THE CEO'S CONTRACTED GIRLFRIEND

THE RULES WE DIDN'T EXPECT

Chapter 2 — The Rules We Didn't Expect

The next morning, Aria woke up convinced that everything that happened the night before had been a strange dream.

Then she saw the contract sitting on her desk.

She stared at it.

Six months.

Five hundred thousand pesos.

Fake girlfriend.

Elias Valencia.

Aria covered her face with both hands.

"What did I get myself into?"

Her phone suddenly vibrated.

She grabbed it.

Elias: Good morning.

Aria blinked.

She stared at the message for several seconds before replying.

Aria: Why are you texting me?

His reply came almost immediately.

Elias: Because you're my girlfriend.

She rolled her eyes.

Aria: Fake girlfriend.

Elias: Still my girlfriend.

Aria threw her phone onto the bed.

"Annoying."

Another message appeared.

Elias: Don't forget dinner tonight.

She picked up her phone.

Aria: I have school.

Elias: I know.

Aria: Then how am I supposed to attend dinner?

Elias: I'll pick you up after class.

Aria frowned.

Aria: You don't have to.

Elias: It's part of the arrangement.

She sighed.

Of course.

Everything was "part of the arrangement."

---

At school, Aria tried to forget about Elias.

She focused on her classes, took notes, and spent lunch with her best friend, Mia.

But Mia noticed something immediately.

"You look distracted."

"I'm tired."

"You look like you didn't sleep."

"I didn't."

"Why?"

Aria almost told her.

Then remembered the contract.

She couldn't.

"It's just school."

Mia narrowed her eyes.

"You're hiding something."

"I'm not."

Before Mia could ask another question, a black car stopped outside the school gates.

Several students turned their heads.

Aria immediately recognized it.

"Oh, no."

Mia followed her gaze.

"Do you know that car?"

"No."

"Then why are you looking at it like it owes you money?"

Aria grabbed her bag.

"I have to go."

"Where?"

"Somewhere."

"Aria!"

She ignored her friend and walked toward the car.

The door opened.

Elias was sitting inside.

Aria climbed in.

"You couldn't have used a less noticeable car?"

"No."

"Everyone was staring."

"They'll get used to it."

She sighed.

"You know, normal people use motorcycles or buses."

"I have a car."

"I noticed."

He looked at her.

"How was school?"

"Fine."

"Did you eat?"

"Yes."

"What?"

Aria stared at him.

"Why are you asking?"

"You'll be attending dinner with my family. I don't want you getting hungry."

"I can take care of myself."

"I know."

She looked out the window.

"Then stop acting like my father."

"I don't."

"You do."

He almost smiled.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Don't."

---

That evening, they arrived at another family gathering.

Aria stepped out of the car and immediately felt nervous.

Elias noticed.

"Don't worry."

"I'm not worried."

"You are."

"I'm just thinking."

"About?"

"How much your family dislikes me."

"They don't dislike you."

"Your father barely looked at me last time."

"That's because he doesn't like anyone."

"Comforting."

Elias opened the door.

"Stay close."

Aria frowned.

"Why?"

"My relatives ask a lot of questions."

"Then you answer them."

"They'll expect you to answer too."

"Great."

They entered the house.

Several relatives greeted Elias.

Then they looked at Aria.

Some smiled.

Others whispered.

Aria tried to ignore them.

A woman approached.

She looked to be around Elias's age.

"You're Aria, right?"

"Yes."

"I'm Victoria."

Aria immediately recognized her.

The woman from the charity event.

Victoria smiled.

"I've heard a lot about you."

Aria returned the smile.

"Hopefully good things."

"Of course."

But something about her expression didn't feel friendly.

Elias stepped beside Aria.

"Victoria."

She looked at him.

"Elias."

There was a brief silence.

Then Victoria said,

"I didn't know you were serious about her."

Elias's expression hardened.

"I am."

Aria looked at him.

He said it so naturally.

Almost as if it were true.

Victoria smiled.

"Interesting."

She walked away.

Aria watched her.

"She doesn't like me."

"I know."

"Why?"

"Don't worry about her."

"That's easy for you to say."

Elias looked at her.

"Trust me."

Aria nodded.

For some reason, she did.

---

Dinner was surprisingly quiet.

Until Elias's father spoke.

"How long do you plan on keeping this relationship?"

Aria froze.

Elias calmly placed his glass down.

"As long as necessary."

His father looked at him.

"You know what the family expects."

"I don't care."

"You should."

Aria felt uncomfortable.

She quietly looked down at her plate.

Elias noticed.

He reached beneath the table and gently tapped her hand.

She looked at him.

His eyes silently told her:

Don't worry.

She nodded.

After dinner, they left the house.

The moment they entered the car, Aria let out a long breath.

"Your family is terrifying."

Elias chuckled.

"You survived."

"Barely."

They drove through the city.

The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable anymore.

It felt almost peaceful.

Then Elias spoke.

"Thank you."

Aria looked at him.

"For what?"

"For staying."

She smiled slightly.

"It's part of the contract."

He looked at her.

"Right."

Something about his voice made her smile disappear.

She looked out the window.

"Don't worry. I'll stay until the six months are over."

Elias said nothing.

But his expression changed.

---

A few days later, Aria's life became even more complicated.

A photo of her and Elias leaving school appeared online.

The caption read:

VALENCIA CEO'S GIRLFRIEND SPOTTED AT UNIVERSITY!

Aria stared at the screen.

"Oh, no."

Mia looked over her shoulder.

"What?"

Aria quickly locked her phone.

"Nothing."

"Aria."

"Nothing!"

Mia stared at her suspiciously.

Then her eyes widened.

"Wait..."

Aria froze.

"You know Elias Valencia?"

Aria's heart dropped.

Before she could answer, her phone vibrated.

Elias: We need to talk.

Aria stared at the message.

Aria: About what?

His reply appeared.

Elias: Someone is asking questions about you.

Her stomach tightened.

Aria: Who?

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Finally, his message arrived.

Elias: My father.

Aria stared at the screen.

She suddenly realized something.

Their contract wasn't as simple as she thought.

There were people who wanted their relationship to end.

And some of them were powerful enough to make that happen.

She looked across the classroom window.

Outside, the sky was beginning to darken.

Her phone vibrated again.

Elias: Don't go anywhere alone today.

Aria frowned.

Aria: Why?

His answer came quickly.

Elias: Because I think someone is following you.

Aria's heart started beating faster.

She slowly looked toward the school gates.

A black car was parked across the street.

She couldn't see who was inside.

Then her phone vibrated one more time.

Elias: Aria, listen to me.

Elias: Whatever happens, don't panic.

She stared at the car.

For the first time since signing the contract, Aria wasn't worried about pretending to be Elias Valencia's girlfriend.

She was worried about what being his girlfriend had actually made her part of.

And somewhere across the street, someone was watching.

TO BE CONTINUED...