Chapter 5: Conditions

Chapter 5 - Conditions Without waiting for a response, Adrian turned and strode toward his office, his steps purposeful. Bianca followed silently behind him, her expression unreadable. Once inside, Adrian closed the door and gestured toward the chair across from his desk. "Have a seat." "So, what are your conditions?" Adrian asked bluntly. They were now sitting across from each other on a black leather sofa, an elegant piece imported from England, positioned neatly in Adrian's office. Bianca seemed to be deep in thought before finally answering. "If you want to marry me, I want our marriage to be strictly contractual. Nothing more," she said seriously, her gaze locked on his. Becoming the future wife of Adrian Williams was something Bianca had never even imagined. Not even in her wildest dreams. Who didn't know about her boss? Handsome, intelligent, and filthy rich. Women adored him. Men envied him. He could get anything and anyone he wanted with ease. Marriage? Bianca was convinced that just a wink from him would be enough to make some women throw themselves at him, begging to be his mistress. "A contract marriage? That's what I had in mind too." Adrian had actually planned to propose a contract marriage, but Bianca beat him to it. He was relieved he knew he hadn't chosen the wrong woman for this arrangement. "I also want you to respect my privacy," Bianca continued. "I need my own room. And if you ever plan on seeing other women, I expect you to inform me first, so there won't be any misunderstandings later. I also expect you to stay out of my personal life, just as I won't interfere with yours." She looked him straight in the eyes, and Adrian nodded in agreement. "I have a condition too," he said. "Once we're married, I need us to act like a real couple in front of family and acquaintances. I don't want anyone to think there's something wrong with our relationship. And one more thing, I want to be allowed to hold you, hug you, or kiss you when necessary." "Okay. I can accept that," Bianca replied without hesitation. "Anything else you'd like to add?" Adrian asked, studying her face, which remained calm too calm, in fact. "No, nothing." "Alright, then. You may leave. Thank you for your cooperation. I'll also prepare some money—" "That won't be necessary," Bianca cut in flatly. "I'm not doing this for your money. I'm not agreeing to this to help you, either. Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me," she said coolly before turning around and walking out, leaving Adrian speechless. Adrian watched the door close with a soft click. Then leaned back against the sofa, let out a sigh, and rubbed his jaw. Well, that went smoothly. I just got myself a wife... who clearly can't stand me. Perfect. Just how every man dreams of starting a marriage. *** "WHAT'S up with you, B? You've been zoning out for the past ten minutes," Rebeca's voice snapped Bianca back to reality. Rebeca had been watching her for a while, noticing how Bianca kept poking at her salad without actually eating it. "She's right. You've barely said a word," added Diandra, lowering her iced coffee and squinting playfully. "Come on, don't tell me you're still thinking about work." Bianca gave them a tired smile. "It's nothing. Just work stuff. You know how my boss is." Right, she thought. Just my boss asking me to marry him out of nowhere. Nothing big. "Oh my God," Diandra rolled her eyes dramatically. "You're so lucky, Bianca. Do you even realize how blessed you are to work that close to Adrian freaking Williams?" She leaned forward on the table, her voice dipping into a giddy whisper. "If I got to talk to him every day like you do, I swear to God, I'd never call in sick again. The man's a walking Greek statue. That face? That voice? That whole I own this building and know it energy? Ugh." I mean, seriously, Diandra thought, some people win the lottery, but Bianca gets Adrian Williams five feet away from her desk every damn day. Life really isn't fair. "I heard he once showed up at a board meeting in a navy suit with no tie, sleeves rolled up, and the entire marketing team forgot how to breathe." "I saw that," Rebeca jumped in, eyes wide with delight. "He came down to the lower floors to check the design boards, and I swear, he smiled at Jessica from PR and she almost fell off her heels." "No, no... wait. You know Hannah from Legal?" Diandra leaned closer, lowering her voice like she was about to drop a national secret. "She told me he once gave her his coat during a storm. Just handed it to her and walked off in the rain like some brooding romance novel hero." "Oh my God, stop." Rebeca fanned herself with a napkin. "I would've married him right there. In the rain. With my hair ruined and mascara running." Bianca raised her brow, hiding a smirk. If only you knew he asked me to marry him in a dry office under fluorescent lighting. No storm. No music. Just madness. "I mean," Diandra continued, now in full dramatic gossip mode, "it's not just his looks. He's brilliant. Ruthless, yes, but God, have you seen him in a meeting? Everyone shuts up when he talks. The man breathes dominance." "Not to mention loaded," Rebeca added, sipping her soda like she was sipping tea. "His family owns half of Manhattan. And he still manages to look like he walked off a GQ cover. It's almost disgusting how perfect he is." Perfect, Bianca echoed in her mind. Yeah, perfect enough to make a spontaneous marriage proposal sound like an item on a to do list. "I don't know how you do it, B," Diandra sighed dramatically. "If it were me, I'd probably get fired in a week for staring too much or tripping over my words every time he called my name." "You mean you'd trip on purpose just so he'd catch you," Rebeca teased. "Oh, please," Diandra laughed. "If Adrian Williams even looked me in the eye and said, 'Can you work late tonight?' I'd be like.. Sir, I will work until I die." They both burst into laughter. Bianca forced a chuckle, swirling her drink with the tip of her straw. If they only knew what I was really thinking about. If they knew what he asked me... But she stayed quiet. Let them gossip, swoon, dream. Because in their version of the story, Adrian Williams was untouchable, flawless, and far away. They had no idea just how close he really was. And no idea how much messier that made everything. ***