A Mafia’s Trillionaire for Christmas
Lauren thought she had her life figured out—until her boyfriend of three years dumps her just days before Christmas, calling her a "liability." To make matters worse, he’s now engaged to her coworker, Rosette Goldberg. Humiliated and heartbroken, Lauren devises a bold plan to save face: at the company holiday party, she introduces the mysterious and devastatingly handsome trillionaire Alexandro "Lex" Castello as her new boyfriend.
What starts as a harmless lie quickly spirals out of control. Alexandro, intrigued by Lauren’s fiery spirit and audacious scheme, agrees to play the part. But he’s not one to do anything without a motive, and Lauren can't shake the feeling he’s hiding something.
As their pretend romance takes them from glittering galas to intimate moments, sparks begin to fly. Yet with the media circling, jealous exes scheming, and secrets threatening to surface, the line between make-believe and reality blurs.
Will Lauren and Alexandro’s arrangement unravel under the pressure—or could it be the start of something neither of them expected?
**Fake it until you feel it, or risk losing it all.**
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Chapter: Chapter seven Chapter 7MEDIA FRENZY~ALEXANDRO’S POV~The shrill buzz of my phone dragged me from a rare moment of peace. I glanced at the screen: “Mario.” Of course. I set down my glass of whiskey and answered. "Yes?" "You're trending," Mario said, his tone far too amused for my liking. I frowned. "Trending?" "Don't play dumb, Alexandro," he chided. "The internet's practically on fire. 'Trillionaire Playboy Spotted with Mystery Woman.' Does that ring a bell?" I sighed, already regretting my decision to indulge Lauren's lie. "What's the angle?" "Multiple," Mario replied. "Some are speculating she's your secret girlfriend. Others think it's a PR stunt to distract from the merger." He chuckled. "A few even believe she's a runaway heiress." "A runaway heiress?" I repeated, pinching the bridge of my nose. "That's creative." "You know how tabloids are," Mario said. "They'll spin anything into a story. But you might want to keep an eye on this one. The more mysterious she seems, the more
Last Updated: 2024-12-16
Chapter: Chapter sixChapter 6THE FIRST CONVERSATION. ~ALEXANDRO'S POV~ I had to admit it—Lauren intrigued me. It wasn't just her hasty decision to rope me into her messy situation at the gala, though that had certainly grabbed my attention. No, it was the vulnerability she tried so desperately to hide beneath her sharp words and stubborn act. She had no idea what she was doing, and yet she refused to back down. That kind of stubbornness was rare. Foolish, but rare. That was exactly why I found myself walking toward her, coffee cup in hand, as she lounged on a private corner of the resort's sun deck. She hadn't noticed me yet, too absorbed in her phone. The faint frown on her face suggested she was either plotting her next move or regretting the one she'd already made. "Still strategizing, or just basking in your latest success?" I asked, breaking the silence. Her head snapped up, her wide brown eyes locking onto mine. For a moment, she looked genuinely startled. "I wasn't—" She stoppe
Last Updated: 2024-12-16
Chapter: Chapter five PLAY ALONG.~ALEXANDRO'S POV ~The call came late last night, dragging me into yet another meaningless gala. Mario's words had been clear: my presence was non-negotiable. A luxurious resort. A room full of ambitious elites. A night of clinking glasses and false laughter. It was the last place I wanted to be, but the stakes were too high to ignore. The merger hinged on this event, and if enduring a parade of shallow pleasantries was the price to pay, so be it. I'd built my empire on sacrifices far greater than this. But the resignation didn't stop the irritation from simmering. That was until I saw her. The woman from the garden. She'd caught my eye earlier, strolling amidst the manicured grass like she didn't belong. Her hazel eyes had been a storm of exhaustion and defiance, a look that lingered in my mind long after she disappeared. And now, here she was again, standing awkwardly in this sea of pretense. Her dress—pale lavender and poorly fitted—betrayed her. It slumpe
Last Updated: 2024-12-09
Chapter: Chapter fourALEXANDRO LEX CASTELLO ~LAUREN’S POV~Rosette and Patrick turned their attention to me, their gazes sharp with surprise. I couldn’t blame them—it wasn’t every day you pointed to a man who looked like that and claimed he was yours. Now that I’d taken a proper look at him, he was clearly out of my league. “You mean him?” Rosette asked, her brows raised as if she hadn’t heard me correctly. “Yes, Rose. That’s him. My boyfriend,” I said, forcing the words out as casually as I could manage. Patrick narrowed his eyes suspiciously. I could feel his disbelief piercing through me, but I refused to meet his gaze. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of questioning me, even if I was inwardly screaming at myself for the lie. I had just told my ex and his fiancée that a complete stranger—a man I’d never spoken to in my life—was my boyfriend. What was I thinking?I prayed silently that they wouldn’t ask me to talk to him. Patrick knew me too well—he knew I was terrible at lying. If the
Last Updated: 2024-12-09
Chapter: Chapter threeTHE NEW BOYFRIEND~LAUREN~I slipped into my sleek black dress—the one I’d worn to my best friend’s wedding. As I straightened my hair and stepped into matching silver heels, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My glasses framed my face, and though I’d never thought of myself as glamorous, tonight I felt just a little confident. Dressing up wasn’t the problem; it was the judgment that came with it. And tonight, with everything that had happened, I wasn’t sure I could stomach it. Grabbing my silver purse, I took a deep breath and left my room. The resort's hallway stretched before me, leading toward the sound of chatter in the garden. Each step felt heavier, a reminder of the betrayal I was trying so hard to ignore. Rosette and Patrick’s faces flashed in my mind, and I silently prayed I wouldn’t run into them tonight. The garden was filled with elegantly dressed guests, their polished appearances marking them as anything but ordinary. My coworkers—Lilac, Fatimah, and Malcolm
Last Updated: 2024-12-09
Chapter: Chapter twoTWO-TIMINGA tempest of emotions swirled within me. What the hell was Patrick doing here? And why was Rosette calling him “babe”? Was this some sort of cruel joke? “Patrick, what are you doing here?” I demanded, struggling to mask the hurt and curiosity in my voice. Rosette shot him a look, her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes flicking between us like a ticking clock. The strange glances from Lilac, Fatimah, and our other coworkers only intensified the gnawing anxiety in my gut. “Handle this,” Rosette said tersely, her tone sharp as glass. Patrick stepped toward me, his grip tightening around my arm as he yanked me away from the group. Pain shot through me, but I fought to free myself from his grasp. “Let go of me, you lying cheat!” I shouted, my palm striking his cheek with a crack that silenced the room. Gasps rippled through the air, every pair of eyes locked on us in stunned disbelief. “Are you done?” Patrick snapped, his jaw tight, the warmth I once loved in hi
Last Updated: 2024-12-09
Chapter: Chapter 61Chapter 61To Protect You.Simon kept his eyes fixed on the road as he drove Gemini to his villa. He knew he wasn’t going to let her return to her father’s house—not after that confrontation. The nerve of that man.“Simon,” Gemini called out, but he didn’t respond, his jaw clenched in frustration. Was he angry at her? She hadn’t done anything wrong. “Are you angry with me?” she asked again, her voice tinged with confusion.Silence met her, and Simon continued to ignore her. He didn’t want to engage in an argument, not now, not when his temper was already flaring. “Seriously? You won’t even answer me?” she pressed, annoyance furrowing her brows.Finally, Simon arrived at his villa, parking the car in the garage. He stepped out and unlocked the door, gesturing for Gemini to follow. She hesitated for a moment, unsure, but eventually complied.As he walked ahead, she trailed behind, irritation bubbling inside her. Why had he brought her here instead of taking her back to her father’s hou
Last Updated: 2024-11-12
Chapter: Chapter 60Chapter 60JEALOUSY.Gemini made her way toward Gustavo, who had been drinking heavily since the event began. It was obvious that something was bothering him.“Didn’t you drive here?” Gemini’s voice cut through Gustavo’s tension, causing him to focus on her. His green eyes, usually bright and sharp, now appeared dull.“Is that concern I sense in your voice?” he replied, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips as he studied her. When was her due date? Her stomach was so prominent, yet he hated that he still found her incredibly attractive.The dress she had chosen for the evening accentuated her baby bump beautifully; she looked slender and had been keeping in shape. Her golden-blonde hair fell straight and perfectly down her back, and her sea-blue eyes seemed to shimmer more than usual, deepening in color. Her fair skin glowed under the warm lights of the room.Gustavo couldn't shake off the bitterness he felt toward Simon for taking her away from him. This beauty standing before
Last Updated: 2024-11-09
Chapter: Chapter 59Chapter 59Wavering Allies.Ciara made her way towards Lilac with deliberate slowness, fully aware that she wasn’t ready to be ensnared in Gustavo's drama. It was high time she found a way to extricate herself from any alliance with him before his chaos swallowed her whole.Her plan to gradually poison Saint was progressing smoothly; everything was falling into place as long as he didn't interfere. She knew without a doubt that Gemini—the insufferable brat—needed to be dealt with soon.“Ehhmm,” she coughed, drawing Lilac's attention from the crowd of people she was engaged with. Lilac turned to face Ciara slowly, her brows arching slightly in curiosity.“Hello, Miss Sheinkaih. My name is Ciara Saint,” she introduced, forcing a smile as she extended her hand for a shake.Lilac hesitated for a moment, causing a flicker of embarrassment to wash over Ciara as her hand lingered in the air. She quickly glanced at Gemini, who shot her a scathing glare.“It’s nice to meet you,” Lilac finall
Last Updated: 2024-11-09
Chapter: Chapter 58Chapter 58Old Friends & Foes.Gustavo leaned on the bar counter, twirling his drink in his hand as his eyes lingered on Jerome who had been smiling and making connections since the event ended.Why wasn't he leaving, Gustavo thought as he took a full sip of his drink.“Your friend seems to be enjoying himself,” Simon said as he approached Gustavo, planning to get on his nerves.“What do you mean by my friend Simon?” Gustavo asked in annoyance. Gustavo was very aware that Simon had been doing some digging concerning Sevan's holding.The reason he had invited Celine back to New York was so he could keep Simon and Gemini busy so that he could move on with his plan.Celine was of no use to him anymore, now he has to look for another way to get rid of Simon.“Jerome spine….you know Gustavo I heard interesting news that he was missing” Simon trailed in hoping to get off Gustsvo's skin and make his falter.“Well a missing man won't be here enjoying the night of his life” Gustavo answered ir
Last Updated: 2024-10-21
Chapter: Chapter 57Chapter 57The Donation.Gemini couldn’t believe her eyes. Was this some kind of sick joke? The news of Jerome's disappearance had rocked her just months ago, and now, here he was, standing alive and well in front of her. The fundraiser ceremony took on a life of its own as the MC stepped up to deliver his welcome speech, commanding the attention of the attendees with an enthusiastic grin. “Welcome to the 13th edition of our human rights fundraiser! We are thrilled to see so many familiar faces return to this esteemed organization!” he announced, his voice echoing through the crowd. Gemini’s gaze, however, remained locked on Jerome, who was smiling as if he hadn’t a care in the world.“He must be in a good mood for someone who just came back from the dead,” Simon quipped, throwing a glance at Jerome before redirecting his attention to Gustavo beside him.Gustavo’s heart raced as he processed the sight of Jerome. He fought to maintain his composure, though the revelation of Jerome’s
Last Updated: 2024-10-20
Chapter: Chapter 56Chapter 56The fundraiser two.Gemini pulled away quickly, stunned by Simon's audacity. Did he forget that they were getting a divorce soon? The last thing she wanted was to complicate things or give him false hope.“What are they doing in public?” one of the guests murmured, causing Gemini to hide her face in her hands.“All this young love makes us feel old,” another guest chimed in, chuckling lightly.Gemini’s attention shifted to her stepmother, who wore a disapproving glare as she processed whatever had just transpired between Gemini and Simon. As for Gustavo, well, she didn’t give a damn about his opinion. To her surprise, she spotted her uncle Brandon at the fundraiser—a rarity, since he usually avoided such events, no matter how much Grandma begged him to attend. She thought he would be home in San Francisco by now, but clearly, something was keeping him in New York.“That was quite the show you put on, you little rascal,” Uncle Brandon teased, a playful glint in his eye. “
Last Updated: 2024-10-18
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