Emma’s POV

Something flickered in his grey eyes, gone before I could identify it. "Just business," he agreed.

But the way he held my hand a second too long made me wonder if we were both lying.

My phone rang. Ryan again. I let it go to voicemail.

"We should set some ground rules," I said, trying to ignore how Marcus's thumb was stroking my palm.

"Such as?"

"Kissing only when necessary. No staying overnight. No meeting families."

"Agreed." He paused. "Though you should know, public displays of affection will be very necessary."

"How necessary?"

He stepped closer, close enough that I could smell his cologne again. "Victoria needs to believe we can't keep our hands off each other. That what we have is passionate. Real. Undeniable."

My heart was doing that stupid jumping thing again. "And you think we can fake that?"

His hand came up to cup my cheek, thumb tracing my jawline. "Emma, the way you kissed me last night? We won't need to fake anything."

A knock at the door interrupted whatever was about to happen. Marcus stepped back, professional again.

"That'll be James with some preliminary paperwork. Non-disclosure agreements, that sort of thing."

"You have paperwork for a fake relationship?"

"I have paperwork for everything." He went to the door. "James, perfect timing."

The man who entered was older, maybe forty-five, with kind eyes and graying hair. He looked at me with surprise, then at Marcus with something like concern.

"Sir, is this wise?"

"Since when have I done anything wise?" Marcus took the folder from him. "James, meet Emma Chen. Emma, James has been with me for ten years. He knows everything."

"Everything?" I squeaked.

"Everything that matters." James gave me a gentle smile. "It's nice to meet you, Miss Chen. I've heard about your situation."

"My situation seems to be the talk of the hotel."

"Only because Mr. Blackwood asked me to research your husband last night. Terrible man, if you don't mind my saying."

"He's researched?" I turned to Marcus. "You researched Ryan?"

"Know thy enemy." Marcus handed me the folder. "Sign these, and we can begin your transformation from discarded wife to the woman everyone wants to be."

I opened the folder. The NDA was standard, but there was also a contract. Terms clearly laid out. Seventy-five thousand dollars. Two weeks. Public appearances as required. Either party could terminate with twenty-four hours notice.

"You increased the money."

"You're worth it."

I signed before I could change my mind. "What now?"

"Now," Marcus said, that dangerous smile back on his face, "we go make your ex-husband wish he was dead."

"That seems extreme."

"Emma, he cheated on you with your stepsister for two years. He stole your design ideas. He's trying to throw you out like garbage." His voice was ice-cold. "By the time I'm done with him, wishing he was dead will be the kindest thing he feels."

"Do you always destroy people who cross you?"

"Only the ones who deserve it." He offered me his arm. "Ready to begin your new life?"

I took his arm, noting how solid he felt. How safe. How dangerous.

"Marcus? Why do you really want to do this? It can't just be about Victoria."

He was quiet for so long I thought he wouldn't answer. Then, so quietly I almost missed it:

"Maybe I have my own reasons for wanting to destroy Ryan Blackwood."

Before I could ask what he meant, he was leading me out the door, and my transformation from invisible Emma to Marcus Blackwood's girlfriend had begun.

The dress Marcus chose for me cost more than my rent. Deep red silk that hugged every curve I didn't know I had, with a slit up the thigh that made me feel exposed and powerful at the same time. The diamonds at my throat and ears weren't real, he assured me, but they looked real enough to make me nervous.

"Stop fidgeting," he murmured, his hand warm on my lower back as we entered Chez Laurent. "You look perfect."

"I look like I'm playing dress-up."

"You look like you belong on my arm." He leaned closer, his breath tickling my ear. "Victoria just walked in. Table by the window. Don't look."

Of course I looked. She was everything I wasn't. Tall, elegant, hair like fire in a sophisticated twist. Her green dress probably cost more than my fake diamonds. She saw us immediately, her perfectly painted lips pressing into a thin line.

"She's beautiful," I whispered.

"She's cold." Marcus guided me to our table, right in Victoria's line of sight. "Smile like I just said something wonderful."

I smiled, and he rewarded me with one of his own. Not the sharp, dangerous one. A softer one that made my stomach flip.

"Much better." He pulled out my chair, letting his fingers trail across my shoulders as I sat. "Now, let's give her a show."

The waiter appeared with champagne I didn't remember anyone ordering. Marcus raised his glass, loud enough for nearby tables to hear: "To new beginnings with extraordinary women."

"Marcus," I warned quietly.

"Yes, darling?" The endearment rolled off his tongue like honey.

"We're supposed to be subtle."

"Nothing about me is subtle." He reached across the table, capturing my hand. "Besides, you're blushing. Very convincing."

I was blushing because the way he was looking at me made me forget this was fake. Like I was the only woman in the room. Like that kiss last night meant something.

"Tell me about your designs," he said, surprising me.

"What?"

"Ryan stole your interior design ideas. Tell me about them."

"You actually want to know?"

"I want to know everything about you. We're supposed to be in love, remember?"

So I told him. About my dream of opening my own firm. About the eco-friendly designs that Ryan said were too ambitious. About the restaurant concept I'd created that Ryan had presented as his own last month.

Marcus listened like what I was saying mattered. His thumb stroked over my knuckles as I talked, and I found myself leaning closer, speaking more passionately than I had in years.

"You're brilliant," he said when I finished. "Ryan's an idiot."

"Stop it."

"Stop what?"

"Being so nice. It makes it harder to remember this is fake."

His grey eyes darkened. "Emma—"

"Marcus Blackwood."

We both looked up. Victoria stood beside our table, all legs and confidence and perfect smile.

"Victoria." Marcus's voice could have frozen hell. "I didn't see you come in."

Liar. He'd orchestrated this whole thing.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your..." Her eyes swept over me dismissively. "Friend?"

"Girlfriend," Marcus corrected, standing to pull me up beside him. "Victoria Lane, meet Emma Chen. The woman who's made me believe in love again."

Victoria's laugh tinkled like broken glass. "Love? You don't do love, Marcus. You do mergers and acquisitions."