She Hired Him as Her Fake Husband… He Never Expected to Fall in Love
Chapter 2
Charlotte’s grandmother nearly fainted when she saw Ethan.
Not because she disliked him.
Because she didn’t recognize him.
That meant Charlotte had chosen someone outside the family circle.
Her grandmother, Eleanor Bennett, studied him from across the dining room.
“You’re a lawyer?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Family?”
“No.”
“Money?”
“Enough.”
“Ambition?”
Ethan smiled.
“Plenty.”
Charlotte nearly smiled too.
He was good.
Very good.
Her cousin Daniel watched from the other side of the table.
“So how did you two meet?”
Charlotte answered.
“We met through business.”
Ethan added,
“She disliked me immediately.”
Everyone looked at Charlotte.
She stared at him.
“I did not.”
“You did.”
“You challenged my merger proposal.”
“Because it was terrible.”
Daniel laughed.
Eleanor watched them carefully.
“How long have you been together?”
Charlotte opened her mouth.
Ethan answered first.
“Almost a year.”
Charlotte looked at him.
A year?
He shrugged.
“You said believable.”
Eleanor smiled faintly.
“And why didn’t you tell us?”
Charlotte answered.
“Because we wanted privacy.”
Ethan reached beneath the table.
His hand found Charlotte’s.
She nearly jumped.
But she didn’t pull away.
Eleanor noticed.
Charlotte’s heart raced.
This man was too convincing.
After dinner, Eleanor called Charlotte into her office.
“I like him.”
Charlotte blinked.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
“But?”
“There is always a but.”
Eleanor sat down.
“Your cousin believes Ethan is using you.”
Charlotte smiled.
“Daniel believes everyone is using me.”
“Then prove him wrong.”
“What do you mean?”
“Spend the summer together.”
Charlotte stared.
“Grandmother…”
“You want the trust?”
“Yes.”
“Then convince the family.”
Charlotte left the office furious.
She found Ethan downstairs.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“My grandmother wants us to spend three months together.”
He smiled.
“That sounds like the job.”
“She’s serious.”
“So am I.”
“I didn’t expect this.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You hired a fake husband.”
“Yes.”
“You have to expect family complications.”
She sighed.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“A little.”
The first night at Charlotte’s penthouse was awkward.
They had agreed Ethan would move into the guest room.
Charlotte showed him the bedroom.
“You’ll have everything you need.”
He looked around.
“This room is bigger than my apartment.”
“I know.”
He laughed.
“Do you realize how strange your life is?”
“Yes.”
She turned to leave.
“Charlotte?”
“Yes?”
He held up the contract.
“You forgot something.”
“What?”
“No sleeping arrangements clause.”
She frowned.
“What are you suggesting?”
“I’m suggesting you write one.”
She crossed her arms.
“No problem.”
“What should it say?”
She answered immediately.
“You stay in the guest room.”
“Fair.”
“And we don’t kiss.”
“Agreed.”
“And no unnecessary touching.”
“Agreed.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
Ethan smiled back.
“Unless someone is watching.”
Charlotte froze.
“That wasn’t in the contract.”
“It should be.”
For the first time, she wondered whether hiring Ethan Cole had been the biggest mistake of her life.
