NAOMI'S POINT OF VIEW

"Marry me."For a second...I simply stared at him then I laughed.Not a polite laugh.....A genuine, uncontrollable laugh.

"I'm... I'm sorry." I covered my mouth.

"That was actually funny."Mr. Kingsley didn't laugh.His expression remained unreadable.The smile slowly slipped from my face.

"...You're serious?"

"I am."I blinked twice, waiting for him to smile or admit this was some strange billionaire joke.He didn't.

"You can't be serious."

"I've never been more serious."I looked around the ballroom.Several guests were watching us from a distance, pretending not to.

A waiter nearly walked into a flower stand because he was too busy staring.Even the musicians had stopped pretending to rehearse.Heat rushed to my face.

"Mr. Kingsley..."

"Xavier."

"What?"

"My name is Xavier."I frowned.

"This isn't the time to correct me."

"No," he said calmly.

"It isn't."

"Then why are you asking me to marry you?"His jaw tightened.

"My bride disappeared."

"I know."

"I have less than an hour before this wedding is officially declared a failure."

"I'm... sorry."

"So am I."His answer came quietly.

For the first time since we'd met, I noticed how exhausted he looked.The expensive tuxedo,The perfectly tailored jacket,The polished shoes.None of them could hide the dark circles beneath his eyes.

For a brief moment......I almost felt sorry for him.Almost.

"But why me?"

"You stayed calm when everyone else panicked."I frowned.

"What?"

"You helped your coworker instead of blaming her."

"Anyone would've done that."

"No."His gaze remained fixed on mine.

"They wouldn't."I opened my mouth but closed it again.Surely...That couldn't be the reason.

"You don't even know me."

"I know enough."I laughed again, though this time it sounded uncertain.

"Mr... Xavier..."He raised an eyebrow.

"Even if I wanted to help....which I don't......marriage isn't something you ask a complete stranger."

"I know."

"You don't."

"I do."

"No, you really don't."A small silence settled between us.Then he asked,

"Do you trust me?"

"What?"

"I asked if you trust me."

"I met you less than ten minutes ago."

"Fair enough."He slipped one hand into the pocket of his tuxedo.

"I'm not asking because I'm in love with you."

"Good."

"I'm asking because I need your help."

"And I'm not qualified."

"You are."

"No."

"Yes."I folded my arms.

"You really don't give up, do you?"

"I've been told I'm persistent."

"I'd use another word."One corner of his mouth lifted.It was the first hint of amusement I'd seen from him all day.

"I probably deserve that."I sighed.

"Look..."

"I truly am sorry about what happened."

"I can't imagine how difficult today must be."

"But marrying you isn't the answer."I turned to leave.

"I'll pay you."My steps stopped.Slowly...I looked back.

"I'm sorry?"

"I'll compensate you for your time."I stared at him.

"You think I'm saying no because of money?"

"No."

"Then why bring it up?"

"Because what I'm asking will change your life."His voice was calm.

"So it should change mine too."I shook my head.

"You can't buy a wife."

"I'm not trying to."

"It certainly sounds like it."

"I'm offering a contract."I blinked.

"A... what?"

"A temporary marriage."I couldn't help laughing again.

"This gets crazier every second."

"It will last one year."

"And then?"

"We divorce."I stared at him as though he'd lost his mind.

"You've planned all this already?"

"I've had a very stressful morning."

"I can tell."He glanced toward the ballroom entrance where reporters crowded behind the glass doors.

"If this wedding doesn't happen today..."

"My company suffers."

"My employees suffer."

"Thousands of people could lose their jobs."His words caught me off guard.I'd expected him to talk about money,about reputation.Not...People.

Still...It wasn't enough.

"I'm sorry."I shook my head.

"I can't."For a second......Neither of us spoke.Then he took one slow step toward me.

"What if I offered you fifty million dollars?"Everything around me seemed to stop immediately.

I searched his face, waiting for the punchline.

"...How much?"His eyes never left mine.

"Fifty million dollars."

NAOMI'S POINT OF VIEW

"Fifty million dollars."The words echoed in my head.Surely.......I'd heard him wrong.

I stared at Xavier, waiting for him to smile, laugh, or tell me this was some bizarre prank but he didn't.

"You can't be serious."

"I am."

"No..."I shook my head slowly.

"People don't just offer strangers fifty million dollars to get married."

"They do when they have no other choice."For a long moment, neither of us spoke.The ballroom buzzed with whispers around us, but somehow it all sounded distant and I looked him up and down.

Perfectly tailored tuxedo,Calm expression,Confident posture.He certainly looked like a billionaire.Maybe billionaires really did solve problems by throwing money at them.

"I think you've officially lost your mind."A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"My best friend said the same thing."I sighed.

"Mr. Kingsley..."

"Xavier."

"Fine. Xavier."I rubbed my temples.

"Even if I wanted to help.....and I don't.....you can't expect me to marry someone I met less than an hour ago."

"I don't."

"Then why are we still having this conversation?"

"Because I think you're still listening."I hated that he was right.

"I need a wife," he continued calmly.

"You need money."I frowned.

"You don't know anything about me."

"No."

"But judging by your shoes, you've been wearing them for years."I looked down instinctively.

The black heels I'd bought during my second year of college had been repaired so many times I'd stopped counting.

"The stitching on your uniform has been redone by hand."I glanced at my sleeve.Mom had stitched that last month.

"And when your supervisor handed you the marriage documents, you held them like they were made of glass."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"You care."His answer was immediate.

"You care about your work."

"You care about people."

"You stayed behind to help someone who couldn't offer you anything in return."He looked straight into my eyes.

"I don't need a perfect wife."

"I need someone I can trust."His words caught me off guard.Trust?....He trusted me? After barely knowing me?

"You don't even know my favorite color."

"I don't need to."

"You don't know whether I snore."

"I can survive."

"You don't know if I burn toast."

"I'll hire a chef."I blinked....Was he...Joking?A tiny laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

"There it is."

"What?"

"You smiled."I immediately looked away.

"I wasn't smiling."

"You were."

"I wasn't."

"You definitely were."

"This is unbelievable."

"It really is."For the first time all day...He actually smiled....It wasn't a broad grin.Just enough to soften the exhaustion in his face.

And somehow...That made him even more handsome.

Stop it, Naomi.I mentally slapped myself.He's your boss's client and he's asking you to marry him.....Focus.

"I'm still saying no."His smile disappeared.

"I understand."Relief washed over me.Finally....He was giving up but then another voice interrupted.

"She's refusing?"I turned.

The man who had brought me into the suite earlier walked toward us with two lawyers behind him.

He looked between Xavier and me before offering an apologetic smile.

"I'm Liam."He extended a hand.

"Xavier's best friend."I shook it politely.

"Naomi."

"So you're the woman who's making my best friend sweat."Xavier shot him a look.

"Liam."

"What?"He lifted both hands innocently.

"I'm just trying to help."He turned back to me.

"Can I have sixty seconds?"

"I suppose."He nodded gratefully.

"Thank you."He lowered his voice.

"They're lots of people here, let's go somewhere less crowdy"He said and began walking while Xavier and I followed behind him. I noticed I was receiving lots of stares and I quickly looked away.

"I know this sounds insane."He said immediately he stopped walking.

"It does."

"It is."I couldn't argue with that.

"But Xavier isn't a bad man."

"I never said he was."

"He won't force you."

"I know."

"And if you say no..."He glanced at Xavier.

"...he'll accept it."I looked at Xavier and he gave a small nod.

"I will."For some reason...That made this even harder.Because he wasn't trying to manipulate me....He wasn't threatening me.

He was simply asking and waiting.

My phone vibrated again and I frowned.It was another call from the hospital.

This time...Fear settled deep inside my chest and I answered immediately.

"Hello?"

"Miss Bennett?"It was Nurse Angela.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry to disturb you again."

"Is something wrong?"

"We've just received an update from Dr. Hassan."I stopped breathing.

"The surgery has been scheduled."Tears immediately filled my eyes.

"That's wonderful."

"It is."

"But..."My heart sank.

"The payment must be completed within twenty-four hours."Twenty-four hours.

"Otherwise..."The nurse's voice softened.

"We'll have no choice but to give the operating slot to another patient."The world seemed to tilt beneath my feet.

"I..."

"I understand."

"We're sorry."The call ended and I lowered my phone with trembling hands.

My mother.....Twenty-four hours.Years of saving,Still not enough.I closed my eyes.No...There had to be another way,There had to be.

"Naomi."Xavier's voice was gentle.

"You don't have to tell me."I looked at him.

"But someone you love needs help."A tear escaped before I could stop it and I quickly wiped it away.

"I'll figure something out."

"You don't have much time."

"I know."Silence stretched between us then Xavier took one slow step closer.

"If you agree to this marriage..."His voice remained steady.

"...the fifty million will be transferred today."I stared at him.

"...Today?"

"Immediately after the ceremony."Another silence,Longer this time.My mind screamed at me to walk away but my heart whispered something else.

Mom.....I slowly looked down at the contract the lawyer had placed on the nearby table. It needed just my signature,One impossible decision.....One chance to save the only family I had left.

NAOMI'S POINT OF VIEW

My fingers trembled as I reached for the pen.This wasn't how I'd imagined getting married.

There were no butterflies,No months of planningNo happy tears.....Just a contract with a stranger and a mother waiting for a surgery I couldn't afford.

The lawyer slid the document toward me.

"Miss Bennett, please take your time."I almost laughed.

Take my time?The groom had less than an hour before his empire began to crumble.

The surgeon had given me twenty-four hours to save my mother.Time was the one thing neither of us had.I lowered my eyes to the contract.

CONTRACT MARRIAGE AGREEMENT

Duration: One year.

Compensation: Fifty million dollars.

Confidentiality: Absolute.

At the bottom of the page was a blank line waiting for my name.I closed my eyes.

Mom.......Please forgive me.When I opened them again...I signed.....Naomi Bennett.

The scratching sound of the pen seemed deafening.The lawyer immediately signed as a witness before passing the document to Xavier.Without hesitation......He signed his name beside mine.

It was done....I had just agreed to marry a man I'd met less than an hour ago.Liam let out a long breath.

"I can't believe that actually worked."Xavier ignored him.Instead, he looked at me.

"You can still walk away."I blinked.

"What?"

"If you've changed your mind..."

"...say so now."His voice was calm.

"No one will force you."I stared at him.Most people would've tried convincing me to stay.He was giving me another chance to leave.For some reason.......That made me trust him just a little so I shook my head.

"I gave you my word."He nodded once.

"Then let's get married."

**

**

**

The ballroom had fallen eerily quiet.....Hundreds of guests sat whispering among themselves,Some were checking their watches while Others were scrolling through gossip sites already reporting that the wedding had been delayed.

Near the altar, the officiant looked just as confused as everyone else then the doors opened and every head turned.

A collective gasp swept through the room.

"Who is she?"

"That's not Isabella."

"What's going on?"

"I've never seen her before."My knees almost gave out.....I wasn't wearing a designer wedding gown....There hadn't been time.

One of the stylists had quickly altered a beautiful ivory dress meant for a bridal photoshoot sponsored by the hotel. It fit surprisingly well.My hair had been pinned into a simple elegant bun.

A pearl veil rested lightly over my shoulders.....I barely recognized myself.Liam leaned closer and whispered,

"Smile."

"I think I'm going to faint."

"You can faint after the vows."I shot him a nervous glare and he grinned.

"Too late now."The music began.....Every step toward the altar felt unreal.....Xavier was already waiting.Tall and Composed.....Impossibly handsome in his black tuxedo.

When our eyes met......Something inside me settled.Not because I knew him but because he looked just as overwhelmed as I felt.

The officiant cleared his throat.

"We are gathered here today..."I heard almost nothing after that...Everything sounded distant.

"...Do you, Xavier Kingsley, take Naomi Bennett to be your lawful wife?"

"I do."Without hesitation,Without uncertainty.The officiant smiled.

"And do you, Naomi Bennett..."My throat tightened.

"...take Xavier Kingsley to be your lawful husband?"I looked at the stranger standing in front of me.Then I thought about my mother.

"I..."For one terrifying second, no sound came out....The entire ballroom held its breath.

"I do."Applause erupted immediately.Camera flashes exploded from every direction.I blinked against the bright lights.

"...I now pronounce you husband and wife."My heart hammered and the officiant smiled.

"You may kiss your bride."My eyes widened.Nobody had mentioned that part.....I looked at Xavier in panic.He leaned in slightly and whispered,

"We'll keep it simple."Before I could respond, he gently brushed a kiss against my forehead. Soft and respectful.

Gone almost as quickly as it happened.The crowd applauded even louder.

**

**

**

Reporters flooded outside the hotel the moment the ceremony ended.Questions were shouted from every direction.

"Mr. Kingsley!"

"Who is your wife?"

"When did you meet?"

"Is this why the ceremony was delayed?"Security quickly escorted us through a private exit.I released a shaky breath as the limousine door closed.

For the first time all day......It was quiet....Xavier loosened his tie.

"You alright?"I stared down at the wedding ring on my finger.

"No."He gave a small nod.

"Neither am I."Despite everything.......That honest answer almost made me smile.The limousine started moving....After a few minutes, I looked out the window.

"I need to stop somewhere first."Xavier turned toward me.

"Where?"I looked down at my bouquet.

"My mother."He frowned slightly.

"She's in the hospital."Silence filled the car.

"I got married today..."

"...and she doesn't even know."My voice cracked.

"I can't let her hear it from the news."For a moment, Xavier said nothing.Then he leaned forward.

"Change of plans."The driver glanced into the rearview mirror.

"Sir?"

"We're going to the hospital "

"Which hospital,is it??"He asked.

"St. Mary's Hospital."I muttered.

"You heard her"

"Yes, Mr. Kingsley."As the car changed direction, I looked out the window, my heart pounding....I had become Mrs. Kingsley but I had no idea how I was going to explain any of this to my mother.