Sofia just landed a job as a housekeeper and nanny in a luxurious apartment in the city's wealthiest district. What she didn’t expect was to run into Archie, a famous actor who happens to live in the same building. While he’s charming to everyone else, Archie has no problem showing Sofia his rudest side from the very start. As their worlds collide, they’re forced to navigate a tense neighborly coexistence filled with conflict—but will it always be that way? "I'm not your fan, you damn narcissist!" "My job is to pretend, and I have to say, you're terrible at it, sweetheart."
View MoreI slept like I’d been knocked out. Literally. No dreams, no tossing and turning, not even the usual existential insomnia. Just darkness—and the best pillow in the world: the one from my childhood, the one that smells like cheap fabric softener and home.I woke up to the sound of the microwave and the unmistakable smell of frozen waffles. Jackson was already in the kitchen, eating like he hadn’t seen food in three days. My mom was talking to him in that soft, maternal tone she only used with kids and grumpy customers at the store.“And how are you doing?” she asked when she saw me walk in.“Better. Though I think I’ve lost a year of my life this week.”“You’ve got some to spare.”I smiled. Mom always knew when to say something dumb just to make me laugh. I sat down next to Jackson, who had syrup on his eyelashes.“Did you talk to Archie?” he asked suddenly, without even looking up.I almost choked on my first sip of coffee.“Excuse me?”“I’m just saying… he looked sad.”I stared at him
When I shut the door, it felt like all the air left my lungs.My head buzzed, my heart pounded, and my stomach twisted like I’d just run a marathon.I had made myself clear.I wasn’t going to be part of Archie Garland and Kylie Webber’s circus.They weren’t going to use me to fix their images. They weren’t going to manipulate me. They weren’t going to decide my life for me.But saying it was one thing.Feeling like the fight was actually over was another.My hands were still shaking.I let out a deep breath and collapsed onto the couch, rubbing my face with both hands.I just wanted a break.I just wanted to get out of this damn building and breathe.Knock, knock, knock.The sound made me jump.I turned toward the door, nerves still on edge.Please don’t be Archie.I didn’t have the energy to deal with more of his nonsense today.I walked over and opened it.And there he was.My dad.Wearing his usual jacket, a warm smile on his face, arms open wide.—Come here, kiddo.I didn’t even h
Take care.Ágatha’s last words kept echoing in my head as I put my phone away.I knew what they meant.The scandal had already reached my bosses. And on Monday, I was in for a conversation I definitely wasn’t going to like.I sighed and walked out of the building. I needed to clear my head, even if just for a few minutes.But the universe had other plans.Just as I turned the corner, I ran straight into the last thing I wanted to see in this world.A horde of paparazzi."It’s her!" one of them shouted, raising his camera like a soldier ready for battle."Sofía, look this way! Are you dating Archie?""How did it start? Is this a PR stunt?"Oh, for the love of God.I froze for a second, but then my survival instincts kicked in.Run.Without thinking twice, I spun around and bolted in the opposite direction."Sofía, wait!"Not a chance.I ran like a final girl in a horror movie—dodging people, jumping over steps, and losing every ounce of dignity in the process.A car honked as I crossed
"No way.""Oh, come on," Archie protested. "Ninety percent of my fans hate you because they think you got between Kylie and me. If we say we're together and come up with a good story, we can change the narrative in your favor.""I don’t want that, Garland!" I huffed, running a hand through my hair, exasperated. "I want my life back the way it was a week ago—anonymous. And look where I am now because of you.""Maybe Archie has a point," Damon cut in, his tone as cool and calculating as ever. "A few statements, some pictures together, and in a few weeks, we ‘break up.’ People will forget about you quickly."I shot him a glare."Whose side are you on? Five minutes ago, you said we needed to deny it."Damon shrugged, indifferent."I'm on the production company's side. And Archie’s plan isn’t bad. It could work.""What about Kylie?""We can just say it didn’t work out between them, that they went out a couple of times and decided to stay friends.""Right. And the photo she posted the other
For the third time this week, I found myself knocking on Archie's door.He opened it almost immediately, standing in wrinkled pajamas and looking irritated, still half-asleep.“You again?” he grumbled, rubbing his eyes. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”“Yes. It’s two in the morning,” I answered, gently pushing past him. “Believe me, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.”Archie sighed, closing the door behind me without protest. I guess he was used to it by now.“What’s the emergency this time? I have an early shoot tomorrow.”I turned around, arms crossed.“The emergency is you and your brilliant performance with the paparazzi. What the hell were you thinking, throwing me to the wolves like that?”He let out an exhausted sigh and leaned against the wall.“I didn’t feel like dealing with them, Sofia. I’m tired of being followed around all day. What did you expect me to do?”“Anything besides directly sending them after me!”Archie ran a hand through his hair, fr
The next morning, I woke up to a bunch of messages from Maddie. I ignored them. I was still pissed. What was she thinking, telling the press I was dating Archie?I rubbed my temples, trying to wrap my head around the consequences. Would paparazzi follow me whenever I stepped outside, or would the rumor fizzle out on its own? Hopefully, the latter. There was no way I was opening Twitter or Instagram.I got out of bed and left my room. The house was empty. Good. I wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone right now.I went to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and searched for something to eat. Among the leftovers and food containers, my eyes landed on a few cans of beer.Was it too early to drink?Who cared? A crappy breakfast never killed anyone. Neither did a cigarette.I stepped onto the balcony with a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other.The fresh morning air hit my face, clearing my head a bit. Leaning against the railing, I lit the cigarette with a lighter I'd found in the li
“I swear, tell me we lost them,” I gasped, hands on my knees.My lungs burned, my feet screamed for mercy. Mental note: if I’m gonna keep getting into these chase situations, I should at least start training.I lifted my gaze. Archie leaned casually against the wall, his soaked shirt clinging to his torso, his hair dripping. Not a single gasp, not a hint of exhaustion.“Relax,” he said with an easy smile. “Good workout.I stared at him in disbelief.“Workout? Archie, we jumped fences, dodged cars, and almost ended up splattered on a taxi windshield.”He shrugged, that infuriating what’s the big deal? look plastered on his face“Dramatic.”“Whatever. I’m out. I’ve had enough for today.”“And how, exactly? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”I blinked.Slowly, I took in our surroundings—a grimy bridge, a flickering streetlamp fighting for its last moments of life, and a single cricket chirping a little too confidently in the dark.Fantastic.“This is depressing,” I muttered.“I’m calling an
If someone had told me a week ago that I’d be at Keanu Reeves’ birthday party, I would have laughed in their face. And if they had also told me I’d be going with Archie Garland, I would have personally checked them into a psych ward.Yet here I was, sitting in the backseat of a luxury car, on my way to the most exclusive party of the year. Maddie, in full fangirl mode, was practically vibrating with excitement, while Archie looked highly amused watching me squirm in my seat."Oh my God, oh my God, OH MY GOD!" Maddie screeched like she was about to have a meltdown. "Do you even realize how many people we could meet tonight? How are you THIS CALM?!"I wasn’t calm. I was just silently suppressing my existential crisis."Maybe because I shouldn’t even be here," I muttered, crossing my arms, already knowing this was a huge mistake.Archie, sitting on the other side, was giving me that smug “you're-dying-inside” smile he always wore when he enjoyed watching me suffer."Oh, come on, neighbor
I closed the door and turned toward Jackson, who was trying to sneak toward the table, as if he hadn’t just committed a juvenile crime at the park."Don’t even think about it."He froze, the expression of someone who knows they’ve messed up but still holds out hope that they can get away with it."What?""Can you explain to me why you hit that kid with a shovel?"He shrugged."He was bothering me.""Ah, of course, then it makes perfect sense to smack him with a shovel." I crossed my arms. "Jackson, seriously, what’s going on with you?"He huffed and crossed his arms."He was bothering me.""And so? He probably just wanted to play with you."He looked down, dragging the tip of his shoe against the floor."I didn’t hit him that hard…""Oh, really? Then why was he crying?"He rolled his eyes, clearly without remorse."Look, Jackson, you can’t just go around hitting people with whatever you have on hand. Especially not a kid much smaller than you.""But…""No buts. Next time, you talk. Go
"Sofia, wake up or you'll be late on your first day!"I groaned and rolled over, burying my face in the pillow."Sofia!""Don't wanna," I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep."Your father pulled a lot of strings to get you this job. Don't waste it. Get up!"I let out another groan and squeezed my eyes shut."But I don't even want this job…"Silence. Then, my mom ignored my whining as usual."I'm making coffee. When I come back, you better be on your feet."I heard her footsteps fade away. With a heavy sigh, I dragged myself up, moving like a zombie. I rubbed my eyes, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep, and squinted at the sunlight streaming through the window.You know that feeling when you wake up and just know the day is gonna suck? Yeah… today was one of those days."So, what do these Walkers do, exactly?" I asked as I made my way to the kitchen."Ugh, child, you never listen. I already told you—they're stockbrokers. But what does it matter? You're just there to clean th...
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