CHAPTER 2

LILA

I blinked. Once. Twice. 

"Excuse me?"

I must have misheard him. Maybe my brain was still short-circuiting from the shock of actually landing this job. 

But James Sinclair wasn't the type to joke, and the impassive look on his P.A.'s face only confirmed my worst fear—this was real. Or perhaps he's joking? I can't even place a finger on it.

"You heard me, Miss Williams." His voice was smooth, effortlessly confident, like he was discussing the weather.

"What do you think about getting married? Basically, I'll be paying you to get married to me for a short period of time while you still handle the marketing sector so I think it's a good win-win situation. More money for you, scandal off my neck for me." I stared at him, waiting for some kind of explanation, a smirk, a "just kidding." expression but nothing came.

Nothing. 

Mr James leaned back in his chair, arms crossed lazily over his chest, watching me like a cat toying with a particularly clueless mouse. 

"I—You—What? I finally spluttered, my brain scrambling to make sense of his words. "You want me to be your... contract bride?" 

His lips twitched, as if he found my disbelief amusing. 

"Well, since you put it that way, yes."

I sucked in a sharp breath. 

"Isn't that ridiculous?"

"Not to me." He shrugged. 

"Mr. Sinclair, I know you're trying to get rid of the scandal, but a fake wife? That's the height of it. It would create an even bigger mess if people found out the marriage was staged!"

I was ranting, I knew it, but what else was I supposed to do? Nod my head and accept? Marry a man I barely liked, a man who looked at me like I was nothing more than an asset in one of his business deals? 

I was about to be his worker and that would be really awkward.

"That's where you're wrong, Miss Williams." James interlocked his fingers and rested his chin on them, his eyes gleaming with something between amusement and I don't even know what. 

"See, people don't 'find out' things about me unless I want them to except of course, this scandal. And if I say we're married, the world will believe it."

The sheer arrogance. 

I let out a breath, willing myself to stay calm. 

"And if I say no?" He chuckled, a low, deep sound that sent a strange shiver down my spine. 

"Then you say no. I don't force people into things. That would be bad PR." His smirk widened. "However… I do make very tempting offers."

As if on cue, his P.A. slid a black folder across the desk toward me. 

I hesitated before flipping it open. And then my heart stopped. 

The amount listed on the contract made my pulse pound so hard I swore he could hear it. 

That was more money than I'd ever seen in my life. Enough to wipe out my sister's tuition worries, to pay off debts, to secure a future I never thought I could afford. 

James watched me closely, clearly enjoying my reaction.

 "Mouthwatering, isn't it?" I could feel the weight of his eyes on me as I stared at the cash in disbelief.

"If you say yes, you get to take that home with you, miss Williams." He prodded further and I imagined the look on my sister's face when she saw me with this kind of money like I had just robbed a bank. It would be life changing but that didn't change the fact that it was a bit inappropriate.

I shut the folder with a snap and swallowed hard.

 "You can't just buy yourself a wife, Mr. Sinclair." His grin turned positively wicked as I slid the folder back to him.

"Says who?"

I opened my mouth to argue, but no words came out. Because, honestly? When a man like James Sinclair decided he wanted something, the world tended to just… give it to him. 

And now, for some insane reason, he wanted me. 

"Take your time," he said, standing from his chair and adjusting the cuff of his crisp designer suit. "But not too much. I'm a very busy man, Miss Williams. And patience isn't exactly my strong suit."

Then, with one last smirk, he turned away. 

"Dismissed."

"Hold on." My voice came out sharper than intended, but I didn't care. I planted my feet firmly on the ground, arms crossed over my chest.

 "Do I still get to come to work tomorrow?" 

James Sinclair had been halfway to the door, but at my words, he stopped. Slowly, he turned to face me, and for a brief second, I let myself hope. 

Then— 

"No."

The single word followed by nothing else hit like a slap. 

I sucked in a breath, "What?"

He didn't elaborate. Didn't even look the slightest bit guilty. 

"You're serious?" My voice rose in disbelief. "You're taking back the job I already passed the interview for? Because I won't marry you? That's—" I threw my hands up, struggling for the right word. "That's petty!"

James's lips twitched, almost like he was holding back a smirk. Then, as if just to prove me right, he shrugged.

"I am petty, Miss Williams."

I gaped at him while scoffing as He tucked his hands into his pockets, the very picture of casual indifference.

 "And, as it turns out, I'm at a bit of a crossroads here. See, I need a wife, and you need a job. Simple economics."

I wanted to strangle him. 

He was standing there, rich, smug, completely unbothered while I was losing the one opportunity I had fought so hard for. My hands clenched into fists at my sides. 

"One last question," I said, my voice tight. "Why me?" 

James tilted his head slightly, considering me like I was some interesting puzzle he had yet to figure out. 

 "Because, well… you were supposed to work in the marketing sector. I tend to be more involved there. Which means I get to keep my eyes on you." 

My stomach flipped and I rolled my eyes in irritation 

James must have caught something in my expression, because his smirk deepened. "And frankly, you're a better option than the gold-digging ladies my PR team keeps throwing at me." 

I stared at him, heart pounding. Gold digging ladies, isn't that a better match for him? 

I should have said no. I wanted to say no. 

But then I thought about my sister's tuition. The overdue bills. The crushing weight of responsibilities that never seemed to lessen no matter how hard I worked. 

And then there was the folder. Sitting there. A lifeline wrapped in a black cover. 

I swallowed hard, knowing I was going to hate myself for this later. 

"I'm in."

My fingers curled around the folder, sealing my fate. 

"Good choice, Miss Williams."

And just like that, I had gone from an employee to a bride, a fake one but a bride nonetheless.

And God help me, I had no idea what I'd just signed up for.