I was able to speed through the day, getting all my work done without the need for overtime. so by 7 pm, I was packed up and ready to go.
"I can't believe you get to leave early," Lucas whined. He would be staying behind due to the mountain of work piled up on his table, much to his disappointment.
"I can't believe it either." I didn't tell them about the dinner because I wasn't sure how the night would end. And it just wasn't my personality to air out my business to everyone.
"Make sure you have fun tonight. Hit the clubs or something."
"I have work tomorrow in case you've forgotten." I smiled, gave him a peck on the cheeks, and waved bye. "See you in the morning."
The moment the elevator doors closed, I pulled out a mirror from my purse and used it to make sure I looked okay. I fixed up my hair a little and applied some lip gloss. "All done." I wasn't looking my best, but that was to be expected after all the work I had to do.
The basement floor was dark and almost empty, save for a few cars. One of them had the back lights on, so I figured it was his. I walked up to it and opened the doors, slipping into it as fast as I could so no one could see me getting into the boss's car. I can't even begin to imagine what nasty rumors would fly around if someone did. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting?"
"Not at all."
"Okay."
"Did you have a good day?"
I nodded a quick "Yes". It's not like I could complain to my boss about the work he gave me. The car ride was as awkward as I expected it to be. Neither of us bothered to strike up small talk, and I just sat there, looking out the window, hoping we were nearly there. We truly had nothing in common except work. If we were this silent now, I wondered how much worse the dinner would be.
But I didn't have to wonder for long because I was already living it. It had been ten minutes since our food was served, and he still hadn't said anything. I was starting to believe he was playing a sick prank on me. "Excuse me, Mr. Frost, may I ask why you brought me here?" I finally asked after not being able to take the silence any longer.
"I figured it'd be best to tell you once we've eaten. Why, is the food not to your liking?"
"It's wonderful- the food, I mean. I just..." I glanced at the untouched wine glass and reached for it, drinking its contents in one gulp. Nothing screams confidence booster as much as alcohol after all. "Do you do this to everyone you're about to fire?"
He stared at me blankly. "I never said I was going to fire you, Miss Kim. And no, I don't take my employees out for dinner just to hand them a severance letter."
"Then why are we here? You haven't said a word since the car, and frankly, I'm getting nervous here." If it were anyone else, I'd have thought this was their way of taking me on a date... but this was Damien Frost, and I wasn't date material for him.
He loosened his tie and placed both arms on the table, staring at me intently. I was momentarily distracted by the motion, but quickly recovered as soon as he started speaking. "I brought you here to ask you to marry me."
Everything fell silent, and I blinked slowly, replaying his words again in my head to make sure they were real. There was no way he just asked me to marry him. I threw my head back and burst out laughing. This had to be a joke. "You're actually hilarious, Mr. Frost." I wiped away the stray tears from my eyes and looked at him, but he wasn't laughing. He sat there looking as serious as ever, as if he hadn't just dropped the most unexpected bomb on me.
"Is something funny?"
"I should be asking you that, Mr. Frost. April Fools is still four months away."
"I understand that this might have come as a shock to you-"
"Shock doesn't even begin to cover it." I scoffed.
"Yes, but I'm serious." He straightened. "I'm proposing a contract marriage offer, Miss Kim. One that would benefit us both, if you'd listen."
That piqued my interest. I'd read countless books about contract marriages before, and it never crossed my mind that I'd live to experience one.
When I didn't say anything, he continued. "The marriage is mainly a front. The main goal of this is to have a child, one born not out of wedlock. The contract will last six months after the baby is born, then we'll file for a divorce, and you'll walk away with five million dollars. Of course, if you'd like to remain in the child's life after that, I won't take that right from you. While we're married, your expenses and everything else will be dutifully taken care of, including a monthly allowance which will be given to you in addition to the pay."
It felt like I was listening to an alien speak to me in a whole other language. "So.. you want me to marry you, and have a child with you? Do you realize how crazy that sounds coming from your mouth? And why me, in fact. I'm sure you're not lacking in choices of women; any one of them could become your fake wife and mother of your child."
As I spoke, I realized I hadn't outright refused the offer or thought of doing so. Sure, I questioned it, was suspicious of it- but who would spell a definite 'NO' when that much money was on the line?
"I figured you'd be the best fit."
"Why, because you saw me as an escort, so you now think I'm easy? That I'd do anything if you throw money my way?"
"No. I chose you because I know how you work, Miss Kim. You're diligent, smart, highly professional, and a hard worker. I also know you can't stand me, so it reassures me that any unnecessary feelings won't be involved in the arrangement."
After five years of working at Frost Corporation, my ruthless boss just praised me, but at what cost? I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "What I'm hearing is you think I hate you and will be incapable of falling in love with you during the contract?"
"That, among many other reasons." He cocked his head.
"More importantly, I'm supposed to have a child with you... Does that mean--"
"We're not going to sleep together if that's what you're asking. The pregnancy will be conducted through IVF instead."