But I gotta keep going because I've already come this far. I continue with the belief that the truth is the best option. "My father has given me an ultimatum. I have to go home from December 1st to January 2nd in order to become CEO. If I don't, he's naming my brother, Alexander, as the head of the company. So I need a fake wife. You in or out?"

Her eyes turn to slits. "But why?""

"Because my mother isn't going to stop pushing women on me the whole time I'm there," I admit.

"So just deal with it," Georgia asserts. She doesn't understand that that's not possible.

I sigh. "Here's the thing, Georgia. It's not that easy. You don't know my mother. She'll literally have every single woman in town at our house at all times of the night and day. Plus, I don't want to deal with it. I need to work. You know, all the projects we have to get finished before the end of the year. I don't have time for my mother's matchmaking games. It'll be a complete nightmare for me if I don't bring home a fake wife."

She stares at me as if processing everything. I wait until she accuses, "So you're going to trick your family?"

I sit back and cross my arms. "Georgia. Did you hear what I just said?"

"But it's your family. You'd be lying to them."

And this is why she's so perfect.

I nod. "Yep."

She tilts her head. "So you think it's okay to lie?"

"Oh please, Georgia. Let's not go into your Girl Scout routine."

"Excuse me?" she says, offended once again.

I reprimand myself. I need to get the ball through the hoop, not send her running. I lean closer. "Sorry. Here's the deal. I'll pay you $100,000 if you become my wife and then divorce me on January 2nd."

Shock fills her face.

I add, "I'll put it in writing in a prenup. Think of it as a business contract."

She looks at me like I'm crazy.

"Think about it. You'll have all the money you need to open your cupcake bakery. Isn't that what you said you wanted instead of working for me?" I wait a beat, then add, "Which I know you really don't want to be doing."

She blurts out, "I like my job here."

"I didn't say you didn't. I said that it's not what you really want to be doing," I clarify.

In a worried voice, she repeats, "I like my job here, and I'm grateful for it."

I hold my hands in the air. "No one said you didn't, Georgia. Look, all I'm trying to do is create a win-win for both of us. I get my mother off my back, and you get paid for your cooperation in exchange. You'll have plenty to open your cupcake bakery."

She bites her lip. Too much time passes without her saying anything.