After a painful breakup, Selena finds herself in a vulnerable moment, seeking comfort in the arms of a mysterious stranger. However, when she discovers that he is Justin Branson, a billionaire playboy CEO, she is shocked. Their secret encounter has gone viral, threatening her already fragile reputation and Justin's. To divert attention from the scandal and salvage the situation, Justin proposes a fake relationship. Selena agrees, but soon finds herself drawn to his charismatic charm and undeniable attraction as they work closely together. She struggles to trust him, despite his playboy ways, which seem determined to destroy her. As they navigate their fake relationship, real feelings emerge. Will their fake relationship turn into something real, or will secrets and complications tear them apart?
Lihat lebih banyakSelena's POV"Why is Zayn texting me?" Hailey asked, her brows furrowed, her voice laced with a mix of confusion and annoyance.I was a bit shocked. I hadn't realized Zayn had Hailey's number, and after our last encounter a while back, I hadn't expected to hear from him again."What does the text say?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.Hailey held up her phone, the screen glowing with the message. "Something about us being 'neighbors soon.' What the heck does that even mean?" she muttered, her voice laced with a hint of disgust.“Let me see.” I snatched the phone from her, my eyes scanning the cryptic message. "Eww, that’s creepy?" I squinted at the screen, the words blurring slightly. "I don't have time for any Zayn drama, Hails. Justin already warned him to stay away from me. I'm going to bed.""What about me then?" Hailey mock-yelled behind me, her voice laced with a playful panic. "Is he going to come after me?" She squealed, trying to stifle a laugh. "I'm blocking his ass right no
Selena's POV"You don't have to move anymore," Justin said, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the air, his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that made my skin prickle. "This apartment... it's no longer up for eviction."My brain got stuck, like an engine trying to start on a cold morning. First, what was this man doing in my apartment, looking impossibly handsome and smelling faintly of that expensive cologne that always did weird things to my pulse? And with Hailey, no less! I shot her a look that screamed, ‘You better have a damn good explanation for this,’ my eyes narrowed with suspicion."What do you mean, 'not up for eviction' anymore?" I finally managed to ask, my voice a shaky mix of confusion and disbelief. After we'd received the notice; there hadn't been any follow-up, no counter-notice, nothing to suggest a sudden reversal.Justin shifted slightly, the leather of his expensive jacket creaking softly. An unsettling smile touched his lips, a smile
Justin's POV"Alright, gentlemen, let's cut to the chase," I snapped, my voice sharp and decisive, cutting through the static of the conference call. "We're not here to dance around figures. We're here to close this deal." The air in my study was thick with the tension of high stakes and negotiations. "I'm prepared to offer a premium, a significant one, but I need assurances. I need to know we can streamline the integration process, no delays." The stakeholders on the other end of the line shuffled papers, their voices a low hum of agreement. "Good. Then let's finalize the terms. My lawyers will send over the paperwork by EOD."The call ended with a collective sigh of relief, the tension dissipating like smoke. I was determined to acquire this tech company. It was a matter of principle, really. After I lost out on buying out Patel’s father's company because I had to be sure Selena was safe, I wasn't about to let another opportunity slip through my fingers. Especially not one Pat
Selena’s POV"Selena," Hailey practically shouted, her voice strained with a mix of disbelief and anger. "Want to take a wild guess what lovely 'gift' they plastered on our door?"I blinked slowly, my eyes still adjusting to the morning light. "Maybe... a flyer for a cat pageant?" I teased, trying for a light tone, but Hailey's face was a shade of crimson I'd only seen when she was about to explode."We've been served," she mumbled, her voice low and dangerous. "An eviction notice. We have a few days to get out.""Huh?" I choked out, my brain struggling to process the words. "But... how? We're not even late on rent."Hailey ran a hand through her hair. The movement is a bit frantic. "I really have to get to work," she mumbled, her eyes darting towards the clock."We'll talk about this later." And for the second time that morning, she was gone, slamming the door behind her with a force that rattled the walls.I walked to the door, my bare feet padding softly against the cold tile, and
Selena's POVHailey’s eyes widened, and she let out a sharp, almost panicked breath before yanking the phone away, her movements swift. “Nosy much,” she mumbled whilst trying to force an unconvincing smile.“Hails,” I whispered, trying to process what was going on, my eyes twitching slightly. “Is there something I should know that you’re not telling me?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.Hailey shifted her weight from one foot to another but still remained silent. “Hailey Claire Thompson,” I called out her full government name, my voice a bit louder this time. “Who texted you and what are you supposed to tell me that you haven’t?”“How are you sure you’re the one being referred to in the message?” she asked, her eyes scanning the entire room but my face."Don't play dumb," I said, my voice hardening. "You snatched the phone away like it was a live grenade. And you're acting weird. Really weird."She sighed a long, drawn-out sound that did nothing to ease the tension. "It's… it's a bit
Selena’s POVMy mind was racing. How the hell am I supposed to get home from here? My pride wouldn't let me go back to Justin's apartment and ask for the keys to get my stuff. I leaned against a tall, beautiful tree. My eyes darted towards Michael and Sam. They stared at me with questioning eyes. I quickly grabbed my phone and decided to call Hailey. I'd rather shamefully tell her what happened with Justin and me and have her pick me up than go back in there to ask for his help.As I held up my phone to call her, the battery died. I sighed in frustration and leaned back against the tree, the rough bark poking me slightly. A few minutes later, I heard my name."Selena?" The familiar voice whispered as he touched me lightly. I jerked involuntarily, a bit shocked and terrified, my eyes darting around.Why the heck was Justin yelling my name and what was he doing here, for Christ's sake? I almost face-palmed."Selena," the voice called out again, a bit more firmly."What's going on? Wha
Justin's POVSomething primal inside me just screamed, go after her. It was like a raw, animal instinct. I wanted to rip open those elevator doors, drag her back, and just... lay it all out. Tell her everything. But the words were trapped like they were glued to my tongue. Because how could I? How could I tell her I was being blackmailed, that I was being forced to push her away? Me, Justin Blanco, with all my supposed control, power and affluence... and I was completely helpless. It was a gut-wrenching feeling like I'd failed her completely.I was rooted to the spot. Couldn't move a muscle. Just stood there, staring at that damn elevator door. Her scent, that sweet vanilla mix with something floral, still hung in the air, a cruel reminder of what I was losing. And God, she looked... even when she was completely mad, she was breathtaking. It was a physical ache, a sharp, twisting pain, how beautiful she was.Then it hit me. How the hell was she supposed to get home? Did she actuall
Selena's POVThe door swung open, revealing Justin standing there, his expression a mask of surprise and guarded curiosity. His eyes, usually so intense, flickered over me, searching for something I couldn't decipher."Selena?" he asked, his voice rough, a low, guttural sound. "What are you doing here?"Okay, focus, Selena. But...wow. He'd just gotten out of the shower, I could tell. His hair was still a little wet, and the scent of his shampoo...it was that expensive, fancy kind, and it just hit me all at once. It was ridiculously distracting. I had to remind myself why I was even there, and that he was the reason I was so upset."Here," I said, my voice catching in my throat. I shoved the car keys towards him, not daring to look up. "I'm giving them back. I... I can't keep them.""Giving them back? Seriously?" He raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief. "What are you even talking about?""I mean," I mumbled, my fingers fiddling with a strand of hair, the
Selena's POVThe apartment's sitting room glowed softly, a warm contract against the storm raging outside. We were sprawled on the couch, a rom-com playing on TV, the kind with the ridiculously happy endings and predictable drama. My eyes, though, were glued to my phone, the screen flashing with a name I recognized instantly: Justin Blanco. My heart did that weird skip thing, a mix of dread and… something else. Something I didn’t want to admit."Ooh, mystery caller," Hailey teased, nudging my arm with her elbow. "Don't tell me it's that brooding billionaire calling to check up on you?"I tried to play it cool, giving Hailey a casual shrug, like it was no big deal. "Probably just work," I mumbled, but my fingers were already betraying me, tapping the answer button way too fast. My stomach did a little flip. I turned away from Hailey, trying to give myself a tiny bit of privacy as I walked towards my bedroom. Hello… hello Justin?" I spoke into the phone, my voice, a bit tense. "Se
Selena’s POV Ugh. My phone was buzzing like crazy. I almost ignored it, but then I saw it was Zayn. I put it to my ear, and… OMG. The sounds coming through were disgusting. Heavy breathing, moans… yeah, you get the picture. He was hooking up with someone else. And to make matters worse, he wasn’t supposed to be calling. It was obviously a butt-dial — the ultimate humiliation. Seriously, could this get any worse? My stomach did this sick flip, and I felt my face burning up. Like, full-on tomato red. I wanted to throw up, scream, and disappear all at the same time. “Zayn I yelled, my voice scratching, unable to put up with whatever it was I was listening to.”There was silence. And then his voice, all lame and distant, finally realizing his slip-up. "Didn't mean for you to hear that," he mumbled. Like that was supposed to make it okay. “It’s not what you think” he added further.That lying jerk. This was the height of it all. "You didn’t mean for what?" I choked out, tears stinging m...
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