Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime-Chapter 93: Triangle

Zephany opened her mouth to respond, but no words came. Her heart felt heavy. It had been a long time since someone looked at her the way he did, not with pity, not with pressure, but with genuine admiration.

She looked away, pretending to adjust her bag while she fought the uncertainty crawling through her chest.

"I’ll think about it," she murmured. "No promises."

Kaelion nodded, beaming like she had just agreed to a world tour.

"That’s more than enough for now," he said. "I’ll wait. As long as it takes."

She hesitated, thinking he might have misunderstood her words, so she said it again for clarification.

"I’m not saying yes," she said softly. "But I’ll think about it."

Kaelion’s face lit up even more, as if someone had just handed him a trophy.

"That’s all I ask. Thank you, Idol. Really."

Zephany shook her head. "Stop calling me that. It’s embarrassing."

He laughed. "Never. You’ll always be my idol. Even if you say no."

Just then, the elevator chimed in the distance. A familiar voice echoed from the hallway.

"Zeph! You’re already here so early! Wait—why is the national heartthrob here?"

Pia’s wide-eyed expression appeared from behind a pillar. Her mouth dropped open as she pointed dramatically.

"Oh my God. Kaelion Voss. Zeph, you just came to work early and this happens?"

Kaelion chuckled.

Zephany groaned. "Pia, please. Not now."

Pia grinned. "Okay. But we’re so talking about this later."

She slid into her chair beside Zephany’s desk, still humming with excitement. Zephany dropped into her own seat while Kaelion remained standing just to the side, watching her like she was the only person that mattered in the room.

She wasn’t sure what to do with that kind of attention.

But deep down, she couldn’t ignore the quiet tug in her chest. The memory of ivory keys beneath her fingers, the sound of a melody filling the air.

Maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t done with that part of her life after all.

But she still had questions.

And she still had fears.

For now, she let the silence between them settle. Just long enough to catch her breath before the next wave came.

Kaelion’s phone buzzed after a few moments of silence. He glanced down, the smile on his face faltering slightly, and pulled it from his coat pocket.

"Sorry, I have to take this," he said apologetically, stepping away a bit but still within earshot.

Zephany nodded quietly and shifted her attention to her computer screen, pretending to focus while sneaking a few curious glances in his direction.

Kaelion turned his back and answered the call.

"Yes, I’m still here," he said, his tone immediately shifting to professional. "I know. I’ll be down in five. Tell them to wait, it’s important."

There was a pause. He rubbed the back of his neck and added, "No, she hasn’t said yes yet. But I think there’s hope. Okay. Be there soon."

When he ended the call, he slipped the phone back into his pocket and turned to Zephany, his grin returning.

"My manager and assistant are waiting outside," he said, sounding genuinely regretful. "I have a shoot in a bit. But..."

He stepped a little closer, leaning just enough to speak quietly.

"Goodbye, Idol. I’ll wait for your update. Oh, wait—can I get your number first? So that you can just message me directly if you finally say yes to my proposal."

The word "proposal" was all it took.

Pia’s ears perked up like a radar. She had just taken a sip of her coffee but immediately froze mid-gulp. Her eyes widened as she whipped her head toward the two.

Her jaw dropped, and her hand flew to her mouth to muffle the squeal threatening to break loose.

Zephany, still glued to her screen, hadn’t noticed Pia’s silent meltdown.

She sighed softly, then without looking up, mumbled, "Fine. Hand me your phone."

Kaelion’s face brightened like it was his birthday. He quickly passed his phone to her.

Zephany carefully took it, her fingers slightly trembling. She typed her number in and pressed the call button. A moment later, her own phone on the desk buzzed.

She handed Kaelion’s phone back and picked up hers to save his number.

"There. Done," she said in a small voice.

Kaelion clutched his phone like it was made of gold.

"Thank you," he whispered, clearly moved. "Now I can finally reach my idol. I’ll wait for that message. No pressure. Just... hope."

Zephany looked away again, cheeks slightly warm.

Pia, on the other hand, was still frozen in her seat, eyes wide like saucers. Her coffee sat forgotten, and she looked like she was witnessing a secret royal engagement.

Kaelion gave them both a final bow of his head.

"I have to go now. They’re waiting for me outside. I’ll see you again soon, Zephany. Bye."

He waved charmingly before exiting the office.

As soon as the door clicked shut, Pia lunged sideways in her chair and nudged Zephany with an urgency that could only be described as chaos.

"Now. Spill. All of it. What just happened?! Aren’t you married to that hot-looking, gentle-souled, cinnamon-roll of a man, Kendrick? Why is our superstar Kaelion proposing to you?"

Zephany kept her eyes on the monitor.

"It’s not what you think. He’s not proposing like that. It’s for work. Music. That’s all."

"Oh sure, because men with dimples that deep and smiles that bright just propose music collabs with glowing eyes and dramatic goodbye speeches. What is this? A drama?"

Zephany sighed, tugging at the sleeves of her sweater. "Pia. Please."

But Pia wasn’t done.

"Wait. Wait. Before the ’proposal.’ Let’s rewind. HOW did you two meet? Are you childhood sweethearts with the nation’s favorite voice?"

Zephany hesitated. "We were neighbors. I think. A long time ago. He said he used to hear me play piano. That’s it."

Pia gasped.

"Oh my God. Zeph. You’re the main character in one of those viral fanfics! The superstar who secretly adored the quiet music prodigy next door. And now fate brings you back together—IN THE OFFICE. Do you realize what this means?"

Zephany shook her head. "No. And I’d rather not think about it."

"Too late! My brain is in screenplay mode. Scene one: tiny Kaelion with baby teeth and scruffy hair, standing outside the gate of your family’s massive mansion, listening to little you play piano from the second floor, the curtains fluttering, your music drifting down like petals—"

"Please stop."

"Scene two: years later, he sees you in a building lobby and whispers, ’It’s her.’ Dramatic music swells. Cut to: him barging into your workplace and calling you his idol. Do you hear me, Zeph? This is K-Drama GOLD."

Zephany covered her face. "Pia, I swear—"

Pia leaned back in her chair with a satisfied grin. "Girl. You got long hair. Like, Rapunzel-level long. Men are climbing up just to talk to you."

Zephany peeked through her fingers. "I just want to get through the day. That’s all."

Pia reached over and patted her head. "Too late. You’re in a triangle now. Hot husband. Hot superstar admirer. And me, the hot best friend who’s here to collect all the juicy updates."