After her boyfriend of four years leaves her heartbroken, Sienna Wilde’s night takes an unexpected turn when she finds herself sharing a passionate evening with a mysterious stranger. When she sneaks out the next morning, she assumes they’ll never meet again. But the last thing she expects is to find him in her office—as the CEO’s son and her new boss.

When two rival publishing giants clash at the annual Winter Publishing Gala—a glamorous twelve-day holiday cruise filled with awards, networking, and endless champagne—the last thing anyone expects is a scandal that could bring both companies to their knees. Dave Carter, the powerful CEO of Vanguard Publishing, thought he had it all—until he catches his girlfriend in bed with his biggest rival, Nathan Cole, CEO of Empire House Publishing. But he’s not alone. Octavia, Nathan's girlfriend, is equally shattered by her boyfriend's betrayal. Hurt and humiliated, she’s ready to disappear into the shadows of the cruise. That is, until Dave proposes a plan to “pepper” their cheating partners by faking a relationship. How could she resist? Especially when the handsome billionaire she’s secretly admired finally falls into her lap. But as they play the role of the perfect couple, navigating jealousy, stolen glances, and the romantic holiday atmosphere, Octavia and Dave realize that some feelings can’t be faked. And the longer they keep up the charade, the harder it is to remember where the act ends and something real begins.