When Arianne stepped out of the conference room, she wasn’t surprised to see Franz waiting for her in the hallway. It had been a week since Vincent collapsed, and it had been the first ti she’d seen Franz at the company since then.
"Aria," he called after her. "Can we talk?"
Arianne nodded. This was a conversation neither of them could avoid.
"I have a eting with Compliance in an hour. Let’s talk in my office," she suggested.
They walked together. The tension from the eting earlier seed to follow them.
Gio was in Arianne’s office when they arrived. He was preparing so docunts on her table when he noticed their arrival. Seeing the serious expression on Arianne’s face, Gio withdrew from the room, closing the door behind him.
Arianne took a seat behind her desk while Franz sat across from her.
"I didn’t expect them to bring that configuration. You don’t have to agree with the board’s suggestion if you don’t want to, Aria." Franz didn’t waste ti and expressed his concern. "I don’t want you to sacrifice yourself just to help us."
Arianne raised a slender brow at him.
"I understand why they ended up with that solution. Do you think I agreed because I have no other choice?" she asked.
Franz shook his head.
"That’s not what I an, Aria. I know you feel indebted to my brother. I’m sure Alex would feel the sa if he knew the situation we are in. Marriage isn’t a business transaction you can enter and leave at will." He reasoned out, his tone almost pleading.
"You won’t benefit from this marriage. I’ll ask Lucas if there’s any other way aside from this. If you marry , you would not only be responsible for the company but also a legal guardian to Alex’s children. These are burdens you don’t need to bear, Aria."
"Who said that I want to enter a contract marriage with you?" Arianne asked in return.
Franz was taken aback, before confusion settled on him.
"What do you an?" he frowned. "You want to marry for real?"
"Is there a problem?" Arianne asked. "Do you not want to marry ?"
"It’s not that I don’t want to." Franz ran a hand on his face. "That’s not the problem, Aria."
"What is it then?" Arianne pressed, then paused, "Are you seeing soone already?"
Franz didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He loved her for two decades. How could he possibly see another woman who wasn’t her?
"No," he said with finality. "What I’m saying is, I’m just worried you would be tied down in marriage because of my incompetence."
"That’s not true." Arianne refuted, "You’ve done a good job keeping the company afloat since Alex’s passing. Although you are indeed inexperienced, it doesn’t an you are totally clueless."
Franz gave her a weak smile.
"Thank you for believing in , Aria, but you and I know not everyone shares your sentints."
"It doesn’t matter," she replied. "The configuration would allow you to retain your authority even if I take the position of the Interim CEO. However, if we want to succeed, we must ensure that this marriage is legal and real."
Franz fell silent. He should be happy, but his chest felt heavier than ever.
He stared at her, eting her gaze. Arianne didn’t seem reluctant to marry him. Instead, she looked confident, convinced that this marriage should happen. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes."
When Franz remained silent, Arianne continued, "I’m aware what this marriage entails."
"Don’t you want to marry for love?" Franz finally asked in a low voice. "I understand that what happened five years ago has changed your views on love and marriage, but being bound to by marriage might only make you miserable."
It was Arianne’s turn to fall silent this ti. What he said was right, but this was sothing she’d considered ever since Alex’s children presented their proposal.
She didn’t answer imdiately.
She didn’t look away either.
"Love isn’t the issue here, Franz," she said at last.
Franz’s shoulders tensed almost imperceptibly.
"This isn’t about compensating for what happened five years ago," she continued. "If I agree to this, it’s because it holds, not because it feels right."
She rested her hands on the desk.
"You’re worried that this would trap ," she added. "I’m not."
Franz frowned. "You say that now, Aria, but—"
"I’m saying it because I’ve already accounted for the cost," Arianne interrupted him. "This marriage can protect Alex’s legacy and children."
That stopped him.
Arianne leaned back, enough to put a distance between herself and the desk.
"If the board pursues this configuration, it has to be irreversible," she went on. "Anything that can be undone may beco a pressure point others could take advantage of."
Franz’s jaw tightened. He knew who she was referring to, but he didn’t comnt.
"A temporary marriage arrangent might invite scrutiny. I also do not want to subject Alex’s twins to heartbreak if we decide to partways." She paused as her phone vibrated on her table, signaling a new ssage.
"But what about you?" Franz asked quietly. "Where does that leave you?"
"It leaves where I already am. Visible and accountable. Tied to the outco."
She t his gaze steadily.
"I wouldn’t agree if I intended to treat this as temporary."
Franz stood and walked a few steps toward the window, stopping short of it. He simply stood there, looking nowhere with his hands tucked in the pockets of his pants.
"I never wanted you pulled into this," he said, loud enough for Arianne to hear him. "Alex wouldn’t have wanted it either."
Arianne’s expression didn’t change.
"Alex would have wanted the company protected," she replied.
"That’s not the sa thing, Aria."
"No," she agreed, "But it’s the part that matters right now, Franz. If you have so terms or clauses you want to establish in this marriage, I wouldn’t mind. Let’s discuss it with Lucas and see if they are plausible."
Franz took a deep breath and faced her.
"If we do this, I won’t let you be used as a shield. "
Arianne smiled at him.
"I wouldn’t accept it if you did,"
They looked at each other. Neither said a word.
Franz returned to the chair opposite her but didn’t sit. He rested his hand on the back of it instead.
"I need ti," he said. "Not to decide whether this would work. I need to ensure I don’t compromise what it’s ant to protect."
Arianne nodded.
"That’s reasonable. I’m not expecting you to answer today."
She glanced at the clock on the wall.
"I have Compliance in forty minutes," she added. "If you want Lucas present next ti, tell him."
Franz humd.
As he turned to leave, he hesitated, then stopped.
"Aria," he said, without turning back.
"Yes?"
He didn’t answer imdiately. He struggled to find the right word to express his thoughts.
In the end, he said, "Thank you."
Arianne didn’t soften at the words. She didn’t need to.
"Make sure we do this correctly," she replied. "Or not at all."
Franz left the room.
Arianne remained seated, deep in thought as she looked out the window.
Nothing had been agreed to.
But the margins had narrowed.
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