Claire stomped her foot in annoyance. The pebbles scattered on the road did not escape her annoyance either.

She was angry. Her eyebrows were twitching with multiple frowns. Her hands were folded in front of his chest with her breath coming in ragged gasps.

She thought that by agreeing to the business marriage, the matter of the family company would end there. She would then attempt to negotiate with her future husband, whom she was confident would agree to the prenuptial agreement.

She had no idea that he was Jonas Doubson. Her boss at the company where she worked.

If it was like this, it would be difficult to carry out her plan.

Jonas seemed like a straightforward man. Just look at how he said he agreed to this arranged marriage out of filial piety.

What the...!

Shit! It seems that the goddess of Fortuna is not on Claire's side this time.

***

"Claire!"

A call from behind Claire's body made her stop her steps. Claire turned around, and a tall man was smiling at her.

"Why is your phone off?" asked Hans who was standing in front of Claire. His hand gently rubbed her head. A habit that the man always did when he met her.

Claire couldn't help but smile at him. Undeniably, being around Hans made Claire feel very comfortable. Maybe it was because the man always showed his attention and love.

Hans could not only be a lover to Claire. At the same time, Hans can be a good friend, and like a big brother who nurtures his little sister.

Perfect, isn't it? At least that's what Claire thinks.

Then, could she hurt this gentle man's heart?

"Oh, I forgot to turn it on earlier. I was in a hurry," Claire replied.

"Why didn't you call me? I could have picked you up," Hans protested slightly.

"I didn't want to inconvenience you."

"Yes-yes-yes. You could say that if I were someone else. C'mon Claire, I'm your lover. I'd rather be bothered by you," said Hans who sounded very sweet. Making Claire pull the corners of her lips up.

She wrapped her hand around Hans' arm. "All right Mr. Gregson. Next time I will always trouble you, disturb you. Even in your sleep," she joked.

Hans laughed. "I can't wait."

Afterward, they both walked to the elevator. Without realizing it, the man named Jonas was standing not far behind them.

"Sweet couple," Jonas muttered softly as his shoulders lifted.

****

Towards the end of the month. Claire would be busy with various financial reports. Being one of the administrative staff at Mahendra Group requires Claire to be more thorough and focused on her work.

Even a few incoming calls on her cell phone couldn't distract her from the computer screen in front of her until another staff member came over.

"Claire."

"Yes," Claire replied without looking away from the square screen in front of her.

"Mr. Jonas called you," said Suli, one of her coworkers in administration. The woman leaned her body against the edge of Claire's desk.

"What?!" Claire, who was surprised, immediately looked up at her friend.

"Right, Mr. Jonas called you. I was wondering too, what business did he have calling you?" Suli wondered in her mind. Because it was unusual for the highest person in the company to call the subordinate administrative staff like them.

Claire bit her lip. She guessed that it must have something to do with the business wedding they were about to have.

"What's the matter, Claire?" asked Suli again getting curious.

Claire roused herself. Her hand picked up some documents on the table. "Oh, it looks like Mr. Jonas wants to check the results of the monthly report." Claire held up a few sheets of report paper in her hand, to convince Suli.

However, instead of immediately believing her, the bespectacled woman furrowed her brows in surprise. She was already squinting suspiciously at this point.

Claire who realized it hurriedly moved from there. "Yes, already. I don't want to keep Mr. Jonas waiting." Claire immediately took a thousand steps from there.

Suli followed Claire's movements which looked strange to him. Furthermore, She just shook her head trying to be indifferent.

***
"Excuse me, sir."

The sound of the greeting made Jonas raise his head from the document that had been the center of his attention for the past fifteen minutes.

There, in the doorway, he found Claire Anderson. The woman who was to become his future wife on orders from his grandfather.

Refused? If only he could do that. Of course, he wished he could choose his life partner. However, what can be made? He could only surrender to the wishes of his parents, which he believed to be the last request. That's what his grandfather said some time ago.

Remembering his grandfather who had just been discharged from the hospital some time ago.

"Come in," Jonasl ordered the woman.

After hearing the order. Claire took a step closer and stopped a few steps right in front of Jona's desk.

For a moment her eyes scanned several corners of the room. This is the first time Claire has entered the room of the company officials where she works.

The room with a fairly cold temperature was dominated by wood brown and white colors. Some minimalist items and furniture were neatly arranged there. It was a big room, but it looked so cozy.

Jonas's deafening voice stopped Claire from scanning the room. She refocused her attention on the man whose eyes were framed with glasses.

Handsome. That was the first word that came to her mind, but why didn't he have a girlfriend? Claire suspected that Jonas had a deviant disorder. If that were the case, it would be a disaster if she had to marry Jonas.

"What's wrong?" asked Jonas who squinted at the look on Claire's face.

"No, sir. It's nothing." Claire forced a smile. Trying to look normal.

Jonas still squinted for a moment before he finally regained his composure.

"Sit down," Jonas ordered which Claire immediately obeyed.

"What are you holding?" asked Jonas when his eyes caught sight of some papers brought by Claire.

"Oh, this." Claire held up the paper in her hand. "It's just a report I'm working on," she said.

"Why are you carrying it around?"

"I should at least have a reason in front of my friends why you called me."

"Why?"

"What?" asked Claire confused.

"Well, why do you need a reason?"

Oh my!

Claire was getting annoyed with her boss's vague attitude.

"Especially if I don't want people to know about our relationship. Yes, although we don't have a special relationship, indirectly we will be related later. Although I don't want there to be a special relationship between us."

Claire was left confused by her own words.

"Yes, that's the point," she added.

Jonas was still observing the woman who had just finished speaking.

"Done?" he asked later.

Claire nodded.

Claire took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Look Cla–"

"Claire," Claire interrupted Jonas's sentence.

Jonas raised both eyebrows.

"My name is Claire. Please don't feel close to me by calling me Just Cla," the woman protested unacceptably.

If only her superior did not double as her future husband, perhaps Claire would never dare to say so.

Jonas was breathing hard this time. His emotions were getting provoked. Even so, he still tried to remain calm.

"Okay, Claire. I need to explain something and you should always remember. For me, marriage is no joke. If we have agreed to go through with this marriage, it means that there is a relationship between us and in that relationship, my obligation as a husband is to provide, protect, and care for you without exception claiming you as a wife in front of outsiders. Get it?"

"But, this marriage is not a normal relationship, there is no love in it. We don't even know each other."

"That's why from now on I want to get to know you better."

Claire chuckled softly. She bent her face in displeasure at the idea Jonas expressed.

After a few seconds of silence, Claire finally opened her voice.

"I want a Marriage contract."