"I need a wife.Someone who can convince a team of investigators that we're madly in love…and play the part convincingly.”I gnawed on the inside of my lip as I studied her face, watching the words settle in as her expression moved from deep confusion to slow understanding.“No Victorian display required.”
The words hung in the air between us.Clara's mouth fell open slightly."So…you're asking me to marry you."
Marry her.It sounded so simple, yet so out-of-place."I'm asking you to consider a business arrangement that would benefit both of us significantly."
"A fake marriage."
"No, a real marriage with very real benefits for you and your daughter.Just not one based on romance."
Clara stiffened, her gaze falling to the floor.She was quiet for a long time, and then she snapped, "Nash, this is insane.We barely know each other."
"We know each other well enough to have chemistry.When we met—"
"It was a drunk night."But even as she said it, I could see the flush creeping up her neck."A one-night stand doesn't qualify us for marriage, real or otherwise."
"It qualifies us for having a real shot of making this work," I replied, grateful she had no idea how hard my heart was pounding right now.If she didn’t agree to it, I wasn’t sure where I’d turn next.A proposal like this was unsavory for a lot of reasons, and the potential pool of women was practically nonexistent.
Her hazel gaze snapped up to find mine."So you want us to lie to these people.We’d have to pretend to be in love."
"Correct.But what comes along with that is financial security.No more worrying about rent, about daycare costs, about whether you can afford groceries.No more dealing with assholes like Sampson or Brenda."I shifted against the desk and cleared my throat, ready to start negotiating."Name your price, Clara."
"My price?"
"What would it take?What would change your life completely?"
She sputtered for a moment, and I could see her doing calculations in her head.I imagined that she’d never been asked this question before.Finally, she said, "Fifty thousand dollars."
I couldn't help it—I laughed.Not because I was mocking her, but because the number was so much smaller than what I'd been prepared to offer.
"Add a zero to that.At least."
Her eyes widened."You'd give me five hundred thousand dollars to marry you?"
"I’d give you five hundred thousand dollars, plus living expenses, plus medical insurance for you and your daughter, plus anything else you need.And then I’d double it once the inheritance comes through."I gobbled up the look of shock on her face.Even though this whole situation was preposterous, I enjoyed being in the position of changing her life."In exchange for convincing a few measly little investigators that we're in love."
She sank back into the chair, looking dazed."This is insane."
"Is it?Or is it a solution to both our problems?"
Clara snorted, pressing a hand to her forehead."What problems could possibly require the solution of a fake wife?"
I debated how much to tell her.The mysterious grandfather, all the lineage drama that came alongside the inheritance, Sebastian Cross, the neighborhood we were trying to save… Clara didn't need to know all of that right now.
"Let's just say that this inheritance would allow me to do some good in the world.Help a lot of people who need it."
Clara studied my face, perhaps trying to decide if she believed me."And if I was somehow crazy enough to say yes?What would this actually look like?"
I tried to think quickly.I hadn’t thought much beyond this actual conversation, because part of me didn’t believe she’d go along with it."Well, we’d begin presenting as a couple.We'd need to be seen together regularly—dinners, events, the kinds of things couples do.We'd need to convince people that we were building a life together And after a time, you'd move into my penthouse—"
"Absolutely not."
Her immediate reaction made me pause.“Not even with separate rooms?”
“I’m not going to disrupt Mia’s life.I can do public appearances, wear a ring, play the part…but I can’t derail her stability.”
I examined the steel ring on my middle finger, spinning it around as I thought.“It makes sense to me that your daughter would be part of the arrangement.”
“She’s too young.She won’t understand what’s happening.I can’t let her get attached to someone who’s only going to disappear.”
