Jennie POV
Sitting in my office, pen in hand and papers spread out in front of me, I tried to focus on the endless contracts and reports that required my attention. But, as much as I willed myself to concentrate, thoughts of the situation with Lisa kept creeping in, persistent and irritating.
Maybe it was the way my father had spoken to me this morning, or Jisoo's relentless teasing, but something about this whole marriage situation was pressing on my mind, demanding a resolution. I wasn't one to leave things hanging, especially things that affected my life and career.
I pressed the intercom button on my desk. "Mina, can you come in?"
My secretary, Mina, stepped in promptly, her usual calm demeanor in place.
"Yes, Miss Kim?" she asked politely.
"Get me Lisa Manoban's contact information," I instructed, already regretting the decision but knowing it had to be done. "I need to speak with her. And keep this between us."
She nodded, unfazed. "I'll get that for you right away, Miss Kim."
Hours passed, and I finally managed to immerse myself in work, almost forgetting about my request. But as the afternoon sun cast shadows across my desk, Mina returned, slipping a small piece of paper with Lisa's number onto my desk.
"Here's her contact, Miss Kim," Mina said, quietly taking her leave.
I stared at the number for a moment, hesitating. But then, before I could overthink, I picked up my phone and dialed. It rang a few times before I heard a soft voice on the other end.
"H-Hello?"
"Lisa? It's Jennie Kim." I kept my tone brisk and professional, even as I sensed her awkward hesitation. "I think we need to meet. There are things we need to discuss in person."
"Oh, um, sure... okay," she replied, clearly taken aback. "When... when were you thinking?"
"Meet me at the coffee shop near my building. In an hour," I said, giving her little room for negotiation. "It shouldn't take long. Just enough time for us to be on the same page."
There was a pause before she answered, sounding as though she was gathering herself. "Okay. I'll be there."
I hung up, feeling a strange sense of both dread and determination. It was time to get to the bottom of this once and for all.
I checked my watch as I finally stepped out of the elevator. I was late—thirty minutes late, to be exact. Usually, I was never late to anything, but I'd told myself this was different. Letting Lisa wait was almost... strategic. I wanted her to understand where we stood—that I wasn't thrilled about this situation, and she'd just have to deal with it.
When I arrived at the coffee shop, I spotted her immediately. Lisa sat in a corner booth by the window, fiddling with her phone and glancing up every so often. She looked slightly out of place, awkward in her own skin, her expression a mix of worry and concentration.
Taking a breath, I walked over, feeling her eyes lift to me as I approached. She stood up almost instinctively, giving me a small, hesitant smile.
"Sorry for the delay," I said, not really meaning it, as I slid into the seat across from her.
"Oh, it's fine," she mumbled, sitting down quickly, her gaze flickering between her hands and the table. I noticed she had already ordered a coffee, and there was a cup waiting for me as well.
There was a tense silence for a few seconds, which I broke with a direct question.
"So, Lisa," I began, folding my hands in front of me. "Do you really think this... marriage arrangement is a good idea?"
She glanced down, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. "Um... I mean, I'm not sure, but... if it's what our parents want and if it helps... both of our families..."
I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "You'd go along with something just because our parents want it?"
Lisa looked a bit flustered, like she'd rehearsed for this conversation but it wasn't going as planned. She hesitated before answering, "It's not just that. I thought maybe... it could work. Somehow. If we both tried."
"'Tried?'" I repeated, a small, almost mocking laugh escaping my lips. "Lisa, do you really think I'm the kind of person to just... 'try' and hope for the best?"
She swallowed, glancing at a piece of paper she had folded in her hand. She unfolded it slightly, as if to consult it, and I saw her squinting at what looked like notes.
I sighed. "Is that a script?"
Lisa's cheeks flushed, and she folded the paper back up quickly. "I—I just didn't know what to say, so I... wrote some things down."
"You're serious," I muttered, half to myself. I shook my head, almost exasperated. "Lisa, if you're going to marry someone, you need to be able to handle them face-to-face, not with a cheat sheet."
She looked down, a mix of embarrassment and something like determination flashing in her eyes. "I just didn't want to say the wrong thing."
I couldn't help but scoff. "Listen, I'm going to be direct here: I don't want this. This whole arrangement is a mess, and I think we both know it. There's no point trying to make it into something it's not."
Lisa nodded slowly, her expression falling. I could see the nervousness shifting into something heavier, like she'd been expecting this reaction all along but had hoped otherwise.
She cleared her throat and attempted to keep the conversation going. "Do you have a favorite animal?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected question. "Why would that matter?"
"I just... thought it might be nice to know something about each other," she said, her fingers tapping nervously against her cup.
"Capybara," I said shortly. "And before you ask, I don't need to know yours. Let's keep this as minimal as possible."
Lisa gave a small, almost invisible nod, and we both fell into silence, the tension growing as we sat there, two strangers bound by an arrangement neither of us wanted but somehow couldn't escape.
I took a deep breath, knowing I needed to approach this strategically. I wasn't about to lose everything I'd built over this ridiculous arrangement. But I also wasn't about to let anyone think Lisa and I were actually a couple.
"Lisa," I began, my tone cold and unwavering. "I'll go along with this marriage. I'll do what my parents want. But here's how it's going to work."
She looked up at me, her expression a mix of curiosity and relief. I leaned forward, my gaze fixed on her, making sure she knew I was serious.
"We'll act like we're together. We'll make it look like we get along, just for appearances. I'll smile for the cameras, go to family dinners, do whatever it takes to keep them happy." I paused, letting the weight of my next words settle. "But behind closed doors, we're strangers. Nothing more. You stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours. Do you understand?"
Lisa's face softened, and she nodded, but there was a flash of hurt in her eyes that she tried to hide. She opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off.
"There's more," I said. "This marriage has an expiration date. Two years. After that, we go our separate ways and pretend this never happened. I'll make sure the divorce is clean and easy, no complications."
Lisa shifted in her seat, her hands clutching her coffee cup as if for reassurance. "And... that's it?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"That's it. With one condition," I added, watching her reaction carefully. "In exchange for agreeing to this whole charade, I'll owe you one favor. Anything you want—within reason. You have my word."
Lisa seemed to take a moment to absorb everything I'd said. Her eyes flickered down to her folded hands, and she bit her lip, looking thoughtful. I could see the hesitation and nerves, but she eventually nodded.
"So... we just act like we're together for the public, but keep everything separate otherwise. And after two years, we can both move on," she repeated, as if confirming it for herself.
"Yes. That's exactly what I'm proposing," I said, crossing my arms and leaning back.
She swallowed, nodding slowly. "Alright. I... I agree."
"Good," I replied, exhaling slightly, feeling a small sense of relief that I could still keep control of my life—even if I had to make a few sacrifices.
Lisa shifted uncomfortably, her fingers tapping the table nervously. "But... one question."
I raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.
"What... what if our families expect us to be... close, even in private? How are we supposed to... act around each other?"
I scoffed. "Trust me, they won't be around us all the time. When they're not around, we can go back to ignoring each other. Just follow my lead, and we'll be fine."
Lisa seemed uncertain but eventually nodded again. "Alright. I'll... I'll do my best."
With that, I stood up, grabbing my bag. "Good. Then we're on the same page."
As I turned to leave, I saw Lisa's shoulders relax a little, but there was a lingering sadness in her eyes that I tried to ignore. This was just a deal—a way for both of us to keep our families happy and for me to keep control of my future.
But as I walked out, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't going to be as simple as I'd hoped.
As I drove back to the office, my mind was still reeling from the conversation with Lisa. I'd laid down the rules, and she'd agreed without much resistance. Good. This arrangement would be easier if she stayed compliant.
Still, something about the entire situation gnawed at me. The fact that my life, my career, and my reputation all felt like they were balanced on this marriage left a bitter taste in my mouth. It was maddening to think that my control over my future depended on this forced relationship with someone like Lisa.
I clenched my jaw, hitting the speed dial on my phone and bringing it up to my ear. My father picked up on the second ring.
"Jennie?" His tone was a mix of surprise and impatience.
"Dad, I need to talk to you," I said firmly. "Meet me at my office in half an hour."
There was a brief pause on the other end, and I could practically hear him trying to gauge my tone. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes," I replied, not bothering to elaborate. "Just be there. This conversation isn't over."
With that, I ended the call and focused on the road, ignoring the tightening feeling in my chest. If my father was going to force me into this, he'd better understand that I wasn't going to let go of everything I'd built without a fight.
--
Back at the office, I paced the floor, waiting for my father to arrive. The weight of my decision settled heavily on me, but I shoved any remaining doubts aside. This was my life, my career—and I wasn't about to let it all slip away.
When my father finally walked in, his expression was a mix of concern and curiosity. "Jennie, what's going on? You sounded... tense on the phone."
I straightened, meeting his gaze with determination. "Set the date for the wedding, Dad."
He blinked, caught off guard. "Wait, you're agreeing to this?"
"Yes," I replied, crossing my arms. "I'll comply with your demand. I'll marry Lisa. I'll do what you and Mom want and try to make this work."
For a moment, he just stared at me, processing my words. Then, slowly, a smile broke across his face—a proud, almost relieved expression. "Jennie, that's... I didn't expect you to come around so quickly. This is good news."
I held up a hand, cutting off his enthusiasm. "I'm not doing this because I want to. I'm doing it for the company. I can't imagine it being handed over to anyone else. You built this, Dad, and I'm not letting it go."
He nodded, though a hint of guilt seemed to flicker across his face. "I know this isn't what you had in mind, Jennie. But sometimes... sacrifices are necessary."
"Yes, sacrifices," I echoed, my voice dripping with frustration. "But I need you to know that this isn't a happy decision for me. I'll do what I need to for appearances, but behind closed doors, Lisa and I are practically strangers."
My father's smile faltered, but he nodded again, looking at me with something close to sympathy. "Jennie, I understand. But you never know... Maybe, in time, you two might find some common ground."
I rolled my eyes, dismissing the thought. "Let's keep our expectations realistic."
"Of course," he said, a little more subdued. "But I want you to know that I'm proud of you for taking this step. It shows your commitment—not just to the company, but to the family."
"Don't think for a second this changes how I feel," I replied, my tone hardening. "But I'll go through with it."
He nodded, his expression turning serious. "Thank you, Jennie. It means a lot."
I exhaled, forcing down the frustration that bubbled up again. "Good. Now let's finalize the details. I don't want this dragging out any longer than necessary."
He gave a short nod, clearly not wanting to push me further. "I'll talk to Lisa's parents, and we'll start setting things in motion. And Jennie... if you need anything or if you change your mind about anything—"
"I won't," I interrupted, cutting him off. "Let's just get this over with."
For a moment, he looked like he wanted to say more, but he simply nodded. "Alright. I'll make the arrangements."
As he turned to leave, a sense of finality settled over me. The path was set now, and there was no turning back. I was going to marry Lisa, keep my place in the company, and somehow survive the next two years without letting her disrupt my life any more than necessary.
After my father left, I slumped back in my chair, taking a deep breath. The sooner I communicated with Lisa about this arrangement, the better. Pulling out my phone, I tapped out a message to her, keeping my tone curt and to the point.
Jennie: I've decided to go along with the marriage. We'll set a date soon. Meet me tomorrow at noon so we can go over a few details.
I hovered over the "send" button for a second, feeling a strange mix of frustration and reluctance. This wasn't exactly a text I ever thought I'd send, especially not to someone like her. But I reminded myself that this was just business.
With a sigh, I hit send.
A minute later, my phone vibrated with her response.
Lisa: Okay. I'll be there. Thanks for letting me know.
Simple, almost too polite. I stared at her reply, noting the careful tone, and for some reason, it made me frown.
I typed back quickly.
Jennie: Just to be clear, this is about appearances. Don't read into it. We're only doing this because it's what our families want.
I watched the screen, waiting for the three dots to appear. After a moment, her response came through.
Lisa: Understood. I'll see you tomorrow.
It was oddly disconcerting how agreeable she was. I'd expected her to at least show some hint of discomfort or even resentment. But instead, her calmness just left me more unsettled. Shoving my phone back onto my desk, I tried to focus on my work, but her words kept running through my mind.
Tomorrow, we'd talk through the logistics, set some boundaries, and move forward. This was a contract, nothing more.