Contract Marriage: Married to My Ex-Husband's Alpha Stepfather [BL]

[FROLO]

He’d been ghosted.

That was the only thing Katya could think of as he made his way back to the elevator. He didn’t know whether to laugh at the absurdity of Sergei sprinting to take a shower or the fact that he had just confessed, and the barbarian ran.

Then again, he had accomplished his mission, hadn’t he?

The elevator stopped on the executive floor first, and when the door opened, Katya was met with a smiling Anya and Volkov, like the world was suddenly filled with rainbows and unicorns.

"Whatever you said to him, it worked. So, thank you," Anya said, the smile on her face making Katya wonder what she meant.

"Yeah, took you just so many years to make our lives easier," Volkov snickered before he pressed the button on the elevator, and the door closed, leaving Katya with everything to question and nothing close to an answer.

Well...

He got his answer alright, when he got to the research and development floor.

"What’s happening?" Katya asked, confused.

"The boss bought all of us two packs of lunch."

"Late lunch for the entire company."

"Even the subsidiaries."

"Whatever side he woke up on this time, I pray he wakes up on it every single day."

"Amen to that, sister."

"Let’s get to work before he changes his mind."

Yeah, everyone had very well lost their minds. And Vladimir was definitely on top of that list, damn.

For the next three days, the office remained unusually peaceful.

Of course, Katya and Alek’s relationship was stable now, even with Katya back to his own penthouse. Katya had argued that the distance was healthy for them because even though they spent their time together, they needed alone time too.

By the fourth day, everyone was still sickeningly happy. And it was unsettling because the answer was the same.

Sergei had done something philanthropic again. The funny part was that Sergei never once stepped onto Katya’s floor. And he was still haunting Katya.

Maybe that was why Katya had Rahim send a message to the alpha.

He could have called. Emailed even. But he had a feeling that those would just fall onto deaf ears.

"Sir, the chairman sent me," Rahim said once he had access to Sergei inside his office.

"Sure. What is it that he couldn’t email or call about?" Sergei asked, his tone professional. You’d think that Rahim didn’t know something massive had happened in his life for him to be that giddy and hide it openly.

"He said, and I quote, ’Stop distracting my lab partners with your insane offers. I have projects to deal with, and I can’t do them when my partners are always swooning over the next batch of insanity you send their way.’

"That is all," Rahim said, making Sergei stare at her like that was the most diabolical of things.

But at the same time, the message sounded more like Katya than Rahim anyway.

"Noted. Get back to your station," Sergei said.

And when the door closed...

He dialed Katya’s office.

On the other floor, Katya glared at the ringing phone, because he knew who was calling. The fact that it was coming through the landline didn’t make it any easier. Because at this point, he couldn’t put anything past Sergei.

"Moskowsky R&D, how can I be of help?" Katya said professionally, like he wasn’t in the mood for bullshit.

"There’s a message for you from the executive floor. Press one if you wanna listen," Sergei said, and Katya stared at the phone. Then, at his secretary, who had returned. He contemplated hanging up, but it wouldn’t make shit any better.

So begrudgingly, he dialed one, hoping that this mess would be over and done with.

"I’m changing the extension to your office. No one is supposed to hear your voice like that," Sergei said, amusement in his voice, and Katya let out a low groan.

"I’m hanging up," Katya said...

But he didn’t.

He waited.

He couldn’t even explain why.

"You didn’t hang up, Solnyshka," Sergei breathed like a prayer on the other end of the phone.

"I’ll report you to the higher-ups for distracting my lab partners and delaying the project progress," Katya complained, and Sergei let out a soft chuckle.

"If they can’t work properly because of a little motivation, maybe I should fire them and get you new partners," Sergei said, his voice low, leaning into the conversation like it was just normal for both of them.

"You’re not allowed to fire my lab partners," Katya said lightly.

"Solnyshka..."

"What."

"I’m sorry," Sergei said quietly.

"For what?"

"Distracting your lab partners... I could make a really good lab partner, though. All you have to do is ask," Sergei said, and Katya let out a soft groan, a smile playing on his face.

"You’re unbelievable."

"I just wanna be useful to you," Sergei said, his voice still quiet... Hoarse even.

"You already are... They look happier, more excited to come to work," Katya added.

"So, I shouldn’t stop the lunches..."

"You’re distracting my partners. Don’t send any more lunches... You can give them a few trips, though," Katya laughed, and Sergei listened like it was the only sound he looked forward to every single day these days.

"How are you?"

"My boss is insane."

"Should I go fight him for you? I have a black belt and a few MMA skills. Just say the word."

"I don’t want him to fight because of me today."

"That’s unfortunate. I’d slam his head against the wall and break a few bones so he knows not to mess with my Solnyshka."

"He’s a good boss, though. Insane... But a good one."

"You sound like you think differently of your boss, Solnyshka."

"Unfortunately, but I think he’s overcompensating for some reason."

"Maybe he’s trying to be worthy of your bond with him."

"He doesn’t have to, though. He’s hopeless, and that’s okay," Katya snickered, and the door to his floor opened to reveal Sergei, who was carrying the phone in his hands while talking to someone.

"I am not hopeless," he whispered defensively, and Katya facepalmed as he watched a black-suited Sergei come toward his office while nodding to the employees like it was just another Tuesday.

"Evidence says otherwise, Mr. Moskowsky," Katya groaned lightly.

"I came to check on the employees and see if work was doing fine, Chairman," Sergei said, before he knocked on the glass door, making Katya glare at him.

"What? It’s basic manners to knock at an office door," the alpha shrugged.

"Go away," Katya shooed while Sergei kept knocking at his door, making the R&D employees snicker at how silly the alpha was.

"I hate you... Come in," Katya sighed.

Sergei walked in and took the seat right before Katya’s desk, not once pulling the phone from his ear.

If anything, the alpha dipped his free hand into his pocket and pulled out three protein bars, placing them on Katya’s desk.

"For you, Solnyshka," he said while Katya stared, hanging up the phone.

"You’re unbelievable. Did you have yours?" he asked, and Sergei seemed to pause before he finally caught up.

"I’ve been called worse, Moy lyubim... and yes, I had one on the way here," Sergei shrugged simply, making Katya let out a soft groan.

"Anyway, I came to help with the projects... use me, Solnyshka," Sergei whispered the last bit to a flustered Katya.

And as Katya looked at the protein bars on his desk, he wasn’t sure which version of Sergei he was dealing with anymore.