Young Millionaire Needed a Date for a Wedding. He Never Thought He’d End Up Marrying Her

An Unlikely Proposition

Nathan Steel leaned against the counter of the tiny coffee shop, his piercing blue eyes fixed on the flustered barista in front of him.

“Are you seriously rejecting $5,000 to eat free food and dance for one night?”

Emily Harper tightened her grip on the coffee cup she was handing to the customer in line.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think being a rented wedding date is my thing,” she shot back, refusing to meet his gaze.

Nathan didn’t miss the slight tremble in her voice. She was trying to be firm, but he could tell she was tempted.

Most people would jump at the opportunity he’d just offered. But Emily wasn’t most people. She was stubborn, sharp-tongued, and maddeningly unimpressed by his money.

“Look, I know it sounds transactional,” Nathan admitted, flashing the infamous Steel smirk that had graced more tabloids than he cared to count.

“But it’s not. My brother’s wedding is this weekend, and if I show up alone, my family will never let me hear the end of it.”

“I just need someone to pretend for a few hours. No strings attached. You get paid, I get to avoid their judgmental stares. Everybody wins.”

Emily finally looked at him, her hazel eyes narrowing.

“Why me? You could hire someone from an agency. There’s probably a line of women who’d fake date you for free.”

Nathan shrugged, his tailored suit jacket shifting effortlessly over his broad shoulders.

“Because you’re real. You’re not like them.”

Emily blinked, caught off guard. Was that supposed to be a compliment? She couldn’t tell.

All she knew was that Nathan Steel, the youngest millionaire in New York City’s real estate scene, had been walking into this coffee shop every morning for the past month.

He ordered an overpriced latte he barely drank and chatted with her like he didn’t have a penthouse office waiting for him. She didn’t trust it, or him.

“I’m not interested,” she said firmly, turning her attention to the next customer.

Nathan sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. He wasn’t used to hearing no—not from women, not from business deals, and definitely not from someone working where the tip jar barely covered a cab ride.

But Emily Harper wasn’t just anyone. That was exactly why he couldn’t let this go.

“All right,” he said, stepping back and holding up his hands in mock defeat. “Just think about it. The offer stands until Friday.”

Emily watched him leave. His confident stride and designer shoes made it clear he didn’t belong in her world.

She exhaled, trying to shake off the strange mix of irritation and curiosity he always left in his wake. Nathan Steel needed a date for a wedding and, for some inexplicable reason, he wanted her.

By Friday afternoon, Emily was pacing in her tiny apartment, her phone clutched in her hand. She’d been thinking about Nathan’s offer all week, no matter how hard she tried not to.

$5,000 was more than she made in two months. It could pay off her credit card bill, cover rent, and still leave enough to fix the leaky faucet in the bathroom.

But it wasn’t just the money. It was him. Nathan Steel wasn’t the kind of man who walked into your life and disappeared quietly. He was charming, infuriating, and way out of her league.

Emily groaned, dropping onto the couch. What was the worst that could happen? It was one night. If he was lying about the no-strings-attached part, she could always walk away.

Before she could overthink it, she dialed his number.

“Emily,” Nathan answered on the second ring, his voice smooth and confident. “I was starting to think you’d forgotten about me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she snapped, her nerves making her more defensive than she intended. “I’ll do it, but only because I could use the money.”

“Of course,” he said, his tone laced with amusement. “Text me your address. I’ll pick you up tomorrow at 6:00.”

Emily ended the call, her heart racing. What had she just gotten herself into?