Evelyn wasn’t sure what was worse— the anxiety from waiting for Cole to ask for what he wanted, or this horrible house she had to stay in because she wanted to pretend she was a normal lady, not the daughter of a struggling billionaire who’s on the hunt to do anything to save her company. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, and her eyes lingered on her plump lips, and an unwanted flash immediately zoomed into her mind. Her index finger gently caressed her lips as she remembered how good it felt when he had kissed her.

Her lips parted slightly, she was back in his wide arms, pulling his tie as his lips slid into her mouth.

Her phone buzzed, jolting her back. She picked up her phone to see a message from

Cole. “I’m outside.”

“Finally,” She muttered under her breath before grabbing her clutch and forcing herself to move.

She smiled as she walked out of the apartment, happy she had managed to fake an entirely new life in less than 24 hours.

The car waiting by the curb was a long, low vehicle that screamed money even from a distance. The driver held the door open, and Evelyn slid inside—straight into simmering heat that was so thick she had to swallow down her spit.

Cole sat on one side, relaxed in a tailored charcoal suit that looked criminally good on him. His assistant—Reid, if she even remembered right, was in the front seat, glaring at her reflection in the rearview mirror.

Evelyn crossed her legs and clasped her hands together, ignoring him and the heat he brought along. “You didn’t have to send a car. I could’ve—”

“I wanted to,” Cole said simply, his eyes still on the window.

Damn, that voice. Calm, deep with the faint trace of arrogance sent something down her spine.

She cleared her throat. “So where are we going?”

He turned to her then, eyes dark and unreadable. “A dinner party.”

“Dinner,” she repeated slowly, “or you’re planning to kidnap me?” She teased jokingly.

The corner of his mouth twitched. “That depends on how honest you are tonight.”

Her pulse jumped. “Honest?”

He looked at her like he could see through every layer of her lies and pretense. “I know you’re not just some girl at a bar, Evelyn. The way you carry yourself, the watch on your wrist, the way you ordered your drink. You don’t belong behind a counter.”

She shifted in her seat, uncomfortable with how much he’d noticed. She couldn’t come clean now, not until she knew who he was, the last thing she needed was another man seeing her as a ticket out of poverty. “Maybe I just like simple things?” She raised a brow.

He smirked and his eyes darted to her wrist. “No one who wears Cartier calls expensive things simple.”

Evelyn bit her lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. “You’re very observant for someone I met in a bar.”

“It’s my job to notice things.”

She frowned. “Your job?”

He didn’t answer. Just tilted his head and asked quietly, “You don’t strike me as the type who works for anyone either.”

That shut her up.

The car stopped in front of a high pent building overlooking the city. Cole stepped out first. He didn’t even look back to see if she followed—just expected her to.

When they entered the penthouse, Evelyn stopped.

It wasn’t a party like he had claimed. It looked like an his office.

Soft jazz was playing in the background, but the table in front of them wasn’t set for dinner, there was a bottle of wine, two glasses, and a thick folder embossed with gold.

Cole walked straight to it, loosened his tie, and nodded toward the seat. “Sit down Evelyn.”

“Excuse me?” She raised a brow, her tone rising in irritation. “You told me to accompany you to a party, what the hell is—“

“Sit, Evelyn.” He ordered, his eyes widening.

Something in his tone made her do it before she realized she’d obeyed.

He poured her a glass, slid it across the table, opened the folder and slid it across to her.

The first page read: Marriage Agreement.

Her heart nearly stopped. “You’ve got to be joking.”

“I’m not.” He leaned back, watching her like she was the only thing that existed in the room. “You wanted me to play your husband. I’m simply offering to make it official, but just for a limited time.”

She laughed in disbelief. “You’re insane if you thought I’d sign that.”

“Maybe. But I’m also practical.” He gestured lazily at the papers. “I have an event in the next two weeks, a gala. The deal depends on my image being… stable. The investors are old money, conservative. They like things tidy. They would only do business with me if I’m married, respectable.”

“And you thought—what? I’d be the perfect wife?”

His gaze didn’t waver. “You played the role perfectly last night. I just want you to keep doing it… for three months.”

Evelyn blinked. “Three months?”

He nodded. “After that, you walk away with three million dollars, no strings attached.”

She stared at him. “You actually think I’d agree to marry you, for money?”

“You said you’d do anything I wanted.” His tone was calm as he reminded her. “Are you not a woman of your word?”

Her jaw clenched. “I don’t go around marrying strangers, Cole.”

“And I don’t go around pretending to be someone’s husband,” he countered smoothly. “Seems fair to me that you sign this and we can call it even.”

Evelyn shook her head, standing abruptly. “This is ridiculous.” She scoffed.

He stayed seated, totally unfazed. “Come on. It’s just three months. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“You mean besides losing my mind?”

“Besides that.”

She crossed her arms, glaring. “What is it you actually do, Cole? Because you don’t strike me as someone who needs fake wives to consult for a business.”

He smiled faintly and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I was ashamed to say this yesterday, but… I’m an escort.”

Her eyes widened. “A what?”

“An escort.”

She laughed once. “An escort with a ten-thousand-dollar suit, a driver, and a penthouse office? Yeah, right.” She rolled her eyes.

“I deal with high-end clients,” he said evenly. “Government officials. Billionaires. People who pay for more than company.”

Her heartbeat quickened. “You’re lying. Why would you need a wife if you’re an escort?”

“My clients are in an open marriage, they prefer someone who’s also in a stable marriage, it makes them rest assured that I won’t chase after them or their partner beyond our agreed time together.”

Evelyn shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Yeah right, and I’m meant to believe that?”

“Yes,” he shrugged, “why else would I lie now? It’s already shameful enough that I’m an escort. It was hard for me to tell you.”

“You… you just don’t look like an escort,” she eyed him, but her eyes betrayed her as he flexed his shoulders.

“I’m an attractive and sexy man. Even you know that.”

“You’re alright— I wouldn’t say sexy or…” she tried to play it off cool but Cole wasn’t doing to let it go.

He rose slowly from his chair and stopped in front of her, close enough that her breath caught. His hand came up, fingers brushing a strand of hair off her face.

“I think you think I’m really sexy?”

“I DON’T!” She shot back.

“Then why are you blushing?” He murmured, gently tracing his thumb lightly along her lower lip.

All she could smell was the hint of his cologne, it smelt dark, expensive, and dangerously addictive.

Her lips parted before she could stop herself.

Cole’s gaze flicked down, his eyes darkening. “Think about it Evelyn,” he said quietly. “You have 24 hours.”

And just like that, he stepped back, slipped his hands into his pockets, and headed for the door.

“My assistant will reach out to you tomorrow, and exactly 24 hours from now. If I don’t get a response, I’ll assume you’re not a woman of your word.”