Contract Marriage With My Billionaire Boss (Venus and Aaron) novel Chapter 13

**The Long Didn’t Say by Mark Twain**
**Chapter 13**

It was precisely 8 a.m. when the unexpected package arrived at my doorstep, and I found myself staring at it with a blend of curiosity and suspicion. The box was sleek and black, an elegant contrast to the deep crimson ribbon that encircled it, lending an air of drama and mystery that felt almost theatrical. I hesitated, opening it slowly, half-expecting a serpent to spring forth from its confines. Instead, nestled within the packaging was a stunning crimson dress that practically screamed “rich girl problems,” alongside a pair of stilettos that looked as if they had been plucked straight from the pages of a high-fashion magazine.

As I lifted the shoes, a small note fluttered out, its handwriting annoyingly familiar, flowing in cursive that I recognized all too well:

“Dinner by 8. I’ll pick you up.”

Just six simple words, yet somehow Aaron Sinclair had managed to transform a dinner invitation into something akin to a summons from a court. I couldn’t help but wonder, how in the world did he know where I lived?

Oh right, the company had made us fill out those address forms when we signed on. Duh. My inner voice chimed in with a smug, “Did you really think you had any semblance of privacy?”

Yet, that still didn’t account for the dress. When I slipped it on, it fit me like a glove—ankle-length with a daring slit at the back, the kind of fabric that caressed my body in all the right places, whispering of opulence with every subtle movement. The heels? Perfectly fitting as well. I owned a grand total of two pairs of heels, and neither of them resembled this stunning pair in any way.

Okay, Sinclair. You’ve officially transitioned from being an arrogant CEO to a full-blown mind-reading stalker.

Before I could spiral into a deeper identity crisis over how he had acquired my size, my phone buzzed insistently. I glanced at the screen—Jude. Oh crap, I had completely forgotten to call him back last night.

Jude was the first real friend I had made at Sinclair Tech. He was sweet, funny, and had this effortlessly charming demeanor that made everyone gravitate toward him. The kind of guy who could light up a room simply by being himself. We usually shared lunch together whenever I wasn’t buried under a mountain of work or tangled in the web of fake marriage proposals.

I took a deep breath and answered, mentally preparing myself for his reaction.

“Hey, babes,” I greeted him, trying to sound casual.

“Don’t ‘hey babes’ me,” he snapped back, feigning indignation. “You ghosted me!”

“I know, I know. I’m really sorry. Things got a bit hectic with my mom,” I explained, hoping to defuse his playful annoyance.

“Is she okay?” he asked, genuine concern lacing his voice.

“Yeah, she’s fine. Just… had a rough day,” I replied, feeling a weight lift slightly as I spoke.

“You’re strong, Venus. Don’t forget that,” he said, his voice softening.

Ugh, Jude. Sometimes he felt like a walking Hallmark card, always ready with the perfect words. He had met my mom a few times, and surprisingly, she actually liked him. That was saying something, considering she rarely warmed up to anyone—except Dain, of course. But that was a conversation for another day.

“Thank you,” I said, my tone softening. “You always know just what to say.”

“Soooo…” His voice dipped into a playful tone, and I could almost hear the mischief in his eyes.

“Hmmm?” I replied, feigning ignorance, though I knew exactly where this was heading.

“Oh, and just so you know… you’re late to work,” he teased, a playful edge to his voice.

Right. I hadn’t mentioned to anyone that I had resigned yet.

“Mr. Sinclair gave me time off to be with my mom,” I lied smoothly, hoping he wouldn’t pry further.

“Mmm… perks of dating the boss,” he quipped, his tone light and teasing.

“We’re not dating,” I replied, chuckling at his suggestion.

“Sure, sure,” he mused, a hint of disbelief in his voice. “Alright, I just got to the office. Talk later?”

“Yeah, later,” I said, ending the call and exhaling deeply.

The silence that enveloped my apartment felt deafening after our conversation.

Tonight was going to be interesting.

And I wasn’t entirely sure if I was ready for what lay ahead.