Page 33 of Billion Dollar Vow

He nods, no further questions, but I don’t miss the flicker of wonder in his eyes.

“I think buying property is a smart move. Is there something you want to tell me?”

“No.”

“How much is the house?”

“1.2 million,” I say, trying to keep myself steady. Even saying it out loud makes me sweat. Maybe I should’ve just asked for the $50,000 I need for the down payment, but this is marriage so I need something big in return.

He nods thoughtfully, then looks at me with that easy smile. “I’ll give you a bit extra. You’ll need to buy things during our time together, like evening gowns. I don’t expect you to pay for those.”

I bite my tongue, resisting the urge to argue. Normally, I would, but he’s right. If I’m going to play the part of a billionaire’s girlfriend, I’ll need the designer clothes, makeup, and hair to match. I’m supposed to be myself while transforming my appearance to fit a wealthy wife. It feels like a contradiction because I’ve always prided myself on authenticity over appearances.

“What should I say I do for a job?” I ask, tilting my head slightly. I brace for his answer, expecting to be either an art consultant or gallery director, something that wouldn’t embarrass him.

“Tell them you’re in school and you work at Sip N’ Paint.”

“That doesn’t bother you?”

He raises an eyebrow. “Fake or not, I’d never expect you to be someone you’re not.”

I’m momentarily caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice. “Good to know,” I say quietly, feeling my cheeks flush.

He turns to his computer, taps on his keyboard, then shifts back to face me. “The transfer is done. Check your account.”

I pull out my phone, log in, and see the money there, just like he promised. Relief floods me, though my hands are still shaky as I put the phone away, hiding them in my lap.

A tear falls, and I quickly swat it away.

“Are you okay?” he asks, reaching over to touch my arm.

The warmth of his fingers against my skin sends a tingle down my spine. It feels too intimate for what this is supposed to be. I pull back slightly.

“All good. Let’s just move on,” I say, leaning back, causing his hand to disconnect. “What are the rules?”

He pulls his hand to the desk, his brow furrowed as he leans forward. “There’s a few,” he begins, his tone shifting to something more serious. “First, my mother can’t know about the fake marriage. She can know we’re dating, but that’s it.”

“Okay, hang on, I might just take notes.” I open the notes app on my phone, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. His mother? I hadn’t considered we’d be lying to her. Lying to Warne is one thing, but deceiving his mother feels wrong.

He waits until I stop typing on my phone and looks up.

“Second, as soon as the gallery is transferred to me, we’ll file for annulment.”

I type that next.

“Third, we fly to Vegas tomorrow and return on Sunday.”

My fingers freeze mid-type. “Tomorrow?” The word escapes me louder than I intended. “As in, twenty-four hours from now?”

This isn’t hypothetical anymore; it’s actually happening. My brother would not only be furious I was flying to Vegas to marry his best friend for money, but disappointed in me. He may have agreed to the fake marriage, but this isn’t that…

Before I type that, I remember something important for this to happen. “We’ll need a witness.”

“Cora, my assistant. She’ll have to know about our wedding anyway.”

I blink rapidly, trying to process all the information he’s telling me.How will I explain a sudden Vegas trip to everyone? What should I pack for a wedding I never planned to have? How will I keep this lie up for months?

He exhales through his nose, eyes flicking away before meeting mine again. “Who do you trust to tell about this?”

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