Contract Marriage With My Billionaire Boss (Venus and Aaron) novel Chapter 9

**The Long Didn’t Say by Mark Twain**
**Chapter 9**

**AARON**

The clock ticked away, marking the minutes in a rhythm that felt all too familiar. Connor lounged in my office, his feet casually resting on my desk, a posture that would have earned anyone else a stern reprimand. But Connor? He was an exception. “Dude, you really need to be nicer to her if you want this whole charade to be even remotely convincing,” he admonished, his tone playful yet serious.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “Look, I’m trying, alright? But it’s not like you can just flip a switch and go from disliking someone for months to suddenly liking them overnight. Just get her an appointment with the stylist,” I replied, my voice tinged with exasperation.

“Consider it done,” he said, leaning forward with a spark of enthusiasm in his eyes. “You know, she’s actually a nice person. If you could just push past the animosity and understand that she’s innocent in this whole feud between you and your dad… she’s not half bad. I mean, she didn’t ask to be caught in the crossfire of your family drama.” He shrugged, a casual gesture that belied the weight of his words.

He had a valid point, and deep down, I knew it. But pride is a stubborn beast, and I was reluctant to concede. If I wanted this arrangement to work, though, I had to at least make an effort to be more pleasant around her.

“Please, do me a favor. I don’t think I’ll survive another encounter with her in that hideous sweater,” I muttered, shaking my head. Connor chuckled, clearly amused by my plight.

“Chill out, man. I hired professionals for this. They’ll handle it,” he said, taking a leisurely sip of his coffee. “You know, it might not be a bad idea to start with a little public display of affection before the engagement announcement. You could test your acting chops, after all.”

I shot him a skeptical look. “You can’t just drop an engagement out of the blue,” I protested.

“Why not? Just think about it,” he replied nonchalantly, popping a grape into his mouth. “You should take her out on a date. Make a few appearances together. It’ll make the whole thing seem more real.”

“A date?” I raised an eyebrow, incredulous.

“Mhmm. Think of it as a soft launch of your relationship,” he explained, his enthusiasm palpable.

“A soft launch? What even is that?” I sighed, exasperated.

“Just consider it. You both get to know each other better, and you can craft a believable narrative about how and when you met. Remember, you can’t afford to mess this up,” he insisted, his tone taking on a more serious note.

He was making a lot of sense, which was not an uncommon occurrence for Connor Hawthorne. He had a knack for cutting through the noise and getting to the heart of the matter.

“You’re making sense, you idiot. I’m genuinely surprised,” I replied, unable to mask my astonishment.

“When do I not make sense?” He grinned, clearly enjoying our banter.

Just then, a knock echoed through the office.

“Come in,” I called out, my attention shifting.

Venus entered, her oversized glasses nearly swallowing her face, and she was clad in a cream-colored outfit that, at the very least, was an improvement over that dreadful sweater. I couldn’t deny that Venus had her own kind of charm; she simply lacked the motivation to put in the effort. That, however, was about to change.

“I brought my resignation,” she announced, her voice steady and unwavering. She didn’t even flinch at the sight of Connor’s feet resting on my desk. With a nonchalant gesture, she placed the paper down in front of me.

“Good,” I replied, though I hated to admit it—she was one of the best personal assistants I had ever employed.

“Have you received any calls yet?” Connor inquired, his curiosity piqued.

“Yes, I did. My appointment is at four,” she answered, a hint of anticipation in her voice.

“Have fun,” he sang out, his tone light-hearted, which made her chuckle softly.

“Yes, Mr. Sinclair?” she asked, her tone a mix of confusion and apprehension as I approached her. She looked like she wished she could vanish into thin air.

“You forgot your phone,” I said, handing her the battered device. The screen was shattered—definitely something that needed to be fixed.

“Thank you,” she replied, a smile breaking through her initial discomfort.

In a spontaneous moment, I leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. She froze, and I could hear the audible gasps from those around us.

What better way to rattle my father than to hard-launch a relationship with the very PA he had hired? Rumors would undoubtedly spread like wildfire, and I couldn’t wait to see his reaction.

Venus quickly regained her composure, offering me a shy smile. “Stop, people are looking,” she whispered, nudging me playfully.

“Let them look,” I shrugged, a grin spreading across my face. “I’ll walk you out.” I took her hand, leading her through the building, feeling a rush of exhilaration.

At my car, I turned to her, a sense of satisfaction washing over me. “Good. That was really good.”

“A little heads-up would’ve been nice,” she muttered, a hint of annoyance lacing her words.

“I apologize. My driver will take you home; just give him the address. He’ll also pick you up for your spa appointment,” I said with a smirk. “Let the games begin, girlfriend.”

She stared at me as if I had sprouted a second head, her expression a mix of disbelief and amusement.

This was going to be entertaining.