Games

"Relax, dear wife. I am not that desperate. Did you forget that we have a contract?"

There was one thing he said that made me immediately flinch and shift away from him.

I turned around and frowned at him. Why was he provoking me?

More like — why was he seducing me?

"Ah, Mister Desmond Lucas, I think it's you I should be reminding about the contract. You seem to always forget that this is just a contract marriage we agreed on. Yet you keep coming to me... Am I really that irresistible?"

I pulled out a triumphant smile after saying that, expecting to see his arrogant grin wiped off his face.

But instead, he just looked at me — and then burst into laughter.

"Right now, you seemed so needy, so hungry, like you wanted me to touch you.

Sadly, dear wife, I am not the type to break the rules."

He chuckled and then walked in slow, deliberate steps toward the locker.

His footsteps echoed through the room.

Opening the locker, he pulled out some documents.

"These are the documents we prepared and signed — our marriage certificate. We are officially married. And this —" he held up another file, "— is the agreement carrying the terms of our marriage."

The moment he said that, my interest was piqued.

I looked at the documents in his hand.

Interesting.

He had made it so easy for me.

Now, with this contract, I was safe from his confusing seduction.

Yes... and if he tries anything beyond the boundaries of the contract, I have the right to terminate everything.

I collected the contract, smiling.

"That's good. You are very smart, dear husband," I said, looking down to read through the clauses.

"Hm... So you're saying that we are to act like a real couple in the public eye — kisses and hugs are allowed — but that's where it all ends? Those are the boundaries?"

I read through all the clauses carefully, then raised my head to look at him.

"very good, you wrote" I smiled "this very smartly and carefully"

"Is dear wife praising me?" Desmond asked, arching a brow.

"Why are you praising me like I'm some little kid?"

His words caught me off guard. Unexpected. Confusing.

What did he even mean by that? Was this the time for him to start asking random-ass questions?

"This is fine. The contract is all good, and I have no complaints," I said, handing the documents back to him.

He had made a personal copy for me too, which I now held in my hand.

I stood in front of him.

He had that smirk again.

I was curious — why was he smirking over a damn contract?

It seemed like I was the one who should be smug — but he looked extra happy.

Something was definitely fishy, but I couldn’t quite figure it out yet.

One thing I’ve noticed about Desmond?

He always gives that dirty, confusing smirk when he’s up to something — and it's always something that ends up involving me. Something that’ll get me exposed or humiliated in some way.

I took a deep breath, refusing to spiral.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I said,

"Well, I’ve seen the contract. You can go now."

Desmond looked at me, raising an eyebrow.

"I should go? Dear wife, we are married. I should let you know... there are people watching me. Like twenty-three hours a day. Maybe even twenty-three hours and fifty-nine seconds."

My eyes narrowed.

"We need to keep up appearances. For example—"

He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice.

"There’s a paparazzi inside this room."