Jake's POV
Leaving home at eighteen to attend Stanford was one of the hardest decisions I had ever made in my life. California was far, but my father insisted I would go there to further my education.
"If you are going to study software engineering, you might as well do it at the best school" he stated.
Father did not even bother to ask for my preferred institution but I did not mind because he was the one paying the bills anyways— his decision was final. He was a firm, hardworking and relentless man who gave his children the best, even if it meant being twice as hard on me after Mom passed. He played both roles—father and mother—and expected me to do the same for Sarah.
And I did.
At least, I tried.
Being her big brother was a full-time job. Even now, at twenty-nine, nothing has changed about her. She was still as impulsive and bold as ever—qualities I admired but also feared they could get her into trouble, and into trouble they did get her. It did not help that her best friend, Valerie, matched her energy step for step. They made the perfect mischievous duo.
Valerie and I had known each other for several years. We tolerated each other—okay, more like coexisted—for Sarah's sake. I thought she was a little too wild, too opinionated, too… unpredictable.
During the time I started counting down to the end of high school, I began to notice the way Valerie looked at me. She would smile shyly and play with her hair every time we had a conversation, and although I knew the motive behind those gestures, I pushed them to the back of my mind— in my eyes she was always my younger sister.
This incident happened many years ago but the moment Valerie walked into the living room this evening there was something different about her. Maybe it was the way she looked more mature and prettier. Or it was the way she ignored my presence like I was not in the room. Whatever it was, I was not about to let it distract me. Not now.
My company, JTech Solutions, had been in talks for a merger that would catapult us into international markets so we could expand the business. I was days away from sealing the deal when the CEO dropped the bombshell.
"I can't go through with this, Jake," he said, sipping his scotch like he had not just shattered a year's worth of work.
"Excuse me?" I blinked. "Why the hell not?"
He sighed. "Your resume is perfect and your product is genius but our clients are old-school. They trust men with families—husbands, not bachelors. It's stupid, I know, but it's how this industry works."
I wanted to turn the table upside down. Instead, I clenched my jaw and nodded like a professional.
"Fix it," he added. "Come back with a ring on your finger. Then we will talk."
That was three days ago.
I had booked an urgent flight from California where I lived to visit my sister in New York. She had even promised to come pick me up at the airport.
"I can't wait to see you Jay!" she squealed over the phone, her excitement was over the roof
All of a sudden she called to cancel due to an emergency. She would not say what the emergency was. I even asked if someone died. She said no. Sarah also forgot to give me a heads up that she had company.
Right now, I'm sitting across from Sarah at the dinner table as we have a conversation after a hearty meal. Valerie— the unexpected visitor, had already left.
I'm replaying the conversation I had with the CEO for the third time
"You need to be married?" Sarah repeated, eyes wide.
I nodded, rubbing my temples. "Apparently, being single means I'm unstable, untrustworthy and lacking vision."
She rolled her eyes. "That is ridiculous."
"I know."
A second passed.
Then she leaned forward, that mischievous glint dancing in her eyes.
"You need a fake wife," she said slowly.
I stared at her. "Come again?"
"A fake marriage. Just for the contract." She continued "You need someone who can play the part—wear a ring and win them over"
I gave a hollow laugh. "And where exactly am I supposed to find someone like that? This is not a movie, Sarah."
Her grin only widened. "Actually…"
She stood up, walked to the kitchen, and grabbed her phone.
I narrowed my eyes. "What are you doing?"
"Calling Valerie."
My mouth fell open. "Valerie? Absolutely not."
"Oh, come on! She is smart, presentable, and already used to dealing with your annoying attitude. Plus, she owes me a favor."
"Sarah—"
"She just got dumped and needs a date before Gina's wedding— kinda like a fake boyfriend and you need a temporary wife. It's perfect."
"She is your best friend." I retorted
"Exactly. Which means I trust her not to screw this up."
I rubbed my hands over my face. "This is insane."
She smirked. "So is losing a billion-dollar deal because you are single."
Before I could argue further, she tapped her screen and placed the phone to her ear.
"Tell me everything," she said, slipping into her problem-solving tone—the same one she used whenever I came to her with messy situations that needed fixing.
So I did.
I laid it all out: the client, the contract, the ridiculous condition, the fake marriage idea.
And just like I expected, she did not flinch.
Sarah was not just my sister. She was my backup brain and my moral compass when mine got a little foggy. And she would always—always—help me find a loophole, even if the plan was borderline illegal.
"Okay," she finally said, eyes gleaming. "I think I've got just the idea. But you
have to trust me."
And right then, I knew two things:
One—I had no clue what her plan was.
Two—I was definitely about to do something reckless.