Chapter 2

I was on the verge of tears. I'm just a regular office worker, barely scraping together a little over three thousand dollars a month. His outfit looked insanely expensive.

If I had to pay ten times for it, I'd probably have to sell my blood to cover the bill.

Makenzie ignored my apology completely. Instead, he started walking toward me, each stride closing the gap with those long legs of his.

He was so tall that even in heels, I only came up to his chin. With every step he took, his intimidating aura pressed down on me so hard I could barely breathe.

I instinctively backed away until my back hit the cold wall, with nowhere left to run.

He stopped right in front of me, leaning down so close that the faint woody scent on him, mixed with the messy blend of wine and coffee, wrapped around me.

"Did you get a kick out of cursing me just now?" he asked, reaching out with those long fingers to tap my cheek, right where a drop of wine had landed.

His fingertips were icy cold, making me shiver.

I squeezed my eyes shut, putting on a brave face like I was about to face the firing squad. "Do whatever you want with me. But I'm telling you. I was right. Ryan deserved every word."

But the slap I was expecting never happened.

Instead, I heard a soft, low laugh.

I cracked one eye open and saw a faint smile tugging at the corners of Makenzie's handsome face.

He wiped the leftover wine from his face, his eyes full of amusement. "Nice splash."

I was dumbfounded.

What the hell was going on? I just dumped two drinks on him, and he was actually saying I did a good job? Was this guy some kind of freak or what?

"But," he said, his tone shifting as he fixed me with those deep, intense eyes, "in all my years, this is the first time anyone's ever called me a lackey to my face."

My heart was in my throat.

"So," he paused, enunciating every word, "to compensate for the emotional distress and damage to my reputation, Ms. Hopkins, you're going to have to take responsibility for me."

"Take responsibility?" I stared at him, eyes wide, practically stammering. "What do you mean, take responsibility?"

He straightened up, calmly fixing his shirt collar, which was a total mess, and then dropped a bombshell.

"We're getting married," he declared.

My mind went totally blank.

Wait, marriage? What marriage?

Oh, right. I was here for a blind date.

So, this was the guy my mom kept saying was the total package: good family, good character, good looks?

I mistook my blind date for my nemesis, dumped drinks on him, yelled at him, and instead of blowing up, he actually wants to marry me?

Was this world nuts or what?

"Mr. Perez, you're not joking, right?" I asked awkwardly.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" he replied, dead serious.

I looked at him with that straight face of his, and honestly, he seemed more serious than ever.

"Why?" I asked, confused. "Just because I threw drinks at you?"

"My mom keeps forcing me into blind dates, and I'm honestly fed up," he explained bluntly. "I need a wife to shut them up. And you're interesting. At least you're not one of those women whose eyes light up the moment they see me, hoping to get something out of me."

He was right, though. When I looked at him earlier, my eyes were filled with nothing but hate.

"So, you just want a decoy?" I asked, finally starting to get it.

"You could say that." Makenzie nodded. "In return, I can help you with any problem you have. For example, I can make your ex and his lapdog vanish from your world permanently."

His voice was steady, but his words made my heart skip a beat.

Make Jonathan and Ryan disappear for good?

Honestly, I was tempted.

Those seven years with Jonathan drained every bit of passion and innocence I had. Three years after the breakup, I acted like I was over it, but deep down, that scar still stings sometimes.

I needed a clean break.

And standing before me was Makenzie, powerful, mysterious, exuding an aura that was both dangerous and irresistibly captivating.

Marrying him felt like a high-stakes gamble.

If I lost, I could be utterly destroyed.

If I won, maybe I could finally embrace a new life.

I stared into his deep, unreadable eyes, and almost as if possessed, I nodded.

"Okay," I said.

From leaving the café to sliding into Makenzie's expensive car, one of those luxury rides I couldn't even name but knew cost a fortune, and then ending up outside the city hall, I was totally spaced out the whole time.

"Did you bring your identification?" Makenzie asked, turning to me.

I nodded on autopilot. "My mom stuffed it in my bag this morning."

"Good," he said, taking my hand and leading me inside.

Fifteen minutes later, I was clutching that marriage certificate, still feeling like I was in a dream.