Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

“Thanks, Vi.” Willow grins at our crazy friend before turning back to me. “And filled with tons and tons of sex. Or this mediocre burger?”

“Hey! I love the burgers here,” I say.

“Daisy!” Willow holds my shoulder. “Why the heck are you still talking and not running to the hotel?”

“Because I’m nervous,” I whisper, and they stare at me as if I’m speaking a foreign language. “Charles has never done anything like this before,” I add.

“Shouldn’t you be happy instead of nervous?” Willow asks slowly.

My heart lurches in my throat, and I wait for it all to sink in.

“What’s it gonna be, Daze? You staying or leaving?”

If you follow the note, it’s definitely scary but also exciting, Daisy. If you choose to stay, there’s only regret. You’ll never get to see this side of Charles.

“Leaving.” I rise out of my chair.

A few minutes later, I step out of the elevator on the second floor of Madison Blue, which is located at the east side of the mall.

My stomach is in knots, equally nervous and excited to see what’s waiting for me.

I take a right, following the direction for room 215, and come face-to-face with a man walking back and forth in the lobby, probably searching for someone.

Recognition flashes in his eyes, and after a stunned pause, I give him a polite smile. I’m still getting used to people recognizing me as Charles’ wife. But when the man replies with a grin of his own, I feel like I know him from somewhere.

Stop making excuses, Daisy.

My inner self reprimands me and reminds me of Charles’ words from yesterday instead.

“Is my wife ready to beg?”

If he keeps asking every day, then it won’t be long before I’m saying, “Yes, sir. This girl is all set to get on her knees.”

I’m still grinning like a lunatic while knocking on the door of the room. When there’s no response for several moments, I turn the old-fashioned golden knob and it opens. But the moment I step inside, all the humor evaporates in an instant at the sight of the man before me.

“Jax!” I retreat instead of going forward as the door shuts behind me. “What the heck are you doing here?”

“Hi, Daisy,” my ex says in a fake excited voice. “Or should I say Mrs. Hawthorne.” A sinister grin takes over his face, and my stomach ties into a knot on reflex. “Does Charles Hawthorne really think he can fool this town so easily? He got hitched up to the first available woman.”

Jax takes a step closer, and my surprise finally breaks.

“You sent me that note!” I gasp. “How?”

“How difficult do you think it is to arrange a faux version of Charles Hawthorne’s personal stationery?” Jax tsks, reminding me how often he used to make that annoying sound while criticizing me in the past.

“You’ve always been so careless, Daisy. Your boss’ notes lie around the apartment all the time. And Charles, I don’t even know where to begin with that idiot. For someone so paranoid about his privacy, he always left handwritten notes and instructions for his assistant. Has he not heard of email?”

“That’s called being considerate. He knows I find it easier to read on paper. You would be aware of it, too, if in our five-year relationship, you’d have made a sincere effort to know me.”

After I was diagnosed with a reading disability at a young age, my parents worked hard with me and some amazing therapists, so much that I almost feel no impact of it in my daily life. But reading and writing long notes on a screen still demands time, and I’ve compensated well for that by working overtime. Charles has never once been late because of my issues, and in fact, over time, he has embraced my love for paper.

But after being called out by Jax, it feels like someone just threw water over my years of hard work.

I’m unable to pull my gaze away from this man.

Is he really the one I wasted my time and tears on?

“Is that why you agreed to be his fake wife? Because he let you keep your job despite being dumb?”