Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 30858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
“If I hold off for the next chance, the terms escalate,” I said. “The next clause calls for a baby—or proof of one.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I really wish I was.”
“You know, I’m starting to think your father might’ve secretly hated you.”
“Me too.” I downed another glass of wine and sighed. “Putting aside Laura’s unnecessary outburst tonight, do you think that she could—”
“Fuck no.”
“You didn’t even let me finish my question.”
“I don’t have to.”
“She’s not believable as my fiancée at all?”
He sighed and looked over at her right as she started backing it up against a high table.
“That’s okay,” I said. “You don’t have to answer that anymore.”
“Thank you.” He signaled for the check. “On the plus side, you get more time for planning, and we can fake a pregnancy test for the appointment with the compliance officer if we’re strategic about the timing.”
“I’m not letting go of this just yet,” I said. “I can’t… I can’t afford to—in more ways than one, and you know that as well as I do.”
He nodded, looking as conflicted as I felt.
“I need to take a break,” I said. “Is your pilot off for the holidays?”
“Not when I’m paying extra for him to be on standby.”
“In that case, can you call and ask him to fly me somewhere for a day or two so I can clear my head?”
“Sure. What do you want me to do with your might-be wife?”
I glanced at her as she continued dancing.
“Pay her triple what we agreed on, make sure the NDA is airtight, and then make sure our paths never cross again after today.”
“Sounds perfect.” Marshall stood. “Just don’t forget—the compliance officer will be here on Monday, no matter what you decide to do.”
“I know,” I said. “Hopefully, I’ll have an answer long before then.”
8
JENNA
The following Monday
Ihummed under my breath as I walked down the hall to my office, flipping through the mail stacked in my arms. There was nothing but holiday cards, customer complaints, the usual December clutter.
I nudged my door open with my hip, dropped the mail onto my desk, and flicked on the lights.
“What the—” I dropped my bag at the sight of Nicholas sitting behind my desk.
“What the hell are you doing in here?” I asked. “And why were you sitting in the dark?”
“Because I’ve been thinking.”
“Pretty sure you can do that with the lights on.”
“I’m minutes away from offering you a million-dollar bonus.” He smiled. “Say yes.”
Hell yes. Wait, no… “I need to know the terms first.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“Not when you’re sneaking into my office like a psychopath.” I walked over to my bookshelf and picked up a green gift box, throwing it to him. “That’s for Laura’s mom. She really likes all things Switzerland, so she’ll love that.”
“I ended things with Laura before the weekend started,” he said.
“Why?”
“If she can’t fool Marshall by even ten percent, she won’t be able to fool anyone else.”
“Oh…” I crossed my arms. “I’m so sorry you have to hold off on your inheritance this way. A five-year wait has to be tough.”
“I don’t plan on holding off on it at all.”
“You have another option in mind?”
“Yes.” His gaze dropped, deliberate. “You.”
I looked over my shoulder, assuming there was someone behind me.
I didn’t see anyone, so I stepped back and peered into the hallway.
“You, Jenna Dawson,” he clarified. “I need you to be my wife—well, fiancée—and I need you to tell your family you’re coming home to see them so we can fake a few memories for the cameras.”
“Are you out of your fucking mind?” The words rushed out of my mouth. “Better yet, show me exactly where you hit your head this morning so I can have your doctor come check you out.”
“I’m being serious, Jenna.”
“You can’t be,” I said. “My entire family thinks I’m not coming home, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Is that the only issue you have with the scenario?”
“No.” I wanted to shake some sense into him. “There’s also the potential of going to prison for marriage fraud, losing my well-earned reputation among my coworkers here, and most importantly, having to deal with you for more hours than I have to.”
“I said I’d pay you a million dollars.”
“That’s not enough.”
“Name your price, then.”
“You can’t afford the cost of peace, and even if I was interested—and I’m totally not—why can’t we fake the photos and craft memories by visiting your family?”
“My family and I are not on the best of terms at this moment,” he said. “You know that.”
“Well, that sounds like a personal problem.” I held back a sigh. “Whatever issues you have with your family—”
“Issues. Plural.”
“Yes, well, whatever those are, I can guarantee they’re not as bad as you think. Plus, I literally just sent mine an email about how awful you are.”
“That can easily be explained away,” he said. “We don’t have to stay long. We can meet them all at cafés if you like.”