This story starts out with the leads both having major problems to overcome. Nico is an artist, who also has a gallery. He’s behind on the rent and other bills, days away from being evicted.
Zayden is a billionaire with his own problem. His father’s will specifies that he can only inherit the family business empire by getting married. He has 30 days.
After discussing the dire straights the gallery is in with Maya, his ever faithful assistant, he goes out for a walk and fresh air. As he’s walking he comes upon reproductions of his own artwork, being sold at a competing art gallery. He goes in and ends up confronting the man who bought the original artwork from him, and had it reproduced without his permission. Nico selling his art to a collector who then has prints created from it and sold at a competitors gallery is a perfect example of how you can have admired artwork, but still struggle if you don’t have support from well to do patrons.
Just days before Nico is going to be evicted, a mysterious invitation arrives at the gallery. It’s for a art gala in Mexico City the following evening. It was hand delivered. Maya instantly jumps on it being his chance to make connections and sales to save the gallery. Nico doesn’t have the money for a plane ticket, but Maya convinces him that this is his chance. Before Nico goes to the gala, Maya texts him: “You’ve got this. Remember – you’re not asking for charity. You’re offering them the chance to invest in brilliance.” Perfect. I think we all need a Maya in our lives to encourage us to take chances.
When Nico is at the gala talking with a group of people, he sees the man who had his work reproduced. He can’t help himself, and goes over to confront him. Things gets heated and Zayden overhears the argument. His interest is peaked, and he crosses the room. As they talk, Zayden realizes Nico doesn’t know who he is, and doesn’t care. Zayden is amused. He’s thinking “A man with nothing to lose, nothing to prove, and a mouth too sharp for his own safety.” I’m enjoying where this is going.
I love the fake marriage trope. What I really enjoy with this story is how each character starts falling for the other while fighting and attempting to ignore the feels. When Zayden walks up to Nico at the bar, the way they talk to each other, love it.
Zayden “You walk like you are waiting for someone to stop you.”
Nico: “You talk like you’re used to people pretending you’re interesting.”
Nico isn’t kissing ass and Zayden likes that. Nico isn’t groveling, even though he’s days away from bankruptcy. I think it’s easy to think that a billionaire has it all, can buy anything they want, including people. That may be true to an extent, but you can’t really buy love.
What is really interesting about Nico is that he agrees to the arrangement because he really needs the money, but he’s defiant. He doesn’t just accept the offer as is, he has his own terms. I think that is what started peaking Zayden’s interest. This story doesn’t follow a traditional love story path, but I believe that each of them did things that showed their true character and heart to each other.
Somewhere in this banter I think Zayden decides if he has to get married, he may as well have fun with someone worthy of his time. I like that Zayden didn’t look for someone weak and desperate for fame and/or fortune. In picking Nico he found someone who challenges him, and who he can trust.
It feels like their is a delicate dance happening between Nico and Zayden. Both trying to hold tight to who they are, what this image is they are presenting to the world, all while truths start to slip past barriers neither is ready to let go of. Nico and Zayden are crossing between feelings they aren’t ready to acknowledge, and what the contract means. It’s an agreement, but also holding them back from being real.
Not the usual fake marriage trope. Even when Ryan takes on a well loved story line, his characters have more depth, you care for them, and hope things work out. Instead of HEA’s, he writes stories that have depth, and real possibilities. Many times when I finish Ryan’s books, my imagination starts to think of possibilities for the relationship going forward, so I’m left with the hope Ryan will revisit these characters again.
If you want to know why a man who leads his life with integrity, and is not a gold digger, would you say “Yes” to a fake marriage, read Nico’s background story, which you can get by subscribing to Ryan’s newsletter. This extra story really puts you in Nico’s head as he weighs his options.