Chapter Two: Playing Pretend in Prada

“You're late.”

Alejandro didn’t bother looking at her as she stepped into the sleek black town car waiting by the curb. His eyes remained glued to his phone, thumb flicking through unread emails like they were beneath him.

Valeria yanked the door shut and exhaled, annoyed. “You're lucky I agreed to this insane idea at all.”

He finally glanced up — crisp suit, sharp jawline, a pair of sunglasses that screamed I don’t do patience.

“And yet here you are.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Only because you offered to triple my salary. And I need to pay off my mom’s hospital bills.”

Alejandro looked at her for a beat longer than necessary, as if trying to read between her words. Then he returned to his phone, voice flat. “You’ll need to smile more.”

“I’ll smile when you’re less of a jackass.”

He almost smirked. Almost.

---

Inside the Town Car

Valeria smoothed down her borrowed designer dress — a sleek off-the-shoulder navy number pulled from the firm's PR closet at the last second. She looked like she belonged in high society. She felt like she belonged in a panic attack.

Alejandro finally set his phone down and turned to face her. “Here’s what they know: we’ve been dating for a year. Quietly. Met at a design expo. Got engaged in Cancún.”

“Seriously? Cancún?”

“Romantic enough for a lie. Not too specific that they’ll ask questions.”

Valeria crossed her arms. “Fine. What’s your pet name for me?”

He raised a brow. “Excuse me?”

“Pet name. If we’re such a convincing couple, surely you call me something sweet, cariño.”

A long pause.

Alejandro looked at her lips, then back to her eyes.

“Mi tormenta.”

My storm.

Valeria's breath hitched.

It wasn’t what she expected. And it didn’t sound fake.

She swallowed and looked away. “That’s... dramatic.”

“You’re not exactly sunshine,” he said coolly. “Now memorize this: my favorite color is black, I hate cilantro, I have a dog named Atlas. You helped me adopt him.”

“I hate cilantro too.”

“Perfect. More believable.”

Valeria stared out the window, fingers clenched. This was a job. A performance. Nothing more.

So why did her heart feel like it was rewiring itself every time he looked at her?

---

The Brunch – El Encanto Hotel, Monterrey

They walked in arm in arm — him in a charcoal suit, her a storm in heels. Heads turned. Valeria smiled, teeth clenched so tightly she might break a molar.

The investors — two men in their sixties and one elegant, pearl-draped woman — stood to greet them.

“¡Alejandro!” one said. “And this must be... the lucky woman!”

Valeria extended a hand, heart racing. “Valeria Mendoza. Encantada.”

Alejandro rested a hand lightly on her lower back — possessive, protective, perfectly staged. The heat of it bled through the silk of her dress.

“She’s the best thing to happen to me,” he said smoothly.

Valeria blinked at him. That sounded... a little too good. Was he acting?

She forced a sweet laugh. “He’s just saying that because I haven’t burned breakfast in two weeks.”

Laughter. Charm. They played their roles perfectly.

But the woman — Doña Teresa, as they learned — was sharp. Her eyes drifted from Valeria’s hands to Alejandro’s posture to the tiny gap between them when they sat.

“You two live together?” she asked, smiling too gently.

Valeria hesitated.

Alejandro answered instantly. “Of course. It’s how we knew we were ready.”

Valeria added quickly, “We even argue like an old married couple now. Last night it was over throw pillows.”

That earned a laugh.

Doña Teresa raised her glass. “To young love.”

Alejandro leaned close and whispered against Valeria’s temple, “Laugh. Like I said something funny.”

Valeria turned her face toward him and laughed, soft and breathy. Too close. Too warm.

Their eyes met. The laughter died.

There it was again — that charge.

As if pretending was easier than resisting.

---

After the Brunch – Outside the Hotel

Valeria tugged at her heel and let out a breath as they stepped into the courtyard, the sun finally breaking through Monterrey’s morning chill.

She turned to Alejandro, arms crossed. “Well? Did we pass your precious investor test?”

He was quiet.

Then, softly: “We passed.”

He stepped closer, voice lower. “You were... impressive.”

Valeria blinked. Alejandro Herrera did not give compliments. That was practically a love confession.

“Thank you,” she said, surprised.

He nodded, then checked his watch. “We’ll need to repeat this a few more times. Social media appearances, a few family dinners—”

“Hold up. Family dinners? With who?”

“My mother. Possibly my father. They believe in tradition.”

Valeria groaned. “I didn’t sign up for your entire life, Alejandro.”

He looked at her then — eyes dark and unreadable. “You signed up to pretend to be my fiancée. This is part of it.”

A gust of wind caught her hair. Alejandro reached up instinctively, brushing a strand behind her ear.

The touch was brief.

But it landed like a thunderclap.

Neither of them moved.

Then, his voice — quieter now. “You’re good at pretending.”

Valeria swallowed. “Maybe too good.”

A beat of silence passed between them.

They didn’t kiss. But the air between them crackled like they had.

---

Later That Night – Valeria’s Apartment

She kicked off her heels, dropped her purse, and collapsed onto the couch.

Her phone buzzed.

Alejandro: Dinner at my place tomorrow. Investors want couple content.

She rolled her eyes.

Valeria: Fine. But I’m not bringing dessert unless I get a bonus.

Alejandro: If you smile like you did today, you’ll get more than that.

Valeria stared at the screen, heart skipping.

What the hell was happening?

She was supposed to be faking it.

But this didn’t feel fake anymore.

Not even a little.