Who do you think is Regina?
The hospital room was quiet, save for the faint beeping of the monitors. Joaquin lay in the bed, his face pale but peaceful, a bandage wrapped around his side.The doctors had assured us that the wound wasn’t deep, but he had lost a significant amount of blood, necessitating an overnight stay for observation. I sat by his bedside, holding his hand, my mind racing with everything that had happened.Ethan had worked quickly to block the news from reaching the media, preventing any commotion that might alert Joaquin’s father. He stood by the window, speaking in low tones with hospital staff and making sure everything was handled discreetly.I squeezed Joaquin’s hand gently, the events replaying in my mind. He had rushed to protect me without a second thought, and the thought of him being hurt because of me was almost too much to bear.I worried about the state Joaquin’s beloved bachelor pad, unsure if I had turned off the stove in the chaos. But Ethan had reassured me that the officers ha
"Please teach me to become a better writer!""Oh?"Joaquin got his glass and sipped his whiskey as he looked at me in a condescending manner."I need something in return," he teased as he put his glass down on the table, making me nod excitingly."Yes, yes! I would do anything you ask for!"Hearing her feedback, he stood up from his chair then walked towards me, chuckling."Erm..."I stepped away from him, now bumping my back on the wall behind me. Surprised, I gasped as he did a breathtakingly hot “kabe-don”. He then spoke near my ear, sending shivers down my spine."What if I ask... for a collaboration?"***~One hour ago, Joaquin’s party in his mansion~I adjusted the hem of my borrowed dress, my heart pounding as I slipped through the grand entrance of the opulent mansion. The evening air was cool, carrying the distant hum of the city. Inside the mansion, however, it buzzed with the vibrant energy of the literary elite.Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the expansive room,
“Is that so? And what, pray tell, does a copy editor like yourself want from me?”I swallowed. He’s talking to me as if he knows me! Does he know what I look like? I haven’t even told him my name yet because I’m caught off guard!“Well?” His voice snapped me out of my thoughts. His eyes never left mine. He cocked his head to the side as if urging me to continue talking. My heart skipped a beat when he called my name! “Haven Thorne… right?”I stood rooted to the floor. What. The. Hell! He DOES know me!But how? Through Jessie? Wait… she said she wouldn’t squeal that I am in the party—that I’m using her invitation to get inside! Right?She’s not like that. Even though she’s also friends with Joaquin, she assured me she wouldn’t tell… right?“Who is she?”“Does Joaquin know her?”“It looks like someone we don’t know.”“Is she a writer?”“A referred friend, perhaps.”“Then why is Joaquin acting like it’s the first time they met?”“Hmm… quite audacious of her to approach him in the open if
I paused when I heard him challenging me right on the spot. I actually have the draft of my work here on my phone and it’s already finished and that’s what I plan on showing him so I could ask for his opinion.“Umm…” I hesitated, my eyes locking with his. I stiffened once more as his eyes really never left mine. “I actually have my story here in my phone’s drafts and—”“No,” he interrupted, cutting me off from my upcoming suggestion. “I want a new one on the spot.”I furrowed my brows. “What do you want me to write?” He’s challenging me, so fine… let’s take the challenge!“What’s your genre?” he asked, now sitting on the leather chair opposite mine.“Contemporary romance, fantasy romance,” I answered, Joaquin giving me a single nod.“Alright. Then write something romantic,” he replied, giving more details. “A domineering man, softening to a sweet woman. Go.”I held the pen on my hand as I stared on the blank paper. I felt cold sweat on my back as I grew conscious of the fact that Joaq
I froze, my eyes wide as I processed what Joaquin had just said. His father’s stern gaze flickered with surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.“Your fiancée?” His father’s voice dripped with skepticism.Joaquin tightened his grip around my waist, his posture relaxed but his eyes intense. “Yes, Haven and I have been keeping it private, but I suppose the secret's out now.”My heart pounded in my chest, my mind racing to keep up. Why is he dragging me into this? What does he mean by fiancée?His father’s eyes narrowed. “I see. Then perhaps you won’t mind if we have a private discussion, Joaquin.”Joaquin’s expression hardened slightly, but he nodded. “Of course, Father. We’ll schedule it at another time.”His father gave me one last scrutinizing look before turning and leaving the room, closing the door behind him with a decisive thud. Joaquin looked at me, too, making me conscious on the borrowed clothes that I am wearing at this party.Yeah, yeah… I look ordinary, a girl with
I found the bar nestled in a corner of Joaquin’s opulent mansion, a secluded spot away from the prying eyes of the partygoers. The dim lighting and polished wooden counter offered a semblance of solace amidst the whirlwind of emotions I was feeling.I ordered a strong drink and downed it quickly, hoping the alcohol would numb the confusion and frustration swirling inside me. As the warmth spread through my body, I leaned back against the bar, staring into the empty glass.‘How did I end up here?’ I wondered, my thoughts racing. I came here to learn, not to get tangled in someone else's problems.The bartender approached, refilling my glass without a word. I nodded my thanks and took another sip, savoring the burn as it slid down my throat. I couldn't help but replay the evening's events in my mind, trying to make sense of Joaquin's unexpected proposal.Why couldn’t he settle this on his own? What kind of man needs a fake fiancée to escape his father’s demands? Who is he, really, beyon
I stared at Joaquin, my mouth hanging open as the weight of his words settled in. “You’re the son of Joseph Bryan Greyson? The Joseph Bryan Greyson?”Joaquin chuckled, clearly amused by my shock. “Yes, that’s me. Surprised?”I scoffed, settling my coffee down once more after I drank it all in one gulp. “I didn’t think that you’d really be connected to THE Joseph Bryan Greyson since there are a lot of Greysons in the world… but it now made sense that you resemble him.”He grinned, cocking his head to the side to make fun of me. “I don’t know if you’re just hungover… or really dumb.”I narrowed my eyes at him. “Remember… you’re asking for me help.”He didn’t say anything. I let out a sigh and blinked my eyes, trying to process everything. “But… why would the son of the richest man in the country really need to fake an engagement? Can’t you just do anything you want?”Joaquin sighed, leaning back in his chair. “You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But I already told you. My father is… complicat
I smiled at Joaquin’s curiosity, enjoying the shift in our dynamic. It was nice to have a bit of leverage, even if it was just a teasing secret. "A promise I made with someone, I guess," I said, my tone light yet evasive.Joaquin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what exactly was this promise?"I chuckled, mimicking his earlier nonchalance. "Just like you said, I'll only answer questions that are beneficial to our situation. Whether I made a promise to someone or not is none of your concern."He laughed, appreciating my cheeky response. "Fair enough. We'll leave it at that for now. But don’t think I won’t try to find out.""We’ll see," I replied, still grinning.With the way he said “we’ll see”, it made me think that he does have ways to find out who the person is. With his status, he can find out just about anything.Now that explains why he knows who I am… and even said my name when I approached him without me even introducing myself.The question is: up to what extent does he
The hospital room was quiet, save for the faint beeping of the monitors. Joaquin lay in the bed, his face pale but peaceful, a bandage wrapped around his side.The doctors had assured us that the wound wasn’t deep, but he had lost a significant amount of blood, necessitating an overnight stay for observation. I sat by his bedside, holding his hand, my mind racing with everything that had happened.Ethan had worked quickly to block the news from reaching the media, preventing any commotion that might alert Joaquin’s father. He stood by the window, speaking in low tones with hospital staff and making sure everything was handled discreetly.I squeezed Joaquin’s hand gently, the events replaying in my mind. He had rushed to protect me without a second thought, and the thought of him being hurt because of me was almost too much to bear.I worried about the state Joaquin’s beloved bachelor pad, unsure if I had turned off the stove in the chaos. But Ethan had reassured me that the officers ha
I woke up with a start, the room bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun. The clock on my bedside table read 7 PM. Rubbing my eyes, I stretched and stood up, feeling the lingering effects of the nap. I decided to check on Joaquin.As I approached his room, I noticed the door was slightly ajar. Peeking in, I saw him still asleep, his face peaceful and relaxed.Not wanting to disturb him, I decided to do something nice for him. I’d cook dinner. Quietly closing his door, I headed to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, I saw that most of the meat needed to defrost.Letting out a sigh, I rummaged through the cabinets and found some canned meats: spam and corned beef. I settled on the corned beef and decided to mix it with onions. I also decided to cook some rice since it would make a hearty meal.We hadn't eaten since lunchtime and both of us would be hungry when we woke up.As I prepared the ingredients, I decided to listen to some music. The beat of the song filled the kitchen, creating a
As we arrived home, I headed straight to my room to sort through the new clothes we’d bought. It felt surreal to have so many new outfits.I’d never had this much before, even when I was living alone. I happily folded each piece, admiring the various styles and colors. It was a luxury I wasn’t used to, but it felt nice.Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. I looked up to see Joaquin leaning against the doorframe, a soft smile on his face."What's up?" I asked, returning his smile."I just wanted to see what you’re up to," he said, his eyes scanning the room. "Are you happy?"I nodded, still smiling. "Yes, I’m happy. I feel very spoiled, actually.""Good," he said, stepping inside and sitting on the edge of my bed. "You deserve it.""I almost feel guilty about all of this," I admitted, folding another shirt. "But since you keep reassuring me that it’s alright, I thought maybe I could abuse you more financially."Joaquin laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "It will never be an abuse
“Did you see their faces?” I managed to say between fits of laughter.Joaquin nodded, his shoulders shaking with amusement. “I think we might’ve just ruined their date.”“Well, at least we’re having fun,” I replied, grinning.Joaquin looked at me, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “That we are, Haven.”As the laughter subsided, we continued eating, sharing small, amused glances and smiles. The earlier tension between us had completely dissolved, replaced by a comfortable camaraderie. It felt like a real date, a real connection, even if it was born out of an arrangement.I realized then how much I enjoyed Joaquin’s company, and how, despite the odd circumstances of our relationship, moments like these made it feel genuine. We finished our meal in high spirits, ready to see where the rest of the day would take us.Just as we were about to head home, I stopped in my tracks, a sudden realization hitting me. “Wait, Joaquin, we forgot to buy underwear!”He chuckled, clearly amused by my oversig
We walked through the mall, our matching outfits drawing occasional glances and smiles from passersby. It felt surreal, being in a couple’s outfit with Joaquin, especially considering our situation. Despite the pretense, it was surprisingly enjoyable.We had just returned from the parking lot after stowing our numerous shopping bags in Joaquin's car. The rest of the day stretched ahead of us, and I was looking forward to it. "Let's have lunch together and then watch a movie before heading home to relax," Joaquin suggested.I smiled at the idea. "How about we watch a movie first and then eat? That way, we can talk about the film while we eat.""Sounds good to me," he agreed, and we made our way to the cinema.As we stood in line, I glanced at the posters of the showing movies. There was a range of options: romance, action, and horror. Joaquin turned to me, raising an eyebrow. "What would you like to watch?"I felt a thrill of excitement. "Let's watch a horror movie."He arched an eyebro
Joaquin and I walked through the mall, my arms laden with bags filled with beautiful clothes. Dresses, blouses, jeans, shorts, and even office wear—everything I had always wanted but never allowed myself to splurge on. Joaquin had insisted on carrying most of the bags, which made me feel both spoiled and grateful."I really feel like a fiancée," I said with a playful smile, glancing at him.Joaquin laughed, a deep, genuine sound that made me smile even wider. "Even though it's an arrangement, I'm more than willing to spoil you. Not because of the contract, but because I want to."His words warmed my heart, and I felt a rush of happiness. "Thank you, Joaquin. This means a lot to me.""Next, let's get you some footwear," he said, steering us towards a shoe store. "Sneakers, slippers, sandals—whatever you need."I grinned, feeling a bit giddy with excitement. "Are you sure? Because I'm really loving this shopping day."He laughed again. "How many times do I have to reassure you, Haven? It
I stood there, awkwardly shifting my weight from one foot to the other, as Joaquin rubbed his temples. The tension from my ill-timed question about Clarise still hung heavily in the air.Joaquin sighed deeply. “Alright, let’s get ready to head to the mall,” he said, his voice strained but calmer.I hesitated. “What should I wear? My clothes from last night are office wear, and I don’t really want to put those back on.”Joaquin, clearly still affected by my earlier question, responded with a hint of irritation. “Just make do with what you find in my closet.”I let out a sigh, recognizing that I had overstepped and that he was dealing with his own emotions. Without another word, I turned and went back to his room. I knew his reaction was valid; I had asked something deeply personal that he clearly didn’t want to share.As I rifled through his closet, I noticed an oversized white hoodie. It looked comfortable, and I decided it would work as a makeshift dress. I pulled it on, finding that
As we finished breakfast, my curiosity got the better of me. "So, who do you think this woman could be? If it's not one of your exes, could it be a stalker? Someone obsessed with you?"Joaquin sighed, leaning back against the counter. "It's possible. There have been women who took an interest in me, especially those within the same social circle who thought a connection with me could benefit them. Some even suggested merging businesses through marriage."I chuckled at that, shaking my head. "Sounds like something out of a drama or a book. But would they really go so far as to cause a scandal like this?"He shook his head, a thoughtful look on his face. "No, they wouldn’t risk their reputation like that. But you’re right, someone with enough resources to pay off my maid and make her fear for her family... that’s someone with a lot of power."I frowned, contemplating. "Who could be rich enough to threaten your maid? And if they’re that rich, why would they even bother with something like
I woke up with a splitting headache, my body aching all over. The sunlight hit my face directly, making me squint as I slowly opened my eyes. The first thing I noticed was Joaquin still on top of me, snoring softly. I stared at him in disbelief, the absurdity of the situation hitting me all over again."Joaquin," I mumbled, pushing him gently. He didn't budge. I pushed a bit harder, but it was like trying to move a boulder. Being six feet tall and heavily built, he outweighed my five-foot-four frame significantly. I sighed in exasperation. "Seriously?"After a few more futile attempts to shift him, I gave up and wiggled out from under him. Once free, I sat up, rubbing my sore shoulders.Damn it… sleeping with him here on the couch in only one position… it really does hurt the body.My face heated up as fragments of last night’s events flashed through my mind. The kiss, the touching, the way he made me feel… and then him falling asleep on my chest."Unbelievable," I muttered, shaking my