CHAPTER 5: "He's half-smiling, that's engaged"
873 Words
Sunlight spilled through the curtains in crooked gold bars, warming the smell of burnt toast and lemon tea. Nico woke up on the couch buried under three blankets, hair sticking up in every direction, mood already sour before his eyes were fully open.
He didn't do mornings. He didn't do people before coffee. And he definitely didn't do waking up in someone else's apartment after falling into a fountain.
Across the room, Luna moved around the kitchen counter with bright, restless energy. She hummed under her breath, flipping toast like it had personally offended her. On the floor, Summer sat cross-legged with a notebook and a pen she'd half-chewed into submission, eyes sharp behind her "Future Lawyer" hoodie.
Nico's phone buzzed on the coffee table. He ignored it once. Twice. On the third buzz he sat up too fast, head pounding, and answered.
"Nico! It's Friday," his uncle's voice cut through, sharp and impatient. "Where's the wife? No marriage license by five PM, and your grandfather's controlling shares in Moretti Group revert to me."
Nico sat up straight, blankets sliding off. "Uncle, I'm handling it. Give me a day."
"A day?" Vincent snapped. "You've been saying that for a month. Five PM. No exceptions. Lose the shares, lose the company."
The line went dead. Nico set the phone down harder than necessary, jaw tight.
Luna and Summer exchanged a look the moment he hung up. They leaned toward each other, voices dropping.
"He's out of options," Luna whispered, fast, her fingers twisting the edge of the towel. "If he misses the deadline, his uncle gets 51%. He's done as CEO."
Summer's eyes lit up. "We've got rent due tonight too. Same problem, opposite sides."
"If we pitch it as a contract, he'll listen," Luna said. She sounded surer than she felt. Her palms were a little damp. "Business only. No feelings, no mess."
"Two months," Summer whispered back. "We get rent, he gets to keep the company. Clean split after."
Luna swallowed. She glanced at Nico across the room-hair a mess, scowling, still in the blanket burrito. Ridiculous. And kind of... she cut the thought off before it could finish.
"Keep it professional," she muttered. "Don't make it weird."
Summer grinned. "Plan's set. Don't chicken out."
Luna straightened, wiped her hands on the towel, and walked over. Her voice came out steadier than she felt.
"You okay?"
Nico dragged a hand through his hair. "No. He takes the company tonight if I'm not married."
That was all Summer needed. She slid across the floor on her knees, shoving the notebook forward. "Hi! We're available!"
Nico stared at her. "You're kidding."
Luna stepped closer, forcing herself to keep her voice level even though her heart was beating too fast. "No. You need a wife for paperwork. We need rent by tonight. Fake marriage, two months, split the value of the shares once you're secure. No feelings, no drama. It's clean. Legal. Fast."
Nico didn't answer right away. He was too busy noticing her for the first time without the fog of sleep and irritation. Dark hair pulled back messy, a few strands escaping. Green eyes that were too sharp, too direct. Pale skin, no makeup, and still somehow ridiculous that she looked like that at 8 a.m. She had a cute face, the kind that looked like it shouldn't belong in a room where he was trying to be miserable.
_Annoying_, he decided. _All of it's annoying._
Summer tapped the notebook. "And I get 'Chief Snack Officer' status. Clause four. Non-negotiable."
Nico blinked. "Abilyan?"
Luna paused. Then it clicked. "Wait. Nico Moretti. Abilyan Company."
Summer gasped. "Oh my god. _That_ Nico Moretti. The 'ice prince of tech'."
Nico groaned and dropped his head into his hands. "Don't start."
Luna took a breath. "Here's the deal, Nico. You need a wife for paperwork. We need money. You get us through two months, we keep quiet about who you are. No one gets hurt. Except maybe your pride."
Nico looked between them. "You pulled me out of a fountain last night and now you want to marry me?"
"We want to marry your controlling shares," Luna said plainly, and ignored the way her chest felt tight saying it. "It's convenient for both of us."
Nico went quiet for a beat. Then he sighed, irritated and resigned. "Sunflower napkins. God help me."
Luna held out the pen. Her hand didn't shake. Much.
"Take it or leave it. You're out of options."
Nico snatched the pen, signed with an angry flourish, and muttered, "I'll regret this before lunch."
Luna took the notebook back. Her shoulders relaxed a fraction. "You'll regret your uncle more."
Summer whispered to her, eyes gleaming. "He's half-smiling. That's engaged."
"I'm not smiling," Nico said immediately.
"You are," Summer said. "It's tiny. But it's there."
Nico rolled his eyes and shoved the tea Luna handed him back toward her. "Don't get used to it."
Luna just said, "Welcome to the Moretti-Chen Business Agreement, CEO. Try not to ruin it before Friday."
Nico drank the tea, scowling, but he didn't leave. The apartment felt warmer than it had ten minutes ago. Annoyingly warmer.
And Luna told herself it was just because the toast was done.
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- Writer
