She leans forward, lowering her voice but not her intensity. “Are you insane? No one organizes a wedding in two weeks.”
“People in love do. People who can’t wait to start their life together.”
“Or people with an inheritance deadline hanging over their head,” she mutters.
“Exactly.”
She sinks back into her chair, clearly overwhelmed. “Two weeks to prepare a fake wedding with a man I just met… before moving to a Scottish castle for a year.”
“That is an accurate summary.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“It is an opportunity.”
“For you, maybe.”
“For both of us. You need distance from Hollywood, a chance to rebuild your image, and financial stability. I am offering all three.”
She studies me intently, searching my face. “How can I be sure you’ll honor the deal? That I won’t end up stranded in the middle of nowhere without the money?”
“The funds will be held in escrow, with scheduled payments throughout the year. And I have a reputation to uphold. My word matters.”
She remains silent for a moment. “Why should I trust you?”
“For the same reason I should trust you. Because we both have far too much to lose if this fails.”
She turns her coffee cup slowly between her fingers, thinking.
“You do realize this sounds like the plot of a romantic comedy, right?”
“If it reassures you, I have never enjoyed that genre.”
“Of course not,” she says with a small laugh. “You’re more of a documentary-on-whisky-distillation type.”
“I also appreciate financial thrillers.”
She shakes her head, amused. “Callum McGregor, you might be the strangest man I’ve ever met. And I work in Hollywood.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It wasn’t.”
“And yet you’re considering my offer.”
She inhales deeply, then meets my gaze.
“Yes. I am. As crazy as it sounds.”
Relief settles through me, sharp and undeniable.
“Good. We can finalize everything tomorrow, if that suits you.”
“Tomorrow?” she echoes. “You really don’t waste time.”
“Time,” I say evenly, “is precisely what I don’t have.”
She finishes her coffee and slides her sunglasses back on. “Alright, Callum. Same time, same place tomorrow. And in the meantime, maybe practice smiling in front of a mirror. If we’re going to convince your grandmother this marriage is real, you’ll need to look at least somewhat happy to be around me.”
