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"
"Maybe I could just take the risk and follow Sarah's plan— what was the worst that could happen"
Sarah had just told me that Jake was in a business dilemma which required him to get a fake wife— this is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.
She suggested we both collaborate to help each other achieve their desired goal.
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 am not about to get entangled in any man problems as I was barely recovering from Damian's heartbreak— more like a heart attack.
"Jake is not as bad as you think" she remarked, a genuine smile appeared on her face.
"That was not even close to my fear"
"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.
It had been years since I last saw him, yet somehow… he looked even more handsome. Maybe it was the way the morning light kissed his skin, or maybe I was finally letting myself see him.
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.
"God, he looked like a whole snack."
His neatly trimmed beard framed a jawline that could have been sculpted by angels, and his broad, defined chest strained gently against his shirt. And that cologne… clean and masculine—exactly the way I liked my men to smell.
I had to drag myself back to reality, shooting Sarah a death glare. She pouted in mock apology, but the corners of her mouth twitched with barely restrained glee.
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.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop," he said, finally breaking the tension.
"I couldn't come up with a better cue," Sarah replied, biting her lip to hide a grin—though her eyes sparkled with mischief.
"I'll leave you two to talk" Sarah winked at me as she excused herself.
"What was my best friend dragging me into?"
Jake and I stared at each other, the silence stretching 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 to keep myself from staring at those mesmerizing eyes.
Just as I opened my mouth to speak, he said, "I…"
"I was just…"
We both froze.
A beat of silence.
Jake chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry, you go first."
I shook my head quickly. "No, you started. Go on."
He hesitated a bit as if unsure how to continue the conversation.
Then he nodded, slowly. "Alright."
"I don't want this to feel forced," Jake said, voice low. "It's okay if you don't want to go ahead with it."
"I'm game." The words left my mouth before my brain caught up.
"Cool." He nodded slowly, then added, "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."
"You did what now?" My eyes widened.
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.
"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 and lifting my chin, "we stay in separate rooms. Deal?"
Jake looked at me for a long moment, like he was trying to read between the lines of what I really meant. Then he took a deep breath, his chest expanding before he let it out in a slow exhale.
"If that's your wish," he said.
He reached for my hand to seal the deal. His touch was warm but firm, a pulse that traveled from his palm straight down my spine and settled low in my belly.
"I shouldn't be feeling this way on day one"
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.
Sarah loved to cook—unlike me. I would rather do the laundry ten times over. It was not that I'm a terrible cook, it just isn't how I enjoy spending my time.
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.
But I couldn't risk it—not with Jake sitting a few feet away. The tension between us was still too fresh. I needed time. Time to adjust to being his fake wife. Time t
o build walls around the fluttering in my chest and the sudden weakness in my knees.
Just as I turned to leave, his voice stopped me cold.
"Stay. Please."
My heart did a somersault.