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He and Chase brought coffee and muffins from the bakery. Which almost seems like a consolation prize for sorry we can’t help you. Don’t forget to shut the door behind you when you leave town.
I drink my consolation prize shamelessly. “Couldn’t wait until after I was done with this coffee?”
“My brother doesn’t beat around the bush,” Chase says, a bit distracted as he checks the place out—subtly.
“I guess I’m not surprised, but what makes this so airtight?”
Noah’s jaw flexes and he glances at Chase, who cocks his head with a shrug. “Take it easy, man. She was in love. You wouldn’t know anything about that.”
Noah flips to the last page. “Pepper. See where it says right here above the line you signed? I have read, understand and accept all the terms outlined in this agreement?”
I chuckle because if I don’t, I’ll probably cry. “Well, now I do.”
“That’s the part that makes this airtight,” he snaps and tosses it down.
I nod at the pages on the counter and set my coffee down. “Right. Of course. Will you excuse me for a moment?”
I round the counter and don’t stop until I’m safely hidden in the corridor leading to the bedroom. I swallow the tears threatening and breathe out silently.
It’s okay. I’m okay. There’s nothing you can do now but fix your stupid mistake, Pepper, so pull yourself together and—
There’s a loud bang behind the wall.
“What the hell—” Noah starts.
The voice that responds is almost lethal. “Calm the fuck down. If you didn’t want to help, you shouldn’t have offered.”
I peek from behind the wall, just as Chase releases his brother’s collar, stepping away from him. Noah looks…remorseful. Huh. Who knew the cold jackass had a conscience.
Clearing my throat, I reenter the kitchen. “Sorry about that. Where were we? Oh right. Thank you for looking this over for me, Noah. I appreciate your help.”
“What help?” Chase mutters, shaking his head and looking out the window.
“There is one other option,” Noah says. His eyes focused on the tile floor.
“Fake my death?” I ask with a bitter laugh.
“Not exactly. Get married.”
“What?”
He shrugs. “If you’re already married, he can’t force you into another marriage. In fact, he’ll figure out a way to tell the media that you both realized it’s not the best time and agreed to part ways. I know how politicians work. Once they know they can’t get something, they’ll make it look like it was their idea and they’re better off.”
“I don’t want to get married.”
Noah holds up a contract that says I do. But before he can say the words, Chase snatches it out of his hands. “Get out.”
“Yeah. I’ll go. But that’s really looking like your only option. It’s not an easy one because you’d have to convince a lot of people that it’s the real deal.”
I resist the urge to ask for more details. Besides, it’s unrealistic to ask. It’s not like I can pull a guy off the streets to marry me temporarily.
I rub my temples and take a deep breath to calm my growing anxiety. All of this is…too overwhelming.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help,” Noah offers awkwardly.
I sniffle and smile politely. “I appreciate you trying. Without a fee, especially. Since I probably couldn’t afford you.” I wink, making a joke out of our tiff at the Inn yesterday.
Chase draws his phone, quietly greeting someone on the line as he slips down the hall.
