"Marriage is not a game. I never treat my own marriage as something fake," Rob Stark said indifferently. His tone was as casual as if he were simply remarking that the weather was nice.
Chloe Bishop felt that if the situation weren't so serious, she might have laughed out loud. Hearing the words "marriage is not a game" come out of Rob Stark's mouth made the whole situation feel like an absolute joke.
How many times had they actually met? Chloe counted on her fingers—she didn't even need one hand. From the first time she met him when she was seven until now, they had met exactly three times in eighteen years. Aside from their names, they knew nothing about each other. You want to marry a stranger and claim marriage isn't a game? Are you sure you're not kidding?
"Rob Stark, did you take your medicine today?" Chloe blurted out before she could stop herself.
Rob Stark: "..."
He pressed a finger to his temple to soothe a mounting headache. With a rare display of patience, he said, "You need a backer. Marrying me is much safer than a fake engagement. If we marry, you become my wife. In New York, you can walk with your head held high, and no one will dare touch you."
"Why would I want to walk like that? I’m not a bully," Chloe shot back, her mouth once again moving faster than her brain.
Rob Stark: "..."
This time, his temple visibly twitched. He couldn't quite keep his composure.
Of course, the moment the words left her mouth, Chloe regretted them. She bit her lip, desperately wanting to slap herself. Why can't you just keep your mouth shut!
Seeing Rob's face darken, Chloe felt even worse. Just as she was trying to think of a way to salvage the conversation, a knock came from the door.
Knock, knock, knock.
The three soft raps felt like they were pounding against Chloe’s heart, making her jump.
"Come in," Rob said, his face still grim.
An assistant twisted the handle and entered. Before even stepping fully into the room, he felt the icy tension in the air. He stole a glance at Mr. Stark, noticed his dark expression, and immediately became more cautious.
"Mr. Stark," he reminded him carefully, "the car is ready. You need to head to the airport now."
Rob gave a low grunt of affirmation. He stood up, scribbled a string of numbers on a sticky note, tore it off, and walked toward Chloe.
As he approached, Chloe realized just how tall he truly was. Standing at nearly 6'1", his physical presence felt like a heavy weight pressing down on her. His perfectly tailored suit accentuated his physique; he looked like a walking mannequin.
"Take this," Rob said, pausing beside her. As he moved his hand, the diamond cufflink at his wrist caught the light, making Chloe squint. "I’ll be on a business trip for a week. Give me a call when you’ve made up your mind."
Chloe took the note as if possessed, clutching it tightly in her hand.
________________________________________
When Jake Tully dragged his exhausted body home from the law firm, he found Chloe Bishop snuggled comfortably on the sofa. Between her slender fingers, she held one of his brand-new crystal wine glasses, filled with the vintage red wine he had been saving for a special occasion. The bottle on the table was already half empty.
Jake’s heart ached at the sight of his lost treasure.
"Chloe Bishop, you better have a good reason for drinking my wine. If this isn't for a celebration, I’m throwing you off the balcony," Jake yelled, hands on his hips.
Chloe looked up. Her pale face now had a soft, rosy flush from the alcohol, making her look much healthier. The sight instantly drained half of Jake’s anger. Sigh. It’s really hard to stay mad at a face that pretty.
Jake sat down defeatedly and snatched the remaining half-bottle, pouring himself a glass. "So? Did Rob Stark agree to the fake engagement?"
Chloe shook her head like a rattle.
Jake let out a very unladylike curse. "And here I thought you were celebrating. You’re just drinking your sorrows away. Chloe, get a grip! So you got rejected—I never thought he’d agree anyway."
"Actually," Chloe said solemnly, nodding her small head, "he said marriage isn't a game and shouldn't be used as a bargaining chip. So, after 'careful consideration,' he said we should just get married."
Pfft!
The wine Jake had just sipped sprayed right back out.
"Cough... cough!" Jake sputtered and choked for a good while before managed to gasp out, "Chloe... you’re not drunk, are you?"
