CHAPTER 2

MAYA

I didn’t wait to see his reaction.

If I had stayed one second longer, I would have melted into his arms and taken everything back.

So I ran.

I ran straight to my car and drove without thinking about where I was going. My head felt like it would explode.

After a few minutes, I pulled over somewhere quiet and broke down.

I was seventeen when I lost my parents in a plane crash.

Somehow, I survived that pain. I kept going. At nineteen, I became New York’s best-selling author.

That was where I met Ray.

He came to my book signing.

It was love at first sight… at least for me.

With him, the emptiness my parents left didn’t feel so heavy anymore, and now I had just thrown him away.

Voices dragged me back to reality.

I lifted my head from the steering wheel and saw a taxi driver gripping a man’s collar.

The driver looked furious.

I stepped out of my car.

“Is everything okay, sir? Can you let go of his shirt?” I asked.

“Please stay out of this, ma’am,” the driver snapped. “This man flagged down my taxi knowing he had no money.”

I walked back to my car, grabbed a hundred-dollar bill, and handed it to him.

“Here. That should cover whatever he owes.”

The driver snatched the money, muttered something under his breath, and drove off.

“Such an impatient man,” the stranger beside me said calmly. “And dramatic.”

That was when I really looked at him.

Stud in his ear. Loose sportswear. Probably around Ray’s age.

But irresponsible.

“You don’t call a taxi when you know you can’t pay,” I said.

He smirked.

Both of his hands were tucked into his pockets like he didn’t have a single problem in the world.

And suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

If I want Ray to believe the lie…

It has to look real.

“I have an offer for you,” I said.

He raised one eyebrow.

“If you accept, I’ll pay you two million dollars.”

That got his attention.

“Two million?” he repeated slowly.

“Yes. That should cover your… recklessness.”

He chuckled softly.

“And what exactly would I be doing for two million?”

“Follow me to my car.”

He did.

Which surprised me.

I leaned against the door and took a deep breath.

“I just broke up with my boyfriend,” I said. “He’s not the type to give up easily. But if he believes I already have someone else, things will be different.”

He was watching me closely now.

“This is where you come in,” I continued. “You’ll act as my boyfriend. Eventually, my fiancé. Just for one year.”

He didn’t interrupt.

He simply kept that amused smile on his face.

Damn!.

What if he’s married?

Or in a relationship?

Or worse… a criminal? I suddenly felt desperate.

“I think you’re interesting,” he finally said.

“In a slightly insane way.”

“Huh?”

He reached into my car’s side pocket and pulled out a pack of gum like he owned the car.

“Two million to pretend to be in love,” he said while popping gum into his mouth. “You must be really heartbroken.”

“Do you want the money or not?”

He picked up my complimentary card from the console and read it.

His expression shifted slightly.

“You’re Maya Bennett.”

“Yes.”

He placed the card back down.

“I’ll call you.”

“Tomorrow. Twelve p.m.”

“Bring your lawyer. This is business after all.”

“Wait..”

But he was already stepping away.

“I didn’t even get your name!” I called after him.

He stopped walking for a moment.

Then he slightly turned his head.

“I will call you.”

And just like that, he walked away.

I stood there staring after him.

I just offered a stranger two million dollars.

Great.

********

It was one hell of a night.

I didn’t go home. I couldn’t risk running into Ray.

Instead, I drove straight to Lilly’s place.

I guess I’ll be crashing there for a while.

The moment I stepped inside, she was already waiting.

“What is wrong with you?” she demanded. “You weren’t answering your calls. Ray was here. He told me everything.”

She crossed her arms.

“Seriously, Maya? That was your plan?”

I dropped onto the sofa.

Typical Lilly.

“This is for the best,” I said tiredly. “If he hates me now, he won’t be shattered when I’m gone.”

She looked at me like I had lost my mind.

“You don’t know that.”

“I know him.”

I took a deep breath.

“There’s something else.”

She slowly sat down.

I told her everything.

The taxi. The stranger, and the offer.

Her eyes widened.

“No.”

“Absolutely not.”

“Maya, stop making reckless decisions.”

“It’s not reckless.”

“It’s insane!”

“He needs to believe it,” I said quietly. “Or he won’t let me go.”

She started listing a thousand reasons why this was a terrible idea.

I barely listened.

My phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

I opened the message.

Let’s meet at 12 p.m. tomorrow. Lobby Children’s Park.  Bring your lawyer… Jay

Jay.

So that’s his name, and just like that… This madness became real.