The Ceo’s Contract Lover

Every single word that came out of her mouth was like a dagger piercing his soul. The weight of her disappointment, her pain, and unspoken anguish settled heavily upon his shoulders.

Jayden’s chest tightened, and he took a step closer to Nina. “Number eight, eleven, and sixteen,” he suddenly said. “Those were your creation, right?”

Nina’s mouth fell agape in surprise as she registered his words.

To avoid any accidents, the outfits selected for the runway were kept a secret. Except for the designers themselves, no one knew about the arrangements. Even Victor had no idea about it.

How did Jayden know about it?

Seeing her stunned expression, Jayden pulled her into his arms. He hugged her tightly, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

Taking in her natural fragrance, his chaotic thoughts finally calmed down, and he felt at ease.

“How did you know?” she asked, looking confused.

“I figured it out.” He spoke softly. “When the models walked the runway, a sense of familiarity washed over me. I couldn’t put my finger on it at first, but then it hit me. Those designs reflected your temperament, your innermost thoughts, and perceptions.”

Just like her, cold and aloof.

“They seemed to have brought out all the emotions you poured into them while creating them.”

A tinge of vulnerability seeped into Nina’s heart, as she did not expect him to pay attention to the details so closely.

She had poured her heart and soul into those designs, channeling her emotions, and her experiences, into each stitch and detail. It was a side that she rarely showed to the world, and yet he seemed to have seen right through her.

Her tense body gradually relaxed as she listened to his sensual voice in her ears.

“I’m sorry.” Jayden apologized, his voice filled with remorse. Guilt gnawed his conscience, mingling with regret and self-loathing.

“I know I’ve made mistakes. But I’ve never intended to hurt you. I never wanted to cause you pain.”

Nina could feel the weight of his emotions pressing against her, both physically and emotionally. His grip was almost suffocating, but she could feel his inner turmoil.

His hand reached out, gently caressing her cheek with a touch so tender it felt like a feather’s brush against her skin.

“And you’re not just a bed partner to me,” he declared.

His dark eyes flickered under the soft glow of the moonlight, their depths reflecting the turmoil of his emotions.

He couldn’t express just how much she meant to him. Her existence was like a beacon of light illuminating the shadows that plagued his heart.

Nina closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his touch seep into her core. She wanted to believe him, to trust in the sincerity of his words. But the wounds were still fresh, the pain still raw.

Time had a way of blurring the lines between hurt and healing, allowing wounds to slowly mend, even if the scars remained visible.

So, she would just let time decide everything for them.

—

In the private room of the Imperial Hotel.

The manager signaled the waiters to bring out the drinks, and they quickly got to work. They moved with caution, making sure to keep their eyes down and their movements precise.

The roller of a lighter made a faint sound as the flame burned the cigarette butt.

A young man who looked around his thirties chuckled as he observed Jayden lighting another cigarette stick. Amused, he couldn’t resist poking at Jayden’s situation.

“Have you reconciled with sister-in-law yet?” he asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Jayden’s dark gaze narrowed, his expression unreadable as he took a long drag from his cigarette.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

He did not respond to him and asked instead. “Have you settled everything in Australia?”

Spring City was under the firm grip of Jayden Luxton. However, beside him, there was another figure who held a significant presence in the city. Stephan Winston, a young prodigy in the business world.

At the tender age of 21, he established his own investment company in Spring City, which had swiftly risen to become the leading firm in the country. Although Stephen was not a local of Spring City, his impact on the business landscape was undeniable.

If the Luxtons were considered the cream of the crop in Spring City’s elite circles, the Winstons were undoubtedly the overlord of Queenstown, a force to be reckoned with.

After playing around for a few years, it was time for Stephan to go back and inherit his family business. However, his roots in Spring City ran too deep, making it almost impossible for him to uproot himself and move overseas. He decided to expand his family’s business, ‘SN Telecommunication’, into Spring City.

There was another reason he was unwilling to leave. However, that was a topic for the future.

“With your assistance, everything has gone smoothly.” Stephan acknowledged. “We’ll commence operations from next week.”

He paused for a moment and continued. “By the way, I’ve asked my sister to move in with me. The opportunities here in Spring City are far more promising than in Kingstown. Speaking of which, I wonder if your brother would consider relocating as well.” He asked, his eyes glinting with curiosity.

Jayden shook his head, a hint of uncertainty on his face. “I’m not entirely sure about his plans. The last time I broached the topic with him, he adamantly refused. My Dad has been urging him to return home and acknowledge his roots, but he’s not interested in it either. He has a mind of his own and is too stubborn to listen to anyone.”

Nodding, Stephan commented. “He reminds me of you – Willful and unreasonable.”

Jayden snorted and did not reply.

“It’d be best if your sister can persuade him.” He said after a while.

Stephan was immediately annoyed at his words. He still could not accept how his precious baby sister had been duped by Jayden’s younger brother.

The fact that their younger siblings were dating each other came as a surprise to both of them.

“Oh, yes, before I forget,” Stephan began, “Since she is moving to Spring City, I’m planning to organize a welcome banquet for her. It will help her to know more people and settle into the town smoothly.”

Jayden pondered the idea for a moment, his brows furrowing in thought. After a brief pause, he nodded in agreement. “Count me in. Since they are already in a relationship, we can hold a joint celebration for them. It will be a perfect opportunity for everyone to come together and get to know each other better.”

Stephan’s face brightened at Jayden’s response. “I’m fine with that. I’m sure the kids will appreciate it.”

As the night wore on, the two men delved into deep discussions, their glasses filled with amber liquid.

Meanwhile, in the quiet confines of her bedroom, Nina’s hands moved swiftly as she immersed herself in her work.

Suddenly, the doorbell shattered the stillness of the room, breaking through the silence.

Nina glanced at the clock on the wall, her neatly done brows frowning into a knot. It was well past midnight and, other than Jayden; she did not think of anyone else who would visit at such a late hour.

She rose from her seat and made her way toward the front door. Reaching for the doorknob, she twisted it open.

What greeted her eyes left her momentarily stunned. Standing before her was Stephan with his arms wrapped around a heavily intoxicated Jayden. The latter struggled to maintain his balance, swaying unsteadily on his feet. His normally composed demeanor was now clouded by the effects of alcohol, his eyes hazy and his movements uncoordinated.

Nina’s heart skipped a beat as she took in the sight in front of her. This was her first time seeing Jayden in such a state.

“Hi, sister-in-law!” Stephan greeted as he struggled to hold Jayden. “Umm… as you can see, he had a bit too much to drink, and can’t even stand straight. I could only drag him home.”

“You didn’t have to trouble yourself, Stephan,” Nina told him seriously.

“Hey, what’s up with the formalities?” Stephan asked, with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

“I mean, you should’ve just left him alone on the streets. I swear he wouldn’t have minded.” She joked.

Stephan laughed, and then without warning, he pushed Jayden towards Nina, causing her to stumble slightly.

“You…”

Caught off-guard, Nina reacted quickly and instinctively reached out to hold him. She immediately supported his body and felt as though an enormous mountain was pressing on her at the moment.

“Can you help me guide him towards our bedroom? I can’t handle him alone.” Nina pleaded, still processing the sudden turns of events.

Stephan touched his nose and shook his head. “That… I don’t think it’d be appropriate. Besides, it’s getting late and I should take my leave. Goodnight.” With those parting words, he ran away quickly, leaving a dumbfounded Nina behind.

Nina watched his departing figure and inhaled a shaky breath as she struggled to support Jayden’s weight.

Closing the door behind them, she guided him into the living room. However, his unsteady movements and the strain of his body proved to be too much for her to handle alone.

In a sudden misstep, her feet gave way beneath her, and they tumbled onto the couch together.

The impact of their fall jolted through Nina’s body, and she winced as she felt the weight of Jayden pressing against her.