Page 4 of Accidentally Marrying the Billionaire

“Jesus, Mike. That’s a big ask.”

“I know,” I say. I chuckle. “But it worked out. Turns out they were soulmates.” I shake my head. “They credit me for their marital bliss.”

“Sounds more like dumb luck.”

“Agreed.”

The timing feels cruelly symbolic.

“They came to me recently,” I continue. “Birdie’s best friend from back home. She’s a princess.”

He goes quiet again, then slowly, “A what?”

“A princess,” I repeat. “Small island nation. You’ve probably never heard of it. Her parents have arranged a marriage she doesn’t want. This”—I pause, choosing my words carefully—“is her way out.”

“How is trading one marriage for another a way out?” Mitchell asks.

“It wouldn’t be permanent,” I say immediately. “It would just allow her to stay in the States until things settle down. Then we dissolve the marriage. She’s free to live her life.”

I can hear the judgment in his silence.

“You’re saying this like it’s a logistics problem,” he finally says.

“Because it is,” I reply. “One I can solve. While repaying a giant favor.”

“By marrying her.”

“Yes.”

I hear him exhale. “You’re really just going to marry a stranger?”

“It’s not forever,” I say—too quickly, maybe. “And I owe Birdie more than I can ever repay. The company wouldn’t exist without her. She asked for help. I’m helping.”

Even as I say it, something in my chest tightens.

“What if you hate her?” he asks.

“I don’t hate anyone.”

He snorts. “That’s not true. You hated Dad’s third wife.”

“Missy,” I say, grimacing. “She tried to give me a sponge bath.”

Mitchell releases an uncomfortable-sounding laugh. “You weren’t even a kid.”

“No. I was twenty-two. Which somehow made it worse.”

The laughter fades, and reality presses back in.

“I had last-minute travel come up that couldn’t be handled by anyone else,” I continue. “I’m in Tokyo for the week. She flies in today and needs to be kept safe until I get back.”

“You’re asking me to drive to Houston.”

“Yes.”

“And then to Vegas.”

“Yes. I know it’s a lot, Mitchell, I get it. But you’re the only one I trust to do this.”