Chapter 2 Enemies Make Terrible Fiancés

By Monday morning, my "brilliant" lie was starting to feel less like quick thinking and more like social suicide.

Work was my sanctuary, my territory. Here, I didn't have to dodge questions about my personal life or pretend to be someone I wasn't. Here, I could bury myself in spreadsheets and contracts and be safely, blissfully single.

At least, that was the plan.

"Morning, Mia," called Jared from marketing, waving a coffee at me. "Did you see the WolfeTech press release?"

I kept walking toward my glass-walled office. "Nope. Not interested."

He jogged to keep up. "They're presenting at the National Expansion Summit. Guess who's leading the pitch?"

"I don't care."

"Liam Wolfe."

I stopped mid-stride. "Of course he is."

The man was everywhere lately business blogs, industry panels, even on the cover of Tech Innovators Monthly. And every time I saw his stupidly perfect jawline and confident smirk, I remembered the way he'd smiled at me the day he poached my client, like he'd just won a championship.

I'd sworn then that I'd never speak to him unless it was to tell him I'd beaten him.

But now...

I stared at the photo on Jared's tablet. Liam in a perfectly tailored suit, shaking hands with some investor. He looked like the kind of man who could sell air to a drowning person and he was exactly the sort of guy my family would believe I was dating.

If only he didn't make my blood boil.

By lunchtime, I was at my desk, staring at an email draft I'd typed and deleted five times.

Subject: A mutually beneficial proposal.

I hated that I was even considering this. But the reunion was in five days. I had two options: show up with a random hired actor who might forget the story we agreed on or... rope in someone who was smart, quick, and could keep up the act without breaking a sweat.

Someone like Liam.

I typed faster before I could talk myself out of it.

Liam,

We both have... situations that could be improved with the right arrangement. I have a family event that requires a convincing partner. You have a business image to maintain for your upcoming pitch. Let's discuss a short-term... collaboration.

Mia Cross

I hit send and immediately regretted every life choice that had led me here.

An hour later, my phone buzzed. Unknown number.

"Mia Cross," I answered.

"Collaboration?" The voice was deep, amused, and irritatingly familiar. "I almost thought it was a joke."

"Liam Wolfe," I said flatly.

"To what do I owe the honor?"

"I already told you. I need a... temporary husband."

A pause. Then, laughter. "You're serious."

"Dead serious. It's just for a weekend. You pretend to adore me in front of my family, I pretend to think you're a decent human being in front of your investors."

"You do know I have options, right?"

"So do I," I lied.

Another pause. Then: "Dinner tonight. We'll discuss terms."

Before I could argue, he hung up.

I stared at my phone.

What had I just done?