Conrad Montague had always been a man of precision.
Every decision, every action, every move he made was calculated for maximum efficiency and minimal risk.
So when his own parents threatened his position at Montague Enterprises, demanding he settle down or lose everything, he didn’t panic.
He strategized.
And right now?
Eurydice Santiago was the perfect solution to his problem.
 
Back at his penthouse, Conrad sat in his study, fingers steepled as he reviewed the facts:
His family wanted him to marry, or at least appear to be in a committed relationship. They wanted an engagement within a year, or Montague Enterprises would go to Vincent—something he absolutely would not allow. He had no interest in an actual marriage.
Which meant…
He needed someone who was:
✔️ Not interested in him romantically.
✔️ Not easily intimidated.
✔️ Unpredictable enough to keep his family on their toes.
And who better than the woman who had already humiliated him in public and walked away unscathed?
Eurydice Santiago.
Conrad leaned back in his chair, a small, amused smirk forming.
She wasn’t the logical choice.
She wasn’t from his world, didn’t follow the rules, and, most importantly?
She didn’t want anything from him.
That made her safe.
And right now, safe was exactly what he needed.
 
“Sir,” his assistant, Daniel Wright, said as he entered the study, “I found the information you requested.”
Conrad raised an eyebrow. “That was fast.”
Daniel smirked. “You pay me well.” He handed over a folder. “Eurydice Santiago. Twenty-four. Painter. Works part-time at a small gallery. Helps run her family’s bakery. Known for being—” he paused, glancing at Conrad, “—stubborn.”
Conrad chuckled under his breath. “That, I already knew.”
“She has no known romantic ties. No criminal record. And, interestingly, she recently went on a blind date—which she walked out of.”
Conrad already knew that part, considering he had witnessed the disaster firsthand.
Daniel crossed his arms. “So? Care to explain why we’re suddenly interested in her?”
Conrad exhaled slowly. “Let’s just say… I need a temporary fiancée.”
Daniel blinked. “I’m sorry, a what?”
“You heard me.” Conrad closed the folder. “I need someone to play the role of my fiancée long enough to secure my position. She’s the perfect candidate.”
Daniel snorted. “You do realize you’re talking about the same woman who spilled wine on you and mocked your name in public, right?”
Conrad smirked. “Exactly.”
Daniel shook his head. “You enjoy making your life difficult, don’t you?”
Conrad stood, adjusting his suit jacket. “Not difficult. Interesting.”
Daniel sighed. “Fine. How do you plan on convincing her? Because something tells me she’s not the type to agree easily.”
Conrad’s smirk widened. “Simple.”
He picked up his phone and dialed.
“I’m going to make her an offer she can’t refuse.”
 
Eurydice Santiago had just finished her shift at the art gallery when she walked into the family bakery, ready to collapse.
It had been a long day, and after her disastrous blind date, all she wanted was to drown her frustrations in a slice of cake and pretend men didn’t exist.
Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
The moment she stepped behind the counter, she noticed something was off.
Leo was staring, mouth slightly open in shock.
Her mom, Isabel, looked both confused and mildly impressed.
And Aunt Carmen? She looked like she had just seen a ghost—or, more accurately, like she had just won the lottery.
Eurydice frowned. “Okay. Why is everyone acting weird?”
Leo nudged his head toward a table by the window. “Because of him.”
Eurydice turned—and froze.
Sitting at one of their bakery’s tiny, completely out-of-place wooden tables, sipping what looked like a black coffee, was none other than Conrad Montague.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, looking like he owned the place, he met her gaze with an unreadable expression.
Eurydice’s brain short-circuited.
What. The. Hell.
A billionaire was sitting in her family’s bakery.
Waiting for her.
This had to be a joke.
A very, very cruel joke.
Leo leaned closer. “Uh… Eury? What exactly did you do to this man?”
“Nothing!” she hissed.
Aunt Carmen gasped. “Oh my goodness. Is he here because of—”
“NO,” Eurydice snapped. “Absolutely not. Do not finish that sentence.”
Before anyone could say anything else, Conrad stood, smoothly placing his coffee cup down before walking toward her with the kind of intimidating presence that made people move out of his way without question.
And yet—Eurydice was too annoyed to be intimidated.
She crossed her arms. “What are you doing here?”
Conrad tilted his head slightly, amused by her immediate hostility. “Good evening to you too, Ms. Santiago.”
“Yeah, yeah, formalities aside—why are you here?”
Conrad’s lips curved slightly, but there was something calculated behind his gaze.
“I need your help,” he said smoothly.
Eurydice narrowed her eyes. “That sounds like a you problem.”
Conrad’s smirk grew. “On the contrary—it’s about to become your problem too.”
Eurydice huffed, putting a hand on her hip. “Listen, if this is about the wine thing—”
“It’s not.”
She blinked. “Then… what?”
Conrad glanced around, then smoothly gestured toward an empty table. “Sit. I’ll explain.”
Eurydice did not want to sit.
But she was also far too curious to walk away.
So, with a very loud, dramatic sigh, she slid into the seat across from him, arms crossed.
“Fine. Talk.”
Conrad leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on the table.
His next words?
Completely unexpected.
“I want you to be my fiancée.”
Silence.
Then—
Eurydice choked on air.
“I’m sorry, what?!”
Conrad smirked. “I need a temporary fiancée, and you need money. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
Eurydice stared at him. “I—You—Are you insane?!”
Conrad, completely unbothered, tilted his head. “No. I’m being practical.”
Eurydice dragged a hand down her face. “This is a joke. This has to be a joke.”
Conrad took a slow sip of his coffee. “Do I look like a man who jokes?”
Eurydice opened her mouth—then closed it.
…He had a point.
But still.
Fake engagement?!
Her life had just taken a ridiculous turn.
And somehow, she had a feeling it was only going to get worse.