Chapter Three

Daniel studied the woman before him, his business instincts immediately cataloging details. Mid-twenties, modestly dressed, no expensive jewelry or designer labels. The simple blue dress she wore looked new but affordable. Her dark hair was pulled back in a neat bun, and despite the evidence of recent tears, she held herself with quiet dignity.

"You understand what you're offering?" he asked carefully.

"A marriage of convenience. Yes." She wrapped her arms around herself, a gesture that seemed more about holding herself together than warding off the cold. "I heard your side of the conversation. You need someone for your grandmother."

Daniel glanced around the street, making sure no one was close enough to overhear. "This isn't a romance. This would be a business arrangement."

"I understand that."

"And you're willing to enter into that with a complete stranger?" He couldn't keep the skepticism from his voice. "Why?"

She looked away for a moment, her jaw tightening. "Because I was supposed to get married today too. To someone I've known for three years. Someone who just called to tell me he's in love with my best friend instead." Her eyes met his again, and he saw steel beneath the hurt. "So yes, I'm willing to marry a stranger. At least then I'll know exactly where I stand."

The honesty in her response caught him off guard. He'd expected desperation or an angle, some hint that she recognized him and saw an opportunity. But she seemed genuinely wounded, acting on impulse rather than calculation.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Mira Walsh."

"Daniel Chen." He extended his hand and she shook it, her grip firm despite her earlier tears. "I should tell you upfront that my family owns Chen Technologies. The marriage would come with certain expectations and public scrutiny."

Her eyes widened slightly. "The Chen Technologies? The software company?"

"Among other ventures, yes."

She was quiet for a moment, processing. Then she gave a short laugh, the sound containing no humor. "Well. I went from nearly marrying a high school chemistry teacher to a tech mogul in under an hour. That's quite a plot twist."

Despite the situation, Daniel felt the corner of his mouth twitch. "Is that going to be a problem?"

"Honestly? I have no idea." She looked down at her hands. "But I've spent the last three years planning my life around someone else's needs and preferences. Maybe it's time I did something completely unexpected."

"This isn't a decision to make lightly," Daniel said, though he was acutely aware of his own time constraints. "There would be a contract. Terms. An exit strategy after a specified period."

"How long?"

"A year. Maybe eighteen months, depending on my grandmother's health." He paused, the words feeling heavier than he'd anticipated. "After that, an amicable divorce. You'd be compensated fairly for your time."

"I don't want your money," Mira said quickly.

"Nevertheless, there would be financial arrangements. This would be a job of sorts. You'd need to live in my home, attend family and business functions, maintain the appearance of a genuine marriage."

She bit her lip, uncertainty flickering across her face for the first time. "I've never been good at lying."

"Then we'll stay as close to the truth as possible. We met, we connected, we decided to marry quickly." He checked his watch. "I need to have a marriage certificate and a wife when I visit my grandmother this afternoon. So I'll ask you directly: are you certain about this?"

Mira was quiet, and Daniel found himself hoping she'd say yes. There was something about her straightforward manner, her obvious vulnerability paired with unexpected strength, that appealed to him. She wasn't playing games or trying to manipulate him. She was simply a person who'd been hurt, making a reckless choice.

He could work with that.

"Yes," she said finally. "I'm certain."