If you told me a week ago that I'd be getting married at ten in the morning on a Wednesday, in an off-white dress I ordered online, I would've laughed and called you crazy.
Yet there I was, standing in front of a city hall mirror, fixing the stray strands of hair escaping my bun.
The fluorescent light above flickered like it was struggling to stay awake. Real romantic.
My phone buzzed, a message from Callisto.
> Parking. Be there in two.
No greeting. Of course.
I stared at the screen for a moment, half laughing, half terrified.
He actually meant it.
I slipped the phone into my purse and whispered to my reflection, "Okay, let's do this."
The door creaked open. A staff member peeked in.
"Ms. Sy? The ceremony will start soon."
I nodded. "Thanks."
My heels clicked against the polished floor as I followed her down the narrow hallway.
My stomach twisted a little, not from nerves.
But from the coffee I skipped this morning.
When I stepped into the small courtroom, Callisto was already there.
Dark suit. No tie again.
Clean, sharp lines and expensive fabric.
He looked up when I entered, eyes scanning me once.
"You're on time."
"Try not to sound so shocked," I said.
A hint of a smile tugged at his lips.
"You look… appropriate."
"Appropriate," I repeated. "Wow. You really know how to make a girl feel special."
"It's a compliment," he said, dead serious.
"Sure," I muttered, rolling my eyes.
Beside him stood Daniel, his assistant, clipboard in hand and a polite smile.
Next to him, a woman from the clerk's office looked far too entertained by the whole thing.
The officiant, an older man with kind eyes, motioned for us to step closer. "Mr. Maxim, Ms. Sy. Are you both ready?"
"As I'll ever be," I said.
Callisto's answer was calm, "Yes."
The officiant smiled. "All right. Let's begin."
Everything after that happened too fast. The names, signatures, legal lines that barely sounded like vows.
"Do you, Alexandra Reign Sy, take Callisto Maxim to be your lawfully wedded husband—"
"Yes," I cut in before he could finish.
The officiant blinked, unimpressed. "—to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer—"
"Yes," I said again, faster this time.
He sighed and turned to Callisto. "And do you, Callisto Maxim, take Alexandra—"
"Yes."
Of course. No hesitation, no emotion.
Just business.
Our witness, Daniel, and the clerk exchanged quiet looks, probably wondering if we were both insane.
When it was my turn to sign, my hand paused for a fraction of a second before pressing the pen down.
Alexandra Reign Sy-Maxim.
Seeing it in ink made my chest tighten.
"Congratulations," the officiant said. "You're now legally married."
Daniel clapped once, awkwardly.
The clerk handed us the certificate with a grin.
Then came the line no one warned me would sound so awkward out loud.
"You may now kiss the bride."
The room went silent.
I blinked, turning to Callisto. "Do we have to?" I whispered.
"It'll look strange if we don't," he murmured back, voice steady.
He stepped closer, slow, deliberate.
The faint scent of his cologne hit me.
Clean, crisp, expensive.
His hand brushed mine, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.
Then he kissed me.
Not deep, not long.
Just a quiet, steady kiss.
Like signing another line on the contract.
Even quiet things have sound.
The soft hitch of breath, the hum of something unspoken.
Then it was over.
He pulled back, face unreadable, and the officiant cleared his throat.
"Well then. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Maxim."
I exhaled, pretending my heart hadn't skipped at all.
"Thanks," I said. "Do we get a receipt for this or…?"
Daniel coughed to hide a laugh.
Callisto shot him a look.
The officiant chuckled. "You'll get your certificate in a few minutes."
We stepped aside while they finished the paperwork.
I leaned against the wall, glancing at Callisto. "So… how does it feel to be married?"
He checked his watch. "Good."
"That's your answer?"
"This was never about feelings, Alexandra. You knew that."
"I know," I said. "Just trying to lighten the mood."
"It doesn't need lightening. It needs structure."
"Right. Because marriage and spreadsheets go hand in hand."
He ignored me, signing another form.
I couldn't help staring — the way his hand moved, steady and precise.
Meanwhile, I was still trying to remember how to breathe.
When everything was done, the clerk handed me a small envelope.
"Your copy, Mrs. Maxim."
The name made me flinch. "Thanks," I muttered.
Callisto offered his arm, all polite composure. "Shall we?"
"You're really taking this seriously," I said.
"I take everything seriously. It's the only way things work."
"Good to know," I murmured, looping my arm through his.
Outside, the sunlight hit us like a spotlight.
A few people looked our way, probably thinking we were one of those minimalist couples who didn't care for fancy weddings.
If only they knew.
Daniel followed behind, still fighting a smile. "Congratulations again, sir."
"Thank you," Callisto said smoothly.
Then his phone buzzed. His brow tightened. "We have to go. The board meeting starts in an hour."
"Of course," I said.
"Wouldn't want to miss the honeymoon we're not having."
That earned a quiet laugh from Daniel.
We reached the car.
It's black and too clean, just like him.
He opened the door for me.
"We'll handle the move-in schedule later this week. Daniel will coordinate."
"Right," I said, sliding into the seat.
He joined me, and silence filled the air again. Thick. Formal.
We'd just gotten married.
And all I could think was that we'd done it faster than most people decide what to eat for lunch.
He started the car. "We did what we needed to."
"Yeah," I said, watching the city pass by. "Just business."
"Exactly."
The way he said it.
Calm and final.
Left no room for anything else.
And that was fine.
That's all it needed to be.