Chapter 2 Paper promises

Jesse Kane had been in some strange situations. Fistfights. Evictions. A road trip with a goat once.

But this? Sitting in a high-rise office overlooking the skyline, across from a woman who looked like a luxury brand come to life, watching her slide a thick legal contract across a glass table?

This was a new level of insane.

Alina Sterling didn't even blink. "Read it."

Jesse leaned back in the leather chair. It was stupid expensive-probably cost more than his yearly income-and yet he felt like he belonged in it. Maybe because she was watching him like he was a stock she hadn't decided to buy yet.

He picked up the contract and skimmed. The basics hit him first:

One-year marriage.

Public appearances.

No romantic entanglements outside the agreement.

A $500,000 payout upon successful completion.

He whistled low. "You really weren't kidding."

"I don't have time to kid," she said, standing and walking to the window. Her heels clicked with that same lethal rhythm. "I have thirty days before the board forces me to hand over my company to a man who thinks women should fetch coffee, not run empires."

"And you want to fool them by marrying me?"

She turned slowly, arms crossed. "I want to buy time. You just happen to be... convenient."

He gave her a half-smile. "I should be insulted."

"You should be flattered. I don't trust people, Jesse. But you? You're nobody. No connections. No ties. No ambitions that threaten mine."

Jesse raised a brow. "Wow. Romance really is dead."

Alina's lips twitched. Almost a smile. "This isn't romance. It's a business deal."

He looked at the bottom of the contract. There was a blank space next to her signature.

His fingers hovered over the pen. "Why me? Why not some actor? Someone polished."

She met his gaze dead-on. "Because actors want cameras. You want money. I can control that."

The room went quiet. The city hummed outside, lights flickering like distant stars.

Then he picked up the pen, twirled it once, and signed his name.

"Guess I'm your husband now," Jesse said with a grin. "What's next? A prenup or a honeymoon?"

She walked over, leaned down close enough for him to catch the scent of expensive perfume and danger.

"We make the world believe that we are in love."