by Betsy Locke
“Dead serious,” he replied.
Chapter Two
“So you're telling me that I have to marry you and you'll not only pay the debt I owe but the rest of the mortgage.”
“Exactly. Simple isn't it?”
I took another drink and rubbed my eyes. Was this mysterious man for real? Maybe it was the alcohol that was playing tricks on my mind.
“You don't even know my name. Why would you want to marry a stranger?”
“I'm Cameron,” he replied with an outstretched hand.
I took his hand reluctantly. “I'm Adrian. Now I know what I get out of this but what do you possibly get out of this. If you think you're going to own me, you're wrong.”
“My father isn't going to retire and pass his business to me unless I settle down.”
“I'm sorry. This just sounds all a little too crazy. You just so happened to be in this bar and heard me talk about my money woes?”
“I've been to a few bars looking for a woman who could use the help. If you're not interested, I can go somewhere else.”
Cameron went to stand up and I stopped him. “Whoa, not so fast! I didn't say I was going to go through with it. I just need to know more information. How long do we have to be married for?”
“Not very long. Just enough time for my father to retire and complete the transition. A year at the most,” Cameron replied.
“And what do I have to do. Do I have to...?”
Cameron shook his head. “Of course not. I only need you for family functions and for the wedding. You can live at your own place or at the mansion. We just need to put on a show for my family. A convincing show.”
My eyes lit up at that. My mom's two bedroom house wasn't exactly luxurious. Taking a small vacation from all the stress might be good for me.
I leaned closer to Cameron. “When would I get paid?”
“The day after the wedding.”
“And what stops me from annulling it a day later and running away with money?”
Cameron smiled. “You're a smart one too. We'll have a prenuptial in place that locks you in for a year or else you lose that money.”
He really had thought of everything. This was the miracle I was hoping for. The only negative I could see was that I would have to pretend to be married for a little while. It would be a funny story to tell future boyfriends.
But it would be worth it to have the house paid off. “I'll do it.”
We shook hands and sealed the deal.
“I'll set the engagement party for a week from Sunday at my place.” Cameron took out his phone. “What's your number?”
I blushed. “I had to sell my cellphone to save money.”
Cameron shrugged. “No problem. Take mine. I'll text you the address and time. I'll provide your dress and everything else. Just make sure you're not late.”
I held his expensive smartphone and Cameron winked at me. Then he was gone.
“What the hell was that?” I asked Hans.
He shrugged and continued to wipe down the counter. “Looks like your miracle just fell into your lap.”
–
I spent the week wondering if any of it was real. Cameron's phone was real enough. I scanned through his contacts and looked up many of the names to make sure they were actual people.
As crazy as the whole idea sounded, it felt exciting. My life had been going downhill fast and this was the one thing I needed.
A week and a half later, his text came and I knew this was happening.
I showed up to a gigantic white mansion that could double for a European castle. I couldn't believe this was where Cameron lived.
A servant came out of the front door and took my car keys from me. A butler-looking old man with a stiff neck and upturned nose came out. “You must be, Avery. Will you please follow me.”
My mouth was open in awe as he took me through the winding halls and into a large bedroom. There was a king-sized bed and a glass chandelier above. A giant fireplace stood on one end. Just this one room was almost bigger than my entire house.
“You'll find the dress on the bed and anything else you need in the bathroom.”
I turned to thank the butler but he had already closed the door and left. I was all alone now. I walked to the edge of the bed and picked up the dress that still had the clear plastic sheet over it.
It was a simple black dress that looked like something Audrey Hepburn wore in a movie. I put the dress up to me and looked in the full-length mirror on the wall.
“This can't be happening.”
Chapter Three
The dress fit perfectly. The fabric conformed to my large curves and enhanced them. How Cameron knew my size was beyond me.
“I knew I picked right.”
I spun around to find Cameron standing in the doorway, his eyes examining me up and down. “I guess this all real,” I replied.
Cameron sauntered into the room straight towards me. “You look great but I have the icing on the cake.” He produced a silver necklace of huge diamonds. “Turn around.”
I faced the mirror and brushed the hair from my neck. Cameron came up behind me and put the necklace around my neck. He clasped it and stared at me in the mirror. “Now you're perfect.”
My pulse was pounding in my ears. I was doing this solely for the money but why did Cameron have to be so handsome?
“So what's our story?” I asked.
“We met six months ago while I was in Spain on a business. You were a tourist...”
“I've never been to Spain.”
“Doesn't matter,” Cameron said. “We met at a cafe and have been madly in love ever since.”
I rolled my eyes. “I guess that will pass for a love story. Sounds a little ridiculous to me.”
“My parents will love it,” he said.
“How big is this party? I didn't see many people on the way in.”
“Just us and my parents,” Cameron replied.
“Oh. For some reason I thought this was going to be a huge bash with extended family and friends.”
“That's the wedding. This is just so my parents can get to know you.”
I gulped. “No pressure.”
Cameron laughed. “Don't worry. You'll be fine.”
We came to a large library with bookshelves that stretched to the ceiling. The long windows let in a lot of sunlight.
An older gentleman and woman stood behind a couch. The man had a big white mustache and a smoking cigar in his mouth. The woman was absolutely beautiful in a white shimmering dress. She had to of been a supermodel back in the day.
Cameron presented me. “Mother and father...this is Avery.”
I did a slight bow before them. Then I realized that they weren't royalty and stood straight up. “Nice to meet you.”
“Avery this is my mother, Sarah, and my father, George Steinman.”
We all sat down on two couches with a coffee table between us. Servants arrived with tea and cookies.
Mrs. Steinman started to pour the tea for each of us. “So what do you do Avery?”
I froze. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be truthful or not. Cameron and I hadn't gone over every possible question. But if the whole thing was a lie, then it didn't matter much. “I'm a junior partner at a law firm.”
Mrs. Steinman looked pleased. “That's very impressive, Avery. How did the two of you meet?”
Cameron took my hand in his and I felt a spark between us. “I already told you, Mother. We met in Spain while I was doing the Guinevere deal.”
Mrs. Steinman sipped her tea. “Oh of course. I forgot. What were you doing in Spain, Avery?”
“Just a little vacation. I didn't know it would turn out to be this,” I said, holding up our hands bound together.
“I've always wanted to go to Spain,” she replied. “What was your favorite part?”
I knew this story was going to bite me in the ass. I'd never been and didn't know much about the country. I looked to Cameron for help but he didn't
save me.
“Madrid was beautiful. Everyday there was heaven,” I replied.
Mrs. Steinman seemed satisfied with my non-specific answer.”
Mr. Steinman puffed on his cigar. “And when are you both planning on tying the knot?”
“Before ninety days,” I said.
Cameron nudged me hard with his elbow. “What Avery means is hopefully in the next month or so. We don't think we can wait much longer.”
Mrs. Steinman smiled. “Well isn't this exciting. A Steinman wedding. I'll get the staff working on everything. There might not be as many guests with such short notice but I think we can pull it off.”
After an hour of chit chat, Cameron and I returned to the bedroom where I got dressed. “You did pretty good, Avery.”
“I'm sweating bullets over here. I thought they might figure us out at any moment. What do we do next?”
Cameron laughed. “You have the option to stay here while we plan for the wedding.”
“In this room?” I asked.
Cameron nodded. “I'll be pretty busy but the servants can get you whatever you want.”
“I'm not going to pass up an opportunity like this.”
Chapter Four
Cameron was right about him being gone all the time. He was always working and in two weeks I only saw him three times. Most of it was just to say hi.
I spent most of my time still working my two jobs but when I was at the mansion, life couldn't be more perfect.
The butlers got me whatever I desired: clothing, meals, and makeup. I was kind of sad that I would have to give it all up after wedding.
Cameron found me late at night in the library enjoying a coffee and a book. “Everything is set for the wedding this weekend. Have you got cold feet?”
“You still going to pay me?”
Cameron nodded with a grin.
“Then I'm not backing out.”
Cameron walked to a globe and spun the Earth around. “The only thing left is your wedding dress.”
My eyes went big. It had been a dream of mine to go shopping for the perfect dress. Even if the wedding wasn't real, I still wanted to live that fantasy. And with Cameron's budget, I'd be able to get whatever I wanted.
He stopped me before I could keep fantasizing. “This might be a little awkward but my mom wants you to wear her dress.”
Everything in my head came crashing down. “I don't know about that. Isn't this going a little too far.”
“It will make her so happy.”
“I guess I have to do it then.”
Cameron clapped his hands. “Perfect. They'll bring it down and fit you for it. I won't be able to see you before the wedding so enjoy yourself. And thank you for doing this.”
I actually didn't want him to leave. I was about to be married to this man and I barely knew anything about him.
“Are we doing the right thing?” I asked, sitting down on the edge of my comfy bed.
Cameron stayed. “What do you mean?”
I shook my head. “I feel stupid. It just feels like everything is moving so fast. I don't even know you and we're going to be married soon.”
“But we won't be married for long,” Cameron replied.
“I know but this is still a huge deal.”
Cameron and I talked for hours and hours. Not just about the upcoming wedding but everything about ourselves. Cameron told me how difficult it was to grow up when your father was grooming you for the family business. He always had to be perfect.
I told him about my mom and everything that came along with it.
–
The day of the wedding came and I was actually nervous. The white dress that was Cameron's mother's was something I never imagined myself wearing but it was incredible. It showed a lot less skin than I would've wanted but I was surprised at how good it made me look.
I actually felt like a princess.
Since I didn't have any family left. Mr. Steinman asked to walk me down the aisle. I felt like that was very nice gesture. Cameron's family was so kind to me and I felt bad for the way we were deceiving them.
I hoped they never found out the truth.
I walked down the aisle of rose pedals in front of a crowd of hundreds. Faces that I'd never seen before and probably would never see again.
Cameron stood at the altar in a dark tuxedo that emphasized his strong frame. He held his hands behind his back and smiled at me.
I couldn't help but blush and smile back. For being a fake wedding, this felt real.
Mr. Steinman kissed me on the cheek and left me at the altar. The priest began to speak and I turned to Cameron. We stared into each other's eyes as we said, “I do.” I couldn't help but tear up even though there wasn't any love there.
That was that. I was Mrs. Cameron Steinman now.
We walked down the aisle together and then straight into a limousine as everyone said goodbye to us.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
Cameron popped a bottle of champagne. “On our honeymoon.”
A honeymoon never even crossed my mind. But it made perfect sense. Everyone would be expecting us to go somewhere. My heart spiked in my chest. “Where are we going?”
Cameron poured me a glass and we clinked glasses. “Spain. Malaga to be exact.”
I was speechless. “I've never even been to Europe before...”
“I think you're going to enjoy this,” Cameron replied, sipping his champagne.
The twists and turns never ended around this man.
Chapter Five
I opened the doors that led out the the large balcony outside our hotel room. The view of the coast was breathtaking. I saw colors there that I never knew existed.
I turned back to Cameron as he carried our luggage into the room. “This is amazing.”
He joined me on the balcony. “I knew you would like it.” His eyes were on me longer than normal. The way he looked at me was different than before.
He slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me in for a kiss. I wanted to resist at first but I couldn't. I had been dreaming about this moment for weeks.
Cameron broke away and touched his lips like they were hurt. “Sorry, I got caught up in the moment for a second there.”
“I'm not sorry,” I replied, pulling him back to me. Our mouths met and fireworks went off. Cameron's rough hands were all over me, his tongue creeping past my lips.
I moaned against him and Cameron lifted me up. I knew what was going to happen next and I wasn't going to fight it.