"Don't you want to marry me?"
"Yes!?"
"Sorry, I meant contract marriage with me. We'll go for a period of time that I've set."
"Huh?"
"I need your answer, not just a hah-heh. Answer!"
"Crazy!"
"You!?"
Who wouldn't react like that if they were suddenly asked to marry, even if it was a contract. Kinar Dewi never imagined that her life would be tested like this.
The CEO of the publishing house where her books were printed, maybe there was a mistake in his brain while setting it up. This was their first meeting and there was a proposal scene that was not romantic at all. The romantic proposal that Kinar always writes about in her novels doesn't actually happen in real life. Seriously!
"I'm serious!"
His words stunned Kinar. What did he mean, anyway? Kinar really didn't understand the mindset of the handsome human in front of him right now.
"I have no other choice but you."
"What do you mean? I'm your last choice? Why?"
Both his shoulders were squared with a super flat face. But the look in his eyes painted a million hopes especially Kinar's answer.
"We have a contract marriage according to my agreement. You just have to go with the flow."
"Wait!" Kinar shouted although not loudly. "I haven't given an answer to accept or reject."
"And I do not accept rejection!"
Firm and straightforward. Kinar wanted to rage but he held back. This was a public place and it was not his style to get angry in public anyway. Kinar's sense of shame was still functioning. Unlike this man who was currently looking at him with interest. It was uncomfortable, but the feeling of being challenged rose without Kinar knowing why. Damn!
"I have the right to accept and reject because this concerns my life." Kinar tried to negotiate. "Why should I accept you when I haven't even met you or known you personally. This is strange."
"We don't need to know each other and you don't need to worry about your life. How much do you want?"
Kinar's face showed a ridiculous expression with eyebrows swooping upwards. The man before him was really strange. And Kinar's breathing got heavier. The 27-year journey of his life suddenly became a drama like in the movies and novels he wrote. Kinar couldn't explain it, his brain was stuck exactly like the traffic conditions in Bandung in the morning.
"You can name any amount but I don't accept rejection. You have to marry me, contract marriage to be more precise."
Yes, and the phrase contract marriage continued to be uttered from his lips which made Kinar even more furious but there was no power to fight it. Kinar's life was so dramatic.
"What is your goal?" Kinar asked quietly. Even Kinar's personality, who loved money too much when asked how much he wanted, immediately evaporated somewhere.
"I will explain later. Now you only need to accept and mention how much money you want or is there something else you want? Say it, I will fulfill it as long as you want to marry me."
"Crazy!"
A second time and Kinar shook his head with a mocking smile.
"Yes I am crazy and I don't have time to waste like this. So what's your answer?"
"No!" Kinar refused firmly. "I don't want to marry you, let alone contract marriage. As far as I know, you are already married. So why are you forcing me to accept this crazy proposal?"
"Whether I'm married or not is none of your business. You are strictly prohibited from involving your feelings and you are even prohibited from falling in love with me."
"Wow, I admire your confidence. But sorry, I still refuse. I am here and sitting in front of you just for business. Perhaps you are mistaken or have forgotten that the contract we are referring to is about our cooperation agreement and me publishing my books in your company. Not a contract in the concept of marriage. Excuse me."
"If you reject me, don't expect your career to be fine." Kinar's steps faltered at the publishing owner's voice. It sounded cold with a sense of emptiness. "I withdraw all your works and you pay the penalty we agreed upon."
"Why?" Kinar was attacked with frustration. Panic and anxiety mixed together.
"I told you that I don't accept rejections."
"Mr. ...."