I stood frozen in front of the door, my breath caught in my throat.
"She can never find out the truth". Garrett's voice echoed inside my head over and over.
What truth?
My hand shook in the door knob but I didn't dare push it open. I pressed my ear closer instead, hoping to hear more.
But silence followed.
Then a dip sound of his chair scraping against the floor and his footsteps. My heart leapt.
I hurried away from the office, back down the hall and slipped into my room. Closing the door softly, I leaned against it breathing hard.
I shouldn't have listened, I shouldn't care. This was a contract marriage: his life was his, mine was mine.
But those words… they cut deep.
I lay back on the bed staring at the ceiling, but my thoughts wouldn't stop. Was he hiding something dangerous? Something about me? Or something about himself.
The knock on my door made me jump.
It opened before I answered and Garrett stepped in. His face was calm again and unreadable. He carried his phone in one hand.
"You should get ready, we'll leave the house by seven today. The driver will take us". He said calmly.
"Where are we going?" I asked, forcing my voice steady.
"A dinner with investors and it is important, you need to behave accordingly". He said sharply.
There it was again, his favorite word. Important.
He didn't wait for a reply. He set a small black card on the dresser.
"This is for you. Use it to buy whatever you need: clothes, shoes, jewelries, bags. There's a boutique downstairs. Don't embarrass me tonight". He muttered.
Then he left, just like that.
The door clicked shut and I stared at the card. His world moved so fast and I was just trying to keep up.
Later in the afternoon, I forced myself to go down to the boutique in the building. The sales assistant greeted me warmly, their smiles were bright as if they already knew who I was.
"Mrs knight", one of them said. "We've been expecting you". She said, smiling.
The title still felt heavy on me. Mrs knight, the contract wife: pretend bride.
They brought out dresses in every shade and fabric. I tried them on one by one, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Silk that hugged my figure, sequins that glittered under the lights. I didn't recognize myself.
At last, I chose a light emerald gown. It was simple but elegant. Ur brought out the softness of my skin and didn't feel like I was drowning in someone else's clothes.
When I returned upstairs, the card was still in my hands. Garrett was waiting in the living room. He was on the phone again, his tone was sharp, his eyes narrowed. As soon as ha saw me, he ended the call.
His gaze swept over the dress bag in my hand. He gave a short node. "That'll do".
I almost asked him what the call was about but the words died on my tongue.
By evening, I dressed in the gown. My hair fell in soft curls, the necklace I wore was the one I had brought from home, a simple silver piece. Not expensive like his world but mine.
When I stepped out, Garrett was waiting by the door in his suit . He looked at me once, then away with unreadable expression.
"Let's go". He said.
The car ride was silent, except for the city lights flashing past the window. His phone buzzed several times but he ignored it. He looked like he was holding something back.
At the dinner, the air was thick with money and power. Men in suits, women in gowns and their laughter that didn't sound real.
Garrett moved through it all like a king, commanding the room with his presence.
I stayed close, smiling politely and answering when spoken to. I felt like a doll on display.
At one point, a man leaned close to Garrett and whispered something. Garrett's expression didn't change a bit, his hands just tightened on his glass.
Later, when the crowd thinned, I asked quietly. "Is something wrong?"
His eyes flicked to mine. "Don't ask questions you can't handle answers to". He said, sharply.
His words stung, I looked away quietly.
We returned home later that day, the street was quiet and empty.
As soon as we entered the penthouse, Garrett removed his jacket and loosened his tie. He looked exhausted though he tried to hide it.
"You did well tonight", he said finally. His tone was softer than before.
It surprised me. "Thank you". I whispered.
Fir a moment, his eyes lingered on me. I thought maybe he could say something more. But then his phone buzzed again, he looked at the screen: hardening his expression.
"I need to take this". He said, already walking towards his office.
The door closed behind him.
I stood in the quiet room, staring after him. My chest ached with questions.
I paced the hall, trying to calm my restless mind. Then I noticed something.
The office door hadn't shut all the way. It was open just a crack and voices carried through.
Not just Garrett's, but another man's. His voice was deep and rough on speakerphone.
"You can't keep this from her forever". The man said.
Garrett's reply was sharp. "I don't care. She doesn't need to know, not now".
My heart thudded in my chest. I took a step closer, straining to hear.
Then came the sound of papers shuffling. Garrett's voice dropping lower. I'd just keep it to myself, she doesn't need to know. With time I'd get over it"
My breath dropped. What could that be? I had no clue.
Before I could move away, the floor creaked under my foot.
Everywhere was quiet.
The office door opened suddenly. Garrett stood there, his eyes locked onto mine like knives.
"What are you doing here?" his voice was low. I could feel the confusion in his tone.