Contract Marriage With My Billionaire Boss (Venus and Aaron) novel Chapter 64

Chapter 64

VENUS

The silence that followed her entrance wasn’t awkward.

It was loaded.

Andrea stood at the threshold like she knew she was the disruption. Like she’d rehearsed this moment-how she’d walk in, how we’d all freeze, how her name would echo in our heads like a warning bell.

And it did.

Even Alanna, mid-story about a sandstorm, stopped mid-sentence-her wide eyes fixed on the stranger who now commanded every breath in the room.

Rosemary stood, graceful as ever, smoothing her dress and offering a warm, measured smile.

“Andrea,” she said lightly. “You’re here?”

Andrea stepped inside, heels clicking with surgical precision.

“I saw you at the gala yesterday,” she replied, her voice all velvet and smoke. “Thought I’d drop by and say hi. I hope I’m not imposing.”

She didn’t sound sorry. Not even a little.

I glanced at Aaron. His posture was relaxed-too relaxed. But his grip on the wineglass? White-knuckled. His jaw tight, unreadable.

Andrea’s gaze swept the room-Rosemary. Silas. Connor.

And then it landed on Aaron.

And the second their eyes locked, the air shifted.

No smile. No greeting. Just tension.

Her lips twitched like she was already winning.

“There’s still an available seat,” Rosemary said, gesturing politely. “Join us for lunch.”

Of course, the only free chair was right next to me. Naturally.

Andrea hesitated with a practiced pout.

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to interrupt.”

“Nonsense,” Rosemary insisted, her tone soft but final. “You’re already here.”

Andrea smiled-slow, syrupy, calculated.

“If you insist.”

Connor cleared his throat loudly. “Well, this just got interesting.”

Sabine elbowed him under the table without looking his way. Her face stayed perfectly blank, though her eyes gleamed

with amusement.

Andrea sat down with elegance, unfolding her napkin like it was a performance. She reached for her wine with the poise of someone who’d done it here many times.

Like she belonged.

And I hated that.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked straight at Aaron.

“Reminds me of old times… right, darling?”

Aaron didn’t blink. Didn’t flinch. Didn’t even look at her.

But I saw it-the slight twitch in his jaw. The faint tap of his thumb on the glass. And then stillness.

“So,” Andrea continued, her voice sugar-laced and sharp, “what were you all talking about before I barged in?”

Then she turned to me.

Finally.

A slow once-over. Deliberate. Not shy. Not sub.

Before I could reply, Rosemary cut in smoothly.

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Chapter 64

“This is Venus,” she said, her tone warm but firm. “As I’m sure you already know, Aaron’s wife. They were talking about their wedding in Rome.”

Wife.

The word landed like a crown. A declaration. She’s family now. Stay in your lane.

Andrea tilted her head slightly.

“Oh? Don’t stop on my account. I’d love to hear more.”

She smiled at me this time. “I only found out about the wedding through the media.”

Of course she did.

My turn.

I laced my fingers through Aaron’s. His hand was clenched around the fork, but he didn’t pull away.

“I wanted us to wait, to get our parents’ blessings,” I said sweetly. “But Mr. Sharp-and-Decisive here couldn’t wait. So… we eloped.”

I leaned in toward him, teasing, playful.

“He can be very persuasive.”

Aaron didn’t say a word, but his grip shifted under mine, pressing just enough.

Across the table, Connor raised his brows. Impressed. Sabine sipped her wine with a smirk.

“Rome? It’s beautiful,” Alanna said. “Did you have a fairytale wedding?”

“Absolutely,” I said. “Want to see pictures?”

Her eyes lit up. “Yes!”

“I’ll show you after lunch.”

C

She beamed like I’d just promised her magic.

“So it was your idea to elope, hmm?” Rosemary teased her son.

Aaron shrugged. “Why wait? I thought she was beautiful. And I liked her.”

My heart stuttered. He said it so casually-but something in me burned.

“Sounds like Aaron,” Silas chuckled.

“My brother’s in love,” Sabine sang, raising her glass.

Laughter followed-everyone except Andrea.

Her smile stayed… but it cracked. Just a little.

Then she looked at me again.

“Well,” she said, voice all honey and blades. “Isn’t that adorable.”

My smile didn’t falter.

But under the table, my nails bit into my palm.

Two women. Playing nice. With blood in our teeth.

Sabine lifted her glass like she was watching a live show.

“So romantic,” she cooed. “We love a decisive man, don’t we, Andrea?”

Andrea’s smile twitched.

“I suppose. Some people prefer slower burns.”

Connor choked. On air or shade-it was hard to tell.

Aaron’s eyes were on me now. Just me.

And I swore it steadied something in

my

chest…

Right until Andrea tilted her glass too far-too suddenly-and red wine spilled across the table…

And straight into my lap.

“Shit-” she gasped, almost too quickly. “I am so sorry.”

Gasps echoed around the table. Alanna’s mouth formed a shocked ‘O’. Connor muttered, “Of course she did.”

I stood abruptly. The chill of wine soaking into my dress, the acidic sting of it rising.

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Chapter 64

This wasn’t clumsy. This was war.

Aaron stood too.

His hand was on my lower back before I could blink.

“I’ll take her,” he said flatly, already guiding me away.

Behind me, Andrea stiffened. Barely-but I caught it.

She didn’t like that.

Good.

“But the maid-” Rosemary began.

“She’ll be fine,” Aaron cut in. His voice sharp. His hand firm.

We walked down the hallway in silence. His stride was sharp. Mine tried to keep up, despite the cling of wine-soaked fabric.

Then-I laughed. Low. Bitter.

“That wasn’t an accident.”

He didn’t reply. But his jaw clenched harder. His grip on my wrist? Tighter.

I stopped just before the guest bathroom.

“She still wants you,” I said.

He turned to face me. Slowly. The hallway lighting gold and soft.

“Does that bother you?” he asked. Voice smooth. Eyes darker.

I didn’t look away.

Of course it does.

But instead, I said:

!

“Why should it? It’s just a contract, remember?”

Then sharper

“As long as you don’t disrespect me by fucking her.”

The words tumbled out, harsher than I meant.

His jaw tensed. His eyes darkened.

Silence.

Tension thick enough to slice with a diamond.

His gaze flicked to my lips. And I swear-swear-he leaned in.

Then he stepped back.

Turned on the faucet.

Grabbed a towel.

“Lift your dress,” he said softly, not looking at me.

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

He looked up, eyes heavy-lidded.

“Unless you want to walk back in there looking like a drunk vampire had its way with you.”

Smartass.

I lifted the hem-just enough.

He knelt slightly, dabbing at the stain with gentle, clinical precision.

Too careful. Too controlled.

Too late.

My pulse was already pounding.

“You didn’t defend me,” I said, voice low.

He looked up. “Did you need defending, Venus?”

My breath hitched.

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Chapter 64

And that’s when the knock came.

Sharp. Deliberate.

Aaron rose slowly, walked to the door, and cracked it open.

Andrea.

Of course.

“Oh,” she said, blinking innocently. “I just came to see if Venus was okay.”

Aaron didn’t open the door wider.

He didn’t soften.

“She’s fine.”

Andrea’s eyes shifted-from me, to the towel, to his hands.

Back to his face.

“Right,” she said, and this time…

Her smile slipped.