“Fine,” I muttered, crossing my arms like they could shield me. “Sorry for the stupid question.”
Christian ran a hand through his hair, looking momentarily frustrated.
“Look, Zoey, what happened that night…” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “It’s not relevant to what we’re discussing now.”
A pang shot through my chest.
“Of course it’s not. What matters is that you need a fake fiancée, and I’m the most convenient option.”
He studied me for a long moment, his eyes scanning my face like he was searching for something.
“I’d say we’re convenient for each other. Your father’s debt needs to be taken care of. I need a temporary fiancée. It’s a fair deal.”
A business deal. That was what he was offering me. Cold. Calculated. Practical.
A knock at the door cut through my thoughts.
“Zoey?” Annabelle’s voice came from the other side. “Everything okay in there?”
“Perfect!” I called back, forcing my voice to sound normal. “We’re just about done.”
Christian raised an eyebrow.
“Just about done’? Does that mean you’re going to accept?”
“I haven’t said yes yet.”
He glanced at his expensive wristwatch-the kind I’d probably have to work my entire life to afford.
“I need to be in Southridge on Wednesday. The event at the winery starts Thursday and runs through Sunday.”
“Your winery?” I couldn’t hide the surprise in my voice.
“The family’s main estate. In the Highridge Valley.”
It was a place I’d only ever seen in glossy magazine spreads. A place someone like me would never set foot in, if not for this bizarre twist of fate.
I drew in a deep breath, trying to organize my thoughts.
“I have a job, you know? I can’t just disappear for five days.
“I’m sure you can get time off.”
“It’s not that simple.”
He tilted his head, studying me.
“Actually, it is.”
And then I understood exactly what he meant. One phone call from him, one word to my boss, and my time off would magically appear. It was terrifying how easily money could pry doors open, tear down obstacles.
“And after the trip?” I asked. “What happens then?”
“Then we renegotiate.”
Renegotiate. Like we were talking about a business contract, not our lives.
He noticed my hesitation and sighed.
“Zoey, think about what I’m offering. It’s five days in Southridge, at one of the most exclusive estates in the country. All expenses paid. And in the end, your father’s debt will be taken care of.”
All of it in exchange for pretending to be his fiancée. It sounded too simple. And things that sounded too simple always came with a hidden cost.
“And the ring?” I asked, eyeing the velvet box still in his hand. “You really expect me to wear that?”
He opened the box again, revealing the glittering diamond.
“It’s part of the deal. If you’re going to be my fiancée, you need the ring.”
“It’s too valuable.”
“It’s just a ring, Zoey.”
Just a ring. As if that stone wasn’t worth more than everything I owned put together.
Suddenly, the weight of reality hit me. Was I really considering this? Was I actually thinking about accepting such an absurd proposal?
But then I remembered my father’s tired face these past few weeks. The nights I’d heard him sigh quietly in the living room, thinking no one else was awake. The fear in my mother’s eyes when they whispered about bills.
They could lose everything. Our house, our memories, our safety.
And I had the power to stop it.
The door swung open suddenly, and my younger brother stuck his head in.
“Hey, sorry to interrupt, but everyone’s asking what’s going on. Are you two getting married or not?”
Christian looked at me, waiting for my answer just as much as my brother was.
“Give us a minute, Matthew,” I said, without taking my eyes off the man standing in front of me.
The door shut again, leaving us alone once more.
Christian stepped closer.
“Zoey, I’m not asking you to love me. I’m asking you to pretend for a while. And in return, your father walks away from all his debts.”
I blinked, struggling to absorb the magnitude of what he was offering.
“You can really do that? Fix everything?”
“With one phone call.”
Of course he could. For someone like Christian Kensington, money wasn’t a problem. What represented years of sacrifice for my family was probably pocket change to him.
The unfairness of it all hit me hard. Why were some people born with everything while others had to claw their way through scraps?
I drew a deep breath and made my decision.
“Okay.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.