Page 20 of The Wife Situation

I inhale sharply. “Please mind your damn business, okay? It’s a lost cause.Trust me.”

“Being in your business allows me to do what’s best for the company, so hell no. The timeisticking.” He looks down at his wristwatch—another priceless family heirloom.

When my grandfather passed away, our inheritance included these watches, accompanied by a staggering amount of stock in the company. They have different inscriptions engraved on the bottom. I like to think my grandfather chose each one for a reason, although when I think of mine, it’s brutal—LOVE ISALWAYS ON TIME—for the grandson who can’t and won’t find it. But it’s not from a lack of trying.

“I’m aware of my situation.” My words drip with sarcasm.

“So, why not her? The tabloids have already started writing the story. I can see the sparks.” He snaps his fingers and points to the wordlover. “Plausible. Believable as fuck.”

“You know I said I wouldn’t get married unless I was in love.”

“So, fall in love,” he says like it’s easy. “Or maybe it’s time to take some chances. Do you want to lose everything, Easton? For a version of love thatdoesn’texist?”

I clench my jaw. “Just because you haven’t experienced it doesn’t mean shit. You perpetually choose the wrong women, like it’s your hobby.”

“And you’ve chosenno onein over a decade,” he quips. He leans forward, lowering his voice. “All you have to do is get married and make it believable. That’s it.”

Weston is like a devil on my shoulder, whispering terrible things in my ear. The promise I made to myself—to marry for love only—sits on the other shoulder while my future hangs by a single thread that’s quickly unraveling.

My grandfather created this contractual obligation for his bloodline only. He once told me he never wanted us imprisoned in the business. This requirement was his way of pushing us to find love, to take risks, to start a family. It will also be the number one reason why the Calloway dynasty will be destroyed from the inside and thousands of people will lose their jobs. The thought of it makes me sick.

Weston has my undivided attention and knows it.

“Okay, so what if I meet the love of my life while I’m fake married?”

“Oh, it should be arealmarriage on paper and in public. Scandals are wonderful for business too.”

I groan. “This is fucking ridiculous.”

“You only have to stay married for one year. Pretend to be the happiest, in-love couple in the world, and no one will question anything. And if you findthe one, wait to pursue her until you’ve divorced your temporary wife. After three hundred sixty-five days, you’ll be free to do the same thing you’re doing right now, and you can continue your toxic affair with the company.”

“Is that what you and Lena did?”

“No. It was very real and by far the biggest mistake of my life, but I met the qualifications. I genuinely tried. It didn’t work out. There is nothing anyone can do. I did what our grandfather had asked.”

He shrugs, but I’ve witnessed how difficult it was for him. Weston loved a horrible person, the real kind of love that I’ve searched for my entire life. When it ended, he was broken. She’d nearly destroyed my brother.

“But—”

Before I can finish my thought, there’s a tap on my door, and our shared secretary enters.

“The information you requested,” Taelor says and hands me the file.

As she turns and walks away, Weston snatches it from my hand.

“Alexis Marie Matthews. Texan. Twenty-nine years old. New York University performing arts graduate. Excellent GPA. No criminal record. Not a felon.”

I yank it from his hands. “Bastard.”

“So, this is her.Alexis Matthews.She’s perfect. No one knows her. And she’s a performer, so she caneasilypretend to be in love with you. Plus, the housekeeper thing could work in your favor. Make us seem down-to-Earth.”

“There is nouswhen it comes to this.” I glare at him, my eyes scanning over the rest of the information.

I’m aware that our reputations are intertwined. If Weston pisses off the masses, then they’re upset with me too. We rise and fall together. It’s a part of the game.

He smirks. “She must’ve made an impression on you if you ran a full background check. Admit it.”

“No.She has abadattitude.”

---