CHAPTER SIX

Aurora's POV

“Now I know that you are just messing with me…this?…” I lifted the contract and faced him with an unamused expression on my face.

“Just what do you take me for? You know I'm desperate right now and you are pulling my leg like this,”

“I'm not pulling your leg,” he said firmly, then he gently massaged his temples, squinting his eyes shut.

“I'm being 100% serious right now so I'll need you to go through the contract."

" it has to be mutually beneficial to the two of us so I'll make any necessary changes that won't affect my own needs,”

I bit my bottom lip contemplatively, then I slammed the piece of paper back on the table before running my eyes over it, by the time I made it to the last word I took a deep breath.

“You really thought this through…” I commented a little absent mindedly.

“Well of course I did, my family has been on my back for a while to get married. I can hardly take a breath all I want is just somebody to play that role long enough for them to leave me alone for the time being,”

Now that I realized he wasn't joking, the reality hit me like a collapsing building.

“But why me?”

I couldn't help but ask, the man across from me could have any other woman he wanted with his looks and loaded pocket that was hardly a problem.

So why did he pick me?

“It's because you left,”

He said, and I stared at him, my confusion only deepening.

“You left without looking back, any other woman I've been with would be on their knees begging for my love right now. They would have even leaped at the opportunity without asking a question, yet you hesitate.”

As he spoke, his words reminded me of a certain clause I had seen in the contract.

I slid my finger over the text and read it aloud.

“The moment Miss Aurora Light begins to develop any sort of romantic feelings, she is to refund every expenditure or payments made for her sake back to Mr Xander Quin…”

I could feel my irritation beginning to build over my anxiety.

“Shouldn't this work for both parties? Either of us could develop feelings–”

“Ha!” the billionaire in front of me exclaimed before he broke into fits of laughter by the time he was finally done and straightening up his back he wiped away a teard from the corner of his eye.

“Was it that funny?” I asked my pride and ego bruised by his endless laughter.

“Actually it was,” he said, standing up suddenly and in the blink of an eye his lean, yet muscular frame was right next to me.

His eyes held me with an intensity that made my throat dry and then he took his fingers and brushed through my hair pulling up the strands and letting it fall without ever allowing eye contact between the two of us to stop for even a second.

“So you were saying?” He said the mockery evident in his voice.

I scoffed, finally finding my voice again and I stood up with such abruptness that it almost sent the chair behind me flying to the ground.

“What I was saying Mr Quin…” I began my voice was loud and confident even though I had to tilt my head high up to look at him eye to eye.

“... Is that this clause only benefits you, and it also undermines my professionalism saying that I'll be the only one who would be the only one to catch feelings, and for an egotistical jerk like you too!”

“So you think that you can make me fall for you?” He said, sounding more amused than annoyed and his face was so close now that his minty breath brushed my cheek.

My heart skipped a beat, but I didn't allow my inner turmoil to express itself in my facial features, instead I hardened them and responded in a monotone voice.

“Well if our last encounter proved anything it was that at the very least you find me physically attractive so I think we should change this, at least tweak it…”

“I'm listening,”

He came too close and I had to take a step back a wicked chuckle left his lips and grinding my teeth in frustration, yet I still suggested my own change: if he was the one to develope feelings first, then he would pay me double the promised amount in the contract, and I wouldn't have to be his lover anymore.

“That's fair, I'll try my best not to fall for you Miss light,” he said, the mocking tone in his voice thickening as he went back to his seat.

“I'll give you the rest of the day to look through the contract and see if there are any more changes you would like, but you should know that once you sign it, there is no going back,” his voice suddenly became cold.

“I don't take kindly to people who go back on their word“

I gulped, his words almost sounded like a threat.

“I'll go through it, is there anything else you need me to do?”

He took a pen and wrote down his previous secretary's number, handing over the slip of paper to me.

“This is Simon Brooks number , my former secretary. You will have to contact him to meet with you here in the office. He'll brief you on your responsibilities before you fully take over his position,”

“Didn't he quit?” I asked.

“He got a promotion,” Mr Quin said with no other explanation. Then he stood up straightening up his attire and running his fingers through his hair as he picked up his phone from his desk.

“I already have your number from your documents so I'll call you if there is a need,”

“Okay, Sir, do you have a meeting now?”

He nodded in affirmation.

“Yes, but it's an unofficial one outside the office it doesn't concern you so it's not important,”

He said it wasn't important but he rushed out of the office without sparing me another glance and I couldn't help but think tentatively.

I couldn't help but wonder... if there was someone else?