THE BILLIONAIRE'S ACCIDENTAL BRIDE

The Offer Lena Carter had exactly seventeen dollars and thirty-two cents in her bank account. She stared at the number on her phone until the digits blurred. Then she locked the screen. There was no point staring at an empty account as if money might magically appear out of pity. “Please, God,” she whispered, tightening her fingers around the phone. “Just give me one chance.” Her mother's hospital bill was due in three days. Three days. Lena had spent the entire morning walking from one office to another, handing out resumes, forcing smiles, and pretending she wasn't terrified. Nothing. No job. No money. No miracle. Her mother's medication alone cost more than Lena could earn in weeks. She looked down at the simple black dress she had borrowed from her friend and smoothed the wrinkles with trembling hands. The dress wasn't expensive. Neither were her shoes. But today, she had to look like someone worth hiring. Because the final interview on her list was different. The company was Vale International. One of the largest corporations in the country. And its CEO was Adrian Vale. Lena had heard enough about him to know she probably shouldn't be walking into his building. Thirty-four. Billionaire. Ruthless businessman. Cold. Unmarried. And according to every article Lena had read about him, completely uninterested in ordinary people. But ordinary people didn't matter when their mothers were lying in hospital beds. The glass doors of Vale International opened automatically as Lena approached. She stepped inside. The lobby looked like something from another world. Marble floors. Crystal lights. People wearing expensive suits and carrying phones that probably cost more than everything Lena owned. She swallowed. “I'm here for an interview,” she told the receptionist. The woman looked at her resume. “Name?” “Lena Carter.” The receptionist typed something. Then her expression changed. “Mr. Vale is expecting you.” Lena blinked. “Mr. Vale?” “Yes.” “But I was told I was interviewing for an assistant position.” “So was I.” The receptionist stood and smiled politely. “Twenty-eighth floor. His executive office.” Lena's stomach tightened. Something wasn't right. Still, she thanked the woman and walked toward the elevators. When the doors closed, Lena finally allowed herself to breathe. Twenty-eight floors later, the doors opened. A woman in a navy suit was waiting. “Miss Carter?” “Yes.” “Follow me.” Lena followed her through a quiet hallway. The assistant stopped outside a massive black door. “Mr. Vale is inside.” She opened it. Lena stepped in. And forgot how to breathe. Adrian Vale stood beside the floor-to-ceiling windows with his back toward her. He was taller than she expected. Broad shoulders beneath a perfectly tailored black suit. One hand rested in his pocket while the other held a phone. He looked like a man who had never heard the word no. “Leave us,” he said. His voice was calm. Cold. The assistant disappeared. The door clicked shut. Adrian ended his call and slowly turned. Lena's heart gave an irritating little jump. He was unfairly handsome. Sharp jaw. Dark hair. Intense eyes. A face that belonged on magazine covers but somehow looked even more dangerous in person. His gaze traveled over her once. Not lingering. Not flirtatious. Simply assessing. “You're Lena Carter.” “Yes.” “Twenty-four.” “Yes.” “You've worked as a waitress for two years.” “Yes.” “You've applied for forty-three positions in the last six weeks.” Lena stiffened. “You investigated me?” “I investigate everyone who enters my life.” “I haven't entered your life.” One eyebrow lifted. Lena immediately regretted the words. But Adrian didn't seem offended. Instead, something almost resembling amusement touched his eyes. “Sit.” She sat across from his desk. Adrian remained standing. “I understand you need employment.” “I do.” “And money.” Lena's pride made her hesitate. “Everyone needs money.” “Not everyone needs one million dollars.” Her eyes widened. “What?” Adrian walked to his desk and placed a document in front of her. Lena stared at it. She read the first line. Then read it again. Her heartbeat became deafening. MARRIAGE AGREEMENT. She looked up. “What is this?” “My proposal.” Lena gave a nervous laugh. “You're joking.” “I don't joke about contracts.” “You want me to marry you?” “For six months.” She pushed the document away. “Absolutely not.” Adrian didn't move. “One million dollars.” Lena froze. He watched her carefully. “One million,” he repeated. “That doesn't make this normal.” “I never said it was.” “Why me?” “My grandfather's will.” Lena frowned. “My grandfather left controlling shares of Vale International to me. But there is a condition attached to the inheritance.” “What condition?” “I must be married before the deadline.” “And you can't find someone?” “I could.” “Then why are you asking me?” “Because I don't want someone who expects love.” His words struck harder than they should have. Adrian continued. “I need a wife who understands that this is business. Six months. We live together. We attend the necessary events. We appear married in public.” “And then?” “We divorce.” Lena stared at him. The room suddenly felt too quiet. “One million dollars,” Adrian said. She thought about her mother's pale face. The hospital room. The unpaid bills. The doctor telling her they couldn't continue treatment indefinitely without payment. She closed her eyes. This was wrong. It was absurd. It was dangerous. But one million dollars could change everything. Her mother's treatment could continue. Daniel could return to school. They could keep their home. Her family could breathe again. Lena opened her eyes. “And you expect me to believe there are no hidden conditions?” “There are several.” Of course. Adrian slid another page toward her. “No sleeping with each other.” Lena's face burned. “I wasn't planning to.” “No unnecessary public displays of affection.” “Fine.” “No interfering in my business.” “Fine.” “No falling in love.” Lena looked at him. For the first time, something flickered behind Adrian's cold expression. Pain. It disappeared so quickly she wondered if she'd imagined it. “That's not something you can put in a contract,” she said quietly. “It can be a rule.” Lena looked back at the agreement. One million dollars. Six months. A fake marriage. She picked up the pen. Her fingers trembled. Adrian watched her. “You don't have to decide now.” Lena almost laughed. He had no idea. She thought about her mother. Then she signed. The sound of the pen against paper seemed strangely loud. Adrian took the agreement from her. He looked at her signature. Then at her. “Congratulations, Mrs. Vale.” Lena's stomach dropped. “Don't call me that yet.” A faint smile appeared on his lips. “Why?” “Because I haven't married you yet.” Adrian leaned back in his chair. “You will.” Lena stood. She should have felt victorious. Instead, she felt like she'd just stepped into a trap. Neither of them knew it yet. But the six-month contract they had just signed would change both their lives. Because the one rule they believed would be easiest to follow— No falling in love. —was the only rule neither of them would be able to keep. Next.