Chapter 21

" I didn't! " She spatted out angrily.

" Careful princess, or we're gonna have more of that session again " He warned in a very low voice.

She kept her mouth shut immediately. Although she enjoyed it, her ass was sore and she would do anything not to go through another round again.

He looked satisfied by her silence " Good girl! Now, what's the next thing? Oh! We were talking about the marriage, you said you had a problem with it? " He asked with a raised eyebrow.

She nodded, thinking it might work if she reasoned with him in a calm, mature way instead of throwing a tantrum which obviously won't work on a guy like Liam.

" Yes, it's too early, I haven't even informed my mother. Besides, you're a public figure, do you have any idea what the social media will say about me? Let's reconsider this, please " She added in a small, pleading tone.

He shook his head, shattering ,her remnants of hope that he might hear her out and reconsider " I'm sorry Carla, I'm given limited time too, I have to show my son or daughter to my father after a year " He said bitterly.

Carla sighed, resigned to her fate " Okay I've heard you "

He nodded " You don't need to worry about the social media, I'll make sure nothing bad is said about you " He assured her and she smiled at the attempt he made to lift her spirits and not made her worry.

" Nothing much, I just need to tell Mom and some friends, when is the date of the wedding? " She asked earnestly.

He looked lost in thought for a while " I'm not sure yet, we'll discuss that once the contract has been signed "

She nodded

" Anything else bothering you? " He asked again.

She shook her her head " Nothing for now " She replied.

" The minute you sign the contract, you cease being my assistant, I told you already, didn't I? "

Her eyes widened " I thought that would be after our wedding " She said with her pretty eyebrows furrowed.

He shook his head " You thought wrong, you become my fiancee the minute you sign the contract, any problem with that? " He asked when he noticed she didn't reply.

She shook her head slowly " No " She replied and went quiet after that.

A knock came on the door shortly after and a middle aged man entered on permission to do so.

" Hey Liam, how are you? " He greeted, extending his hand for a shake.

Liam took it and smiled " Long time John! How have you been? "

John replied " I've been doing pretty good "

" It's so hard to see you these days. Got a case coming up? " Liam asked, swinging back and forth on his chair.

John scrunched up his nose " Not really, been solving some family issues " He ended his words with a nonchalant shrug and Liam nodded.

John adjusted adjusted his glasses and that was when he noticed Carla " Hello, you're Miss Carla, right? " He asked with a wide smile.

She nodded " Hi, I'm Carla, Carla Reeds "

His smile widened and he extended his hand for a shake too " It's a pleasure to meet such a beautiful lady and future wife of Liam " He laughed heartily and Carla frowned slightly, wondering what on earth was funny to him.

She offered him a short laugh too, not wanting to make him feel awkward. She glanced sideways at Liam and he raised an eyebrow quizzically. Fuck him, they met in such a short period of time and he already knew her so well that he saw through her. He knew the laugh was forced but he didn't say anything, he only had on an amused expression.

" So let's proceed, shall we? " John said, breaking into her thoughts.

" Okay " Liam said, sitting up.

John brought out some documents and handed them to Liam who went through it before passing it along to Carla. Carla took a deep breath and went through every word thoroughly. Her nostrils flared up as she read out what got her so pissed off.

" The wedding will take place next weekend?! Why?! " She fumed.

Liam looked at her with an expressionless gaze " We've talked about this Carla, so drop the act "

" I didn't know it would be so early! " She wailed helplessly.

" I did tell you " He said in a low voice.

Of course he did, but she felt so stuffed that she felt she would burst any moment from the fact that her life would change in about two weeks or less. She wanted to vent out but unfortunately, Liam wouldn't allow that. She finished reading it and sighed, reaching out to give John the documents but he shook his head.

" You see the side where your name is, you're going to sign there, right below your name " John indicated by pointing his fingers on one side of the document.

Carla sighed and nodded, holding a hand out to Liam who raised his eyebrows quizzically.

" What? " He asked.

" Pen! Or what else did you expect me to write with? " She said in a loud voice, almost yelled. Liam shook his head and handed the pen to her. He was now tied with a crazy woman.

Carla signed and gave it to Liam who signed too.

John left shortly after, but not without congratulating the soon to be couple. Carla grunted to what he said while Liam muttered his thanks. It would have done them real good if they were more nicer to each other, John thought as he went out.

Carla felt Liam's gaze on her and she rolled her eyes " What now? "

He shook his head " You're a spoilt brat you know? "

Her nostrils flared and she glared at him " Don't you dare call me a brat! "

He just raised his eyebrows " I just did "

She huffed and looked away " Ugh! "

" See Carla, I would suggest you quit being stubborn and dramatic, what you're scared of will eventually happen. We're going to be married " He said plainly.

She sighed and went quiet.

" Good. Have you informed your Mom yet? "

She shook her head " Not yet, I just informed my friend "

" I would suggest you do it quickly, I don't have much time, or should we go to your hometown together? Or you'll call and explain things to her yourself? " He asked.

Her refusal was immediate as she shook her head vigorously " No no, I'll do it myself "

He raised a questioning eyebrow " You don't want her to meet her son in law? "

She sneered " In name only "

He glared at her " Take it the easy or hard way Carla, you're going to be mine for more than a year or so "

She returned the glare with one of her own " It was a year contract I signed! I'm not gonna stay with you for more than a year! "

His mouth twisted smugly " Are you sure you read the contract thoroughly? "

Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion " What do you mean? Of course I did "

He shook his head slowly " No you didn't. If you did, you would see it where it was stated clearly that the contract is considered outdated only after the baby is old enough to be weaned, guess you didn't read that part " His eyes twinkled with something Carla couldn't quite figure out.

Her eyes widened " You... You swine! This is foul! How can you just tell me that when we agreed on a year's contract?! "

His eyebrows shot up, he didn't take too well with her hauling insults at him " How is it my fault? Didn't you read it yourself? Carla, quit being stubborn, you don't leave until my baby is old enough to be weaned. I didn't know you would be so harsh on a new born baby, our baby at that "

She shook her head " No, I didn't mean that, all I'm saying is.... "

He cut her off " Come off it Carla, you don't have a point "

She sighed, thinking he was right this time.

" Now, I want you to go home and inform your mother, she needs to be at her daughter's wedding, don't you think so? " He smiled smugly.

She rolled her eyes " I'll do that "

He smiled but it disappeared when she didn't make any move to get up " I meant now, Carla "

Her eyes went huge " You want me to leave my workplace now? You can't do that, it's absurd! I'll do it when I get home, after work of course "

His eyes darkened " If my memory didn't fail me, I clearly told you that the minute you signed the contract, you cease being my assistant "

" And I can do whatever the hell I want " He added coolly.

Her expression turned into a pleading one " Let me just work as your personal assistant for one more day, please? "

He sighed and teared his gaze from the sweet, innocent face she made. He knew he couldn't refuse her when she did that.

" Okay you win " He muttered.

" Yay! " She exclaimed gleefully.

He eyed her " Let's go back to work then " and he sat on his chair, turning away from her.

***********

It was past noon when Liam looked at his wristwatch and realized it was way past lunch already. He looked over to Carla but she seemed so focused and worked as though her life depended on it. Sweats broke down from her forehead but she wiped it away mindlessly. It felt good to watch her without being noticed, Liam mused. She was different from the girls he had met. When he suggested her to go home, she had refused which meant she liked her work and couldn't lazy around just because he said so. She wanted to be independent for as long as she could. Nah, he wouldn't allow that as long as she was his, he thought. He couldn't wait for them to be married, he thought in glee. Sure he didn't love her, but he couldn't deny that he was attracted to her and he was sure she felt the same way.

" Carla! " He called out.

She looked up, startled " What? "

" It's past lunch, aren't you going to eat? " He asked.

She looked surprised " Oh really? I didn't know it's lunch already "

" Past lunch " He corrected.

She shrugged " Since it's past lunch, I'll just wait till I get home then " And she started typing on her computer again.

His eyes widened slightly " You won't have lunch? "

She looked up with a raised eyebrow " Do you have a problem with that? "

" Of course I do, can't have my baby grow up in such a tiny body so you're going to eat " He said confidently.

She huffed " Tiny?! I'm not! "

He nodded, trying to indulge her " Yeah sure you aren't " He was being sarcastic and Carla knew that.

" You... You... " She started, searching for the perfect insult to haul at him.

He cut her off " Careful Bella, I don't take kindly to insults "

She went quiet and he nodded in satisfaction.

" Good girl! Now, should we eat out or should I order some food here? " He asked, his hands already on his phone.

She set her jaw stubbornly and crossed her arms under her breasts in an unyielding way " Count me out, I'm not eating " She looked straight ahead as she said it.

He smirked " Oh you will, I can assure you that. I only gave you a choice to make when I asked but trust me, you'll eat "

She glared at him " Make me then "