AllFreeNovel
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“I need a lot of money. I…found myself in a situation where this was the only way out.”
His brows crease. “Are you in trouble, Megan?”
I almost laugh. I might if he wasn’t so right. “I’m handling it.”
“Megan, if you’re in trouble, you should tell me.” The blue of his eyes darken with a wealth of concern that touches my heart and I wish I could tell him what’s happened to me. I almost wonder if it would be okay, but I hold back like I have been because I don’t know if I’d be doing more harm to myself than good.
I do have a handle on the situation because I’ve been paying Bill, so maybe it’s best to err on the side of caution.
“Things were bad, but I’m okay now. You’ve helped me more than you know. I’m hoping by next year I’ll be back on track to where I need to be.”
“One year?” His brows lift. “What happens after?”
“I get to start over or hopefully pick up where I left off.” My shoulders relax at the welcoming thought of freedom.
“Well…I have another offer for you. Something that might help you start over sooner or pick up where you left off.”
“Another offer?” He already had my attention, but now I’m hanging on to every syllable of his words.
“Yes, but because it’s something that will bind you to me for more than a year, I want you to think about it.”
That sounds mysterious. “What’s the offer?”
He releases a steady breath. “It’s five million dollars to marry me and stay married to me for three years.”
My blood freezes in my veins. There’s no way I heard him say what I think I heard.
“What? What did you say?”
“I need you to marry me, Megan, and stay married to me for three years. If you agree, I’ll pay the first million up front and the rest at the end of the three years.”
“Oh my God. You’re serious?”
“I’m very serious.” He opens his palms, then knits his fingers together. “I’m supposed to take over my family business, but my grandfather wants me to get married before I do.”
My head is spinning. As I think of the crazy amount of money five million dollars is and all I could do with it, every atom in my body comes alive.
I’d be debt free and I could do everything I ever wanted. I could find my stepfather and continue investigating my mother’s death.
But… doing this—marrying him—would be a big deal.
It’s easy to close your eyes and shun the little things that usually mean something to you when you’re desperate.
Like the fact that marriage for me meant being with someone you love forever.
I was married to Hunter only a few months ago. When we said I do, I saw happiness. I saw love. I saw hope and dreams we would accomplish together.
Although marriage has left a dark mark on my soul, I still see all those things.
“I can see you’re processing this. I know it’s a lot.” He reaches out and runs a thumb over my knuckle. “Don’t give me an answer now. Go home and think. I just need an answer by Saturday.”
Two days. “Okay, I’ll do that.” I’d be crazy to turn him down, but I suppose it’s wise to take the time to think if I’m being offered it.
“Don’t come back to the club until you give me an answer. I’ll compensate you.”
He stands, plants a kiss on my forehead, then leaves.
I stare at the wall and think of what five million could do for me.
