Page 38 of Reluctantly Married

“This will be a huge jump for your careers. If this goes well, they will look at your morning show.” He took a step back and hooked his thumbs in his pockets.

She was getting annoyed. “What else, Leon?”

“There’s just one catch.”

“What is it?” she and Adam said at once.

“They don’t want it unless you agree to get married at the end of the show.”

14

Heat burned Megan’s face, andshe took a step toward Leon, her nose only inches from his. “I can’t believe the depths of your greed.”

He threw his hands up in surrender. “Hey, it’s not me.”

Megan poked his chest with one finger. “I don’t believe that for a second. You pitched the show. You created the idea.” She narrowed her eyes. “You came up with this scheme.”

“You don’t have tostaymarried.”

Megan clenched her fists, her arms shaking with restraint. What she wanted to do was punch the guy.

Adam spoke up. “Wait. Let’s take a second to—”

Megan rounded on him. “Don’t you join his side. We are not getting married as some stunt for television. Not now, not ever.” She wasn’t going to be bullied into making herself a spectacle. And she was sure Leon planned on revealing Dr. Lemon as a fraud after the wedding, to humiliate her even more.

“They’re paying each of you $100,000.”

Adam staggered back. “A hundred grand?” His reaction mirrored her own. She couldn’t believe it.

Leon grinned and shifted from one foot to the other. “I told you it was big bucks. They’re prepared to push this show hard. Big advertising, big media events, you’ll be on all the hot talk shows. You’ll make names for yourselves.”

“But not for our morning show.” Megan saw her dream swirl and disappear into the drain. She didn’t want to be some reality TV star. She didn’t want to be known as ‘the girl who married the chump and then found out his affections were based on a lie.’

Leon waved her comment away like a pesky fly. “You’re not seeing the big picture. Once you’re famous, you can write your own ticket. They give famous people talk shows all the time. Chevy Chase, Bonnie Hunt…even Magic Johnson got his own show.”

Megan scowled. “Weren’t all those canceled right away?”

“Bad examples. But that’s beside the point. You know what being a household name can do for you. Think about it. Don’t just say no because you’re angry.”

She glanced at Adam. He looked like a salivating dog. Of course. He wanted to advance his career, just like she did. And she knew how much it would mean to him to have his father closer.

What were the chances that Leon was right? If she made enough of a splash with this stupid facade, could she get her own serious show? She swallowed. It was possible.

Oh, but she loathed the idea of being the brunt of another one of Leon’s cruel jokes. She’d had enough of that and couldn’t bear to think of the humiliation. And not just local people would be watching this time. She’d be embarrassed on national television. A headache pounded in her skull. But Leon was right. Even if she was made the fool, if she handled it right, she might come out on top. And then maybe she could get her own show, away from Leon and Adam.

But…marrying Adam? She didn’t want to sign papers and pledge to love him ‘until death do us part.’ Not if she didn’t mean it. Marriage was sacred. At least to her.

She took a breath and let it out slowly. “Can’t we do a fake wedding?”

Leon shook his head. “No. People dig into that kind of stuff. It has to be real. But the two of you don’t have to really be in love. People marry all the time for reasons other than love. You only need to make it look convincing on camera.” He chuckled. “And you’re doing a great job of that already.”

Probably because every stupid day she felt more attracted to Adam. Megan tried not to scowl. This was her own fault. She should never have agreed to go out with him. If she had refused, no one would be asking her to marry him.

And ABC wouldn’t want her.

Thoughts of being on a major network sifted through her mind. Could she do it? Could she agree to marry Adam? She was attracted to him. And when he kissed her, the world spun. They had chemistry.

Adam and Leon stared at her, waiting for her to say something. Waiting for her to concede. Seconds ticked by as she tried to wrap her brain around what she was about to do. “When do they want to start taping?”

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