1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Zach

As I cast my gaze over the redevelopment of the small town I've been revitalizing for the past five years, the view from my office fills me with inspiration. The fledgling town of New Hope was on its last leg when I came home, bought up all the abandoned properties, and brought in corporations to produce jobs for the local economy. I breathed new life into my hometown and I can't be prouder of the accomplishments.

The revitalization of New Hope didn't come without sacrifices. Everything worth having comes with sacrifices. Mine was my marriage. Since it ended, relationships haven't been a priority until now.

"You mean to tell me there is nobody to escort to Jason's anniversary party?" I ask my assistant. Jason is my best friend, we've been friends since we were little league teammates and I have to go.

"Sir, the people who would be worth consideration won't work because your ex-wife knows them and they're not actual relationship material. Plus, one of them is your cousin." Sandy smirks. The older woman has been with me from the very beginning. She's a decade older than me, but still calls me sir. She makes me cookies when she's with her kids and brings them into the office. She was with me when I met, dated, married, and divorced Natalie and has never been the biggest fan of the woman.

I rub my temples with my index fingers and forefingers. A habit of mine for as long as I can remember.

Under usual circumstances, I have a couple of lady friends who I escort to all my fancier gatherings. But that's all they are, friends. Nothing occurs with them. However, Jason's wife is also my ex-wife's sister and she'll be there with her new husband.

Natalie left me because she said I was a cold man, who didn't know how to love, and I'm going to end up alone. She claims I never loved her, even though I did, but to become the billionaire I am today, it took a lot of dedication. Something she forgets about how much she admired and said why she fell in love with me—the dedication, not the money. But she also doesn't complain when she's out spending my money, which is over with now she remarried. The alimony payments stopped.

The idea of facing her though without a serious relationship annoys me. I don't want her to think she's right, because I am alone. I work all the time, but as I watch over the town, absorbing my hard work of the restructured main street with the lush green grass, and vibrant trees, and the happy townspeople moving around town with big smiles on their faces. It's worth it all.

Natalie and I visit Jason and his wife, Vivian, separately, rarely crossing paths. She lives in the city forty-five minutes from here, but this is a big celebration for our friends and so there's no avoiding each other.

"With how discreet I'm trying to be, it's just difficult to find a date. It's a little unusual wanting a fake relationship." Sandy lifts her brow as she eyes me.

Sighing, I turn around and sit at my desk. "It's strange, I'm aware, but after the last sighting of Natalie, I just don't want to see her smug expression."

Sandy curls one side of her lip, eyes me up and down, and I laugh. "Yup, that's it."

Sandy gives a smile, then turns serious. "I still think we should use Perfect Plus One."

I groan, this is the sixth or seventh time Sandy has mentioned this website where people get online to find people to help become the perfect plus one date for whatever people need. Some hire out, others do an exchange for events, and some even use it as a matchmaking service.

I can only imagine if word gets out about me using this site, what my PR team will have to do to tamp down the gossip it'd create.

Leaning back in my chair, I gaze at the ceiling for a few moments. Sandy sits silently, knowing what I'm going to say, as she's well aware of everything I'll do or say anymore. Sometimes I even wonder why we talk.

"Okay, fine, do it," I grumble, annoyed. This is what I'm resorting to.

Sandy hides her smile. "Sir, you won't be sorry. I'll match you with the perfect person." She stands and rushes out of the room before I can change my mind.

"What the hell am I doing?"