"Ma'am, someone is looking for you at the front desk" Lia my assistant informs me.

"They go by the name Jayden Grey and claim to be your partner in crime"

"Okay you can send them in I know him thank you, Lia" I thank her and place my signature on the last paper of the book.

Hearing a knock on my office door I loudly

Say a 'come in' and the door swings open in one breeze.

Before I hear "Caroline oh I missed my sweet darling bestie"

"Jayden what do you want?" I look up from my computer.

"Come on be a little happy to see me we haven't seen each other for so long" he complains.

"And with so long you mean yesterday Jay" I gave him a 'you're being dramatic' look.

Which he just ignores as always.

Looking back at my laptop to finish the last design that I've been working on. "C?"

"Hmm what"

"How's the rest of the books doing that you still need to sign" Jayden asks.

"I'm almost done with them just need to do 10 more" I reply knowing I won't be able to finish them anytime soon even if I wanted to. Cause being a CEO and an unknown author is sometimes a little tricky and by sometimes I mean always.

"C, I know you're lying but okay if you need help just ask me I'll gladly help you with the emails and papers, so you could finish the signing faster" Jayden offers.

"Okay don't worry" I give him a smile appreciating the gesture.Caroline

Continuing with typing. I hear the ringing of my phone signaling an incoming call. Picking up I'm greeted with a loud scream of my name coming through my phone.

Jayden looks at me used to this routine of me getting calls from my grandma screaming at the top of her longs.

"CAROLINE!!!"

"Grandma good evening" I greeted her back.

"Caroline you better come home now I haven't seen you in weeks I want to see my granddaughter and you better have a husband when you come"

"Ma I'm really busy, but I'll try to make time you know how difficult it is right now".

"I don't care I want to see my granddaughter and her husband"

"Ma, how am I supposed to bring my husband for you if I don't have one"

"I don't know I just want a grandson in law when you come home, or I'm setting another date up for you" she threatens me sternly.

"Ma, dating and getting married isn't the easiest thing you know that right" I say already feeling an incoming headache.

Looking at Jayden I give him the 'help me' look. But he of course as every other bestie shrugs it off and just laughs at me.

Giving him the middle finger I continue to listen to my grandma yapping about the guy she wants to put me on a date with if I don't find myself a husband in the following week.

After an hour of listening to my grandma yapping she finally decides she is tired and hangs up to rest.

"Well that went like it normally would" Jayden says sitting on the couch in my office scrolling to god knows what.

"I added it to my schedule to be sure I'm prepared" I signal to my time schedule to the big 'grandma calls'.

"Visible" he says amused.

"So when is this soon to be new business partner coming I have things to do"

"I don't know beats me I don't even know the guys name" I say probably sounding irresponsible now but what can I do there is nothing you can find on this guy only thing is known is that he owns a big jewelry company being in the top five around the world not even his age or name is known to the world.

"Well I guess we'll be in the presence of an infamous person" Jayden says jokingly.

"Hmm" I continue signing the books.

When I get I call from Lia that he's here. I tell her that he can come in.

Seconds later the door opens with Lia in the front standing behind her a person I thought I wouldn't see again.

Lia stepping aside when he walks in.

Locking eyes it feels like time freezes around me. It's really him

"M-"

...****************...

Lia stepping aside he walks in.

Locking eyes it feels like time freezes around me. It's really him

"M-"

...----------------...

"M- Good evening uh..Sir" I greet him stopping myself from saying his name.

Standing up from my chair I walk over to where he is standing. He greets me with a

"Good evening, Miss Bella I'm Mr.Armano owner of T.W. forgive me for the late arrival something urgent came up" he shows a gentle smile his dimples barely visible from where I'm standing.

"No worries. Please have a seat" I gesture for him to sit down. Jayden also stands up and greets him before sitting back down where he was.

I take my place and while Lia brings in 3 glasses of water and places it down In front of us. Thanking her we start the meeting.

"Sir Armano not to be rude but may I ask why is it that you want this partnership cause no doubt your company is one of the most successful companies all around the world" I ask still analyzing his visuals.

'He has changed so much'

"Well to answer that question I'm not actually here only for the partnership uhm…"he looks at Jayden and then at me.

" I would like to speak this with you in private if that's possible" he asks hesitant.

"Uh... Sure" I look at Jayden reassuringly aware that he knows who Mr. Armano really is to me.

"Call me when you're finished" he says leaving and before glancing back worried. I nod.

"So what did you want to talk about in private sir" trying to keep the formality in between us even through the awkwardness.

" Eli long time no see" he says to me out of nowhere.

At the mention of the familiar nickname I freeze in place trying not to remember the memories between us.

"What is it you wanted to talk to me about in private Mr Armano" I say trying to ignore what he just said feeling the tears build up in My eyes.

Hurt visible in his eyes he says "I wanted to talk to you about a contract I know it's not going to be your ideal type of contract,, but I know this will benefit the both of us"

"And what is this contract we are talking about"

"Marriage" he looks at me expectantly.

Shock at the contract suggestion I look at him wide eye.

"Sir this is..." I'm cut by all the words I was about to say.

"I know this is an inappropriate suggestion, but I'm in need of a partner and a business partner right now, or I might lose my entire company" he says look at me worried by my answer.

"And how would this marriage benefit me cause right now it seems like it only benefitting you"

"I'm on your grandma's list of the dates she wants to put you on" he says shocking me.

'my grandma has a list' I thought to myself

"Yes she has a list"

'well I guess I didn't say that to myself'

"No you did not"

'ok I should stop saying everything I think'

Finally, getting out of my thoughts I ask.

"And how do you know that"

"Because I'm the one she was going to put you on a date next" he looks at me apparently amused.

That's when it hits me the features my grandma mentioned.

Fair olive skin, black flowy hair, emerald green eyes and lastly around six three feet tall.

It perfectly describes him. Everything.

"So this suggestion might also benefit to you since your grandma wants you to be married before you visit her"

"You know a little too much don't you think"

"I might but for good reasons"

"I'll need some time to think about it if that's okay"

"Of course tell me when you've decided" he writes down on his number on a piece of paper.

"Here my personal number" he hands me it before standing up and heading to the door.

"Hope I'll get to see you soon Eli" he says before opening the door and walking out.

Standing there looking lost Jayden rushes in and starts asking me questions.

"What did he want to talk about in private? What did y'all talk about?"

"It's nothing he just wanted to talk about a contract"

"What contract I thought we were done talking about the contract"

"Marriage contract"

...****************...

"What contract I thought we were done talking about the contract"

"Marriage contract"

...----------------...

"Marriage contract"

"WHAT gurl your kidding" Jayden takes the shock role.

"Would you think I'd be kidding about something like this"

"Well no but you two haven't seen each other for six years, and he suddenly shows up and wants a contracted marriage with you" seems like it finally hits Jayden that the contract is about marriage because the next thing he screams could make an entire nation deaf.

"WAIT.. MARRIAGE WITH YOU" He looks at me.

"What I said" looked at him nonchalant.

"Well that just registered in my head"

"You're very late" my lips from a thin smile walking over to my desk picking up my phone to call someone.

After three rings the person on the other side finally picks up.

"C, how are you? What's wrong you don't usually call" Dillon says on the other side. Dillon is my brother's best friend he's been like a brother to me ever since my brother passed away 3 years ago. He knows everything about me everything that happens to me, and he knows everything about me and Michaël, but now I just need to know what he thinks of this contract.

"I need your advice on something are you busy right now"

"No I'm not what's up"

"So basically you still remember Micha right" I say nervously.

"Well we met him today me and Jayden he was our soon to partner well turns out he wasn't here only for the partnership between the companies he was also here for...." looking at Jayden reassures me to keep talking.

"he also came to ask me something else"

"What did that bastard want to ask you" I can hear the anger from the other side.

Deciding to keep the contract part out of this because it would only make it worse i say.

" My hand in marriage" I say hesitantly.

Dillon has always been protective of me ever since my brother passed. He has come to every big event in my life always trying to fill the gap with me missing my brother and I thank him for that.

But right now I need a brother that could advise me to for what's best for me even if I know

I might not take the advice.

"He asked for WHAT!?"

"Dillon... Calm down please I just need a little advice" I try to calm the coming anger storm.

"That piece of shit left without saying anything he disappeared out of nowhere, and he comes back to ask you for hand in marriage is he crazy?"

"Dillon please calm down right now I don't need a reminder right now I need you to help me"

"It's your life your choice the only thing I can advise you is to do what feels right to you and what makes you happy...but trust me if that mothers fucker dares to hurt you again he can say goodbye to his life.... Understand"

"YES Dillon thank you" I say hanging up the phone deciding to keep it at that.

Looking at Jayden we just stare at each other before I sit down deciding that its best for me to think about it a little later and continue finish these books and emails.

......................

Jayden decided to stay with me throughout the day and keep me company even though I insisted he leave, but he just worked in my office till I finished everything that had to be done before heading out.

After the long day Jayden and I still decided to go to dinner before we head home since we hadn't eaten lunch either.

Now we're at our favorite diner and order the usual before I head home.

......................

Entering the house I go upstairs to take a shower and do my night routine before going to the study next to the libary.

Sitting at the table I decided to drown myself in a bit more work before going to bed. Deeply concreted on my work the ringing of my phone jolts me back to reality.

Looking at my phone I see that it is already two in the morning I finally figure that it's time for bed before heading to my room I grab a cup of coffee downstairs and grab a book to read.

As you can see I'm very complicated.

Sitting on my bed reading I slowly start to drift in to my nightly rest.

...****************...