The narrative is set in motion by the death of Sera's employer and mentor, Mrs. Bianca Ashton, who was also Colton's grandmother. In her will, Mrs. Ashton has left a surprising and unconventional condition: Sera and Colton must get married and live together for one month in order to inherit her estate, including a 1.5 million dollar sum, her apartment, and a storage locker in Queens.
The story begins with a confrontation in a Queens diner where Sera works as a waitress. She stands up against a customer who has been harassing another waitress, Kelly, eventually ejecting the misbehaving patron with the help of a regular customer who is an NYPD officer. This incident showcases Sera's protective nature and her willingness to stand up for others, even at the risk of creating a scene. It also reveals her leadership role at the diner, as she is the most senior employee and the supervisor.
Following this, the narrative shifts to Colton's arrival at his late grandmother's apartment, where he finds Sera, who explains that she had a key because she used to help Mrs. Ashton. Tensions rise as they both confront the reality of their new living arrangement, exacerbated by their history of mutual dislike that dates back to childhood. Colton recalls a memory from kindergarten when he pulled Sera's pigtails and got her into trouble on her first day of school, while Sera remembers an incident from high school art class where Colton caused her to get embarrassed in front of the entire class over a love note written by her best friend, Gwen.
As they unpack in the bedroom, the close quarters force them to interact and navigate the awkwardness of sharing a space. Sera admits to herself that she agreed to the marriage arrangement due to financial need, wanting to use the inheritance to improve her life and career prospects. Despite the tension, there are moments of unspoken attraction, such as when Colton steadies Sera after she bumps into him, and she feels the heat of his palms on her arms.
The chapter ends with Sera taking a bath in Mrs. Ashton's spacious bathroom, reflecting on the challenges ahead and her determination to endure the month-long marriage. The luxurious setting of the bathroom contrasts with Sera's usual living conditions, hinting at the significant change the inheritance could bring to her life. Throughout the excerpt, the narrative weaves together past and present, revealing the depth of Sera and Colton's history and the complexity of their feelings towards each other, setting the stage for a potentially transformative month of cohabitation and, possibly, romance.
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