Contract Marriage with My CEO Boss (Kylan and Katrina)

Katrina woke slowly, the warmth of the blankets cocooning her. A small smile curved her lips as she reached out, her hand brushing against the empty space beside her. Kylan had already left, but not without tucking her in before heading out. Though waking without him After the issue with Isabella, Kylan insisted on having only a male assistant and had Katrina vet the applicants. Francis, a young man with an impressive education and prior employment at Titan Enterprise, a trusted ally of Ross Corporation, had quickly proven himself. Quiet, efficient, and professional, Francis had lightened Kylan's workload significantly. As Katrina stretched, the soft creak of the bedroom door caught her attention. Suppressing a smile, she stayed still, pretending to be asleep. Tiny footsteps padded across the floor, followed by an excited whisper.

wasn't her favorite thing, she understood his work as a CEO often demanded early departures or last-minute calls from his new assistant, Francis.

"Mommy's sleeping," Clarence said softly, clearly plotting something.

A second, less coordinated shuffle followed. Theo's giggle broke the moment of quiet.

"Shh, Theo!" Clarence whispered.

Before Katrina could react, Clarence launched herself onto the bed with a squeal, followed by Theo's tiny body crawling up clumsily. Katrina opened her eyes to see her seven-year-old daughter grinning mischievously and her two-year-old son beaming, his pudgy hands clutching a plush dinosaur.

"Mommy!" Clarence cheered, throwing her arms around her.

"Oh no, it's my cheeky little monsters!" Katrina exclaimed dramatically, scooping both children into a hug.

Theo giggled uncontrollably. "Mama!" he babbled, holding out his dinosaur.

Katrina kissed his chubby cheek. "Good morning, my love. And who is this? A dinosaur?"

"Rawr!" Theo declared, shaking the plush toy.

Clarence giggled. "Mommy, Theo thinks it's real."

"It's a very scary dinosaur," Katrina said solemnly, pretending to shrink away. "Rawr! Save me, Clarence!"

Clarence squealed with laughter, while Theo clapped his hands, proud of his role in the game.

Their nanny, Maria, appeared at the door, smiling at the playful scene. Maria Simpson was an old close friend of Alois and her mother back in Portland, Maine. Her father wanted Katrina to have more time for herself and so insisted to bring Maria to them. Katrina was not sure about having a nanny at first but seeing the 50 year old Maria made her feel like she had her own mother. Maria was also very caring but a strict nanny to her children. She quickly became a grandmother to both of them. And so she gave in. "Good morning, Kate. Are my two favorite helpers causing trouble already?"

Clarence grinned. "We're not trouble! We're surprises!"

Maria laughed, scooping Theo into her arms as he reached out for her. "I see that. Well, let's get this little dinosaur dressed, shall we? Breakfast is almost ready."

"Thank you, Maria," Katrina said warmly.

Theo waved his dinosaur as Maria carried him away, babbling excitedly about "pancakes."

Clarence stayed behind, her expression suddenly serious. "Mommy, can we surprise Daddy today?"

Katrina brushed a strand of hair from her daughter's face. "What kind of surprise are you thinking?"NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

Clarence's face lit up. "Zoo day! Can we go to the zoo? With Daddy and Theo?"

Katrina smiled. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. Let's have breakfast first and see if Daddy can join us later, okay?"

Clarence nodded enthusiastically, hopping off the bed.

Downstairs, the family gathered around the kitchen table as Maria set out plates of fluffy pancakes, fresh fruit, and warm milk. Clarence and Theo sat side by side, with Theo clumsily stabbing at his pancake with a fork. "Careful, Theo," Katrina said, gently guiding his hand.

"Pancake!" Theo declared triumphantly as he got a piece into his mouth, syrup smudged on his cheeks.

Clarence giggled. "Theo, you're so messy!"

"So are you, young lady," Katrina teased, wiping syrup from Clarence's chin.

After breakfast, Maria helped Theo into his tiny coat while Katrina laced Clarence's boots. Mr. Snuggles, now dressed in a bear hoodie, was tucked under Clarence's arm.

"Ready for adventure?" Katrina asked, zipping up Theo's jacket.

Theo clapped his hands. "Bear!" he shouted.

"That's right, love. We'll see bears at the zoo," Katrina said, lifting him into her arms.

Clarence chimed in. "And elephants! Mommy, do you think they'll have baby elephants?"

"I think so," Katrina replied as they headed to the car. "And giraffes, and maybe even lions."

"Rawr!" Theo added, making them all laugh.

As soon as they finished preparing, Katrina left Theo with Maria so she and Clarence could swing by the bakery for a moment.

She pushed open the bakery door with one hand, Clarence beside her, small hands pressed against the glass as if she were the one opening it. Her daughter beamed, her energy radiating as she darted inside. Mr. Snuggles, the stuffed bear, peeked out from Clarence's tiny backpack, his well-loved head bobbing with her steps.

Elena, Katrina's assistant manager for her bakery, looked up from the counter, a bright smile spreading across her face at the sight of the little girl. "Clarence!" she squealed, dashing out from behind the register. Scooping Clarence up, she spun her around, eliciting a chorus of giggles. "How's my favorite little lady?"

Clarence hugged Elena tightly, her giggles trailing into a satisfied sigh. "Good!"

"Just good?" Elena teased, poking her nose.

Clarence nodded solemnly. "We're gonna see Daddy today," she said, her words full of importance.

Elena looked over at Katrina, raising an eyebrow playfully. "Look at you, boss. Glowing! You're not baking another bun in the oven, are you?"

Katrina laughed and shook her head. "Not that I'm aware of."

Elena grinned. "So, Daddy and the zoo today, huh?"

Clarence, still in Elena's arms, nodded enthusiastically. "And bears! I'm gonna see a bear!"

Elena gasped dramatically. "Bears? Oh no! I hope they're not sleeping yet!"

Clarence turned her wide eyes toward Katrina. "Mommy, will the bears be awake?"

Katrina ruffled her hair. "I think so, sweetheart. But before we see the bears, how about we make a cake for Daddy?"

Clarence clapped her hands. "Yes! A bear cake!"

Elena winked at Katrina. "All prepped and ready for you in the kitchen, boss. Knock 'em dead with your bear cake."

"Thanks, Elena," Katrina said, waving to the rest of her staff as she led Clarence into the kitchen. It smelled of vanilla, cinnamon, and the faint tang of freshly brewed coffee-a comforting symphony of scents.

She placed Clarence in her little seat, tying an apron around her tiny frame. Mr. Snuggles sat on the table as Clarence watched Katrina mix the batter. Scooping a tiny bit onto a spoon, Katrina offered it. "Taste test?" "Please!" Clarence chirped, opening her mouth wide. Her face lit up after tasting it. "Yummy!"

Katrina chuckled. "Good, because that's going to be Daddy's cake. Want to help decorate it later?"

Clarence nodded eagerly. "I'll make the bear!"

While the cake was baked, Clarence busied herself with crayons and paper, Mr. Snuggles perched on her lap. Katrina glanced over at her. "What are you drawing, love?" Clarence quickly covered her work with her arms. "No peeking! It's for Mommy and Daddy."

Katrina smiled, brushing her daughter's soft hair. "Alright, I'll wait. But I bet it's beautiful."

When the cake was ready, Katrina pulled it from the oven, setting it on a rack to cool. "Ready to make your bear, artist extraordinaire?" she asked, placing icing tools on the counter.

Clarence nodded, her little hands

reaching for the icing. She worked

with intense concentration, her tongue poking out slightly as she shaped a bear. It was adorably lopsided and covered in too much icing, but Katrina found it perfect.

"All done!" Clarence announced proudly, holding it up for inspection.

Katrina gasped in delight. "It's the best bear I've ever seen. Ready to put it on the cake?"

Clarence bounced in her chair. "Yes!"

Katrina lifted her up, holding her steady as Clarence carefully placed her bear creation atop the cake.

"Done, Mommy!" Clarence declared with satisfaction.

"It's perfect. Daddy's going to love it," Katrina said, boxing up the cake alongside a blend of Kylan's favorite tea. She added, "And I'm sure Auntie Maine and Uncle Aaron will want a slice too." Clarence's eyes sparkled. "Auntie Maine and Uncle Aaron!" she repeated, clapping her hands.

Katrina knelt to zip up Clarence's coat and adjust her scarf. "All set?"

Clarence nodded, grabbing her backpack and slipping Mr. Snuggles inside. "Ready!"

Hand in hand, they walked out the door, the boxed cake in Katrina's other arm. As they headed toward the car, Clarence looked up, her voice full of wonder. "Do you think Daddy will like it, Mommy?" Katrina smiled warmly, kissing the top of her daughter's head. "He's going to love it, just like he loves you."

Clarence squeezed her mother's hand. "I love Daddy. But I love Mommy more."

Katrina pretended to pout. "Poor Daddy."

Clarence giggled. "Daddy's funny though!"

Katrina laughed, her heart full. "Let's go and get your brother, okay?"

When they arrived at the house, Maria was already in the front yard, waiting for them.

"Kate!"

Katrina went out and waited for Maria to approach, Theo in her arms. He clutched his beloved dinosaur, waving it energetically. "Mama!" Theo babbled, his tiny face lighting up at the sight of her. She noticed the older woman not wearing her outdoor outfit yet.

"Maria, aren't you going to come with us?" Katrina asked as she stepped forward to kiss her son's cheek. "And how's my little explorer today?"

Theo wiggled excitedly, holding up the dinosaur. "Rawr!"

"Your father is coming today with a few of our friends from Portland. Aaron and Maine also might come to bring Marcus with them. Someone needed to entertain them while you were out."

"Ah, Maria. It seems Dad is more fond of you than me!" Katrina teased, taking Theo into her arms. She kissed the top of his head, inhaling his sweet, baby-powder scent. "Are you ready for an adventure, Theo?" Theo nodded, his curls bouncing. "Zoo! Bears!" he exclaimed, mimicking Clarence's earlier excitement.

Maria chuckled. "Alois and I are just very good friends, Kate." Then she reached out and pinched Theo's cheek. "This little young man kept mentioning pancakes."

Katrina grinned, balancing Theo on her hip while Clarence clung to her other hand. "Well, then. We made a special bear cake for Daddy. Do you want to see it?" Theo's eyes widened. "Cake! Cake!"

Katrina laughed, crouching to open the box just enough for both children to peek inside. "Look, Clarence made the bear on top."

Clarence puffed up proudly. "It's the best bear cake ever, right, Theo?"

Theo clapped his hands. "Bear! Yum!"

"Maria, thank you for helping me out. I wasn't sure how I could handle everything without you," Katrina said.

"Of course," Maria replied. "It's no trouble at all. Theo was an angel... well, mostly," she added with a playful wink.

Theo reached out to Maria, his little fingers tugging on her scarf. "Maria!" he chirped.

Maria tickled his tummy, earning a fit of giggles. "Yes, little one, I'm here. But it's your Mommy's turn to spoil you today."

Katrina handed the cake to Maria briefly as she settled Theo into his car seat. "We're all set for a zoo day, and I promise to bring back lots of pictures."

Maria smiled. "Have fun, Kate. And don't let this one eat all the cake before Daddy gets his slice," she said, nodding toward Theo, who was already eyeing the box with great interest. Katrina laughed, securing Theo's straps. "We'll try our best."

As Maria waved them off, Katrina

climbed into the driver's seat, glancing back at her two children in the rearview mirror. Clarence was already chattering to Theo about the animals they'd see, her hands animated as she described the bears. Theo listened intently, his

dinosaur clutched tightly

occasionally interjecting with a cheerful "Rawr!"

Katrina's heart swelled as she started the car. These little

moments - cakes, laughter, and the pure joy of her children - were the ones she treasured most. The day promised to be filled with love and

laughter, their little family making memories one adventure at a time.