Contract Marriage: I Will Never Love You

Marcus

The expression on Hailey’s face is utterly priceless, a mix of shock and amusement. Her eyes widen in disbelief, and her lips part as if caught between a laugh and a gasp.

"Excuse me?" she exclaims, her voice a blend of incredulous laughter and astonishment. "Did you really just say that to me?"

I respond with a slight, nonchalant shrug, my lips curling into a faint, unapologetic smile. "I thought you’d appreciate the honesty," I say, my tone casual and unbothered.

Her eyes narrow, the laughter vanishing like a blown-out candle. "Honesty? Marcus, that wasn’t honesty, that was arrogance."

I tilt my head slightly, studying her face, the way her jaw tightens and her hands ball into fists at her sides. "I wasn’t trying to offend you. I just figured we are adults. And I like to go straight to business."

Her lips part, stunned. "Straight to business?" she echoes, her voice cutting sharper now. "Marcus, I am not a business deal. You don’t just stroll in, toss a proposition at me like I’m some contract you’re closing, and expect a thank-you."

I shrug again, more defensive this time. "I’m being upfront. You’re beautiful and smart. I like you. What’s wrong with putting that on the table?"

"What’s wrong," she says, stepping in closer, eyes blazing, "is pretending that casual disrespect is confidence. You didn’t compliment me, Marcus. You reduced me. You turned me into some... some accessory you want to try on for a night and then toss aside."

"That’s not fair," I mutter.

"No, what’s not fair is you thinking you can say that to me and still walk away with your pride intact."