First message
People assumed inheriting a fortune came with freedom.
It didn’t.
It came with conditions.
My grandfather’s final will contained exactly one.
Find a fiancée.
Remain engaged for one year.
Only my family knew the engagement could be fake.
No one else ever would.
By the time I reached the nearest café, I’d already outlined six pages of contractual amendments.
Then I noticed the waitress.
She moved through complete chaos without ever appearing rushed.
Every problem was solved before it became an argument.
Efficient.
Calm.
Exactly the sort of person who could survive pretending to love a York.
I set my untouched coffee aside.
“Forgive the interruption.”
“How attached are you to your current job?”