My Accidental Marriage to the Billionaire CEO

"Sign it."

Alexander's penthouse was nothing like I had ever seen. Floor-to-ceiling glass, looking over the whole city lights of New York. Cold, modern, expensive, with white marble floors and furniture that probably cost more than my entire four years of college. Just like him. Perfect, intimidating, untouchable. And now I was standing in the middle of it, in my cheap black catering uniform that smelled like sour red wine, with a diamond ring that was too big for me taped to my finger because my hands were shaking so much I was scared it would fall off.

He threw a thick, heavy contract onto his marble kitchen island. Ten pages, stapled. Legal language I barely understood, with my name already typed on it: ELLA SCOTT.

I stared at it. "What is this?"

"The marriage contract. The rules of our 90-day arrangement. Read it before you sign, Ella. I'm a fair man."

Fair? He had just blackmailed me into marriage an hour ago at his own engagement party.

I picked it up with trembling hands and started reading out loud, my voice shaking.

"Rule 1: For the next 90 days, Ella Scott will live in Alexander Knight's penthouse as his legal wife and will accompany him to all public events, business dinners, and family gatherings as required."

"Live here? With you?"

"Unless you prefer to commute from your tiny, roach-infested apartment that you can't afford. I had my assistant look you up. You are three months behind on rent. There's a guest room down the hall. Don't worry, I have no interest in sharing a bed with a girl who spills wine for a living."

"Rule 2: No intimacy is required or expected, but she must act as a loving, devoted wife in public at all times. This includes holding hands, kissing on the cheek when required for photos, and attending family dinners with enthusiasm."

"Rule 3: She must not fall in love with him."

I scoffed loudly. "Rule 3 is stupid and arrogant. Why would I ever fall in love with you? You threatened to sue me into oblivion an hour ago."

He smirked, walking closer, still shirtless, revealing a chest that made my brain completely stop working. Hard muscle, perfect abs, broad shoulders, and a dark tattoo on his ribs.

"You'd be surprised how many women fall for me, accidental wife. You are already staring at me like you want me."

"I am NOT staring! I was looking at your tattoo!"

"Rule 4: He will not fall in love with her. Don't worry, princess, that will be the easiest rule of all. You're not my type. I like women who know how to behave in a ballroom."

That stung more than it should have.

"Rule 5: After 90 days, upon successful completion, divorce, $100,000 payment wired to her account, college debt of $42,000 paid in full, no strings attached, and a non-disclosure agreement. She will never speak about this marriage again."

One hundred thousand dollars. Forty-two thousand dollars debt gone. That was life-changing money for me. That was freedom.

He held out a black Montblanc pen. His fingers brushed mine as I took it. Electric. Warm.

I was about to sign when the private penthouse elevator dinged.

"Alex? Darling? Are you here? I heard what Victoria did at the party, you poor thing, I came as fast as I could—"

A beautiful, elegant woman in her 50s walked in with a casserole dish, and froze mid-step when she saw me. Her eyes went from my cheap catering uniform to the huge diamond ring to Alexander shirtless next to me.

Alexander didn't miss a single beat. He walked over in two long strides and wrapped a strong, possessive arm around my waist, pulling me hard against his bare chest. I gasped at the skin contact.

"Mother. Perfect timing. I want you to meet my wife. Ella Knight. My wife. We got married an hour ago at City Hall. It was spontaneous. Love at first sight."

His mother looked like she was going to faint.

"Your WIFE? Alexander Knight, what are you talking about? You were supposed to marry Victoria Hale tonight!"

I could feel his hand tightening on my waist, a silent, dangerous warning: Play along right now or you lose everything.

I swallowed hard and forced the biggest, sweetest, most fake smile of my entire life, leaning into his chest and putting my hand on his stomach. His muscles flexed under my palm.

"Hi... Mom. It's so nice to finally meet you. Alexander talks about you all the time."

Alexander's lips twitched. For the first time tonight, he looked almost amused. His grey eyes were actually laughing at me.

He looked down at me, his voice low and husky and full of fake love for his mother to hear.

"See, Mother? I told you. She already loves you. And I already love her more than life itself. Isn't she perfect?"

His mother was still staring at us like we were aliens who had landed in her son's penthouse.

This was going to be the longest 90 days of my entire life. And the most dangerous. Because the man I had just signed a contract with was looking at me like I was already his.

And for the first time, I wasn't sure if I was acting anymore.