Page 9 of His Fake Wife

“A civil greeting. Maybe the eight years did mellow you out after all.”

“Don’t start Adam, I’m not in the mood.”

My teasing grin slipped as I really looked at her. She did seem tired. Understandably. I could imagine she had a lot on her plate after her father’s death.

“Have a seat.”

Her shoulders slumped a little as she took the chair facing me. “You left so suddenly the other day.”

“Yeah. It’s very welcoming when you get a door slammed in your face.”

Her gaze dropped. At least she seemed repentant. “Well, you were talking crazy and I was...I’d had a long day. I expected you to show up again the next day.”

“I figured you needed some time since you’re dealing with your father’s death.”

“How sweet,” she murmured dryly. “Didn’t know you had it in you, Adam.”

I snorted but I couldn’t stop the corners of my lips from lifting into a small smile. Absolutely nothing had changed between us. There was a feeling of relief trying to surface as if I’d missed our little spats. Shit. Maybe I had lost my mind. We stared at each other for a while, her glaring and me waiting expectantly.

“The letter,” she sighed. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Care to share what was in it?”

“As if you don’t know. Aren’t you a part of the conspiracy to ruin my life?”

“Beth, what the hell are you talking about? I haven’t once thought about you since you left.” A total lie. She might have crossed my mind a few times.

Her eyes seemed to darken. The way it always did when she was pissed and was about to rip me a new one. But she only rolled her eyes. “Just as I forgot about your existence for a few blissful years. Dad sold his business to your father. Well, it’s yours now, isn’t it Mr. CEO? Congratulations. ”

Gritting my teeth, I said, “Focus Beth. For once we’re on the same side. I’m just as confused and pissed as you are.”

Scrubbing a hand over my face, I glanced at the window separating my private office from the rest of the company and lowered my voice. “Tell me, what did your father have to say?”

“Alright. Dad made a few unwise business choices and when he realized that he’d lose everything, he sold a majority of his assets to your father. Yet he had one condition, that Mel and I will be taken care of. The only way he could be sure of that is if you and I get married.”

So that was what Dad meant when he insisted he had to keep his word. “My dad refused to explain to me why I had to get you to marry me. Now I know.”

“You mean to tell me you had nothing to do with this?”

“Come on, Beth. Even if I was crazy enough to want to get hitched, do you really think I’d want to marry you of all people?”

Long lashes concealed her eyes for a moment. “Of course, not.” When she met my gaze again, she said, “Well, we’re not actually going to go through with it, are we? I mean, I’m definitely not marrying you.”

I fell silent, gazing at her, unable to believe that I was about to talk Beth into marrying me. I visited my father the day after going to Beth’s. I was determined to get out of the situation by any means necessary?without losing my hold as CEO of course. After our talk, I began to see his point about a marriage working in my favor. There were still a few of our associates who were skeptical about me taking over, considering my reputation.

Beth was right?she usually was and it grated on my nerves. I was seen as a playboy who took nothing seriously. That image of me had to go. Marrying Beth would paint me as a settled man, ready to do serious business. She was perfect. She grew up in my world, carried herself with poise, and her reputation was pristine. I needed her and it sickened me.

“You should reconsider.”

She actually gagged and sat taller in the chair. “Excuse me?”

Oh, God. “Maybe us tying the knot won’t be so terrible.”

Her laugh, breezy and melodious, seemed to float around my office. I didn’t hate the sound. When she doubled over and slapped her knee, I had to fight back a smile. Face flushed and eyes gleaming with humor, she looked young, innocent, and carefree. A woman I’d walk up to in a bar...if I didn’t know that she was Beth.

“Are you finished?”

That sent her into another fit of giggles and I sighed my impatience.

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