Contract Marriage: I Will Never Love You-Chapter 121: Second Encounter

Hailey

His lips are warm and steady, tasting faintly of cinnamon and cocoa. For a heartbeat, I freeze...caught between surprise and the rush of something deeper, something I’ve been trying not to name. But then my fingers curl into the fabric of his hoodie, anchoring me, and I kiss him back.

It’s not frantic or desperate. It’s slow, careful, like we’re both trying to understand what this is—what we are becoming.

When we finally pull apart, Josh leans his forehead against mine, eyes closed. His voice is barely above a whisper. "I’ve been wanting to do that all day."

I let out a breath that trembles at the edges. "Really?"

"Yes."

"We’re in this together now, aren’t we?" I murmur.

Josh opens his eyes, steady and clear. "Yeah. We are."

I lean back slightly, watching the way the soft glow from the screen outlines his jaw. "Who would want to hurt you, Josh?"

His smile fades. "I don’t know. But I’m going to find out."

I nod slowly. "We are going to find out."

He glances down at his leg and winces. "First, maybe I survive this week without being crushed."

I can’t help the small laugh that escapes. It’s shaky, but it’s real. "Deal."

Josh shifts closer, his arm resting behind me, casual but protective. "I don’t want you caught in the middle of this, Hailey."

"You didn’t pull me in," I say quietly. "This is my job and I’m not the one in danger."

Josh tilts his head, studying me like he’s trying to see past the words, into the space where fear and resolve collide.

"You may not be the target," he says softly, "but you’re close enough to get hurt. That matters to me."

We stay silent for a bit.

I reach for my laptop, closing it gently. "Then we will just have to stay one step ahead."

He nods, but his hand finds mine again, fingers threading through mine like he needs the contact as much as I do. "Starting tomorrow. No more ignoring the weird stuff. No more brushing things off."

"Agreed."

Outside, a car passes, headlights sweeping through the curtains like a ghost. Inside, we sit still, cocooned in a quiet that feels like the calm before another storm.

"Get some rest," Josh murmurs, squeezing my hand before rising. "We will figure this out."

"Okay," I say, though I know sleep won’t come easy.

At the door, he pauses. Looks back. "Hailey?"

"Yeah?"

His smile is soft but certain. "I’m really glad I came to see you."

And then he’s gone, the door clicking shut behind him.

And I’m left in the dark with the warmth of his kiss still lingering, and a gut-deep certainty that something is coming.

~-~

The next morning, the studio is quiet and dark when I arrive. Josh stayed home to rest his leg, he said. We didn’t need him for a shoot anyway.

The elevator hums as it carries me up, my camera bag slung over my shoulder. I’m early, earlier than usual. I wanted time to review yesterday’s equipment with Marcus.

The studio floor is empty, lit only by the ambient glow from the street-facing windows. I walk through it quietly, boots tapping against polished concrete, heart ticking a little faster than I like.

I pause outside Marcus’s office. The door is half-closed, the light on.

I wasn’t planning to go in—not really—but something makes me reach for the handle. Maybe it’s curiosity. He is here pretty early.

I push the door open.

And freeze.

Marcus is there, shirt unbuttoned, pants halfway down. A blonde model I vaguely recognize is perched on the edge of his desk, her legs wrapped around him, her head thrown back in a moan she tries to stifle.

I stand frozen for half a second, then step back, my pulse slamming.

Marcus notices me.

His gaze snaps toward the door. For a moment, he goes completely still. The model gasps, grabbing at his shirt as she realizes they are not alone.

"Hailey," Marcus says, voice low and nonchalant. "You are here early?"

I stare at him. At her. At the disheveled mess of what was supposed to be his carefully controlled image. "I—I didn’t know you were occupied," I say, every syllable burning in my mouth.

He doesn’t look ashamed. Not even remotely flustered. He straightens slightly, brushing the model off him like she’s an afterthought. "Shut the door behind you."

But I don’t move.

"Did you hear me? I will talk to you after I’m done interviewing Tatiana," he says curtly.

Interviewing?

Tatiana, the model is red-faced and scrambling to fasten the clasp on her bra. She avoids my eyes completely, grabbing her coat from the back of a chair. Her lipstick is smudged, and her expression is a mixture of embarrassment.

"I...I will wait in the break room. Carry on," I stammer and rush away as I slam the door shut and run away.

OH...MY...GOD!

The second I reach the break room, I lean against the counter, trying to catch my breath. My heart is pounding so loud it feels like it might crack my ribs.

I rub my face with both hands. I wasn’t prepared for that. But then again, I caught him doing that in a restaurant bathroom before so why am I even surprised?

"Interviewing" her? He is nuts. freēwēbnovel.com

I sink into one of the break room chairs, staring at the floor. My skin feels like it’s buzzing, my mind racing.

"Hailey?"

I look up and see Tammy.

Tammy wrinkles her forehead. "What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

I groan. "Worse. I saw Marcus Winters with his pants down, a blonde’s legs wrapped around him."

Tammy smirked. "Oh...that."

Tammy plops down across from me like I just told her the weather forecast. She opens her thermos, takes a sip, and shrugs. "Honestly, I’m surprised it took you this long to catch him in the act."

I blink at her. "Wait...you knew?"

She lifts a brow. "Everyone knows. At least, everyone who’s worked here more than a month. That desk has probably seen more action than a Vegas hotel bed."

I press a hand to my mouth, equal parts horrified and nauseated. "Eww! And no one says anything?"

Tammy’s smile widens. "Everyone knows Marcus Winters is a slut and does not try to hide it."

I snort. "Wow, just wow. So the blonde in the office...you are telling me that there are others like her that just throw themselves at him willingly?" I ask, remembering the make up artist in the bathroom.

Tammy laughs. "Welcome to Studio Days of Our Lives. Starring Marcus Winters as the charmingly shameless heartbreaker."

"Seriously?" I lean back, trying to process all of it. "And no one says anything?"

"Management’s motto is: ’If it’s not breaking equipment or contracts, we don’t want to know,’" Tammy says with a grin. "Marcus brings in big clients. So he basically gets to be a walking HR violation."

I stare at her. "I feel like I need a bleach shower and a therapy session."

Tammy pulls something from her bag and slides it across the table. It’s a spare studio keycard.

"What’s this?"

She leans in slightly. "If you really want to snoop, you’ll need that. Just... don’t trip any alarms. Or accidentally walk in on another... ’interview.’"

I laugh, despite myself. "Note to self: knock hard next time."

Tammy gives me a wink. "That’s the spirit."

I lean back in my chair, still processing. "This place is insane."

Tammy leans forward, eyes twinkling. "Okay but... be honest. Did you see him shirtless?"

I squint at her. "Tammy."

She raises both hands, laughing. "What? I’m asking for science!"

I roll my eyes. "Yes. Unfortunately. And now it’s burned into my memory forever."

Tammy grins. "Hot, right?"

I groan. "Don’t tell me you—"

"God, no!" she says quickly. "I like my drama on TV, not in my lap."

We both dissolve into giggles.

"Ahem."

I jolt and whip my head toward the door.

Marcus stands there, fully dressed now, thank God—with his usual smug expression plastered across his face like nothing happened. Except for the fact that his hair is slightly tousled and his shirt buttons are mismatched. Subtle. Real subtle.

He raises an eyebrow. "Having fun gossiping about me?"

Tammy smiles sweetly. "Oh, always."

I sit up straighter, trying to look professional, even though my cheeks are still flushed. "Sorry for... interrupting earlier."

Marcus smirks, strolling in like he owns the air. "Next time, knock. Or wait until the official office hours start."

I bite my tongue before a snarky reply escapes.

"Meet me in my office in five minutes, Hailey. We have much to discuss," he says and leaves without saying another word.

I look at Tammy helplessly. "I rather not talk to him about his sex life, Tammy."

Tammy giggles. "Oh, Hailey. You will survive this. I believe in you."

I’m not too sure about that but I have no choice but to follow Marcus.