A/N: I know I have two stories that are works in progress but this idea just popped into my head. Plus I figured who doesn't want a historical Salex fanfic? Let me know what you think & if I should continue but either hitting that lovely review button or PMing me. Good or bad I'm curious as to what you all will think. The rating is T for now but it could change to M soon.

There comes a time in every woman's life when she must either find a man or settle for the life of a spinster. Alexandra Udinov was only a few years away from that moment. Alex, as she was known to all, was in the spring of her twenty-fourth year. She had plenty of youth ahead but there was always the lingering doubt that she would never find anyone, never settle down, never reproduce and fulfill her purpose as a woman.

"Maybe and somehow do not make any good."

That's what her father always said to her in his thick Russian accent. Papa was the smartest man she knew until his premature death. She was seven when he moved them to the United States from Russia. He had a great eye for anything business related and a silver tongue. Alex always imagined him there with what she thought his sound advice would be.

Thoughtfully she carried her accounting ledgers outside and laid them on the small porch table. She had made tea a few minutes before and set two glasses at the ready. By the glasses, to add contrast and show off her talent, she had put a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Pink peonies, blue hydrangeas, and stunning white roses gave a vibrant appearance to the boring table and added to the beauty of her home.

It was completely her home now since her father had no male successors. A big, yellow, Victorian house with a wide veranda and a screened in porch. It was so modern, for the times, that she was the envy of all her neighbors. Even thought it was overly decadent, Alex made it seem normal and welcoming.

The house was not the only thing she had in her life she reminded herself. She also had her father's very successful newspaper company. Although she did not know enough to completely run it she had help from a great staff she had known her whole life. She didn't know what she would do without Sean. He was her best friend. He had let her mourn while he conducted business as manager. He seemed to be the only one who understood her pain since he had lost both of his parents too. Today he had offered to come over and help her with the ledgers.

Oh God this house just like a spinster's house; she thought which made her stomach churn. The thought had come suddenly and she hated it. She made a silent promise to herself that she would never let that happen. She would have the perfect husband, perfect ring, perfect wedding, perfect children, perfect everything.

Soon after her vow, her thought drifted to Nathan. Tall, chivalrous, attractive Nathan. Her heart ached as she thought of just last night and how he rejected her. They had been dating for five months and he had yet to make his intentions clear so she asked him point blank. Her mother, or what little she remembered of her, always told her that her frankness would get her in trouble one day.

"I do declare, sir," she started to say as he unlocked her fence gate. "I do believe that you will ruin my reputation if you do not make your intentions perfectly clear. I am not as young as I used to be and an avowal of your intentions should be imminent."

He did not think for even a second; his reaction instant. Those crystal clear blue eyes of his widened and his beautiful teeth clenched as he fought the urge to draw his jaw in shock. He jumped back as if she was a venomous snake and murmured his words.

"Miss Alex, I….I mean, I never wanted to…w-well-ah" was all he choked out.

She turned bright red with humiliation. The look of pure horrification on his face caused her temper to rise. She was not the type to cry…no man was worth her tears but he was worth her anger.

"Sir I feel the need to inform you that shall this scene ever be repeated to anyone that I will ruin you. My reputation and our relationship were the only things I had going for me. Now I am without a relationship so please don't make me lose my reputation too. I trust you know the way out. Good day to you" she told him angrily before marching upstairs.

A knock on her door jolted her out of her thoughts. She glanced up to see Sean pounding loudly on the door. She answered with a smile and he removed his cap before greeting her.

"Well don't you keep getting prettier with each passing day" he said after loudly whistling. He was always quick to notice when she bought a new dress and this one was particularly flattering. Her dress was the richest color dark blue he could ever recall seeing and black lace adorned the skirt and waist in flowing lines. It truly brought out her beautiful eyes.

She laughed but it was half a decibel compared to her usually vivacious chuckle. He noticed her overcast mood right away. "What has your underwear in a bunch Udinov?" he teased.

She was used to his audacity and dirty humor so just hit his arm playfully.

"Mr. Pierce such language!" she fakely acted as if she was scandalized then smiled happily until her face portrayed her gloomy mood again.

"What's wrong? Did Nathaniel hurt you? I'll kill him" he told her while pulling her into a hug.

She didn't care if this was extremely inappropriate and informal. They had been best friends forever and it was nothing new. There was always something about his thick muscled chest that calmed her down, made her feel safe. Sometimes she swore he knew her own thoughts before she did.

"No he just wounded my pride. Let us talk business before we discuss personal matters."

He broke away from her and sat in his chair formally. He glanced at his notes only once before he gave her the breakdown. "We manufactured nearly eight hundred newspapers since yesterday. I delivered four hundred this morning and the rest are being circulated as we speak. If it keeps going well we'll be able to charge twenty cents per paper by next week" he exclaimed happily.

Alex had listened to the report halfheartedly. Usually she was all ears and very interested but the plan she thought up last night was bouncing around her brain. When he finished his report he chugged his glass of tea and she clapped slightly in a show of appreciation for his hard work.

"You know how much I value your hard work, right Sean?"

"Of course ma'am" he tipped his hat and tried to be somewhat formal despite her use of his first name. Oh how he loved the sound of his name on her lips.

"I know that you've always wanted your own business and I have been thinking of buying a new factory with how well we've been doing."

He looked at her questioningly but did not speak so she continued talking. "I have a proposal for you to further your business needs and my lifestyle."

"You know I'd do anything for you" was his only answer.

"That is why I am asking you. I trust you more than anyone not to breathe a word. I need you to pretend that you love me and if the plan needs carried on further then I will need you to propose."

He loved her as a best friend should, but upon hearing this, a bitter taste came to his mouth. Angrily he downed his glass of tea and slammed it down on the table. He knew she would be doing this to make Nathaniel jealous. He was her best friend, though, should he just do it?

"You don't have to answer yet but if you do accept I will be giving you your own newspaper factory. You wouldn't have to answer to me or have a boss at all. You can change the name and be my competitor if you want."

"Alex…but why? What happened last night?" he managed to choke out before standing and leaning uncomfortably over her porch railing.

She gave him those puppy eyes she knew he couldn't resist. "After last night he will definitely think more about marriage. Let's just say I told him to make his intentions clear and he chose wrong."

"Fine Alex I don't even want to know. If it will make you happy I will do it. Just answer me one question and promise you won't get mad" he muttered.

She nodded so he continued. "Usually the only reason to want to be married so quickly is if well…did you two…are you preg-"

She stopped him mid-word with an unladylike punch to his arm. "If you really don't want your own factory then I can get another man who is willing."

"What do I have to do Udinov? Spit it out."

"Just drop a few hints to your friends at the pub, the barber shop, on deliverers, wherever."

"How long are we carrying on with the charade? I'm not exactly the marrying type so I don't know if we can get everyone to believe it."

"Oh I'm sure we can be convincing and as for the deadline it's fall. You know I always wanted a fall wedding. I'm thinking October so that gives us ten weeks to get the job done."

"Ten weeks to make you happy? Better get started right away."

So off they went to carry out her plan. Today would begin step one.

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