CHAPTER FIVE #2
"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.”
I turned her words over in my head. I knew far too well the effect of abandonment in a child’s life. And causing her daughter any additional stress was not in my game plan. There had to be a way to pull this off without disrupting Mia’s life.
“That makes sense,” I finally said. “I don’t want to hurt her. Or you.”
“How long does this whole charade need to go on?” Clara asked, tipping her head.
"The inheritance specifies marriage before December 31. So we could marry any time before that and submit for the inheritance." I paused, realizing I hadn't thought this far ahead. "It’s April now, let’s play it safe and plan to stay married through the end of the year.”
She nibbled on her lip, her gaze drifting toward the windows. "And what happens if we don’t convince the investigators? Do I need to give all that money back to you?”
“No. Anything I give you is yours. I’m not expecting anything back. You’d be performing a job, so to speak, and this is your payment for that job. But you won’t be receiving all the money upfront. We can plan out monthly disbursements or something.”
She nodded, her throat bobbing. “And if the investigators decide we’re legit and you get all the money…what happens then?"
"Then we get divorced, we go our separate ways, and you keep everything I've given you. And then I’d give you the bonus 500k for a job well done.”
Clara was quiet for several moments as she contemplated the city. I could practically see her weighing the options. This was a doozy of an offer. And from my perspective, there weren’t too many downsides when it came to her end of the deal.
"It’s too crazy," she said finally.
"But?"
"But..." She looked at me, and I could see the exact moment when desperation overrode caution. "But fuck, a million dollars would change my life. And Mia’s life."
"Mia deserves stability and a mother who doesn't have to go back to a shitty ex-employer who fired her for getting groped by a disgusting excuse of a human."
Clara’s throat flushed and she offered me a small smile. She picked at a cuticle for a moment before saying, "Why do you think you can trust me? This is a huge ask. The wrong person could ruin everything. Last time, I lied to you."
The mere fact that she’d brought it up was notable.
Made her seem trustworthy, almost. Though I didn’t trust anyone fully.
Least of all her. "You were desperate then, too. You did what made sense to you.” I leaned forward, holding her gaze.
"Your daughter is my surety, Clara, and I think you know that too.
Why would you fuck this up for me, when it would fuck everything up for her? "
She went quiet again, and I could see her internal battle playing out across her face.
“I can’t move in with you. I just can’t,” she blurted. “I can’t have Mia getting attached to you. It—” Her voice gave out and she shook her head.
“I’m not sure how we’d convince investigators that we’re in love when we live separately, especially after we’re married,” I replied.
“Don’t you billionaires have multiple residences?” she asked. “What would be so different about this?”
“So you want a part-time arrangement,” I said slowly, disappointment creeping through me.
"Yeah. Or…I don’t know. I need to think about this," she said finally.
I nodded, feeling a lot like I’d both secured and ruined the deal.
“I do too. I’ll need to figure out if a part-time arrangement could ever satisfy the requirements.
” I pulled out my business card, writing my personal cell number on the back.
"Text me so I have your number. And we can go from there. "
She took the card, her fingers brushing mine briefly. Even that small contact sent electricity shooting through me, reminding me of that connection that hadn’t just sizzled, but exploded, between us when we’d first met.
She nodded, standing up. "I should go. I need to pick up Mia."
"Marco will take you wherever you need to go."
As I watched her gather her things, I absorbed every angle of her. She was beautiful—no, gorgeous. Soft curves, thick hair I still wanted to run my fingers through, and hazel eyes that yanked at my attention whenever they looked my way.
I wanted her to say yes for business reasons, but a deep part of me was terrified that she’d agree. Even though this arrangement was the most accessible one for now.
She headed for the door but stopped halfway, suddenly turning to me. “I have just one more question.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Why didn’t you ask your assistant?” She jerked her thumb, motioning toward the door. “She looks young and pretty and, I don’t know, close to you. Why me, the one-night stand who’s lost control of her life?”
The question was valid. Not to mention astute.
“You’re in greater need than she is,” I answered. “And to be honest, I don’t think I could convince anyone that I was attracted to her. I need someone I have a connection with.”
Clara’s expression turned doubtful. “You have to be kidding me. In the past few years there hasn’t been any other woman in your sphere that you’ve shacked up with?”
“I didn’t say ‘shack up with,’” I reminded her. “I said ‘connection.’ Big difference. Can you list the number of people you’ve connected with in the past few years?”
She opened her mouth to respond but quickly shut it. “I’ve been busy.”
“So have I. Does that answer your question?”
She nibbled on her lip, questions clouding her gaze. But instead of probing further, she simply nodded. “Yeah. For now, I guess.”
Clara slipped out of the office without so much as a goodbye.
Had I just made the smartest move of my career…or the stupidest?