Chapter 3 My wife

The question hangs in the air between us like a loaded gun. What exactly would I have to do? Part of me doesn't want to know the answer, but the bigger part of me - the part that's been scraping by on ramen noodles and hope for the past six months - needs to hear it.

"You'd have to become my wife," Rowen says simply. "In every way that matters to the outside world."

My heart does this weird jumping thing in my chest. "What does that mean exactly?"

He moves away from the window and sits back down across from me. Even with just a towel wrapped around his waist, he looks like he owns the world. Maybe he does.

"It means you'd move into my penthouse in Manhattan. It means you'd attend business dinners and charity events as my wife. It means we'd need to convince everyone who matters that we're madly in love."

"Fake it, you mean."

"Fake it," he confirms. "Can you do that?"

I think about my empty bank account. I think about the rejection letters piling up on my desk. I think about my landlord who's been very understanding about late rent but won't be forever. I think about the student loan payments that keep me awake at night.

"How much money are we talking about?" I ask again.

"Two million dollars."

I stop breathing. Actually stop breathing. Two million dollars is more money than I could make in twenty years at the kind of jobs I've been applying for. Two million dollars would pay off my student loans, help me start a real life, maybe even let me help other kids who grew up in foster care like I did.

"Two million," I repeat, just to make sure I heard him right.

"Plus living expenses while we're married. Clothes, food, anything you need to play the part convincingly."

I stare at him, trying to figure out if this is some kind of elaborate joke. "Why would you pay me that much money?"

"Because my company is worth twelve billion dollars. Two million is nothing compared to what I'll lose if Maverick Black destroys me."

"And you think this will work? Pretending to be married?"

"I think it's our best shot." He leans forward, and those intense blue eyes lock onto mine. "But it has to be convincing, Avery. We can't just go through the motions. People in my world are experts at spotting fake relationships. They'll be watching us constantly, looking for any sign that this isn't real."

The way he says my name makes something flutter in my stomach. Focus, Avery. This is business.

"What if I can't do it? What if I'm not convincing enough?"

"Then we're both screwed." He says it so matter-of-factly that I almost laugh. "But I don't think that's going to be a problem."

"Why not?"

"Because you're already wearing my ring."

I look down at the massive diamond on my finger. I'd almost forgotten it was there. "This doesn't mean anything. We were drunk."

"Maybe. But you haven't tried to take it off."

He's right. I haven't. Every time I've looked at it, I've thought about removing it, but I haven't actually tried. Maybe because deep down, I'm terrified of what happens when I do. Maybe because for the first time in my life, I'm wearing something that makes me feel like I matter.

"I don't know anything about your world," I say quietly. "I've never been to a charity gala. I don't know how to talk to billionaires. I'll embarrass you."

"You won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because last night, you spent three hours arguing with me about economic policy and made me see things I'd never considered before. You're smart, Avery. Smarter than most of the people in my world. You just need the right clothes and a little confidence."

I want to believe him. I want to believe that I could fit into his world, even temporarily. But I've spent my whole life being reminded that I don't belong anywhere.

"What about my life? My apartment, my job search, my friends?"

"What about them?"

The question stings because the truth is, there isn't much to leave behind. My apartment is a dump. My job search has been a disaster. And my friends... well, Brynn is really the only one who matters, and she'd probably understand.

"I need to think about this," I say.

"You have until tomorrow morning."

"That's not enough time."

"It's all the time we have. Maverick is expecting an answer, and the longer we wait, the more suspicious he becomes."

I stand up and pace toward the window. The Las Vegas Strip stretches out below us, all bright lights and broken dreams. Kind of like my life right now.

"This is insane," I say to the glass.

"Yes, it is."

"I could be making the biggest mistake of my life."

"Or the smartest decision you've ever made."

I turn around to face him. "What if we actually start to care about each other? What if six months of pretending turns into something real?"

Something flickers in his eyes, but it's gone so fast I might have imagined it. "That won't happen."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because I don't do real relationships, Avery. I do business deals. And that's all this is."

The way he says it, so cold and certain, should make me feel better. Instead, it stings. Which is ridiculous because I just met this man twelve hours ago.

"So I'd just be an employee," I say.

"A very well-paid employee."

"And at the end of six months, we just walk away from each other."

"Clean break. No strings attached."

I study his face, looking for any sign that he's lying or uncertain. But Rowen Knight looks like a man who's never had a moment of doubt in his life.

"I need to call my best friend," I say finally.

"No."

The word comes out sharp and final. "What do you mean, no?"

"I mean you can't tell anyone about this arrangement. As far as the world is concerned, we're madly in love. That includes your best friend."

"I'm not lying to Brynn."

"Then you're not getting two million dollars."

We stare at each other across the room. This is the first real test, I realize. He's seeing if I'm willing to make the sacrifices this arrangement requires.

"She'll know something is wrong if I just disappear into your world without explanation."

"Then tell her we fell in love fast. Tell her it's a whirlwind romance. But you cannot tell her this is fake."

"She won't believe me."

"Make her believe you."

The hardest part is that he's right. If I want this to work, I have to commit completely. No half measures. No safety nets.

"If I do this," I say slowly, "I want some ground rules."

"Such as?"

"No touching unless absolutely necessary for appearances. No sleeping in the same bed. And if at any point I want out, I can leave."

"Agreed. Anything else?"

"I want to meet this Maverick Black. I want to know exactly what kind of enemy we're dealing with."

For the first time since I woke up, Rowen looks surprised. "Why?"

"Because if I'm going to pretend to be your wife, I need to understand the game we're playing. And I need to know what happens if we lose."

He stares at me for a long moment, and I can practically see him reassessing me. Good. Let him know I'm not just some broke college graduate he can push around.

"Maverick Black is dangerous, Avery. He's spent the last ten years trying to destroy me, and he's gotten close several times. Are you sure you want to put yourself in his crosshairs?"

"I'm already in his crosshairs. You said he's had me investigated."

"True."

"So when do I meet him?"

Rowen's phone buzzes on the table. He glances at it, and his expression goes dark.

"Sooner than I thought," he says, holding up the phone so I can see the screen.

It's a text message from a number I don't recognize: Dinner tonight. 8 PM. Bellagio. Bring your lovely wife. - M

My blood runs cold. "He knows we're still here."

"He knows everything." Rowen sets the phone down and looks at me with something that might be respect. "So, Mrs. Knight, are you ready to meet the man who wants to destroy your husband?"

The word 'husband' sends a shiver through me that has nothing to do with fear. But it's the look in Rowen's eyes that really scares me. For just a second, he looked at me like I was actually his wife.

Like he was actually worried about putting me in danger.