Emma

The crisp evening breeze wraps around us as we step out of the restaurant, leaving behind the opulent ambiance of Trattoria Amore.

Of all the places Asher could've chosen, this was the last one I expected. The Asher I remember wouldn't be caught dead in such pretentious restaurants. But the tailored suit he's sporting now should've tipped me off.

Yeah, he's looking all shades of hot in that dark suit but this isn't a trip down memory lane.

Walking beside me, Asher remains silent with his hands buried deep in his pockets and his gaze fixed on the ground. I can't help but wonder what's going on in his mind, especially since my own thoughts are in a complete jumble right now.

Before we know it, the sign of Harborside comes into view. The door chime welcomes us in, along with the scent of freshly baked pies and hushed conversations.

"So, Harborside, huh?" I raise an eyebrow, breaking the silence.

He smirks, mischief dancing in his eyes. "After all the hours we spent here, it seemed fitting for a conversation about marriage."

A flush creeps up my cheeks, but before I can react, a waitress approaches.

"Table for two?" She beams at us, gesturing to an empty booth.

"Sure." Asher nods, and we follow her.

As we slide into the booth, the atmosphere changes, becoming more cozy and familiar—almost like stepping into a cherished memory. I've lost count of the times we came here together. We spent hours here talking about everything and nothing.

"Two slices of your signature chocolate pie, please." I steal a glance at Asher as I place my order.

Leaning in, he grins playfully. "Better make it three. You know, just in case someone tries to snatch mine."

"Smart move." The waitress lets out a soft chuckle. "Can I get you guys anything to drink?"

"Two bottles of sparkling water, please," I say, narrowing my eyes playfully at Asher.

"Sure thing, coming right up." She nods.

As she walks away, our eyes lock, and an unspoken connection passes between us.

"Are you sure this is really the place for a serious talk?" I say. "We've had our fair share of heated debates here."

He chuckles a deep and warm sound that sends a flutter through me. "Remember those epic battles over the best pie in the city?" he says.

"Of course." I nod, studying him from the corner of my eye. "Just so we're clear, I was always right."

He rolls his eyes, a familiar exasperation in his gaze. "Stubborn as ever."

"And you've always enjoyed challenging me," I say, my heart skipping a beat as our eyes lock. It's like time hasn't moved, like we're suspended in that old rhythm.

But reality pulls me back to the present, reminding me it's been a long time since we last came here. We're two different people now. Life made sure to change the course of our fate years ago.

So much so he's brought me here to discuss marriage. A business proposition, of all things.

"Here you go." The waitress returns with our desserts, placing them gently before us.

"Thanks," Asher says, offering her a polite smile before she leaves.

Taking a bite of the chocolate pie, I close my eyes for a moment to savor the velvety sweetness on my tongue. "Still as heavenly as I remember."

He takes a bite too, looking down. "Yeah..."

Clearing my throat, I summon the courage to address why we're here."So, are you going to tell me more about this odd marriage proposal?"

"I guess I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the idea myself." He rubs his face, leaning back in his chair.

"I thought you wanted to help Max..." I whisper, trying to understand what's going on in his mind.

"I do." He swallows, the tension in his jaw palpable. "But I never thought I'd be asking you to marry me like this."

"Oh..." I murmur.

"I guess this was not what our fathers had in mind when they decided to play matchmaker." He lets out a humorless chuckle, and I know we'll need to address the elephant in the room if we're really considering this marriage thing.

"No, they wanted me to be with Max," I sigh, the memories of that time resurfacing—the pressure, the arguments, the heartache...

"He's still in love with you," Asher whispers, his eyes holding mine as a storm of emotions I can decipher swirls in his gaze.

"What? No!" I scoff, a mix of surprise and disbelief coloring my tone. "We've hashed this out multiple times, and he's made it clear—"

"He said he'd follow your lead, do whatever you wanted," he cuts me off, a small grin tugging at his lips.

"Well..." I clear my throat. "That was a lifetime ago, Asher. We were a bunch of stupid kids, naive, and—"

"I should've spoken to you before I left," he confesses, his gaze softening as a nostalgic smile graces his lips. "I should've treated you better."

"You know..." I study him, trying to pinpoint the moment everything between us changed. "I never quite got why you had to disappear like that," I murmur, my heart and mind at war.

"Honestly?" His smile holds a touch of self-deprecation, and a flicker of vulnerability dances in his eyes. "I believed you'd find more happiness with Max."

"So, you left because you thought I'd magically fall for him if you weren't around?" I shake my head, a blend of frustration and hurt churning within me. "You underestimated my feelings for you back then."

"He was in love with you, Emma," he whispers.

I look away, confirming what I've always known. Max might've had feelings for me at some point, but Asher never really loved me enough to fight for us. "It's all in the past now," I say.

"Is it?" he sighs. "Are you really ready to pretend that we have a solid relationship? Your family name is a powerful force in the business world, Emma. This arrangement would satisfy this absurd marriage requirement and give me leverage against Henry."

"My father is worth billions of dollars, not me," I correct him, and his eyes soften.

"Max says he cut you off and you didn't even put up a fight..."

"Because I was looking for peace for once in my life, and if it meant having to leave it all behind, so be it."

"What happened between you two?"

"I'd rather not dig into that," I shrug, not in the mood to discuss my father. "You said this marriage would be all business, so... What's the game plan?"

"Max's team envisions a grand show..." He exhales, frustration pouring off him. "A lavish wedding, media buzz, glimpses into our lives—"

"Wait!" I gasp, incredulity flooding my voice. "They expect us to live together?"

"Well, that's normally what happens when two people get married." He smirks, and I can't help but roll my eyes.

"But you said it would be a strictly business arrangement, funny bones?"

"For us, yes." He clears his throat, a faint smile dancing on his lips. "But they're persistent about reshaping my public image. Apparently, portraying me as a devoted family man is part of the plan."

"Wow..." I let out a long breath. "I guess I didn't really think these things through."

"Emma, look." He reaches out to hold one of my hands. "I know we have a lot of history but I trust you, and deep down you know you can trust me with this."

"I've never lived with a guy before." I give him a small smile, and he squeezes my hand.

"Well, me neither." He entwines our fingers, making my lower belly clench at the silliness in his tone.

"I'm serious, Ash." I pull my hand away because, apparently, my body doesn't seem to comprehend that whatever chemistry we had is in the past now.

"Here." He pulls a neatly folded sheet of paper from his pocket and hands it to me.

"What is it?" I take it from him, unable to hide my curiosity.

"The numbers we're talking about," he says, and my eyes widen as I read the figures.

A mix of excitement and uncertainty swirls within me as I try to process the incredible offer before me."This is..." I lean in, my voice dropping to a whisper as my mind struggles to grasp the enormity of what they're proposing. "This is over ten million dollars for our first year of marriage."

"Yeah." He nods, a slight twitch at the corner of his lips revealing a mix of anticipation and uncertainty.

"That sounds almost too good to be true," I mutter, my head shaking in disbelief and amazement. "And you're saying there's even more money for each year we're together?"

"We want to make you sure you'll never have to worry about money again." He nods, his eyes holding mine.

"That's too good to be true..." I let out a long breath. "What's the catch?"

"There's no hidden agenda, Emma. You're fully aware of what we need from you, and we have complete faith in your integrity," he says. "Our legal team will send you the necessary documents, and if you're comfortable with the terms, we'll set the date for the wedding."

"I love my house..." I glance down at the paper in my hands, my fingers trembling slightly. "You have no idea how hard I worked to get to where I am now."

"And I don't want you to give it up," he says, his words soft and understanding. "But for appearances, we'll need a new place."

"Gosh..." I whisper, the weight of the decision settling over me.

"Let's sleep on it and meet again over the week," he suggests, leaning in closer. "We'll get our expectations down on paper and hash out the details together."

"That sounds..." I pause, grappling with the swirl of emotions dancing within me. "Yeah, that sounds like a reasonable plan."

He holds my gaze, his expression open and sincere. "I know I disappointed you in the past and that you have no reason to trust me. But I'm giving you my word that I won't mess this up with you this time."

As his words linger in the air, the reality of his proposition sinks in.

I'm faced with a choice that could alter my destiny and the future of my cherished shelter forever.

I've poured my heart and soul into helping women find their strength again. The possibility of using this money to provide more support and resources to the shelter tugs at my heartstrings.

"All right." I hold out my hand to him. "I'll do it." 

As he places his hand on mine, he visibly relaxes. There are all sorts of emotions going on in his gaze right now, and I'm sure they match my own, somehow.

Among all the unexpected twists in our lives, entering into a fake engagement deal with Asher is definitely the most surprising one.

_____

A/N: When it comes to fake relationship tropes, my favorite part is the moment they're stuck together trying to deal with all the feelings and sexual tension that arises from the forced proximity.

Trust me, you don't wanna miss the next chapters of Emma & Asher's journey! ;)

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XOXO

Celeste