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2024-12-11 17:28:20Lucia stepped off the elevator and onto the bustling floors of city halls. She took a deep breath, feeling the familiar hum of the office energize her. It was good to be back at work.
As she made her way to her office, Lucia couldn't help but think about the previous night's dinner celebration. Her sister Susan made partner at a firm. She had just been promoted to senior partner, and they had decided to celebrate in style. They had dined at one of Berkeley top restaurants, indulging in champagne and fine wine. Lucia chuckled to herself as she remembered the two of them stumbling out of the restaurant, giggling and holding onto each other for support. They had definitely had a bit too much to drink. As she settled into her office, Lucia’s phone buzzed with an incoming text from her colleague and friend Diana. "Hey, want to grab coffee and catch up?" Diana asked. Diana smiled, happy to take a break from her usual routine. "Definitely," she replied. "Meet you at the coffee shop down the street in 15?” Twenty minutes later, Lucia and Diana were sipping their lattes and chatting about everything from their weekends to the latest office gossip. "I'm so happy Susan got promoted," Diana said, as they sat at a small table by the window. "She totally deserves it." Lucia nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. She's one of the hardest working people I know." Diana leaned in, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Speaking of hard work, have you heard the latest about Stephen ?" she whispered. Lucia raised an eyebrow. "What about him?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Diana grinned. "Apparently, he's been breathing down John's neck even more than usual. I heard John's at his wit's end." Lucia shook her head, laughing. "That's not surprising. “Stephen has always been a bit of a micromanager." As they chatted and laughed, Lucia felt a sense of camaraderie with Diana. They had been colleagues for several years, and had developed a strong friendship. Just as they were finishing up their coffee, Lucia’s phone buzzed with an incoming text. She smiled as she saw Avon’s name on the screen. "Hey, are you still on for our date tonight?" Avon asked. Lucia’s heart skipped a beat as she read the message. She had been looking forward to this date all week. "Absolutely," she replied, trying to sound casual despite her growing excitement. "I'll meet you at the restaurant at 7?" "Sounds perfect," Avon responded. "I'm looking forward to it." Then it hit her. Shit. A rehearsal dinner and a wedding at the last minute? What was she going to wear? What the hell am I supposed to wear???” but she supposed she couldn’t text that to a guy, let alone one she didn’t even know. “Rehearsal dinner @7. Wedding @6 tomorrow at some church, reception at the hotel. Btw you’re my new girlfriend,fyi” Avon texted. She stared at the phone for two full minutes. She had to pretend to be his girlfriend? ‘Who is this guy?’ “What do you do? Are you a lawyer like your sister? I should know this about my girlfriend. Don’t you think? I’m a doctor, you should probably know that too. He texted. Eh. She took another sip and went back to her emails. She laughed. Did this dude think she hadn’t listened to every word that had come out of his mouth the night before? Why am I doing this again? Because, the voice in her head said, he’s hot, and you haven’t even had a fake nor even a real date in over a year. You’re not going to back out on me, are you? Of course she was going to back out. He was cute and funny and smart, and he oozed desperation. He didn’t usually have trouble getting girls to go out with him. But finding a date for this wedding had been such a nightmare. Not backing out. Even though . . . Oh thank God. Sometimes his crazy impulses worked out. He sighed in relief, and his thumbs flew over the keyboard. No “even though.” Don’t “even though” me. I will owe you so big for this you’ll have no idea. Lucia couldn't help but smile as she put her phone away. She felt a flutter in her chest, a sense of anticipation that she hadn't experienced in a long time. Diana noticed the smile and raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her. Lucia hesitated for a moment before filling Diana in on the details of her upcoming date with Avon Diana’s eyes widened with excitement. "Ooh, tell me more!" she exclaimed. Lucia laughed, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness. She couldn't wait to see Avon again, to get to know him better and see where things might go. As she finished her coffee and prepared to head back to the office, Lucia felt a sense of hope and possibility that she hadn't felt in a long time. She had a feeling that this date with Avon might just be the start of something special.Related chapters
Pretend to be mine Perfect Dress
Lucia stood in front of her closet, staring blankly at the clothes hanging before her. she was feeling a little anxious. "What am I going to wear?" she asked herself, feeling a sense of panic rising up. Just then, her phone buzzed with an incoming text from her friend, Diana. "Hey, girl! What's up?" Diana asked. Lucia smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She quickly typed out a response. "Hey! I'm freaking out about what to wear on my date tonight. Want to come over and help me pick out a dress?" Diana responded almost immediately. "OMG, yes! I'll be right there." Few minutes later, Diana arrived bearing a bottle of wine and a determined look on her face. "Okay, let's get down to business," she said, setting the wine down on the coffee table. "Show me what you've got." Lucia laughed and led Diana to her closet. Together, they began browsing through the racks, pulling out dresses and examining them critically. Diana held up a bright red dress. "What about this one?"
Last Updated : 2024-12-12Pretend to be mine Waiting for Lucia
Avon checked his watch for what felt like the hundredth time. He had arrived at the restaurant 15 minutes early, eager to make a good impression on lucia. But as the minutes ticked by, he began to feel a growing sense of unease. Where was she? Avon had tried calling her, but it had gone straight to voicemail. He had also sent her a text, but she hadn't responded. Maybe she's not coming, Avon thought, feeling a pang of disappointment. He had been looking forward to this date all week, and the thought of being stood up was not pleasant. Avon took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. Maybe there was a good reason why Lucia was late. Maybe she was stuck in traffic or had an emergency.He’d questioned the lack of exclamation points in both texts—women, in his experience, tended to use a lot of exclamation points. Did that mean she was feeling like she should have backed out?He was certainly feeling like he should have backed out. Not from the date with Lucia —no, that was
Last Updated : 2024-12-15Pretend to be mine Tensed up
A pleasure to meet you, Josh. Congratulations on the wedding! I’m honored to be here.”A blonde with soft curls and a knee-length white eyelet dress walked up to them. Lucia knew she was the bride as soon as she’d walked into the room.At her approach, Lucia moved closer to Avon. He picked up his drink and sipped it, but she knew he noticed, too, because he slid his arm around her waist. Damn, there was that tingle again.Avon, is this Lucia? Lucia, I’m Anna.It’s so nice to meet you.”Anna gave her a huge smile that felt genuine, and not for the first time, Lucia wondered what the whole story was between the Anna and Avon breakup. Did Josh and Anna feel guilty for what they’d done to Drew? Did they ask him to be in the wedding to assuage their guilt?She wasn’t going to get an answer to that question right now (if ever), so her job was just to stand here next to Avon and turn on the charm. Luckily, she worked in politics; “charm” was her middle name.Avon increased the wattage of h
Last Updated : 2024-12-17Pretend to be mine A night to remember
Lucia and Avon laughed, standing up to hug the couple. “Thanks for having us” Lucia said. Josh grinned, wrapping his arm around Anna’s waist. “Thanks for coming to celebrate with us." He said As they said their goodbyes, Avon turned to Lucia . "Would you like to walk out with me?" he asked, offering her his arm. Lucia smiled, taking his arm. "I'd love to," she said. As they strolled out of the restaurant, Avon couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. He had been drawn to Lucia from the moment he met her, and he found himself wanting to spend more time with her. "Hey, Lucia ?" Avon said, turning to her as they reached the sidewalk. "Yeah?" Lucia replied, looking up at him curiously. "I was wondering if you'd like to come to my hotel room and hang out tomorrow?" Avon asked, trying to sound casual. Lucia’s eyes widened slightly, and Avon could tell she was surprised by the invitation. But then, a slow smile spread across her face. "I'd like that," Lucia said, her
Last Updated : 2024-12-18Pretend to be mine Fantasies
Avon sitting on the couch smiled and grinned at her. She was having crazy thoughts. Could she push him all the way down and unbutton his shirt? Would he have hair on his chest? God, what was wrong with her? Her fantasies were taking over. “Want a drink?” Avon asked handing her a beer. “Sure” her eyes shot back to his face and she tried to remember what they'd been talking about. They talked for a while and Avon stood up to get more drinks. This whole thing was such a bad idea. She was getting drunk in the hotel room of a guy she barely knew, a guy she just met. Her unwelcome fantasies were written all over her face because he had moved far away from her. Avon came back holding two more beers. He handed one over to her. “Tell me more about your boss,” he said. “Oh, well, My boss is a highly respected and accomplished leader in her field. She is a tall, imposing figure with long, curly brown hair and piercing green eyes that seemed to bore into those she met. She is a natural
Last Updated : 2024-12-20Pretend to be mine A night to rekindle
Just as it seemed like the evening was going to be a bust, Avon’s phone rang. He answered it, and his face lit up with a smile. "Hey, Josh," Avon said, chatting with his friend for a few minutes. "Yeah, we'd love to come out and meet up with you guys again." As Avon hung up the phone, he turned to Lucia and Drew. "Josh and Anna want to grab drinks with us tonight," he said. "They're meeting up with some friends downtown. Drew suddenly perked up. "Sounds like a party," he said. "Mind if I tag along?" Avon raised an eyebrow, but Lucia just laughed. "The more the merrier," she said. ****As they walked into the bar, Drew could see Josh and Anna chatting with a group of friends. They waved him over, and Avon led the way, with Lucia and Drew close behind. Now, as they laughed and chatted with their friends, Avon couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this was going to be a night to remember. “Ladies and gentlemen!” someone said over the microphone. “The lat
Last Updated : 2024-12-23Pretend to be mine Dancing the night away
The music was pulsating, the lights were flashing and the crowd was energized. Lucia claimed a spot on the dance floor, alongside Josh and Anna. She was lost in the rhythm, surrounded by strangers but it felt like she was the only one there. Lucia always loved dancing, and the freedom of letting go on the dance floor was exhilarating. She spun and twirled, her hips swaying to the beat. Avon watched from the sidelines, grinning at the sight of his friends letting loose. Drew, who had tagged along with Avon, was also dancing, his awkward moves drawing laughter from the crowd. Lucia danced, letting the movement and the laughter shake away her annoying thoughts. When she felt a hand on her waist, she turned to see Avon behind her and laughed again, at how ridiculous the evening had been and how much fun she was suddenly having. He took hold of one of her hands and swung her around to face him and laughed back down at her. Other members of party joined their group and danced w
Last Updated : 2024-12-23Pretend to be mine A spark of jealousy
Avon’s gaze lingered on Lucia, his eyes drawn to her like a magnet. He wanted to sweep her into his arms, to feel her body pressed against his. Amy's voice cut through his reverie, her tone biting. "Can you please, for the next few minutes, pretend you gave a damn about my sister and take some decent pictures without ogling...her?" Avon sighed, feeling a pang of guilt. Amy's words struck a nerve. "Fine," he muttered, taking a deep breath. He turned back to the photographer, his expression neutral. Without looking at Amy, he added, "I did care about your sister." The words hung in the air, a subtle reminder of the complicated emotions that still lingered. Amy's eyes narrowed as she watched Avon laugh with Lucia, his arm casually slung over her shoulders. She felt a pang of irritation, which she quickly suppressed. What was wrong with her? She was happy for Avon, wasn't she? But as the night wore on, Amy found herself growing increasingly annoyed. Why was Avon so taken with
Last Updated : 2024-12-24
Latest chapter
Pretend to be mine The proposal
“I’m so sorry. Please tell me you forgive me,” he begged as he buried his face deep into Lucia's neck. “I forgive you, but we need to talk,” she said. “I know, and I’ll do anything to make things right. I love you, and I missed you so much.” Lucia broke their embrace and placed her hands on his face. “I missed you too,” age said as she kissed him. “Come sit down and have some coffee and the hangover cocktail I just made.” “You know I hate that stuff.” “I know you do, but it works and you have to be feeling pretty lousy right now.” “I am,” he said as he rubbed his head. Lucia picked up the glass with the cocktail in it and sat down on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and as she brought the glass to his lips. “Drink.” she smiled. He looked at her, made a face, and took a sip as she tilted the glass. He took it from her hand and chugged it down as fast as he could, then placed the glass on the counter. “Where’s our baby?” he asked. “He’s at my mom's with Dian
Pretend to be mine After the fall
It was a Saturday morning. Lucia say down in front of the balcony letting her hands run through her hair. “He misses you, and he’s not doing good,” she heard a voice say behind her.She turned around and saw Diana standing a few feet away from her. She smiled and held out her hand for Diana to sit next to her.“What are you doing here? Should you even be here?” she asked as she kissed Diana on the cheek.“I’m fine. Martins drove. He's in the car , talking to his boss. I don’t want to talk about me. How are you doing?”“I’m okay,” she said as I looked into her phone.“No, you’re not. I know you, Lucia, and you miss him just as much as he misses you.”“I’m so mad at him, Diana. How could he do that to me? How many times do I have to tell him not to keep things from me before it sinks into that thick head of his?”Diana smiled at her and then looked at her. “Sometimes, we don’t always make the right decisions under pressure and stress. Need I remind you of a few times you didn’t make
Pretend to be mine Reflections and reconnections
The house felt empty without Avon. She heard Asher cry, so she walked upstairs to get him from his crib. It had been days since she’d seen or talked to Avon. Every second and every minute of each day was killing her slowly. Days had passed since she had left Avon, and she couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness that settled in her heart. She missed him. She missed their talks, their laughs, and their quiet moments together. As she sat in her Mum’s living room, watching Asher play with his toys, she couldn’t help but think about Avon. She’d been so angry with him, so hurt by what she thought he'd done. But now, as the days went by, she was starting to feel like she’d overreacted. She thought about all the times Avon had been there for her, all the times he'd supported her and loved her. She thought about the way he looked at her, the way he made her feel like she was the only person in the world. Just then, her mom came into the room and told her that Avon was on his way over
Pretend to be mine Shattered lives
Avon could hardly sleep that night. He kept trying Lucia’s number but it kept going to voicemail. He knew she needed time but he only wanted to make sure she was safe. A part of him was relaxed when Lucas called and told him she was at her mom's with their baby.Dr Kim on the other hand watched Avon run out of the mansion chasing after Lucia. Her plan had not worked. Avon had not fallen into her trap and instead, he had gone after his wife. Kim's face twisted in anger and frustration. She had been so sure that her plan would work. She had been so sure that Avon would fall for her charms. But now she watched Avon disappear into the night. She realized that she had underestimated him. She had underestimated the strength of his marriage and the depth of his love for Lucia.Kim's anger turned to furt as she taught of Lucia. That woman had ruined everything. She had foiled with her plans.She had been with other married men and she was always the one to leave the situationship. The men n
Pretend to be mine The seductress
Dr. Kim was a force to be reckoned with. She was a brilliant doctor, a talented researcher, and a stunningly beautiful woman. She knew how to use her charms to get what she wanted, and she always got what she wanted. Kim grew up in a wealthy family, where she was always given everything she desired. She was spoiled, but she was also intelligent and driven. She worked hard to become a doctor, and she was determined to be the best. As she navigated her way through medical school and her residency, Rachael developed a reputation for being flirtatious and seductive. She would bat her eyelashes, flash her bright smile, and use her charm to get what she wanted from her colleagues and professors. Her love life was a series of conquests, each one more thrilling than the last. She would pick up men at bars, at parties, and even at work. She loved the thrill of the chase, the excitement of seducing someone new. But despite her many conquests, Kim had never been in a serious relationship.
Pretend to be mine Teething pains
Lucia paced back and forth, trying to comfort Asher as he screamed her head off in the morning. She bounced him, walked him around the house, sat down, rocked him in the rocking chair, and nothing soothed him. Avon came up behind her in the living room and took him from her. “What’s wrong, ash? Daddy’s here.” Lucia rolled her eyes because sometimes Avon thought he was the cure-all where he was concerned. When he didn’t stop screaming, he looked at her. “He may be teething. Run your finger along his gums and see if you feel anything,” Avon said. She took her finger and put it in Asher's mouth. “Yep, I feel a lump right here,” she said. ‘Aw, my poor baby,” he pouted as he kissed his head. “I’ll go and get the baby Tylenol. That should help her him better.” Lucia followed Avon into the kitchen, and she took the Tylenol from the cupboard. She gave Avon his dosage and they sat with him on the couch. “I can take him, sweetheart. You have to get up for work in a couple of hours.”
Pretend to be mine A night out and a love that endures
The next morning, Lucia awoke before Avon. As her was still at his parents’ house and after the party last night, they had sex all over the penthouse, taking advantage of the fact that Asher wasn’t here to interrupt them. While she stood in front of the mirror, she put her blonde hair up in a high ponytail. As she brushed her teeth, Avon stood in the doorway of the bathroom in nothing but his pajama bottoms, with his muscular arms against the doorframe. “What?” she smiled. “Nothing. I’m just admiring your beauty before we part ways in a couple of hours.” She spit in the sink and rinsed her mouth before walking over to him and placing her hands on his bare and sculpted chest. “I hate the fact that we aren’t going to see each other until tomorrow.” “I know. Me too,” he said as he held her face and kissed her lips. “I'll be home before you know it” Avon said. After Avon left for work, Lucia pulled out her phone and dialed Diana's number, excitement building up inside her. Hey, g
Pretend to be mine A new face
Lucia was sitting in the hospital cafeteria, sipping on a cup of coffee and scrolling through her phone, when she noticed a commotion at the entrance. A group of nurses were gathered around a new doctor, chatting and laughing with her. As she watched, the doctor caught her eye and smiled. She was tall, with long, curly brown hair and piercing green eyes. Lucia felt a pang of unease as she realized that she was staring at Avon, her gaze lingering on his face. Just then, Avon walked into the cafeteria, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Lucia’s. He smiled and made his way over, but not before noticing the new doctor. "Hey, who's that?" Avon asked, nodding towards the doctor. Lucia shrugged. "No idea. Must be new around here." Avon's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the doctor, who was now chatting with a group of nurses. "I'll go introduce myself," he said, standing up. As Avon walked over to the doctor, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. There was some
Pretend to be mine A night out
Avon sat at his desk, staring blankly at his computer screen as he tried to focus on the task at hand. But his mind kept wandering to Lucia and their baby boy. It had been weeks since she gave birth, and he knew she was still adjusting to motherhood.As he thought about it, an idea struck him. He picked up his phone and dialed Lucia's number, a smile spreading across his face as he waited for her to answer."Hey, beautiful," he said, trying to sound suave. "How's my favorite mom doing today?"Lucia laughed on the other end of the line. "I'm doing okay, I guess. Just trying to get some rest while the baby sleeps."He chuckled. "Well, I have a proposition for you. How would you like to be my date for dinner tonight?"There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, he worried that Lucia might say no. But then she spoke up, her voice filled with excitement."I'd love to! It's been ages since we've had a night out just the two of us."He grinned, feeling a sense of relief
