I blink. Once. Twice.
Then, I burst into laughter.
Not the cute, breathy kind. Full-blown, stomach-clenching laughter.
Adrian just sits there, unfazed.
"Oh, man." I wipe an imaginary tear. "That's a good one. You really had me for a second."
"I'm not joking."
The amusement dies in my throat.
I lean forward, folding my arms. "Let's pretend I don't think you're insane. Why would you want to marry me? We just met."
He studies me, like I'm a puzzle he's solving. "Because it benefits us both."
I scoff. "Oh, does it?"
"Yes." He doesn't blink. Doesn't hesitate.
This man is something else.
"Let me guess," I say. "You need a wife for some business deal? Maybe your grandma won't give you your inheritance unless you settle down?"
His lips twitch, but he doesn't take the bait. "Close, but it's more complicated than that."
"Oh, I'm sure it is."
I shake my head. This is ridiculous. HE is ridiculous.
"You still haven't answered my question," I say. "Why me?"
Adrian's gaze darkens, amusement flickering into something unreadable. "You're the perfect candidate."
Candidate? Like this is some job interview?
I roll my eyes. "I don't marry strangers, especially ones who cause a scene at my job and force me to drink coffee with them."
"Yet, here we are."
I glare. "That doesn't mean anything."
He leans in, voice dropping. "It means you're interested."
Oh, this cocky son of a—
I take a slow sip of coffee just to keep from throwing it in his face. "Fine. Let's hear it. What exactly are you proposing?"
His smirk fades. "A five-year marriage. No commitment, no love. Just business. You'll be well compensated."
I grip my cup tighter. "Compensated?"
"A monthly allowance. A place to stay. Complete financial security."
I let out a humorless laugh. "Wow. So you want a wife on payroll? That's cute."
"It's practical."
"It's insane."
He shrugs, like my answer doesn't matter. And maybe it doesn't. Maybe he already knows I won't say yes.
But then—
"It'll solve your problems, too."
My stomach drops.
I keep my expression neutral. "What do you mean?"
"I know about your dying mother, Mara."
Dying?
My breath catches. My hands go cold.
She's not dying. She's going through chemo. She'll be fine. She has to be fine.
I try to speak, but my mouth doesn't cooperate. Images of her flash through my mind.
And then—
"Three hundred thousand dollars."
I freeze.
Slowly, I whisper, "What?"
He leans back, voice calm. "I'll pay you three hundred thousand dollars every month. For five years."
My breath hitches.
Sixty months.
Eighteen million dollars.
I swallow hard. "You're joking."
His expression remains unreadable. "I can be many things, Mara. But I'm not a joker."
My jaw clenches. As much as this sounds like a life changing offer, I couldn't help but feel like he is only trying to mess with me. "And you think dangling money in front of me is going to make me say yes?"
"No," he says smoothly. "I think you'll consider it because you're running out of options."
I flinch.
Because I am indeed running out of options.
Because I know exactly how much Mom's next round of treatments will cost. Because the bills keep piling up. Because no matter how many shifts I take, how many jobs I do, it's never enough.
I could cut back on everything. Move to a cheaper apartment.
But even as I think it, I know the truth.
And now, Adrian Cole is offering me a way out.
A crazy, dangerous way out.
I exhale sharply. "What do you get out of this?"
He hesitates. Just for a second. Then, his mask slips back into place. "My father left me the company, but there's a clause in his will."
"A clause?"
He nods. "I need to be married to access my full inheritance. If I'm not, the board can vote me out."
I stare at him. "And let me guess—you have zero interest in an actual marriage?"
"None."
I laugh, shaking my head. "Unbelievable."
"I prefer to keep things simple," he says. "No expectations, no attachments. Just a contract that benefits us both."
I've seen enough movies to know how this ends.
Contract marriages rarely stay contract marriages.
And Adrian Cole is not the kind of man I could ever fall for. He's too….him.
My phone beeps. A text from Sarah.
Mom is here.
My stomach drops.
I blink at the screen, rereading the words. Here. In New York.
Why? Did something go wrong with her treatment?
"I have to go." I grab my bag, my heart hammering. Mom isn't supposed to be traveling. She should be resting. The last time she pushed herself too hard, she collapsed in the middle of a grocery store.
Adrian doesn't stop me. He just tilts his head slightly, like he already knows what's coming.
"Think about my offer, Mara."
I shoot him a glare before pushing out of the café.
The second I step outside, I sight her outside my apartment.
Mom is sitting on a bench, looking as elegant as ever in a light blue blouse and gray skirt. But she's thinner than I remember. Her skin is paler. Her posture weaker.
Sarah is next to her, rubbing her back gently.
I rush over. "Mom, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be resting."
She turns to me with a gentle smile, but I see the exhaustion in her eyes. "Oh, Mara, don't fuss. I needed some fresh air."
"Fresh air? You flew across the country for fresh air?"
She sighs, patting my hand. "I'm fine, sweetheart. Really."
I glance at Sarah, who just shrugs.
"She said the same thing to me," Sarah mutters. "And, well… you know how stubborn she is."
She's right.
Mom is stubborn as hell.
And if I push too hard, she'll just dig her heels in deeper.
"Fine," I say finally. "But next time, let me know, okay?"
Mom nods, but I know she's just humoring me.
Then, she frowns slightly, scanning my face. "You look pale, Mara. Is everything okay?"
I force a smile. "Yeah. Just tired from work."
Not a total lie. I am tired.
Tired of worrying.
Tired of pretending I have everything under control when I don't.
Tired of calculating every medical bill, every shift, every dollar—only to realize I'm still falling short.
And now, Adrian Cole has thrown an eighteen million dollar marriage proposal into my already chaotic life.
As I help Mom to her feet, I hear a voice behind me.
"Your mom is way prettier than you."
I don't need to turn around to know who it is.
Because, of course, my life isn't complicated enough without Adrian Cole showing up again.