"CAT! Come check this out!"
I was in my room debating how I was gonna tell Tori everything when I heard her from the living room.
I went down the stairs. "What’s wrong?"
"Listen!" She turned up the TV volume. "You’re not gonna believe this."
It was a display from Spotlight Buzz.
"Who’s Ares King’s mystery woman?"
My breathing hitched.
"Last night, the billionaire conglomerate was spotted outside, lips locked with a woman. Our sources are yet to..."
I zoned out her voice as I tried to steady my breathing.
"I wonder who that is," Tori said, chewing on chips. "This is the hottest topic ever; bloggers are going crazy with this."
Goosebumps rose on my skin when I saw the leaked image. It was dark, but you could tell Ares was kissing someone close to his car, in front of an expensive restaurant.
"I think she is a redhead. Maybe he has a thing for them?"
"Um, Tori."
She faced me. "Shall we guess?"
"Guess what?"
"Who the mystery woman is... You have worked with him until last week, you should have some thoughts. Did you see him recently with any woman?"
"T-That is um..."
A knock came at my door.
"Who could that be? Expecting someone?"
It’s the moving team.
"I-I’ll answer it." I hurried to the door before she could, checking the video doorbell.
"Mrs. King, we hope we’re just in time."
"Mrs. King?"
I gasped and turned to Tori behind me.
"G-Give me a moment, I’ll be right with you."
"Sure, take your—"
I ended the feed.
"Tori, listen..."
"Why did that person call you Mrs. King?" She pointed out, her expression morphed in confusion. "And that company logo, I know them, like the top in Midnight, who works exclusively."
"Tori!" I snapped before taking a deep breath. "Less talking and more listening, please?"
She folded her arms, whipping her thick curls. "Okay, I’m listening, and it better be good."
Here we go.
"Remember that thing I told you about? An opportunity?"
Her mouth dropped. "Holy cow! You’re the mystery woman, aren’t you?"
I gotta hand it to her quick thinking.
"You married him? Girl, you didn’t tell me you had the hots for your boss. I mean, he’s a package, but Cat... that’s a dangerous game, a wasteland. You said so yourself!"
I scowled. "What? I do not have the hots for him. EW!"
She shot me a look. "Are you sure?"
"Yes! I mean, he’s worthy to salivate over, but that man is the devil."
"Noted."
I sighed, rubbing my eyes beneath my glasses. "And I made a deal with him, a contract to be exact."
"What contract?" She growled.
I swallowed. "To be his wife for a year."
"You’re joking." She did a double check.
I nodded.
"OMG!" She walked to the living room.
"Tori!"
"When you told me about this opportunity of yours, I did not imagine you’d be in bed with Ares King. What are you thinking?"
"Correction, I’m not in bed with him, the world will come to an end before that happens. It’s a contract; he needs a wife because of his family situation or something, and I was his best candidate."
She stared at me in disbelief. "Listen to yourself, Cat! You wanna deal with the Kings’? The Kings’? You dealt with this man for three years, and you always told me how much hell it was, having to deal with many shits anyone would not tolerate. You were basically not a person!"
Her words hit a spot, and an inside voice called me stupid.
"Do you realize what this is gonna cost you?"
"When this is all over, it will be like I never existed in Midnight. It’s just one year..." I tried to convince her, or maybe myself. "One year as his wife, one year being dipped in the media and tangled with the life of Ares King."
"I didn’t realize you were this desperate."
"Excuse me?"
"Look, I know there are many things in your life right now, but making a deal with him is gonna set you off so fast, and the landing is gonna crush you."
"I can handle Ares King."
She closed the distance between us and pointed. "You were the one who told me that everyone who thinks or even considers getting themselves involved with a King gets cancelled. I thought you were smarter than this."
"You think I don’t know that? What choice did I have? This is the only way for me. My life is not as nonchalant as yours. I have responsibilities!"
Tori shook her head. "You should have come to me first before you sold your soul to the devil." She grabbed her coat.
"I did come to you!"
"Rephrased."
"Tori!"
"Have fun in your new luxury life, Mrs. King." She stepped out and slammed the door shut.
~☆~
I was motionless the entire time as the moving team carried my things in boxes. I didn’t have much, and most of them came with the apartment.
I sighed, running my hand through my hair.
"Mrs. King."
I winced when the man walked up to me.
"We’re almost done."
I only nodded, hoping he’d go away. I heard my phone ding and I looked at the screen.
Devil Boss: I’ll be there to pick you up in a few minutes.
I thought about replying, but I chose not to.
I called Tori instead, but she didn’t pick up. I had been trying to reach an hour since she left. She always answered at first dial, but this was the first time she completely ghosted me.
I didn’t know which hurts the most, the thought of my only friend walking out on me or my stupidity in making a deal with the devil.
But there was no going back now, regretting would only make this more shitty for me.
After a few minutes, the car was here. I stepped outside, my heels making a click-clack noise as I trekked the pavement.
My eyes roamed. After what happened last night, I figured paparazzi would be hanging around. It hadn’t been a day, and they were already onto me. Fuck!
Julian opened the door for me, and I gave him a smile, which he returned. The moment I entered, the strong smell of Ares’ cologne filled my nose.
"Mr. King."
"Ares," he corrected.
I adjusted my glasses. "Did you see the news?"
"Yes, I did."
He doesn’t sound bothered about it. Why should he? I guess the mystery woman will soon be revealed.
I flickered my gaze to him, and he was scrolling through his phone. From this angle, his dark lashes appeared longer.
I fixed him with a pointed stare. "You knew the paparazzi were on standby."
It was just a thought, and I had a gnawing feeling I was right.
"I had one on my tail."
I scoffed. That’s why he kissed. He gave them a story, as expected of Ares King; he was tactical in all things. He didn’t stand at the top of the business line for nothing.
"I’d have appreciated it if you had told me about it. Could have given them a show." I mumbled the last bit under my breath.
Suddenly, I felt his eyes pinned on me.
"I-I mean, next time, a warning," I forced out.
He rested his elbow on the door panel, the back of his hand pressing into his cheek.
"W-We must act the part, as stated in the contract."
"Indeed."