Chapter 2: The Desperate Deal

Ethan Montgomery had never walked away from a fight before.

But last night, when Olivia had shattered his hopes of a perfect future, he hadn't seen a reason to stay. The moment she'd said, I can't, something inside him had cracked. He had left The Grand Oak without another word, ignoring the curious stares of strangers, the murmurs of disbelief, and even Olivia's soft, pleading Ethan, wait.

Now, twelve hours later, he was nursing a headache in his office, staring blankly at his computer screen.

The morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Montgomery & Pierce Real Estate, but he barely noticed. His mind was still stuck on last night—on the rejection, on the humiliation, on the way Olivia had looked at him with something between regret and sadness.

Why had she hesitated?

Had she ever even considered a future with him?

Or worse… had she already decided long ago that she wouldn't marry him?

A sharp knock at his office door cut through his thoughts.

Before he could respond, the door swung open, and his best friend and business partner, Liam Pierce, walked in with his usual air of confidence.

Liam took one look at him and let out a low whistle. "Damn. You look like hell."

Ethan leaned back in his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Thanks for that."

Liam smirked and dropped into the chair across from his desk. "So… are we gonna talk about it?"

"No."

"Too bad. It's all over town."

Ethan's jaw tightened. "What?"

Liam pulled out his phone and slid it across the desk. "Someone at The Grand Oak recorded the whole thing."

Ethan hesitated before glancing at the screen. Sure enough, a blurry video was playing—him kneeling in front of Olivia, her expression stricken, his voice barely audible over the restaurant's murmurs.

His stomach twisted. "Unbelievable."

"The internet's having a field day. 'Montgomery Real Estate Mogul Rejected in Public Proposal.'" Liam leaned back, arms crossed. "I mean, rough for you, but fantastic PR for our company. People love drama."

Ethan glared at him. "Glad my humiliation is so entertaining."

Liam held up his hands. "I'm just saying, if you wanna spin this into a redemption arc, now's your chance."

Ethan exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. He wasn't in the mood for redemption. He just wanted the whole damn thing to go away.

And then, as if the universe wasn't done kicking him, his phone rang.

He didn't recognize the number, but something told him to answer.

"Ethan Montgomery," he said, voice tight.

A smooth, practiced voice came through the line. "Mr. Montgomery, this is Christine Lowell from The Donovan Group."

His grip on the phone tightened.

The Donovan Group was one of the biggest investment firms in the city. And they were the ones backing his company's latest luxury development project—a project that had the potential to take Montgomery & Pierce Real Estate to the next level.

"We need to discuss your upcoming partnership event," Christine continued. "Mr. Donovan is concerned about the… recent publicity."

Ethan's stomach sank.

Liam raised an eyebrow, clearly hearing enough to know the call was bad news.

Christine sighed. "Look, I'll be blunt. Donovan prefers to invest in businesses that project stability. Your proposal going viral… it's not exactly inspiring confidence."

Ethan gritted his teeth. "My personal life has nothing to do with my business."

"Normally, I'd agree," she said smoothly. "But you're set to be the face of this project. The image of a man who just got rejected in public doesn't exactly scream trustworthy investment."

Ethan fought the urge to slam his fist on the desk. "So what are you saying?"

"We're not pulling our investment," she assured him. "Yet. But Mr. Donovan needs reassurance that you're still someone he can trust."

Ethan exhaled. "What kind of reassurance?"

Christine hesitated before finally saying, "He wants to see that you're in a committed relationship. That your life isn't… unraveling."

Ethan stilled.

Christine continued, "The Donovan Group's annual gala is in two weeks. It would help if you showed up with a fiancée."

His grip on the phone tightened. "Are you serious?"

"Completely."

Ethan nearly laughed. "So you want me to parade around a woman just to make Donovan feel better?"

"I'm saying," Christine said carefully, "that the right image matters. If you were to, say… reconcile with your fiancée before the gala, it would go a long way."

Reconcile.

As if Olivia hadn't completely shut the door on him last night.

Ethan clenched his jaw. "I'll handle it."

"Good." Christine's tone softened. "For what it's worth, I'm rooting for you, Mr. Montgomery."

The line went dead.

Ethan slowly set his phone down, his mind racing.

Liam, who had been listening to his half of the conversation, leaned forward. "So let me get this straight. Donovan won't back out… if you prove you're still engaged?"

"Something like that."

Liam let out a low chuckle. "Well, this is awkward."

Ethan didn't respond. His brain was already working through the impossible situation he had just been thrown into.

He needed a fiancée.

And there was only one person who could play that role.

His stomach twisted at the thought of asking Olivia. After last night, after the way she had looked at him with regret and hesitation… how could he possibly ask her to fake an engagement?

But if he didn't… his company's biggest deal could fall apart.

He raked a hand through his hair.

He was out of options.

Liam smirked. "So… how exactly are you gonna convince the woman who just turned you down to pretend to be madly in love with you?"

Ethan exhaled sharply. "I have no idea."

But he was about to find out.

Because whether Olivia liked it or not…

He needed her.

And he was willing to make a deal she couldn't refuse.