Kayla Bryce had exactly three emotional states at the moment:
1. Panic
2. Rage
3. A very strong desire to throw her phone out the nearest window.
Jade's screaming still rang in her ears as she stared at the man, no, husband, standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows like he owned the damn city.
Because apparently, he kind of did.
Tylor Carson stood there, arms folded, watching the Strip below like Vegas was his personal aquarium. Calm. Composed. Barely fazed by the fact that he had accidentally, or not-so-accidentally, married a woman who looked two seconds away from committing a felony.
Kayla dragged a hand through her tangled hair. "I need clothes. And aspirin. And a new life."
"There's a closet," he said, nodding toward a sleek black door. "And a bathroom. Use both."
She glared. "You're bossy."
"You married me," he replied. "That comes with perks."
She flipped him off and stormed into the bathroom.
Five minutes later, Kayla was standing in front of the mirror, wearing a hotel robe and a face that looked like she'd gone twelve rounds with tequila and lost.
She FaceTimed the girls.
The screen exploded into chaos.
Jade appeared first, eyes wide, hair in a messy bun, already vibrating with excitement.
Beside her, sprawled dramatically across a bed, was Mia, their resident drama queen, clutching a pillow like it had personally betrayed her.
Then there was Roxy, sipping iced coffee through a straw, way too calm for someone who had allegedly witnessed a wedding the night before.
"SHOW US THE RING!" Jade screamed.
Kayla held up her hand.
There was a collective gasp.
Mia choked. "Oh my GOD. It's real. It's not plastic. This is not funny anymore."
Roxy leaned closer to her screen. "That's at least six figures. You married a rich man, babe."
Kayla groaned. "That is not helping."
Jade clapped her hands like a proud mother. "I told you! I told you not to take shots with strangers in sparkly jackets!"
"I DIDN'T KNOW HE WAS MY FUTURE HUSBAND!" Kayla yelled.
Mia sat up. "Okay, okay, rewind. Last thing I remember is Kayla standing on the bar yelling, 'I DON'T BELIEVE IN LOVE BUT I BELIEVE IN CHAOS.'"
Roxy nodded. "Then some guy in a black suit said, 'I like her.'"
Kayla pressed her forehead against the mirror. "I hate all of you."
Jade gasped dramatically. "What does he look like? Is he hot? Please tell me he's hot. I cannot emotionally process you marrying a troll."
Kayla hesitated.
"He's… annoyingly attractive."
The girls screamed.
"I KNEW IT!" Jade shouted. "Vegas always gives you trauma or a hot man. Sometimes both!"
Mia squinted. "Is he dangerous-hot or CEO-hot?"
"Yes," Kayla said flatly.
Roxy raised an eyebrow. "What's his name?"
Kayla sighed. "Tylor Carson."
There was a pause.
Roxy slowly lowered her coffee. "Say that again."
"Tylor. Carson."
Roxy's face went blank. "Like… Carson Global Carson?"
Kayla blinked. "I don't know. Is that a thing?"
Roxy's jaw dropped. "Kayla, Carson Global owns half of the real estate in three states."
Mia screamed. "YOU MARRIED A BILLIONAIRE?!"
Kayla screamed back. "I DIDN'T MEAN TO!"
Jade slapped her own forehead. "Oh my God. This is better than reality TV."
Kayla pointed at the screen. "I am disowning all of you."
Kayla exited the bathroom fully dressed in borrowed clothes, black leggings, a white T-shirt that probably cost more than her monthly rent, and a jacket that smelled like expensive cologne and bad decisions.
Tylor looked up from his phone.
"You done?"
She crossed her arms. "Your life is a circus."
"My life is organized," he corrected. "You're the chaos."
"Funny. I was fine until I married you."
He smirked. "Debatable."
Her phone buzzed again.
Jade: ASK HIM WHY HE MARRIED YOU.
Mia: OR IF HE'S A SERIAL KILLER.
Roxy: Check if there's a prenup.
Kayla sighed. "My friends think you're either rich or dangerous."
"Both," he said without missing a beat.
She stared at him. "You're not helping your case."
He walked toward her, slow and deliberate. "You're still here."
"Because I don't know how to get out of this," she snapped.
"Exactly."
Her chest tightened. "You said you had an offer."
"I do."
She braced herself. "Let's hear it, Mr. Monopoly."
Tylor gestured to the couch. "Sit."
"No."
He raised an eyebrow.
She sat.
"Good," he said. "Here's the situation. I need a wife. You are legally my wife. This is efficient."
She stared at him. "That is the most emotionally bankrupt sentence I've ever heard."
"I didn't marry you for love."
"Well, thank God," she muttered. "That would've been embarrassing."
He leaned forward. "I need you to play the role. Publicly. Social events. Business dinners. A few months."
Her stomach sank. "No."
"I'll pay you."
She laughed. "Oh, you think I'm for sale?"
"I think you're practical," he said calmly. "And I think you need something."
Her smile faded. "What do you know about what I need?"
"Enough."
Silence stretched between them.
She swallowed. "What happens after a few months?"
"We divorce."
She searched his face. "Why not find someone else?"
"Because you're already mine," he said simply. "And because you don't care about my world."
Her pulse skipped. "You don't know me."
"I know you didn't Google me before you said yes," he replied. "That alone makes you different."
She scoffed. "Or stupid."
"Brave," he corrected.
Her phone buzzed again.
Jade: IS HE BROODING OR SMILING? IMPORTANT QUESTION.
Kayla muted the chat.
A knock echoed through the suite.
Tylor frowned. "I'm not expecting anyone."
Kayla's heart jumped. "If this is the Vegas Police, I swear, "
The door opened.
Jade, Mia, and Roxy stood there.
With coffee. Sunglasses. And the energy of women who had come to witness a disaster in real time.
Jade gasped. "OH MY GOD HE'S HOT."
Tylor blinked. "Who are they?"
Kayla groaned. "My downfall."
Mia pointed at him. "If you break her heart, I will haunt you."
Roxy crossed her arms. "If you break her bank account, I will sue you."
Tylor stared at them for a long moment.
Then, to Kayla's horror, he smiled.
"Come in," he said. "Let's meet the family."
Kayla dropped her face into her hands.
This was it.
Vegas didn't just follow her.
It brought witnesses.