Millionaire Proposes A Fake Engagement To His Best Friend. He Ends Up Falling In Love For Real.
The Fake Proposal
“Marry me.”
Lena Burke nearly choked on her coffee. She stared at the man sitting across from her in the corner booth of their favorite cafe. It was her best friend, Caleb Montgomery.
His expression was unreadable, calm, and confident. He looked as if he hadn’t just dropped the most insane proposal she’d ever heard.
“Excuse me?”
Lena finally managed to speak, setting down her cup before she spilled it all over herself. Caleb leaned forward. His sharp blue eyes locked onto hers.
“I need a fiance,” he said.
His voice was steady, as if this was just another one of their usual debates over where to get takeout.
“And you’re the only person I trust.”
Lena let out a breathless laugh.
“Oh, that makes total sense. Sure, Caleb, let me just clear my schedule for our fake engagement. What is this, some kind of prank?”
Caleb’s jaw tightened.
“I’m serious, Lena.”
That was the problem; he was always serious. Caleb Montgomery was the kind of man who never did anything without a plan. He never said anything without meaning it.
Right now, he was looking at her like he truly expected her to say yes to this ridiculous idea. She shook her head, trying to process it.
“Why in the world would you need a fake fiance?”
Caleb exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw.
“My grandfather is pushing me to settle down. He’s threatening to cut me off if I don’t prove I can be responsible.”
“Cut you off?”
Lena repeated the words. That was when she finally put the pieces together.
Caleb was rich, not just well off. He was the kind of rich that came with high-rise offices, tailored suits, and a last name that carried weight in business circles.
He never flaunted it. He never made her feel like she was any different because she wasn’t born into wealth. But now, for the first time, it was glaringly obvious.
“Lena,” Caleb said, his voice softer now. “You know I don’t care about the money. But my company, everything I’ve built, depends on my grandfather’s approval.”
“If he pulls his support, I could lose everything. And if he thinks I’m some reckless bachelor, that’s exactly what he’ll do.”
Lena crossed her arms.
“So instead of finding an actual girlfriend, your solution is me?”
Caleb gave her a small smile.
“You’re the only person I can trust to play along without losing their mind.”
She rolled her eyes.
“Flattering.”
He leaned back.
“Think about it. It wouldn’t be forever, just long enough to convince him I’m serious about settling down. A few months tops.”
Lena stared at him, her heart pounding. This was insane—completely, utterly insane. But Caleb had been her best friend for years.
He was the one who had helped her move into her tiny apartment when she had nothing but two suitcases and a battered coffee maker. He was the one who showed up with takeout when she was having a bad day.
He was the one person in her life who had never let her down. And now, he was asking for her help.
“You really think this will work?”
She asked the question quietly. Caleb nodded.
“I do.”
She took a deep breath, knowing she was about to make the biggest mistake of her life.
“Fine. I’ll be your fake fiance.”
Lena expected things to feel the same between them after she agreed. After all, it was just a favor for Caleb.
But the moment he slipped a diamond ring onto her finger—an actual, stunning, probably absurdly expensive diamond—everything shifted.
“You could have gone with something smaller.”
She muttered the words while staring at the way the stone caught the light. Caleb smirked.
“If we’re going to sell this, we have to do it right.”
Selling it right was why a week later Lena found herself walking into an upscale restaurant on Caleb’s arm. Her stomach was twisting with nerves.
“This is it.”
He murmured as they approached the private dining room where his grandfather was waiting.
“Just follow my lead.”
Lena forced a smile, gripping his hand a little tighter. They had spent the past few days going over their story, memorizing details that would make their engagement seem believable.
But no amount of preparation could stop her pulse from racing as they stepped inside. The man seated at the head of the table was exactly what Lena had imagined.
He had silver hair, a piercing gaze, and an air of authority that made her spine straighten on instinct.
“Grandfather,” Caleb greeted smoothly. “This is Lena, my fiance.”
Lena extended her hand, grateful Caleb had warned her about the firm handshake she should expect.
“A pleasure to meet you, sir.”
She kept her voice steady. His grandfather studied her for a long moment before nodding.
“We’ll see if that remains true.”
Dinner was a tense affair. Lena did her best to answer questions naturally, but it was clear Mister Montgomery wasn’t convinced.
“You’ve been together for how long?”
He asked at one point, his gaze sharp.
“Almost a year,” Caleb answered without hesitation.
Lena smiled.
“He proposed after a trip to the coast. It was spur of the moment.”
Caleb cut in.
“But when you know, you know.”
His grandfather’s eyes narrowed.
“And yet, I’ve never heard of you until now.”
Lena’s stomach twisted, but Caleb remained calm.
“We wanted to keep things private for a while. You know how the media can be.”
His grandfather studied them for a long moment before finally nodding.
“Very well. But if this is real, then I expect to see a wedding date set soon.”
Lena nearly choked on her wine.
“A wedding date?”
Caleb’s grip on her hand tightened.
“Of course. We’ll start planning immediately.”
Lena barely held in her shock until they were finally outside, away from his grandfather’s prying eyes.
“A wedding, Caleb?”
She hissed.
“That was not part of the deal.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“I didn’t expect him to push for it this soon.”
Lena groaned.
“This is getting out of control.”
Caleb turned to her, his expression unreadable.
“We’ll figure it out.”
But as she looked up at him, her heart still racing from the night’s events, she couldn’t shake a feeling. She had just stepped into something much more complicated than she had ever bargained for.
