Maya checked her watch for the fourteenth time in three minutes."Forty-eight hours," she whispered to her reflection in the gilded lobby mirror. "Forty-eight hours ago, I had a fiancé, a five-year plan, and a dignity. Now, I have a 'Professional Plus-One' named… what was it? Julian?"She glanced at the booking confirmation on her phone. The Elite Escort Agency: Making Your Ex Regret Everything. It had cost her three months' rent, but seeing her mother's face if she showed up alone to her sister's wedding would have cost her her soul.The revolving glass doors spun.A man stepped into the lobby, and the air in the room seemed to shift. He wasn't just handsome; he was expensive. He wore a charcoal suit that probably cost more than Maya's car, and he moved with the predatory grace of someone who owned the building.
Maya's heart did a frantic tap-dance. There's no way this is him. This guy looks like he buys companies for breakfast, not dates-for-hire.The man scanned the room, his gaze landing on Maya. He tucked his phone into his pocket and walked straight toward her. Every step he took made Maya want to either bolt for the exit or fix her hair.He stopped three feet away. His eyes were a cool, piercing grey—the kind that looked like they could read your bank statements just by looking at you."Maya?" his voice was a low, smooth baritone."Julian?" she squeaked, then cleared her throat, trying to regain her 'Cool Professional' persona. "I mean—yes. Hi. You're… earlier than I expected."He didn't smile. He just gave her a slow, once-over appraisal that made her skin prickle. "Efficiency is part of the Premium Package. I assume you have the briefing materials?"Maya fumbled with her clutch, pulling out the crumpled piece of paper. "Right. The Backstory. We met at a silent retreat in Bali. You're a structural engineer who loves rescue dogs and experimental jazz. My family is… intense. Especially my Aunt Clara. If she asks about our kids, just tell her we're focusing on our careers in 'The City.'"Julian took the paper, his fingers brushing hers for a split second.
The contact felt like a static shock. He glanced at the notes, a faint, amused quirk appearing at the corner of his mouth."Experimental jazz? That's a bold choice, Maya.""I was panicked when I filled out the form!" she hissed, leaning in closer as she saw her sister, the bride, approaching from the ballroom. "Look, my sister is coming. From this moment on, you are the man who swept me off my feet after my trash-can ex dumped me. Can you do 'deeply in love'?"Julian looked at her then—really looked at her. He reached out, his hand sliding firmly around her waist, pulling her flush against his side.
The warmth of him was overwhelming."For what you paid for the weekend, Maya," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear, "I can be whatever you want me to be."Maya's breath hitched. She was so distracted by the smell of his sandalwood cologne that she didn't notice the strange, calculating look in his eyes—the look of a man who knew exactly who she was, and exactly which desk she'd be sitting at on Monday morning."Maya!" her sister shrieked, running over. "Is this him? Is this the mystery man?"Julian tightened his grip on Maya's waist and flashed a dazzling, movie-star smile. "Julian Thorne. And you must be the beautiful bride Maya hasn't stopped talking about."Maya froze. Thorne? Why did that name sound so familiar? She shook it off. It didn't matter. She just had to survive the next 48 hours .