CRAZY IDEA

Albert's Point of View

I had completely lost my mind.

I had just implied that I was marrying my assistant in order to close a business deal. I was touching her in a personal way. Ms. Nichols was probably going to sue me for sexual harassment.

But I needed this deal, and surely there was a way to make Amer Len happy without actually getting married. I could get engaged, close the deal, and once Amer Len experienced what an excellent business partner Torrens Incorporated was, it wouldn't matter whether I was married or not.

At that point, Ms. Nichols and I could quietly call off the wedding.

"Congratulations!" Amer Len exclaimed. "Now I have even more to celebrate with my wife tonight. We are hopeless romantics."

I wondered if that was part of French DNA.

I glanced at Ms. Nichols, hoping she would go along with it. Her eyes were wide, and I was certain she was about to expose my lie.

God, I could only imagine what Amer Len would think of me then.

"You weren't expecting me to share this news," Amer Len said to her.

She looked at me and then back at him.

"No. I wasn't expecting it."

"We haven't told anyone yet."

I squeezed her hand, hoping she would continue playing along.

"Is there a reason your family wouldn't approve?" Amer Len asked. "My experience with Ms. Nichols has been very positive. She's intelligent and competent. And from what I can see, she's quite lovely. What more could a man want?"

Great.

Exactly what I needed—someone praising my assistant's physical appearance.

I was definitely going to get the company sued.

"She is all of those things and more," I said.

I wasn't lying.

She was exceptional at her job, often anticipating my needs before I voiced them. And she was beautiful, I supposed, although I tried very hard not to think of her that way.

Her long brown hair was always neatly pinned up.

She dressed professionally, yet somehow her business attire never completely hid her femininity.

Damn it.

I couldn't start thinking about her in those terms.

"So, how long has this been going on?" Amer Len asked.

"For quite some time, but we've kept it secret. We didn't want anyone accusing us of mixing business with pleasure. After all, I'm her boss."

My stomach twisted as I wondered how much money she could win in a lawsuit against me.

Maybe I could convince her to sue only me and not the entire company.

"Ah, yes. You Americans worry so much about mixing business and pleasure." He shook his head. "It's a shame. Business is much better when pleasure is involved. So, when is the wedding?"

Oh no.

I looked at Amelia again, expecting her to expose me at any second.

She remained silent, which was good.

Except a happy fiancée should have looked delighted.

Instead, she looked stunned.

I turned my attention back to Amer Len.

"We haven't actually set a date yet. We're both very busy with work."

"I suggested eloping," she said suddenly.

The comment surprised me and filled me with immediate relief.

"Las Vegas isn't that far away," I added. "It's certainly worth considering."

"You know what? I think I'll make this deal with you—but on one condition," Amer Len said.

I couldn't decide whether I was happy about the deal or terrified of the condition.

"What condition?"

"You must allow me to host your wedding. My wife is wonderful at organizing these things. She absolutely loves it. We have a home in Tuscany that would be perfect for the ceremony."

Oh.

Absolutely not.

"I couldn't possibly let you do that—"

"Nonsense. Both of you must learn the importance of celebrating life. What's the point of having all that money if you simply hide in your office? Love should be celebrated, not rushed through some quick ceremony performed by an Elvis impersonator."

He spread his hands dramatically.

"There is no better place to unite two lives than Italy. You won't have to do a thing. My wife and I will handle every detail. I promise you won't be disappointed. Surely you want to give your fiancée a fairy-tale wedding."

I smiled, though I feared it looked more like a grimace.

I had no intention of actually getting married.

At the same time, I couldn't stop wondering what was going through Amelia's mind.

And how could I say no?

Not only because I needed this deal, but because he was being extraordinarily generous.

"I don't know what to say."

It was the only response I could manage.

"Say yes. My wife will be thrilled. Bring the paperwork when you come, all right?"

Amer turned his head as though someone beside him had spoken.

When he looked back at me through the screen, he smiled.

"Speaking of my wife, she's eager for me to come home. I'm very excited about this partnership. I'll be in touch with the wedding details. Good day, Albert."

The screen went dark before I could reply.

Tentatively, I looked at Amelia.

Then I realized my hand was still covering hers.

I quickly pulled it away.

"I was hoping to simply say we were engaged without actually getting married. I wanted him to understand my intentions."

"I never thought you'd be capable of lying," she said.

Her disappointment made me feel even worse.

I had put her in an impossible situation, and now I was proving I wasn't nearly the man she thought I was.

I winced.

"This deal is important to me. We can still go through with it as long as we don't apply for a marriage license."

Her mouth fell open.

"Are you seriously considering this? Going to Italy and pretending to get married?"

I nodded.

"If you're willing to help. We can go through the motions and then go our separate ways once the deal is done. I'd be happy to offer you a bonus. And look at it this way—you get a free trip to Italy."

"That feels unethical."

I couldn't disagree with her.

"Maybe it's a little deceptive, but we're still a family business whether I'm married or not. Someday I might be married..."

"Might be? You're not sure?"

I loosened my tie, which suddenly felt like a noose around my neck.

"I don't know. I'd have to meet someone first, and marriage isn't exactly one of my priorities right now. But someday it could be. And when it is, maybe I'll meet someone, get married, have children, and those children could eventually become part of the business."

"And what if they don't want to?"

"What?"

I felt like I'd fallen into an alternate universe.

"What if your children don't want to be part of the business?"

"I don't know. Surely one of them would. That's not really my concern right now."

I couldn't let her derail the conversation.

"You're asking a lot."

I swallowed hard.

She was right.

I was lucky she hadn't called a lawyer already.

"I know. Obviously, I'm willing to lie to Amer Len, but I also realize I'm behaving inappropriately toward you right now. I'm sorry for that. But this company is my life. It's my grandmother's life. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep it alive for future generations—whether they're my children or my brothers' children."

She rolled her eyes.

"You do make it difficult to say no, don't you?"

She let out a long sigh.

"Can I think about it?"

That was far more than I expected—or deserved.

"Of course, Ms. Nichols."

She laughed.

"Maybe, under the circumstances, you should call me Amelia."