“I’ve seen that happen before. It’s never a good sign.”
His brow furrowed. “Seriously? Where did you see that?”
I realized telling him I’d seen it onGrey’s Anatomywould sound ridiculous to an actual doctor. So, I just changed the subject.
“So, any idea when we’ll be able to travel?” I asked.
“What do you mean? We’re leaving tomorrow.”
“You’re not postponing?”
“Why would I?”
“Because your family is in the middle of an emergency! Your sister-in-law is in critical condition.”
“I’m aware. But I can’t help her. This isn’t my specialty.”
“No, but you can help yourbrother. He needs you.”
“There’s nothing I can do for Sebastian, either. I’ll be here tonight to support him, but starting tomorrow, my mother, Michael, and Camila will handle things here.”
“Wow… I think I made a mistake earlier.”
“What mistake?”
“When I first got here, I saw you standing with your brother. For a second, I thought even selfish people might have a heart.”
He just shook his head, as if the insult didn’t even land. Instead of arguing, he handed me an envelope I hadn’t noticed he was holding.
“Janet, my lawyer, was here earlier. She dropped this off. It’s our contract.”
Even his lawyer had come to the hospital to pay her respects. She’d probably left due to work, but she wasn’t his sister—and that was the crucial difference.
I opened the envelope and skimmed the terms. It was all as we’d discussed. I would pose as the girls’ mother, uphold the story that we’d met in college, had a brief fling, and I’d chosen to leave and raise them alone. I’d accompany him to social events, reinforcing the narrative that we were “giving our relationship anotherchance for the sake of our daughters.” The term was two months, which the contract suggested was ideal for Logan to solidify his position as director.
He was absolutely certain the job was his. Arrogant, on top of everything else.
Two months felt like an eternity to keep up this lie. But I couldn’t complain, not with a three-million-dollar payout.
Under any other circumstances, that amount would have me dreaming of investments and security. Now, all I felt was the profound relief of finally being able to erase the crushing debt my ex had left me with.
“Do you have a pen—” I started to ask, but stopped when I looked up. Logan was already holding one out to me.
Like I said. Smug bastard.
“How can you be so sure I wouldn’t back out? Or that I wouldn’t want to take this home to review it properly?”
“Please, Evelyn. Only a crazy person would turn this down. Three-million-dollar offers don’t just fall into your lap for legal work.”
“I’m no legal expert, but impersonating the mother of someone else’s children has to breaksomelaw.”
“You’ll be acting for the press, not a court. And I have legal guardianship; it’s not kidnapping.”
“Still. Maybe I’d like to refuse.”
“Again. Only if you were crazy.”
I crossed my arms, staring him down. “You really think money can solve everything, don’t you?”
