Chapter Four

Valerie's POV

"You're joking, right?," I said, my eyes bore into hers as I sat across Sarah in her living room.

"I'm dead serious, Val," she stood up and came to sit beside me. "Do you think I would be joking with something that involved two of my favourite humans?".

Sarah had just told me that Jake was in a business dilemma which required him to get a fake wife—this was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard—then she suggested we collaborate to help each other achieve our desired goals.

But how do I do this without falling for Jake knowing truly well how I had a crush on him for the longest time—I'm not about to get entangled in any more 'man-problems'.

"Jake’s not as bad as you think, I promise," Sarah said, as though she had just read my mind.

I let out a sigh.

"Fine. I'll do it," I muttered, more to myself than to her. It was not like I had any better options anyway.

Before I could rethink it, Sarah hollered, "You can come out now!".

I stiffened.

Jake stepped into the room—all six feet of him—and just like that, every emotional wall I had carefully built crumbled like sandcastles under a rising tide.

Yesterday, I had avoided his eyes—afraid he would catch the sadness in mine. But now, with my gaze locked on him, there was no pretending; he is truly a sight for sore eyes.

Jake's gaze did not waver. If anything, it intensified, like he was studying me—memorizing every reaction.

My heart thudded.

Everything suddenly felt awkward...until Sarah cleared her throat, breaking us free from the staring contest.

"I'll leave you two to talk", Sarah winked at me as she excused herself.

Silence stretched between us. I crossed one leg over the other, then uncrossed it. My fingers found a loose thread on the couch, and I tugged at it— anything to keep myself from staring at those mesmerizing brown eyes.

Just as I opened my mouth to speak, he said, "I…"

"I was just…"

We both froze.

A beat of silence.

Jake smiled softly, a small curve tugging at something dangerous in my chest. "You go first," he said.

I shook my head quickly, "No, you started. Go on."

He hesitated a bit before he spoke, his voice low and steady. “Alright…I don’t want this to feel forced, Val. It’s okay if you don’t want to go through with it.”

"I'm game," the words left my mouth before my brain caught up.

"Cool. Just so we are clear—this is a big deal to me".

That made me pause, "What do you mean?"

Jake reached into his briefcase and pulled out an envelope like it was some sacred scroll, "I drafted a contract to bind our agreement".

My eyes widened.

"You did what now?"

He handed me the envelope. I hesitated for a beat before taking it from him, the weight of it heavier than paper should be. I unfolded the document and scanned the contents, eyebrows rising with every clause until my eyes rested on a line.

"Must we live in the same house?" I asked, shooting him a skeptical look.

"Yes," he said simply. "If we want this marriage to look believable, we need to live under the same roof"

“In that case,” I said, sliding the papers back onto the table, “we stay in separate rooms. Deal?” I lifted my chin and extended my right hand.

Jake looked at me for a long moment, as if trying to read between the lines of what I really meant, before finally reaching for my hand.

“Deal.” He wrapped my small hand in his large one. The handshake lingered—warm but firm, a pulse that traveled from his palm straight down my spine and settled low in my belly.

I blinked, willing my expression to stay neutral, even as an alluring smile tugged at the corner of my lips.

We were really doing this.

He handed me a pen, pointed to the signature line.

I signed.

Then he did.

Just like that, we were husband and wife—on paper, at least.

In no time, Sarah joined us. "Breakfast is served," she announced, motioning to the dining table. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and syrupy pancakes filled the air.

One glance at the spread made my mouth water. My stomach growled, but I forced myself to decline.

"Thanks, babes, but I'll pass"

She tilted her head, her brows rising in a silent question.

I quickly added, "Jane just updated that we've got a new client. I need to supervise the work"

She didn't believe me—I could see it in her eyes—but she let it slide with a shrug. "Okay"

The disappointment in her voice wasn't lost on me.

Just as I turned to leave, Jake's voice stopped me cold.

"Stay. Please"

I froze.

Something in his voice made it impossible to decline.

A few minutes later, I found myself seated across from my best friend and her very handsome brother, the three of us eating breakfast in thick, awkward silence.

Then Sarah suddenly pushed back her chair. “Excuse me, guys—I need to, uh, get… syrup from the kitchen.”

My eyes flicked to the bottle of syrup sitting right in the middle of the table.

Sigh. Way to go, bestie!

Sarah had barely left when Jake cleared his throat.

“Is there any important information I should know about you—for the wedding, of course?”

My chest tightened.

Why did it feel like we were really a couple on an actual date?

I stared at him for a long moment.

“Interior decorator. Aries. And not open for a relationship,” I said firmly. Hopefully, that would end his little interrogation.

Jake’s brows furrowed. “I’ll be needing more than that, don’t you think?” His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

My phone rang just then, and I had never been so grateful for a distraction. I picked up, spoke briefly, and ended the call less than a minute later.

“Work calls, Mr. Lloyd,” I said, grabbing my purse and rising to my feet. “I’ll send you the address and dress code for the wedding. My regards to Sarah.”

His lips parted, as if a word hovered on his tongue, but he swallowed it back.

"Oh. Send me a text if you have any more questions," I said emphasizing the word "more ".

"This time please be specific", I smirked, before strutting away.