“Wait, Saphira. Are you serious about wanting me to take your place and get married?”
“Of course, Thea. I need your help because I have something important to deal with for the next six months. We look enough alike that Dashiell won’t suspect a thing.”
Thea and Saphira were close friends who were always together.
They weren’t related by blood, but their faces were similar enough that people often mistook them for twins, even though they weren’t.
Saphira was about to marry a man chosen for her by her grandmother, a billionaire named Dashiell Marlowe.
He was so handsome that everyone admired him, Saphira included.
She hadn’t refused the match, but the wedding had been scheduled at the worst possible time, because she had to leave the country for six months to handle an important job that couldn’t wait.
Since their faces were so alike, she’d asked Thea to take her place for those six months.
“But Saphira, I don’t want to get married, let alone sleep with a man I don’t even know!”
“Come on, don’t be ridiculous. Everyone knows Dashiell is always buried in work. He’s only marrying me to make his grandfather happy. I’ve heard he’s abroad constantly and hardly ever comes home. All you’d have to do is play the part of his trophy wife.”
“Is that really true?” Thea looked uncertain.
She still couldn’t decide whether to take her friend’s place or not.
“I would never lie to you, Thea. I’d bet anything he won’t even show up to our own wedding. Please, help me with this. You don’t have to worry about a thing, because I’ll pay you generously if you agree to stand in for me.”
“Really?” Thea’s interest was piqued.
“Trust me. Don’t you need money for tuition? I’ll give you plenty, and I’ll be back the moment I finish my work. It’s only six months, Thea.” Saphira pressed on, determined to convince her best friend.
“He’ll never find out what we’re doing, especially since I already told you how rarely he comes home.”
Thea thought it over.
She was afraid of making the wrong choice, but the money Saphira was offering was genuinely tempting, and she needed it badly.
Saphira kept coaxing her until Thea finally agreed to take her place and marry Dashiell Marlowe.
The deal left Saphira thrilled.
She left for Paris right away, but before going, she told Thea to hurry, because the wedding was happening that very day.
Thea was stunned.
She’d assumed she would have a few more days before the ceremony.
She wasn’t ready at all, but she went anyway, since there was no other choice.
Hadn’t Saphira said the man wouldn’t even show up?
It felt strange, but she went regardless, determined to stand in for her best friend.
***
By the time Thea arrived, there was no one waiting except an officiant and a man who’d clearly been standing there for a while.
He looked at her sharply.
Thea swallowed.
Her throat had suddenly gone dry, and her hands trembled slightly.
If she was honest, she was terrified of being found out.
“Saphira Watson?” the man asked.
“Um, yes,” Thea answered, her voice uncertain.
He studied her closely.
Why did she look a little different from the photograph?
He shrugged the thought off; it didn’t matter, since he hadn’t wanted this marriage in the first place.
“Good. I’m not interested in small talk, so let’s begin.” What did she expect?
She was the woman he was destined to marry, all because his grandfather wanted him to marry his best friend’s granddaughter.
Thea studied him in turn.
Was this really the man she was about to marry?
She wanted to ask, but hesitated.
Still, if she didn’t ask, she knew she’d regret it later.
She couldn’t risk marrying the wrong man; that would be a disaster.
“Are you Dashiell Marlowe?” She looked him over from head to toe.
Beyond being a billionaire, he was also strikingly handsome, tall, and, in every sense, close to perfect.
Saphira was truly lucky.
If this was who she’d be dealing with, Thea decided she would play her role as convincingly as possible, so their relationship would go smoothly once Saphira returned.
“What do you think, Saphira? Isn’t it strange for two people who don’t even know each other to be bound together by marriage?”
“No, I don’t think it’s strange at all. Sometimes a relationship that doesn’t start with love ends up becoming something beautiful. Trust me.”
“Oh? So you believe this marriage is going to end beautifully?”
“Isn’t that possible? Right now, we don’t know each other, but in time, feelings can grow on their own, and there won’t be anything you can do to stop it.” She did her best to leave a good impression, hoping he would eventually fall for Saphira.
“Hm. A foolish thing to say, though admittedly a little interesting. We’ll see what becomes of this ridiculous marriage. And you should know, I don’t care to talk about marriage.” He found something strange about her.
He’d heard that Saphira hadn’t wanted this marriage any more than he had, so why was she now joking about feelings that might grow between them?
He couldn’t explain it, but he assumed she was simply making conversation so the wedding wouldn’t feel so awkward.
Besides, why would he care?
Once this absurd ceremony was over, he had a business trip to catch.
“Let’s get on with it. I don’t have much time.” It was hardly anyone’s idea of a dream wedding, thrown together as it was, at the last minute.
The vows were recited without a trace of sincerity, and the ring was handed over without ever being slipped onto Thea’s finger.
At least he had shown up, so she hadn’t had to go through the ceremony alone, though his attitude was infuriating all the same.
Whatever became of their relationship afterward wasn’t something she planned to worry over; her role would only last six months.
“From now on, you’ll be living in my house. Just remember not to cross any lines.”
“Are there rules?” It was a foolish question, and she felt a little embarrassed the moment it left her mouth.
“Of course there are rules. I don’t like strangers in my house, so don’t even think about bringing friends over, or anyone else for that matter. Don’t discuss our business with outsiders, and don’t talk much to my grandfather or your grandmother either. You’re welcome to enjoy every comfort my home offers, but I’ll say it again: don’t you dare invite anyone else to share in it. Is that understood?”
“Is that all?” It wasn’t difficult, since she had no intention of doing any of those things anyway.
She knew better than to tarnish Saphira’s reputation.
“Yes. And don’t even think about contacting me. Follow him.” Dashiell got into his car and ordered his driver to take him straight to the airport.
He arranged for someone to escort Thea, and also instructed his men to keep an eye on her.
He had, after all, heard rumors that Saphira liked to party, which was exactly why he’d laid down that rule; he didn’t want her bringing anyone into his house.
But if she was foolish enough to try it anyway, he would finally have a reason he could give his grandfather to end the marriage.