35 • I Lie, Cheat, And Make Deals

◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆

The goal was simple. Cheat the clauses, then cash in my inheritance. I'd just found a loophole. And it should be something I could use to my advantage.

The plan:

1) Find a fake wife.

2) Get married somewhere.

3) Collect my money.

4) Split the cash.

5) Get a divorce.

It was doable. Plausible. Not too easy, but not that difficult to pull off, either.

Sure. I could've picked a better day, another place, and a more reasonable time to pitch my idea. But since honesty and transparency was today's theme, I should just get it over with to see if there's any chance she'd agree to it.

"What?" Adreana blinked a few times, perhaps just letting my answer sink in. Her dazed look revealed just how much shock my words managed to deliver.

"I need someone to pretend to be my wife. For some time."

Adreana faked another grin, her dark and long brows creasing. "Pretend?"

My jaw clenched. "A year tops."

"One year?"

"Preferably." Six months could work, but, to be sure, a full y