"Why did grandfather have to ask me to do such a ridiculous thing?" Benny protested after Benjamin told him something he didn't expect. When he was still busy signing a cooperation proposal with the Hudge Group real estate company, Benjamin asked him to find a date.

"What do you think is ridiculous?" Benjamin looked at Benny through probing eyes. "The only ridiculous thing is you haven't had a date in years. Wouldn't you like to take your time a bit?"

Benny just shook his head briefly while laughing at Benjamin's question. He is still busy reading documents regarding the planning of the Anderson Group's largest home-hills development project.

"It's impossible, Grandpa. It's impossible to relax a little while I'm still working on a housing project," argued Benny who was no less stubborn.

After all for Benny, it's really troublesome to think about things like dating and love. Benny's work was piling up, and Benjamin shouldn't have recommended him to do something trivial. It's not that Benny isn't attracted to women at all, but he won't do anything that doesn't benefit him.

Love for him is a thing that will not be profitable.

"You," Benjamin growled, "can't you stop being so serious, even for a moment?"

Finished reading the document and closing it, Benny sighed. He raised his head and looked at Benjamin with a faint smile.

"I will stop being serious after my work is done, but at that time I will not date or find love," Benny replied seriously but still looked relaxed. He ended his words with a chuckle, causing Benjamin to sigh heavily watching his grandson's behavior.

Benjamin immediately supported his chin and massaged slowly. In fact, this wasn't the first time he had tried to persuade Benny to go on a date, even though there was no guarantee that he would end up being a good match. But unfortunately Benny always firmly refused.

In this year, Benjamin thought Benny would change his mind. Even though Benjamin deliberately gave distance to persuade Benny.

"Why do I feel so tired?" Benny said while stretching his neck muscles.

"Hey, Benny, grandpa won't let you this time." Benjamin suddenly straightened up and raised his index finger. "Today there's going to be the Amazingly Glitz Night party, the annual regular Anderson Group party. Do you remember?"

Benny seemed to think for a moment, then nodded with a short cough. "Uh-hum, so what?"

Benjamin leaned over in his seat and placed his intertwined hands on his thighs. Benny's eyes looked sharp and serious.

"You have to come there," Benjamin insisted.

Benny's eyes widened. "What?" he then laughed sarcastically, suddenly awkward. "That show is for those who want to find a partner. Grandpa told me—"

"Yes, I told you to come to the event. And now, grandpa doesn't want to hear the umpteenth time rejection."

"Really?" Benny was stunned to hear what Benjamin said to him. Even though after two years in a row, Benjamin never again asked him to come to the Amazingly Glitz Night event. "Grandfather, don't joke with me. I won't come to such an event in my life."

Benjamin had an indifferent expression on his face. Casually, Benjamin sipped his hot tea before letting out a rough sigh.

"You didn't hear what I said?" he asked. "If you are stubborn, grandpa will become even more stubborn."

"But this is so unfair—"

"Nothing's unfair. You just need to come."

"For what?" Benny still sounded unacceptable and tried to persuade Benjamin.

Benny's reaction was actually expected by Benjamin. That's why Benjamin has also prepared his determination not to care about Benny's rejection.

"You are the CEO of the Anderson Group, why don't you want to come to the event just to meet your employees?" Benjamin purposely said implied sedition.

Benny didn't fully believe that Benjamin's reason for persuading him was because he wanted him to meet other employees. Indeed, while working as a CEO whose office was on a special floor and at the very top, Benny rarely saw employees face to face. Except for important matters.

"Grandpa wouldn't want me to find a partner on that party, right?" guessed Benny with a probing look at Benjamin.

Feeling challenged, Benjamin looked no less sharply at Benny. "Wuh, look at that look of yours. Are you starting to want to act on your own now?" he asked.

"It's not like that, Grandpa..."

"Grandpa doesn't want to know. Anyway, you have to come to the event tonight. Or else..."

Benny, with a worried expression on his face, waited for Benny to continue his words.

"Or what, Grandpa?" asked Benny impatiently.

"The home-hills project that you hold will be transferred to someone else's hands. So you don't have to handle it anymore."

"What?!"

***

"Okay, Ladies and Gentleman! All of you who have attended tonight's program, you must be looking forward to our opening session: Kissing Queen and King Party. Who will be the Queen and King tonightiiiiii?"

This is where Aslena is.

Honestly, Aslena had never been in a crowd at a party like this. If it wasn't for her reading the will from Joshua, her father, Aslena would not have come to the regular annual event held by the Henderson Group.

A few hours ago Halmey said that Benny would probably come to the party tonight. That's why Aslena came to meet Benny, but who would have thought that there would be a 'Kissing Queen and King Party'?

Kissing. What kind of ludicrous session was that?

"So, as has always been done before, every invited guest—namely everyone who is part of the Anderson Group and thirty selected general guests—will be given a secret envelope at the entrance..."

Aslena raised her eyebrows and saw an envelope with a silver pattern down the center of the flap. He watched for a moment, then shrugged. He didn't really care about this session.

The only thing Aslena noticed was Benny's presence. Aslena had been looking around for a while, but Benny wasn't there at all.

'Where exactly is he?' Asleena was curious.

"Inside the envelope, there will be the symbol of the King and Queen Party. Only two people, a couple, will get the emblem. If the contents of the paper in your envelope are blank without any symbols, then you are out of luck."

Boisterous applause. Everyone is enthusiastic. While Aslena still occasionally stood on tiptoe to look for Benny's whereabouts while turning her gaze around.

"Please open your letter!"

Aslena was quite jerked by the hand of the person next to her who was opening the envelope in a hurry. For a few seconds, Aslena watched. After opening the contents of the envelope, the expression on the face of the person beside Aslena immediately turned listless.

"Shit! There isn't a simbol!" She cursed annoyed. She suddenly turned her eyes to Aslena, then looked confused. "Hey, you didn't open your letter?"

"Huh?" Aslena was taken aback a second time. "This?" he asked, holding up the envelope. "Ah, this... I was just about to open."

Aslena then opened the envelope in her hand. The foreign woman next to him kept watching curiously.

After Aslena took out the paper and unfolded it, she saw a silhouette of a woman wearing a crown. Aslena was taken aback, but suddenly the woman next to her gave a startled shriek.

"THIS WOMAN GOT THE QUEEN SYMBOL!"

Then everyone turned to Aslena which made her flinch for a second.

The MC peered through the crowd, smiled broadly as he waved at Aslena.

"You! The one with the queen's crest, please step forward!"

'Shit! Why did I get this symbol?!' Aslena grimaced, biting her lip worriedly.

Feeling pressured by the stares of the crowd—especially since she couldn't escape, Aslena was forced to step forward. Everyone around her looked so enthusiastic the whole time Aslena walked past them.

"For the man to get the king's crest... oh? Wait! Was this not a dream?! Someone who got king symbol tonight is..."

Arriving at the end of the crowd and walking to the podium, Aslena looked to the side. How surprised he was when he saw Benny's figure coming out of the crowd to advance to the podium, just like himself.

"...Mr. Benny?!"

Aslena was dumbfounded, Benny was also flabbergasted.

Both of them didn't move for a split second because they both couldn't believe it.

"AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE! Please Mr. Benny step up to this podium!"

As she walked, Aslena didn't take her eyes off Benny. Until finally Aslena and Benny climbed onto the podium long and wide enough for four people, standing with the spotlight shining on them.

"A very unexpected thing," said Benny almost in a whisper when he was in front of Aslena.

Aslena was stunned. Why is it like this?

"For tonight's King and Queen Party, you are required to... kiss each other!"

This is crazy. Aslena really couldn't move.

Everyone cheered urging them to kiss each other immediately. But Aslena and Benny couldn't do anything at all. The two of them just looked at each other, confused and doubtful.

Aslena would not start. He shook his head, signaling Benny not to kiss.

Unfortunately, unexpectedly, Benny suddenly stepped forward. One step..., two steps..., then Benny grabbed Aslena by the waist to close the distance between them.

Aslena didn't have time to fight back against Benny's sudden movement. When their faces were only two inches apart, it took three seconds for their eyes to meet.

'Don't do it,' Aslena thought pleadingly.

Too bad.

Benny seems don't understand what Asleena told through her speechless eyes.

Suddenly, without any words, Benny pulled Aslena's neck until there was no more distance, then pressed his lips against Aslena's. It was only five seconds before Benny's lips began to pulverize.

All the female guests covered their mouths, stifling happy squeals.

While Aslena froze and glared in surprise. Wait, why her blood feel rippling?!

***

"Tell me. What kind of crazy fate am I walking into right now?" Aslena muttered before the mirror in the private room. His face looked frustrated, a faint black color formed under his eyes, and his hair was messy.

This was something crazy—correctly, this driving Aslena crazy.

What really happened? Aslena tried to guess what had happened since the first time she met Benny: an accident which resulted in the death of both of her parents and it turned out that the CEO of the Henderson Group was responsible for the accident.

Then his father, who turns out to be hiding his identity as the owner of the Hudge Group, asks him to seize control of the Henderson Group company by marrying the CEO of that company, then last night... Aslena's second meeting with Benny which ends them kissing!

Everything that happened in just one week was completely beyond Aslena's expectations. As a result, as now, Aslena often looked at herself in the mirror with her temples propped up.

"I ... have to marry her?" Aslena returned to muttering under her breath. He shook his head in amusement and frustration. "How... how could I marry someone who killed both my parents?"

All right, Aslena knows that Benny wasn't the one who hit her parents' delivery car. But still. The car that crashed was the Anderson Group car and was under the control of the company's employees. But the worst thing is that Benny doesn't want to fully admit his guilt in the accident.

Aslena let out a rough breath. Can't imagine what it would be like if she had a relationship, let alone marriage, with Benny.

"Aissh!" Aslena ruffled her hair. "I haven't had time to accept that mom and dad died. Why did dad have to ask me something like that?"

Knock! Knock!

The bedroom door suddenly opened, revealing Halmey's figure peeking slightly. Halmey saw Aslena stop ruffling her hair and look at her with a frustrated expression on her face.

"Aslena," Halmey called, then stepped inside and paid a brief look. "What's wrong with you?"

Marriage contract agreement?

Asleena had to say that Benny was crazy. He didn't expect Benny to make a deal like this if he didn't want to agree to their arranged marriage.

"You don't agree, why bother giving me this marriage contract agreement?" asked an irritated Asleena.

In contrast to Asleena, Benny immediately shrugged his shoulders. No guilt, objection, or anything like that.

"I don't know. I think, even if I don't approve, I don't completely reject or want to cancel." Benny gave an explanation so relaxed. "After all, it's fair for both of us, right? We both need this marriage."

Asleena was well aware of what was implied behind Benny's words. Both of them need it, meaning that Benny also needs something from him so he doesn't want to refuse their marriage.

So, what does Benny need from someone like him?

"What do you want?" Asleena asked.

Benny shoved a piece of meat that had just been cut into his mouth. "Don't ask that if you don't want to give it to me now."

Suddenly Asleena's cynical laughter was heard. "If I can give it, I will give it."

The movement of Benny's hand which was cutting the meat then stopped. While chewing, Benny's sharp gaze fell on Asleena.

It really gave Asleena the creeps.

"Really? Then, I urgently need to take charge of the biggest housing development project my company is about to undertake. But my grandpa said the project will be passed on to someone else if we don't get married."

Asleena suddenly flinched, having nothing to say in response. He thought that if Benny's needs were limited to cooperation or whatever, maybe Asleena could provide it.

But if this ... Asleena thought this was Benny's personal business with his grandfather.

"Would you like to ask my grandfather to give me the project?" Benny challenged Asleena, it was clear from the look on his face.

Asleena was nervous. Of course. He had been acting like that before, and now he didn't even know what to do.

"It's so hard," Asleena complained in a near whisper. "You didn't say your needs were your personal business."

Benny immediately laughed mockingly at Asleena. "I knew it! Why do you act as if you can give me what I need?"

Asleena's rough breath was heard. So annoying. Benny knows very well how to embarrass someone even if not in front of an audience.

"That means, there is no other way, Miss Zwetta," answered Benny.

"What?" Asleena was surprised to hear Benny say her nickname. "Zwetta?"

"I prefer to call you by that name," Benny answered lightly.

Asleena couldn't hold back her giggles. "You really are weird," he replied. "I'm increasingly unsure about marrying you. How do I deal with someone like you?"

Benny smirked. "I'm also not sure to face a woman like you," he replied, not to be outdone. "After all, we're not going to live in the same house. You can read in the contract agreement."

Asleena's brows furrowed. Don't live in one house?

Because her curiosity couldn't be restrained anymore, Asleena immediately opened the brown document envelope. A piece of paper was taken out showing the title "MARRIAGE CONTRACT AGREEMENT" at the top. In all capital letters and bold letters.

Asleena's eyes dropped down to read some of the caption. However, he was attracted by one of the terms of the agreement.

"The woman and the man will live in different apartments. As a form of accountability, the man will give the woman an apartment unit next to the man's apartment?"

Benny nodded his head while Asleena read the caption. While Asleena immediately looked up, looked at Benny as if asking for an explanation of the meaning of that sentence.

"There's nothing wrong," said Benny who seemed to understand the expression on Asleena's face.

Asleena laughed sarcastically. "Oh my god…" he paused for a second, then shook his head. "Wait, what would your family think if you were to give me the apartment next door to yours?"

"You understand that thing called a play?" Benny asked back.

Asleena looked confused. What kind of play?

"If my family or someone from your family comes, then we will pretend to live in the same apartment." Benny explained.

"Likewise if the people who come are your friends, my friends..."

"So, indirectly you're telling me to move from my apartment to my apartment?" Asleena asked.

Benny snapped his fingers. "Exactly. If you're smart like this, I don't have to bother explaining at length."

"Wow!" Asleena immediately leaned her back against the back of the chair. He clapped briefly. "Why am I the only party that has to protect your good name?"

"Our good name," corrected Benny.

"No, just your good name. You made me sign a contract agreement, now you're telling me to go back and forth?" Asleena protested for the umpteenth time.

Benny exhaled roughly while straightening his body. From the look on his face, Benny showed his embarrassment in facing Asleena who kept protesting him.

Then Benny put his hands on top of each other, then sat leaning towards Asleena. Benny's eyes darted directly into Asleena's pupils, giving firmness.

"If you don't want to, it's fine for you to stay in your apartment. Then our marriage will be finished, maybe even before you get what you want from me."

***

Asleena couldn't think of the deal she and Benny had made a few hours ago.

After Benny said his last sentence, which sounded like a subtle threat, the man immediately left. Yes, leaving Asleena who hasn't had the chance to protest yet. As if not wanting to know what he was thinking.

"Argh. Why do you have to ask me to marry him?!" Asleena grumbled very quietly.

The strains of jazz music in the mini cafe room sounded even more depressing. Asleena accidentally left the restaurant after Benny left her. Now, Asleena didn't know who to turn to to talk about her problems.

"Excuse me, Miss."

Asleena's head shot up after someone approached her cafe table. The serving man bowed to him, a little afraid to say something.

"Yes?" Asleena immediately straightened up like nothing was wrong.

The serving man was silent for a few seconds. Asleena noticed the doubt on the servant boy's face.

"Just talk about it, it's fine. I'm not someone dangerous."

"You've been here for two hours and only ordered two lattes. We have a two-hour waiting list for each guest."

Asleena was surprised to get a warning like this. He did make reservations, but he was completely unaware of the conditions for each guest.

Asleena checked the watch on her wrist and was surprised. "Gosh! I didn't realize I'd been here two hours. I'm sorry."

The servant boy was about to say something when Asleena was also getting ready to leave. But someone's voice stopped them both.

"Wait, extend the time for Miss Asleena's guest."

Asleena immediately turned her head to the side. This time, a well-dressed, formal-looking man—like the appearance of an office worker—stood between Asleena and the male waiter.

"Oh..." The male servant was confused for a few seconds. "In that case, you can come to our special cafe reception desk. There you can extend the time at an additional cost."

This foreign man who had just arrived nodded firmly. "I took care of that just now. So let me and Miss Asleena talk."

The servant man bowed. Without saying anything, he then stepped away from Asleena's presence. Meanwhile, this man who looked like an office worker turned around to face Asleena, bowed.

Asleena was confused. Why did it feel like everyone was bowing to him?

"Greetings, Miss Asleena. I'm sorry I just arrived."

Asleena's raised index finger pointed at this strange man. "Who are you?"

"I am Roger, Master Joshua's special subordinate, and will now serve you, Miss."

Asleena's eyebrows shot up in disbelief as her eyes widened in surprise.

"What?!"