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.**
View MoreCHECKMATE.~ALEXANDRO’S POV~I chuckled, dragging a hand through my hair as I tossed my phone onto the desk. Stubborn little thing. She was learning—fast. I thought the press would crush her, thought she’d cave under the weight of the headlines. But no, she held her ground. A little shaken, maybe, but not broken. I underestimated her. A mistake I wouldn’t make again. “I can’t decide if you’re still just playing with her or if you’re starting to believe your bullshit.” Mario’s voice dragged me out of my thoughts. He was sprawled across my couch, a glass of scotch in one hand, a cigar in the other. Casually watching. Always watching. He set his drink down, picked up a magazine, and skimmed through it like it was the morning paper. “What happened to keep her at arm’s length?” he asked, not even bothering to lift his gaze. I smirked, making my way to the bar in the corner of my office. The half-empty bottle of aged Scotch stared back at me, a gift from an old associate i
STRANGER IN THE ELEVATOR.~LAUREN’S POV~I tossed my phone onto my desk and leaned back in my chair. Rubbing my temples.Alexandro was infuriated.Smug, arrogant, and too damn aware of the effect he had on people—on me. He knew exactly how to push my buttons, and worse, he enjoyed it.And now, thanks to last night, I had the media turning my life into some soap opera.Just perfect.A sharp knock on my desk pulled me from my thoughts. But before I could respond. Rosette closed my laptop, causing me to look up from where I sat.Beside her stood the same man who had pulled me from the reporters earlier. I stiffened slightly, my brows drawing together.“Morning, Rosette,” I greeted flatly.Rosette folded her arms, clearly not liking my tone, but she knew too well than to cause a scene or accuse me of anything in front of everyone.“Deal with him,” she said, not even leaving room for more explanation as she turned on her heels and left. I stared at her, confused, before turning to look at
NEWEST OBSESSION.~LAUREN’S POV~My table clock alarm blared, pulling me out of sleep as I groaned. The morning sunlight found its way through a small gap in the curtains, casting a glow over my bedroom. I rolled onto my back, staring blankly at the ceiling. Last night… well, it was intense. My mind drifted to Alexandro—his kiss, his touch. Every moment with him replayed in my head like a broken record. Did I hate it? No. It felt different. Those feelings. I had dated Patrick long enough to know that whatever I was experiencing with Alexandro wasn’t the same. Around him, I didn’t have to try. He always knew the right words, and the right actions, making me feel like a lovesick fool. And last night had been undeniable proof. I didn’t need this. My breakup with Patrick—or rather, me getting dumped by Patrick—hadn’t even been a few months ago. I wasn’t ready to be dragged back into love, especially not into something this complicated. Sighing, I reached for my phone on the n
MIXED FEELINGS.~LAUREN’S POV~I should have stepped back. But I didn’t. The night air felt heavy with an energy I couldn't describe. The space between us was gone, and now he was just there—his presence was strong, and his scent wrapped around me like a powerful spell.I hated that my body responded before my mind could catch up. Alexandro didn’t touch me, not completely. His hands remained braced against the railing on either side of me, caging me in, but his body heat seeped into mine, and his breath was maddeningly close. Waiting. Daring. A slow smirk tugged at his lips as if he could feel my hesitation as if he knew exactly what was happening inside my head. “Tell me something, mi amor,” he murmured, his voice a quiet rasp against the night air. “Are you shaking because of him?” His dark gaze flickered to my parted lips. “Or because of me?” Damn him. I sucked in a sharp breath, forcing my spine to straighten. “You’re full of yourself, Señor Castillo,” I said co
A RECKONING~LAUREN’S POV~ "Tell me, amor… what scares you more? That you hate me? Or that you don’t?"His words wouldn’t leave my head. They clung to my thoughts like a whispered curse, threading through my veins, tightening around my ribs. I wanted to tell him he was wrong. That I wasn’t scared. That I despised him. That I felt nothing. But that would be a lie. And Alexandro Castello? He thrived on the truth beneath the lies. His fingers brushed against my cheek, the warmth of his touch bringing down the cold wind that bit at my skin. My pulse betrayed me, hammering against my ribs, loud enough that I was sure he could hear it. I hated this. Hated that he knew exactly how to intimidate me, how to crack me with just a look. But before I could step back, before I could regain even a shred of composure— “Sir.” A sharp voice cut through the tension, breaking the moment like a shattered pane of glass. Hilda. Alexandro’s ever-efficient assistant. She stood just beh
A GAME OF CONTROL ~ALEXANDRO’S POV~I knew exactly what I was doing.The moment my lips touched hers, the room ceased to exist.It was reckless. A dangerous move. But I didn’t care.Lauren stiffened for a second, caught off guard, but then I felt it—that slight, almost imperceptible hesitation before she melted into the kiss.That was all I needed.My hand pressed against the small of her back, pulling her closer. Her scent filled my senses, a perfect mix of something soft and intoxicating. I could feel the irregular beat of her heart beneath my fingertips, betraying her.She could lie all she wanted. She could pretend to hate me.But her body told the truth.And I owned every single reaction.The room was silent, eyes wide, mouths hanging open.Rosette stood frozen, her grip on Patrick’s arm tightening until her nails dug into his skin.Patrick—well, his expression was unreadable, but the way his jaw clenched told me everything I needed to know.I felt her fingers trembling against
THE GAME WE PLAY~LAUREN’S POV~The moment I walked into the ballroom, I felt it. People are watching closely. They whisper. There is a mix of curiosity and judgment in the air.I tried not to let it show. I had stepped into an entirely different world—one of power, influence, and carefully crafted illusions. I had no business being here, yet here I was. Dressed in red. A statement in itself. My heart pounded as I forced myself to move forward, chin high, shoulders squared. But deep inside, a small voice whispered— “run.”I ignored it. But then, my eyes landed on him. Patrick. He stood near the bar, his gaze locked onto me with an admiration that made my breath hitch. For a split second, the past flooded forward, threatening to pull me under. The feelings I thought had died came rushing back. I wanted to move toward him, but then— “her.”Rosette. Her arm was coiled through Patrick’s, her grip possessive, her eyes sharp as they met mine. A silent warning. That witch.
BLOOD & DESIRES ~ALEXANDRO’S POV~The look in Lauren’s eyes when she walked into that room. I had seen it before. Fear. Disgust. A silent accusation. It was the same look my mother used to give me whenever I came home covered in blood. My mother, the woman who gave me life, had looked at me as though I were something monstrous. Something unworthy. And now, Lauren had seen it too. How the hell had she even found that room? It was hidden, far from the public eye. A place meant for business, not for innocent eyes like hers. I never wanted her to see ‘this’ part of me. Not yet. This life—this world—I was proud of it. It was mine. I had built it from the ground up and earned my place through blood and power. But Lauren didn’t belong in this world. She wasn’t ready. Mario would lose his mind if he found out she’d seen what she shouldn’t have. But I wasn’t going to let one mistake ruin my fun. She would remember ‘nothing’ after tonight. The sharp chime of the doorbel
OVERTHINKING.~LAUREN POV~I stood there like a statue, frozen. My mind is racing. The sight of Alexandro in this situation was shocking. Wasn't he supposed to be a trillionaire?Mr perfection.His sharp green eyes held mine and I could almost feel the tension in the air. The two men with him, glance at me, their weapons still in hand, but they don't move.“What are you doing here?”Alexandro's voice was calm but there was a harshness to it that made my skin crawl.I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. My eyes darted to the man on the floor, his breathing shallow, the blood spreading around him. My stomach turned, and I felt like I might be sick.“I….I got lost,” I finally managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.Alexandro’s expression didn't change. He took a step towards me, his movement slow and deliberate. I instinctively took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest.“You shouldn't be here,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.Well, he didn't need to tell
THE BETRAYAL~LAUREN~My chest constricted as Patrick's words struck me like a physical blow. I remained motionless, attempting to grasp the severity of what he was saying, but my mind struggled to keep up. The tears I was trying to hold back would not fall, even though every part of me urged me to release them. "You're not the right fit for me, Lauren. I need someone who can help me improve." My voice barely escaped my lips. "Fifteen days before Christmas?" He shrugged, the icy indifference in his gaze piercing deeper than any insult could. "I can't wait any longer."This had to be a nightmare. I stared at him in disbelief, my thoughts swirling like a tornado. How could he do this? After everything—after three years of shared memories, plans for the future, promises of forever. We had already talked about getting married after the holidays. I had been picturing it, imagining how beautiful it would be. And now, this. My heart splintered into a thousand jagged pieces. He cou...
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