alone among the crowd. "I know," she said, a knot of worry forming in her stomach. "But I have a feeling whatever it is, it's not good."

The sight of Ella radiating confidence and familiarity with Henry threatened to overwhelm Rosa's delicate connection with him. The question that reverberated in her thoughts was stark: was she merely a player in a wider game, a handy answer to Henry's inheritance quandary, or was there something more?