I’m talking to Rita Cullerson, an up-and-coming property developer, when James slides up behind me and grabs my arm.

He leans in and whispers into my ear, “Serious emergency.”

I roll my eyes. A serious emergency for James? We’re probably out of Malbec.

He tugs on my arm and his face appears pale. “Cynthia Frost is on her way here.”

I freeze. Rita Cullerson is still talking, but I only see her mouth moving. I don’t hear any words coming out.

My flight-or-fight response kicks in, and I manage to get out, “If you’ll excuse me.”

My heart is pounding, but I project outward calm. I get James to a less crowded area of the party. “What the fuck?” I ask him.

“She’s not dead,” he says. “I just received the intel, and she’s crashing your party.”

I wake up to see Cynthia standing naked in the sunlight streaming through the bedroom window. She looks fucking good, I have to admit, but I already regret sleeping with her.

Never mix business and pleasure.

“Rise and shine,” she says, her lips curling into a seductive smile.

“I need to go,” I say, throwing the blankets off and hurriedly looking for my clothes.

“No morning quickie?” she asks, pouting.

I shake my head. “No. I’m about to sign a deal with the devil. I need to get ready.”

She arches an eyebrow. “Rumor has it that you’re going to sell forty percent of your company to Xinfeng.”

I sigh. “I guess since we fucked, and since it’s going to be public knowledge in a few hours, I can confirm to you that it’s true.”

“What if…” Cynthia says, pacing naked back and forth, putting a finger to her lip. “What if I had another way out for you?”

“You going to give me a shitload of money?” I ask.

“You need $800 million, right?”

I laugh. “I know I’m a good fuck, but I doubt I’m worth that much.”

She rolls her eyes.

She’s old money, and I fucked her only after our deal fell through. I figured if I couldn’t get her company to bail us out, I might as well have some fun with her.

“You already turned me down, Cynthia.”

“That was before,” she says. “But hear me out. I have a proposal for you.”

“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

I really don’t want to deal with the Chinese, but up to this point, Xinfeng was my only option.

She takes hold of my arm and presses her naked body up against me. Her hard nipples graze against my arm, and she presses her lips up to my ear. “Marry me.”

I laugh and push her away. “Jesus, Cynthia, I thought you meant a business proposal. Not a proposal.”

She giggles. “I do mean it as a business proposal. I know that Liam-fucking-Lions isn’t going to get married when he’s twenty years old, but what about in ten years?”

“Ten years?”

“Mmhmm,” she says. “If you agree to marry me in ten years, I will agree to the deal with you.”

“The same deal you turned down a month ago?” I ask.

She nods.

“What if…I meet someone else?”

She laughs. “You know we’re meant for each other, Liam.”

Is she for real? I didn’t feel a fucking thing for her, other than wanting to get my dick wet. Does she seriously think there is any romance or feelings between us? As cold as it is, I’ll exploit any feelings she may have to get out of making this deal with Xinfeng.

“If you are engaged before your thirtieth birthday, then the deal is off,” she says. “You don’t have to marry me, but you do have to pay me back.”

I consider it. If all goes well, paying her back will be no big deal in ten years. And if I’m totally fucked and can’t afford to pay her back, then I have to marry her. It’s ten years from now, so whatever.

“Let’s call our lawyers,” I say.

She squeals. “Oh my God, I can’t believe it. We’re getting married!”

I force a smile. I’ll have to make sure my lawyers make this contract airtight. I am not marrying Cynthia Frost.

Fuck! I look at my watch. It’s still three hours until I turn thirty.

“How the fuck did this happen?” I ask James. “Tell me you still have the--”

James nods. “I do, but Gabriela is in New York.”

“How did I not listen to you? I got so cocky, and now I’m fucked.”

An idea hits me. A stupid one.

“Uh-oh. I know that look,” James says.

“Yeah,” I say, nodding. “I’ve got a dumb idea, but I’ve got to go for it. Let’s go get the ring.”