Convincing Kiss

Emery's POV

"Do I really have to be here to convince them that you're actually married to me?" I asked as I watched the people coming in and out of the tall building of Empire Gray. This is really happening. I'm really married—not actually married, but fakely married to the wealthiest man in the country. I still can't believe this.

Terrence looked at me lazily and grimaced. "It's not like you'll tell each and every one of them that you're married to me. You just have to act sweet, baby."

"Baby?"

He shot an eyebrow up. "You don't like that? How ‘bout love? Babe? Honey? Sweetie—"

"Wait…" I lifted my arm and laughed without humor. "You're not serious with that, right?"

He crossed his arms. "Look me in the eye and tell me I'm joking."

I gasped and gritted my teeth. "Terrence, I'm not gonna call you using those…cheesy and stupid…endearment!"

"I'm not forcing you but if they notice something that they shouldn't…say goodbye to your company."

I glared at him. "Are you threatening me?"

The corner of his lips rose as unbuckled his seatbelt. "Not really. I'm saying you should help me since I helped you. It's just give and take, love—"

"Shut it! Your endearment is making me puke!" Not really but…I feel uncomfortable when he calls me with such endearment because it's affecting me. Damn it!

He smirked even more arrogantly. "Why? Does it sound so sexy that you're wetting your pants—"

I got out of the car and shook my head in disbelief after I heard his bark of laughter. Damn, this perverted billionaire! I thought I got away from a perverted husband but it turned out he's also one.

"Good morning, Mr. Gray." Terrence threw his car key to the man who greeted him. I remember him. He was the man who approached Terrence and whispered something to him at our wedding.

I just crossed my arms and looked at the entrance of the building. This is really amusing.

"See how badass your husband is?" I jumped in shock when Terrence whispered in my ear.

He was behind me and when he stood beside me, I immediately hit his stomach. He coughed and chuckled as he looked at me.

"Violent. I like that!"

I hissed. "Shut up and let's get this over with."

He chuckled. "Yeah! You just have to french kiss me in front of them and it's over."

I looked at him in disbelief. "Don't you have anything to say other than perverted things?"

He just smirked and wrapped his arm around my waist. I flinched when his palm rested on my stomach. I felt my cheeks start burning. What the hell? A mere touch from him could affect me like this? Am I a teenager?

He leaned closer to me again and whispered in my ear. "Act naturally, baby. I'm gonna spank your pretty ass if you don–Argh!"

I stepped on his shoe and I made sure my heel would squeeze his toe. He looked at me with widened eyes and a pale face, enduring the pain.

"Let's go, baby. I'm excited to meet the board of your company." I said, smirking sarcastically, and started walking away, leaving him groaning in pain. That's what you get.

He managed to catch up and he frowned before he walked straight beside me. I thought we could get to his office or to wherever we were going peacefully but a group of reporters suddenly appeared around us. My eyes widened as I looked at Terrence. He doesn't look shocked as if he's expecting this. What the hell?

"Mr. Gray, we heard that you got married privately. Is she your wife?"

"Aren't you the famous Emery Craig? How long have you been in a relationship with Mr. Gray?"

"How did you two meet?"

"Is this the sign of your companies merging?"

I saw Terrence clenched his jaws with a serious face. I don't know how to react. He showed me two sides of him and I don't know what's real. His playful side or his serious side. I don't know. Either way, he's handsome as fck.

"Mr. Gray, can you tell us how you met Miss Craig?"

I thought Terrence would continue to ignore them but he stopped and looked at the woman who asked as if he was offended. "Hold it right there! It's kinda offending to hear ‘Miss' before my wife's name. Shouldn't it be ‘Mrs. Gray'?"

I couldn't hide the irritation on my face because of what he said. Really? He could convince the people that way?

Terrence smirked arrogantly and pulled me closer to him again, his arm around my waist. This perverted weirdo is testing my patience, huh?

I hugged his waist too and smiled at the reporters. "I don't think sharing private information is necessary. We're married and in love, that's all that matters, right monkey?"

His smile faded and his forehead immediately creased. The people around us laughed because of the endearment. Ha! Serves you right.

"That's a very unique endearment, Mrs. Gray."

I laughed and looked at the female reporter. "I know right? I just find it so cute whenever he's serious. He looks like a monkey searching for a fight."

And the crowd laughed again. I bit my bottom lip and looked at Terrence. His frown slowly faded and he smiled cunningly. "My baby is really unique and sweet, right? Who would've thought that we met in a train station?"

My forehead creased. Train station? What the hell? I don't ride the train because I have a car.

"You meet in a train station, Mr. Gray?"

Terrence laughed. "Yes! I thought she was homeless because she was sitting on the corner and I dropped some coins in front of her. She cursed me saying she was just tying her shoelace."

Irritation filled me as I heard the crowd's bark of laughter. Seriously? That's lame!

I looked up at him with a creased forehead. He looked down at me and I was shocked when he pecked on my lips. He did that smoothly and naturally and I felt my cheeks burning and the crowd went wild. I was holding my breath the whole time he asked the reporters to give way to us.

"Excuse us. My baby tigress is getting angry. She doesn't really wanna talk about our embarrassing first meeting," he said, whispering his last sentence like he didn't want me to hear it.

I was still frozen until we got inside the elevator. When the door slid closed, I immediately faced him and punched his stomach. He endured the pain as he coughed.

"You perverted weirdo! Why did you kiss me…again?"

He looked at me with narrowed eyes but smirking lips. "That's what you get for calling me monkey."

"You–"

I was shocked again when he pushed my back against the elevator and caged me between his arms. He moved his face closer and I was in awe while looking into his blue pair of eyes. He smiled again and his dimple showed, making me feel like I was losing my mind.

What the hell is this? Am I attracted to him?

"That's barely a kiss, baby. Do you want me to give you a real kiss this time?"

"W-What?"

"A knee-wobbling French kiss is my specialty. Wanna try?" He whispered which gave me goosebumps.

I gasped and that's when the elevator door slid open and the person standing in front of us dropped all the folders she was carrying. She looked horrified with burning red cheeks. Fck!

Compatibility Check

Emery's POV

I couldn't stand losing, so I leaned closer to him and met his playful blue eyes. "Is that kiss…a monkey kiss?"

His forehead creased but before he could rebut, I pushed him and stepped out of the elevator. I smiled at the female employee who was staring at me with a shocked face.

"Alice, inform all the departments and the board. I'm gonna introduce my wife to everyone." Terrence stepped out of the elevator arrogantly as he fixed his coat.

The woman in front of us panicked again and quickly picked up the documents she dropped. I picked one and slowly handed it to her. She was looking at me in awe and I don't know if I should be proud or get offended. I don't even know why she's looking at me like that.

"Y-Yes, Mr. Gray."

My forehead creased as I watched the woman turn her back and walk fast but awkwardly. I turned to Terrence and scoffed at him. "Look what you did."

He frowned. "What? Is it my fault that we look like we're about to fck when she sees us."

I laughed without humor. "That's definitely your fault, Mr. Gray!"

He just lazily shrugged his shoulders and wrapped his arm around my waist again. "Whatever! Let's go, Mrs. Gray."

That made me blush. It's embarrassing and so absurd to feel this but he really affects me. God! This is bad! This is very, very bad. We're just gonna pretend for a year and I can't get attached to him.

True to his words, Terrence introduced me to everyone in the company. Even the security personnel knows me now and I don't know how to react to that. Was that necessary? This pretension is really on another level. I will not even be shocked if the news spreads crazily like wildfire and reaches my dad.

"Let's go." Terrence held my waist again as he whispered.

"To where?"

"To the dogs. I'm gonna introduce you to them."

I gritted my teeth and looked at him. We entered the elevator and we were alone inside. He looked at me and laughed when he saw my sharp glares.

"What?" He seemed to be enjoying seeing me pissed, huh?

"I'm tired, Terrence! My feet are hurting and if you continue going sarcastic on me, I'm gonna stab you using my heels!"

He smirked. "Relax. We're going to my office now. We'll have an early lunch there and I'll have Dan to send you back to your company."

I rolled my eyes and crossed my eyes. He was just watching me with an annoying grin and I'm trying so hard to stop myself from punching him again. Boxing is my hobby if he's not aware of it and I was restraining myself when I punched him twice today.

"Why do I feel like you're cutting my head off of my body inside that pretty head of yours."

I glared at him. "Why do I feel like you're very energetic for a groom who married the wrong bride?"

It got him. He stood straight and pushed his hands inside the pocket of his pants. He clenched his jaws and his expression became serious. I shook my head.

When we got inside his office, he went straight to his swivel chair while I roamed my eyes around. I heard him talking to someone on the intercom as I slowly walked towards the couch and sat there.

I looked at him and he's now looking at the computer on his table. Sulking. I sighed. Right! I crossed the line this time. I said words that would hurt him.

"I'm sorry," I said as I looked away. I felt his gaze on mine but I just bit my bottom lip.

"You actually apologize, right?"

I looked at him with a creased forehead. "Are you being sarcastic?"

He frowned. "I just want to know if you're saying half-hearted apologies and I think I'm right."

I grimaced. "I apologized. All you have to do is to accept it."

He opened his mouth to speak again when my phone rang. I took it from my bag and answered the call without taking my eyes off of Terrence, who seemed to be challenging me in a staring competition.

"Hello–"

[EM! OH MY GOD! WAS THAT FOR REAL? YOU'RE MARRIED? HOW? I MEAN…REALLY? THE HOTTEST BACHELOR IN THE COUNTRY? WHAT DID YOU DO IN YOUR PAST LIFE TO DESERVE A HOTTIE LIKE HIM?]

My eyes widened as I saw how an arrogant smirk curved on Terrence's lips because of the loud voice from my phone. God! She was so loud that the arrogant and perverted weirdo heard what she was talking about. Now, he's looking at me with a very proud face.

"Ouch, Georgina! Jesus! Are you planning to break my eardrums? Seriously?" I growled and looked away from Terrence.

This is embarrassing. I shifted my seat and crossed my legs.

[You have to tell me what happened, Em! Ohh! I'm so excited!]

I rolled my eyes. My only friend, a crazy friend, Georgina, doesn't really know how to act naturally.

"Aren't you even worried about me?"

[Why would I be worried? He's a good catch. Duh!]

I shook my head. "Where are you? You just disappeared last week. Don't tell me you're grounded again?"

She laughed like a madwoman. [Who says ‘grounded' applies to me? I'm being a bitch on the beach. Hunk hunting, you see. But I guess, you're the one who caught a hunk there]

I rolled my eyes. "Come on!"

"Tell her to call you back later, baby. We need to eat."

My eyes widened at Terrence because of what he said and he actually said that as he leaned closer to my phone from behind. Now, Georgina's screaming like crazy on the other line.

[Alright, baby! Call you later. Bye, baby!]

I massaged my forehead and looked at Terrence again after Georgina ended the call while laughing, teasing me.

"Are you serious?"

He used a fork to bring a vegetable in his mouth before he answered… "Yeah. I'm famished."

I hissed and looked at the food on the coffee table. I shot an eyebrow up. "Veggies? Really?"

"What? You don't like veggies?"

I pursed my lips and shook my head. "Not a fan of veggies."

"Alright." He grabbed his phone and dialed someone. "Dan, get me some meat. My pretty carnivore here is allergic to veggies."

"I'm not an animal!"

He dropped his phone on the couch beside me and sat properly on the single couch. "Nah! A tigress is definitely a carnivore mammal. A nocturnal beast. Don't attack me at night. I sleep naked."

I gritted my teeth as my cheeks and neck burned, both in embarrassment and annoyance. "Shut up! Why are you so loud? I'm not a fan of noises."

He chuckled. "I think that makes us compatible, huh? What else do you dislike so I can tell the chef at home to cook it every day? "

I took a very deep breath and massaged my forehead. He's pissing me off again. Nevermind. Talking to him is draining my energy. Gosh! He's very talkative. I couldn't even count how many words he had said today.

I glared at him as I pressed my lips together. He laughed hard and pointed at my face. "Look at that! Don't glare at me like you want to eat me. We'll make a huge scene here if you do. I moan loudly."

I grabbed my hair in frustration. "Oh God! I hate drugs!"

"Same here, baby."

Argh!

He smirked as he continued eating his dear veggies. Someday I will cut him into pieces like his damn veggies.

Dangerous Pretension

Emery's POV

Georgina put her glass on the table after drinking her shot and looked at me. "So, tell me what really happened. How did you end up marrying the great Terrence Gray."

I shook my head. "You sound like you're worshiping him."

She lifted her arms. "Girl! That's Terrence Gray, the hottest bachelor. Just tell me. Come on…"

I took a deep breath and drank my shot before I looked at her again. Georgina's lips parted as she covered her mouth. "Oh no! Don't tell me this was your pretentious stepmom's doing again."

I shook my head and crossed my legs. "Not the stepmother. The stepbrother."

She frowned as if disgusted. "That gambling addict asshole? What did he do this time? Gosh! I might cut his dick off and feed it to him. I really hate your family!"

I smirked at her and sighed again before I dropped my gaze on the glass in my hand. "I'm too tired to tell you everything. But to make the story short, I gambled."

"You gambled? With Terrence Gray?"

"He was a collateral damage. I just mistakenly married him because of some stupid and complicated game of fate. He helped me get the company back and in exchange, I'll stay with him for a year."

When I looked at Georgina again, her lips were parted. I groaned. "Come on, Georgiana…"

"It doesn't make sense, Em. Why would you mistakenly marry him? I mean…he was at your wedding?"

I chuckled after remembering the situation. "It was the other way around, Georgina. I was at his wedding."

Her eyes widened in fractions and roamed her eyes around. "He was getting married?"

I massaged my forehead and looked around us. We're in a bar. After she called me last night, she immediately fled back home and now she forced me to meet her tonight. It's a good thing she's here, actually. I have someone I can talk to. I don't wanna talk with Terrence Gray. I might go crazy because of his stupid logic.

"Yes. Now, let's stop talking about myself. Let's just drink."

"You wanna get wasted?" She smirked at me.

I smirked back. "No. I won't stay long because I have a very judgemental mother-in-law."

She laughed hard and kicked my heels. "Come on! It's not like she's the one you're sleeping with at night. Just ignore her."

I frowned. "We have different rooms, Georgina. Don't overthink."

"What? Aren't you even tempted by your husband? He's a total hottie, Em! Come on! Since you're already in this situation, grab the chance! Sleep with him! You'd regret it once this is over."

"I won't!" Yes! He's hot. He's dayum hot. He's a freaking walking sex god but I won't sleep with him. He might not stop talking while doing that knowing that he's very talkative. Argh! That's weird.

She scoffed. "Give up on your V-card, Em. This is a modern world. Have fun!"

I just frowned and poured on my glass again. I drank it straight but someone suddenly dropped himself beside me, leaving no space between, and I immediately started coughing after realizing who it was.

My eyes widened and I saw Georgina's lips parted while looking at the man beside me.

I felt my cheeks burn as I felt his chest against my shoulder. His arm was resting on the couch where I was leaning my back and he's so close that I can smell his breath. A combination of alcohol and cigarettes.

"Terrence? Are you following me here?"

He smirked sexily, showing his dimple. Damn!

"Don't get your hopes too high, baby. I have a social life too. I wanna have fun."

My forehead creased as I roamed my eyes around. "Your friends?"

"At the VIP."

I turned to him again and glared. "Then, why are you here?"

"Because I was told that my wife is here. And…" he paused and looked at Georgina. "Won't you introduce me to your friend?"

Georgina flipped her hair and offered a handshake. She even shot her eyebrow up. "Best friend, Mr. Gray. I know the whole story, so you don't have to pretend around me. Georgina."

Terrence smirked and accepted Georgina's hand. "Nice meeting you, Georgina. Terrence here. And I'm not pretending. I'm just naturally sweet. My wife knows that very well."

I looked at him in annoyance. "We're having girls talk here, Terrence. Go back to your friends."

"Alright!" He pulled himself up and smiled at me. "Call me if you wanna go home already. I brought my car."

I lazily lifted my car keys. "Same with mine."

He pursed his lips. "Then, I'll ride with you…yours, I mean."

I heard Georgina choke and cough. I gritted my teeth and glared at Terrence again. He smiled sweetly and innocently as if irritating me even more and I was shocked when he suddenly pecked on my lips before he walked away, waving his hand.

What the…

"O to the M to the G! Are you sure he's not in love?"

I swallowed hard and slowly looked at Georgina. "He's not."

"If he's not in love with that attitude, what more if he falls?"

"Shut it, Georgina!" I growled and drank another shot. "That will never happen."

"You can never tell…"

I roamed my eyes around and I felt so pathetic after I saw people who seemed to be reporters. He was pretending. Of course, he's just pretending. Why the hell did I blush at that?

I cleared my throat and poured my shot glass again. I could feel Georgina's eyes on me but I ignored her. I continued drinking, a bit annoyed because of Terrence. Damn it! I will make sure that our one-year agreement will end without me falling for him. Shit! This is dangerous.