Chapter 1

‘Come again? I didn’t hear you the first time.

The blonde haired young man sitting on the other side of the desk stared at his friend in utter disbelief, as though the words that came out were too foreign to understand. He stared for so long he didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, be embarrassed or be confused. Haven Gray rubbed his temples, clearly agitated over his friend's reaction. His hands clenched into fists as he remembered the conversation he had on the phone with his mother a few days ago.

“I need to see my grandchildren,” she said.

“You're not getting any younger,” she complained.

“Do you want me to die a lonely woman,” she whined.

Haven wasn't sure how well he'd handled her entire phone conversation without him throwing his phone halfway across his room.

And then he'd told her he was already planning to marry someone soon. Which was a big, stupid, lie. But he needed her off his neck. 

And then she'd ask that he bring this new soon to be wife of his because she was well aware that he had just gotten out of a serious dating scandal. 

Anyway, long story short. And now he has to find a wife in a week or she would find one for him instead. 

Fuck relationships. Really.

‘’I need a wife,’’ Haven repeated for the second time again, watching as his friend, Matt, grimaced.

‘’If you haven’t noticed,’’ Matt began. ‘’Ever since Catherine, you’ve been on this cold level with ladies. Even the company ladies are scared to talk to you.’’

‘’I didn’t ask you to state the obvious, idiot,’’ Haven hissed.

‘’So, why exactly do you need a wife?’’

‘’Because my mom won’t let me rest.’’ Haven sighed and abruptly dropped the paperwork in his hand on the table, scattering them. 

Matt fixed his gaze on his friend. ‘’Well, your mom can be pretty scary when she wants something.’’

‘’So, are you going to help me or not?’’

‘’It’s going to be hard to find someone who can cope with you,’’ Matt said, earning a glare from Haven. ‘’I have a hard time coping with you myself.’’

Haven ignored him, returning to the files he’d thrown carelessly on the table as Matt brought out his phone to make a call. He stared at the files, calculating. All he had to do was find a woman, hire her to be his fake wife, pretend and show the public that he was in love, make his mother believe he really loves her and then break up with her after a month or two. That way, he wouldn’t be forced to get into another marriage for a while, especially if he played the part of a heartbroken husband well. 

The plan was simple and he only hoped it would work out. He was about to grin in victory when he instantly froze.

His mother was coming to his place in a few days, and she would be staying at his house.

Well, fuck.

‘’Order up!’’ Alexis yelled across the counter, alerting half of the customers seated down. She muttered a low sorry before she turned to her partner Jake. ‘’Coffee for table six and Ice-Americano for table two.’’ She handed the tray to him and patted his back softly. ‘’Hurry up, that man in table six has been staring at you like he wants to eat you.’’

‘Shut up,’ Jake hissed. ‘Why don’t you go?’

‘’Because, I don’t feel like it.’’ She patted his back again. With a roll of his eyes, he walked off. Alexis laughed at how stiff his movements were. She knew he had a thing for the man at table six. He shoul

d be thanking her instead of acting ungrateful.‘Can I get my order please?’ A man yelled.

‘’Coming up,’’ She said, puffing out air from her mouth. The day Samantha isn’t around and the cafe is packed full. She hated days like this. Taking a pen and a notepad, she walked to table three.

The man who had made his order stared back at her with a frown and she forced a smile at him. ñ on table three always ended up being the rudest and most annoying person on earth. This time around, it was a bunch of big wannabe gangster men in sleek gangster outfits. She tried not to wince too much at their exaggerated makeup and hair style.

‘’I want Chicken nuggets.’’ The first person who looked like a rainbow threw up spoke first.

Alexis jotted it down. ‘’And?’’

‘’And a beer.’’ He pointed to his friends. ‘’Make that an order of five.’’

‘’Alright.’’ She jotted down again. ‘’Do you need anything else?’’ Please say no, she mentally pleaded.

‘’Oh, and some pancakes.’’ Another with bright blue hair requested.

She flashed him a smile. ‘’Fifteen minutes top and I’ll be right back.’’

As she turned around, she caught sight of Jake flirting openly with the man at table six. He looked at her and blushed, turning away just as fast as he moved to the next table.