The Marriage Clause

Chapter 11

Vivian’s POV:

God, how could I have embarrassed myself like that?

I sat on the edge of the plush king-sized bed in my suite, my head throbbing with a dull hangover, my mind replaying the scattered fragments of last night in horrifying, vivid detail. The scotch. The giggling. The elevator cabin.

And the kiss.

Shit! s**t! s**t!

If Adrian had let me, I would have climbed him like a tree. My cheeks burned with a sudden, fierce heat. I dropped my face into my hands, groaning softly. I was utterly shocked by my own behavior. I had never been drunk enough to kiss a man, let alone completely lose control like that. My entire life had been built on a foundation of unyielding discipline and absolute emotional control.

Even when I unwillingly lost my virginity years ago, I hadn't been drunk. I had done it purely out of a cold, pragmatic desire to get it over with, and it had ended up being the most horrible, unfulfilling experience of my life. Since then, intimacy was something I kept at a cold, clinical distance. Almost every man I had ever met—every arrogant CEO, every titled heir, every slick board member—had always hunted for a chance to manipulate their way into my bed.

Yet last night, when I was completely vulnerable, completely at his mercy... Adrian had denied me.

He had pushed me away to safeguard my dignity. He knew I was clouded by alcohol, and instead of taking advantage of the moment, he had protected me from my own lapse in judgment. For sure, I would have fired him this morning without a second thought if I had woken up to find out he had slept with me while I was drunk. Of course, he should have known that. Or why else would he not want to sleep with me?

And then... I remembered the soft, chaste peck he had left on my forehead before gently pulling the duvet over me and quietly slipping out of the room.

God, is he even real?

Just then, a firm, familiar knock sounded at the suite door.

I knew it was him even before answering it. Taking a deep breath to steel my nerves, I opened the door, revealing no unnecessary emotions.

Adrian stood in the hallway, looking completely refreshed. He was freshly bathed, his honey-brown hair neatly styled, wearing a pair of relaxed linen trousers and a tailored, crisp shirt that accentuated his broad shoulders.

My heart skipped a violent beat in my chest.

What the hell is happening to me? I thought in sheer frustration, forcing my face to remain completely expressionless. Why am I behaving like a schoolgirl with a massive crush around him?

He greeted me with a bright, effortless smile, holding out a steaming white ceramic mug. "Morning. This should help you with the hangover for now. I've already arranged for a proper greasy breakfast on the private flight back."

I took the mug, searching his face for any sign of smugness, amusement, or lingering tension. There was none. There wasn't an ounce of teasing or a single subtle reminder of last night in his smooth, polite tone.

I took a slow sip of the hot coffee, my eyes narrowing slightly. Did it even happen? Or was that entire elevator scene just a severe case of a wet dream that I'm misremembering?

"Thank you, Adrian," I said, keeping my tone perfectly professional. "Give me ten minutes to pack my bag."

...

The entire flight back to London was spent in heavy, contemplative silence.

While the private jet soared high above the clouds, I sat with my tablet resting on my lap, staring blankly at the digital spreadsheets of potential suitors Adrian had assembled over the past weeks.

We were hardly left with a month. Twenty-some days until my twenty-eighth birthday. Twenty-some days until my mother's ultimatum expired and Richard Matthews attempted to strip Aurora Life Sciences from my grip. Yet, despite the ticking clock, there wasn't a single candidate on that list who matched my requirements.

Or... was I intentionally denying every single one of them?

I paused, slowly shifting my gaze across the small aisle of the cabin.

Adrian was fast asleep in the plush leather armchair opposite me. His head was tilted slightly back against the headrest, his body completely relaxed, his lips parted just enough that his mouth was slightly open.

A small, quiet realization washed over me. Anyone else looking like that would have looked ridiculous, but somehow, Adrian didn't. He looked effortlessly handsome, peaceful, and entirely unbothered by the chaotic world around us.

That was when the thought crossed my mind, striking me like a sudden bolt of lightning.

Adrian.

He was sharp, fiercely loyal, protective without being controlling, and completely uncorrupted by corporate greed. He was, in every sense of the word, the perfect husband material.

Phew!!

...

The next morning, I walked through the glass double doors of the executive suite at Aurora headquarters, my heels clicking sharply against the polished marble floor.

The moment I turned the corner toward my office, my eyes landed on Adrian standing near his desk. He was laughing softly, engaged in a light conversation with that female assistant from HR—Camille? Emilia? Amelia? Whatever her name was.

An unexplainable spike of irritation flared in my chest.

"Morning, Ms. Matthews," Adrian greeted smoothly, turning toward me the moment he heard my footsteps.

Oh, so now I am back to 'Ms. Matthews' to him, I thought bitterly. Drunk or not, I distinctly remembered how he had called me Vivian throughout that entire night in Geneva. Not that I was complaining, of course.

"Come into my cabin," I commanded coldly, sweeping past them without missing a beat.

"Yes, Ms. Matthews," he replied, falling into step behind me.

Before crossing the threshold, I glanced back at his desk, where Amelia was still standing, her eyes lingering on him with obvious interest. I closed the heavy office door behind us with a firm click, locking out the rest of the floor.

I walked behind my desk, resting my hands on the leather armchair, and came straight to the point. No point in beating around the bush.

"Is she your girlfriend?" I pointed a finger at where Amelia was a second ago.

Adrian blinked, thoroughly caught off guard by the abrupt question. "What...? No. She's just a colleague. I swear. A friend."

I smirked slightly at his genuine shock. Cute.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" I pressed, my voice calm and analytical.

"No. Never had one.."

Never! Hmm interesting..

"Are you married, then?"

"No."

"Any other commitments?"

"No.. No to all." That was his immediate answer, his brows drawing together in deep confusion. "Ms. Matthews, what is this about?"

Instead of answering, I opened my top drawer, pulled out a thick leather-bound folder, and slid it across the sleek mahogany desk toward him.

Adrian looked down at the dark cover, then back up at me. "What is this?"

"Have a look," I shrugged, leaning back in my chair and pretending to inspect my manicured nails, deliberately avoiding his direct gaze.

I watched out of the corner of my eye as he flipped open the cover. He scanned the top page—a heavily detailed, legally binding prenuptial agreement and marriage contract drafted by my personal solicitors early this morning.

A few seconds passed in heavy silence, and then I heard him almost shriek, his eyes widening in complete disbelief.

"What?!"

"You will be my husband, Adrian," I stated simply, my tone as calm as if I were reading off the quarterly revenue reports.

"But—"

"Don't interrupt," I said smoothly, holding up a hand. "Listen to the terms. It is strictly a contract marriage. The moment the company shares completely transition into my name and my mother's estate is legally secured, we can quietly get a divorce, but that wouldn't be before a year at least. Well, I am also well aware that no man is fit enough to remain married to me long-term, and I have no intention of changing that reality."

Adrian stood frozen, staring at me as if I had suddenly started speaking a foreign language.

"During the duration of this arrangement," I continued evenly, "you will be generously compensated. In addition to your current salary as my executive assistant, you will receive a substantial monthly allowance, access to luxury vehicles, a fully furnished residential property registered under your name, and a non-voting share package in Aurora's subsidiary branch. Naturally, during the period you remain my legal husband, you will not see, date, or entertain any other women."

I folded my hands over the desk, meeting his stunned gaze with unwavering confidence.

"There is really no reason to overthink this, Adrian, but I am still giving you three days to make your decision," I said, a slight, knowing smirk returning to my lips. "Though you would be an absolute fool to say no to an offer like this."

I sat back, watching his jaw drop slightly, leaving him standing there open-mouthed like a fish while the sheer weight of my proposal settled over the room.