C5 Chapter 5

She swallowed, trying to keep her composure. “We were just talking. Nothing more.”

“Just talking?” Carl’s tone dripped with disbelief. “You seemed awfully friendly for just talking.”

“Carl, I don’t understand why this is an issue,” Mia said, frustration creeping into her voice. “Hans is your stepbrother. We work together. I can’t just ignore him.”

“Don’t act like I’m stupid,” he retorted, stepping closer.

“Is there something you want to tell me?” Carl’s voice was calm, almost too calm, as he turned to face her.

Mia frowned, confused. “I’m not sure what you mean.”His eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer.

“You’re my wife, Mia,” he said softly, his voice laced with something that almost sounded like desperation. “You shouldn’t be spending time with him like that. It’s... inappropriate.”

Mia blinked, taken aback by his words. The word “wife” felt foreign, like a title that didn’t quite belong to her. The concept was laughable given the state of their marriage. The only thing binding them was a piece of paper, and even that felt tenuous.

“Carl, we’re only married on paper,” she reminded him gently. “We barely know each other. You can’t expect me to…..”

“I expect you to respect our arrangement,” he cut in sharply. “And that means keeping your distance from Hans.”

Mia’s heart pounded, her mind racing. She needed to defuse this, to keep him from digging too deep.

“You’re overreacting. Hans and I barely know each other.”Carl’s gaze bored into hers, unrelenting.

“I don’t care. I don’t want you near him. Understood?”

She swallowed hard, her mind flashing back to that night months ago—the drinks, the laughter, the way Hans’s eyes had burned with desire as they stumbled into the hotel room together.

She had woken up the next morning, a dull ache in her head and a tangled mess of regret in her heart. Hans was lying helplessly on the bed, and she had vowed to forget it ever happened.

But now, working so closely with him, it was impossible to forget. Every time he looked at her, every time he smiled that easy, charming smile, it was like a punch to the gut.

She prayed Hans didn’t remember that night, but the way he looked at her lately made her wonder.

“I understand,” she said finally, her voice tight.

Carl’s eyes narrowed, as if he sensed her turmoil. “Good. You can go.”

Mia turned, eager to escape the weight of his scrutiny. But as her hand touched the doorknob, she paused, glancing back at him, her heart conflicted.

“Carl, why does this bother you so much?” she asked, her voice soft. “Not like you care about me.”

He looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “Because you’re mine, Mia. I own you, whether you like it or not.”

His words sent a shiver down her spine, a mix of fear and something else she couldn’t quite place. She nodded slowly, then left the office, her mind swirling with confusion and unease.

Hans was waiting for her by her desk, leaning against the wall with that easy, charming smile that seemed to disarm everyone he met. But today, Mia felt a pang of guilt at the sight of him.

Hey,” he greeted, his eyes searching hers. “Everything okay?”

Mia forced a smile. “Yeah, just... busy.”

Hans raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Did Carl say something?”

“It’s nothing, really,” Mia insisted, though she knew Hans could see right through her. “I just think we should be more careful.”

Hans frowned, his playful demeanor vanishing. “Careful? About what?”

Mia sighed, lowering her voice. “Carl doesn’t like us talking too much. Especially during work hours. He thinks it’s... inappropriate.”

Hans’s eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed in irritation. “That’s ridiculous. He can’t dictate who you talk to.”

“I know,” Mia said quickly. “But he’s my boss, and... well, you know how things are.”

Hans stared at her for a moment, then nodded slowly. “Alright. If that’s what you want.”

His tone was light, but Mia could sense the tension beneath it.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of meetings and paperwork, but Mia couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Every time she glanced up, Carl’s gaze was on her, cool and assessing, as if waiting for her to slip up.

By the time she left the office, exhaustion weighed on her like a heavy coat. Her mind was numb, and all she wanted was to disappear into the quiet solitude of her room—away from Carl, away from Hans, away from the tangled mess she had made of everything.

She was heading to the elevator when Hans appeared beside her, his expression unreadable.

“Let me walk you out,” he offered, his voice soft.

Mia hesitated, glancing around nervously. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”Hans sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. “Mia, you can’t let him control you like this.”

“I’m not,” she protested, though even she wasn’t sure if that was true. “It’s just... complicated.”

Hans studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. But I’m here if you need me.”

Mia smiled, genuinely this time. “Thank you, Hans. I appreciate it.”

She couldn’t afford any more interactions with him, especially after Carl’s outburst. As she approached the elevator, her arms full of paperwork, she mentally prepared for the inevitable separation between work and home—the cold reality of her sham of a marriage.

She stepped into the elevator,The doors slid shut, and Mia leaned back against the wall, closing her eyes. She had a feeling things were only going to get more complicated from here.

Her hands were full, clutching her bag and a hefty pile of files she had intended to sort through later. The weight of it all made her feel unbalanced, in more ways than one. She fumbled with the paperwork, trying to squeeze her things into her arm to press the elevator button.

In her haste, the elevator doors unexpectedly flew open, and the sudden motion caused her to lose her balance. Everything happened in slow motion. The files slipped from her grasp, papers fluttering through the air like snowflakes. Her bag tumbled to the floor, and she fell—straight into someone’s arms.

For a moment, everything was suspended in silence. Mia’s heart pounded in her chest as she tried to regain her bearings, her face flushed with embarrassment. But when she looked up, she couldn't believe her eyes…….