The rehearsal dinner was held in a private garden draped in fairy lights—the kind of place that made Maya feel like she was living in a Pinterest board for "Happily Ever After.""Remember," Maya hissed as they stepped onto the grass, "Liam thinks I'm devastated. He thinks I'm at home crying into a bucket of rocky road ice cream. We need to look like we've been dating for six months, not sixty minutes."Julian didn't even look at her. He just adjusted his cufflink, looking every bit the billionaire predator. "I've closed multi-million dollar mergers with less preparation than this, Maya. Relax. Your heart is beating so fast I can see it through your dress.""That's because my life is a dumpster fire!"Before she could say more, a familiar, smug voice drifted toward them. "Maya? Is that you?"Maya froze.
There he was, Liam. Looking exactly like the man who had broken her heart via a three-sentence text message two days ago. Beside him was a girl who looked like she'd been filtered through three different beauty apps."Liam," Maya said, her voice barely a squeak. She felt Julian's hand slide possessively around her waist. The heat of his palm through the silk of her dress was the only thing keeping her upright.Liam's eyes traveled from Maya to Julian, and his smug grin faltered. "I didn't think you'd… make it. Who's this?"Julian didn't wait for Maya to fumble through the "Bali" story. He stepped forward, extending a hand with the kind of confidence that made Liam look like a toddler in a rental suit."Julian Thorne," he said, his voice dropping into a smooth, dangerous silk. "I'm the lucky man who's been keeping Maya very busy lately."Liam shook his hand, wincing slightly at what Maya suspected was a bone-crushing grip.
"Thorne? Do you work in finance?""I own the company that manages the finance," Julian replied coolly. He turned to Maya, his expression softening into something so tender it actually made Maya's stomach flip. "Darling, you didn't tell me your friends were so… charming."The way he said darling sent a shiver down Maya's spine that wasn't entirely fake."We're not friends," Maya blurted out. "Liam is my… cousin's friend. From college. Right, Liam?"Liam turned bright red. "We were engaged, Maya. Two days ago."Julian tilted his head, feigning surprise. "Engaged? To you?" He looked Liam up and down with a pitying smile. "Well, I suppose everyone makes mistakes. I'm just glad Maya realized her worth before it was too late."He leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to Maya's temple. The scent of his expensive cologne clouded her senses. For a moment, Maya forgot it was a performance. She forgot about the agency fee and the "Premium Package.""Hey, everyone!" Maya's sister, Sarah, yelled from the podium. "Time for the 'How They Met' game! Maya, Julian—you're up first!"Maya's blood turned to ice. She hadn't practiced the "Bali" story enough. She looked at Julian, panicked.Julian just winked at her—a quick, wicked flash of silver eyes. "Don't worry, Maya. I'm a very good liar."