Page 18 of Secretly Married To My Monster Alien Boss
Alissia and Rynar had to act all in love at work, but still professional. She could do that, no problem. She always wore her mask of courage when going into the office, even though she didn’t always feel it.
The rest of the clauses were simple. No revealing the secret, no using it as leverage, no blackmail.
Perhapstoosimple.
This felt momentous, but they were talking about it like it was another due diligence claim.
But that’s exactly how they should have been tackling it.
No emotions.
“Because paperwork on Deruzia takes a while and the news doesn’t travel that fast through the portal. Officials need to be notified, transfers need to be made,” Rynar said. “I estimate everything will be settled in exactly one month. I don’t think it’s prudent to divorce quicker than that. Either for you or me.”
Alissia raised her brows. “Me?”
“Humans talk, too.”
Alissia waved off his concerns. She’d been called worse than a gold-digger. Her colleagues already envied her for working so much with Rynar. Alissia didn’t want to think about the things they would say when they found out she married him.
“Okay, seems like a reasonable clause,” she said.
Rynar leaned forward and picked up his strange pen once again. It sort of resembled a quill pen in height, but instead of a feather, it was made out of reddish-orange glass that grew wider towards the top and ended in a sphere that lit up with small flames whenever Rynar scribbled with it.
“How much is one of those?” she asked, fascinated.
“You can’t really buy them anymore.” Rynar finished writing the new clause into their secret contract with a flurry of his large hand. The words were crimson. Alissia tried to ignore the fact that it looked so much like blood. It didn’t matter. Nobody apart from the two of them would ever see this contract if everything went according to plan. “But I can get you one as a betrothal gift. It’s Deruzian tradition.”
That was news to Alissia. Everything was. Deruzians were fascinating. “Do I need to get you a gift?”
“No. I simply hope you’ll indulge my Deruzian ways in this.”
Alissia nodded. She wasn’t used to people giving her things. But if it was tradition, she wasn’t going to scoff at it just because it was different.
“And you can blame it all on the same Deruzian ways when we do get divorced,” Rynar went on, voice calm and soothing.
He took another sip from whatever that brown liquid in his glass was. He’d offered some to Alissia, but her stomach was still churning. The sensation felt suspiciously like butterflies–but that didn’t make sense, did it? She wasn’t in love with Rynar or anything.
She was simply in awe because he was so good at his job–that didn’t explain why her lips tingled, though.
“Incompatibility, you couldn’t stand me any longer, whatever you want. I’d very much like to keep working with you after all this is done, though. If you’ll feel the same way,” Rynar went on. “I’ll be colder toward the end of our union. But we need to make sure we convince everyone, so we need to be warm toward each other until then. Act like a couple.”
Alissia gulped. Her eyes wandered from Rynar to his cat, which was apparently called Zinny. It sat on the coffee table between them, its eyes staring straight into her soul. Its tail flicked from side to side. It was either curious or mad, Alissia couldn’t tell.
“Of course, we also need to refrain from seeing other people in a romantic capacity,” Rynar said. Alissia’s gaze snapped to his. His voice had changed; it became more piercing. Unwavering. “Deruzians are very faithful and very territorial. My colleagues would know something was wrong.”
“I agree. It’s not like I want you flouncing around with other women.” The thought annoyed her. She told herself it was because her pride couldn’t take that. Fake marriage but real faithfulness sounded great. “Are you saying Deruzians don’t cheat?”
“We can barely lie.” Rynar shot a grin her way. “And I don’tflounce. I see no point in starting after we are married.”
“Hold up.” Alissia raised her arms. Zinny watched her movements even more closely than Rynar. “What’s this aboutnot being able to lie? I’ve seen you in court, remember? I’ve heard how you play with the truth.”
“Emphasis on play.” His grin widened. “Ask me what I think about Doug.”
Alissia already knew. Doug was the kind of kiss-ass nobody wanted behind them–because he’d stab you to get ahead.
“Okay.” Alissia intertwined her fingers and placed them on her lap as if she was watching a show. “What do you think about good ol’ Doug?”
“Doug’s not old. He’s very good at following orders from his superiors and not deviating, even for the smallest decisions. I would recommend him for a desk job with unvarying tasks, he would shine there more than in court.”
