Alessia De Luca is determined to prove to her family that she has moved on from the man who left her at the altar two years ago. Desperate to avoid their pity, she enlists her arch-nemesis Noah Wilson, a moody colleague, to pose as her boyfriend during a summer trip to Italy, where her ex-fiancé, Antonio, is getting married. But circumstances changed and she's thrown into a dilemma that almost ruins everything. However, things get more complicated when Noah plays his role a little too well, and Alessia realizes that she's falling for her perfectly 'fake' boyfriend.
Alessia groaned, burying her face in her palms. "I have just a week to get a boyfriend. Fuck."
The sound of crunching chips filled the air, drawing her attention to the woman sitting across from her, unfazed by the crisis at hand.
Straightening up, Alessia narrowed her eyes. "You're really not going to say anything?" she demanded, arms crossed.
Brielle barely spared her a glance before rolling her eyes. "What else is there to say? I've told you already-quit the lie. Just tell your family the truth. They won't kill you. They might be pissed, sure, but that's as bad as it'll get," Brielle said, tossing another chip into her mouth. She pointed a manicured finger at Alessia. "And honestly, you're not finding a man like that in a week."
Alessia sighed and let her gaze wander around the lunchroom. The days were slipping away, and she still couldn't confess to her family or, worse, find a fake boyfriend.
If only she had kept her mouth shut. She wouldn't be in this mess. After successfully dodging family visits for two years, they had insisted on her presence this year.
Mama had mentioned she'd been avoiding them-accurately so-but Alessia had denied it, using her "busy schedule" as an excuse for not traveling the world to see them.
The truth was, home stirred up memories-painful ones. It was the reason she'd left Italy for America, searching for a fresh start. But then Mama dropped the bomb: Antonio was getting married.
Alessia had no idea how to process that, so she had said nothing. Mama, sensing her unease, reassured her.
"We know, Amore, this must be hard for you. It's okay to feel sad, angry-whatever you feel. But we want you home, sweetie."
Alessia's emotions spiraled out of control. "I've moved on. It's been two years," she had snapped, ignoring the tightening in her chest. But that was where she messed up. Mama had then asked her to come home if she'd truly moved on and even invited her to attend Antonio's wedding-his wedding.
Mama's subtle hint about bringing someone with her hadn't gone unnoticed by Alessia. When she hesitated, Mama assured her that it was okay to come alone. And that's when Alessia's big mouth betrayed her.
She had told her mother she was seeing someone. Someone serious. And yes, they would come to the wedding.
Now, she couldn't bring herself to tell Mama it was all a lie. And how she had felt so small and insignificant at that moment, not wanting their pity.
And now, she was in deep.
"You know, you could save yourself the headache and ask Noah to go with you. He fits your description," Brielle said, snapping Alessia out of her reverie.
Alessia's face twisted in disgust. "Ew, no thanks," she huffed. The last person she wanted to involve in this farce was Noah. Fucking Noah. Brielle only shrugged, glancing at her watch as she began gathering her things.
"Suit yourself," she said, slamming her hands on the table loud enough to turn a few heads. Alessia raised an eyebrow.
"You know, for someone in need of help, you're pretty picky. It wouldn't hurt to swallow your pride and ask him. Who knows? He might even say yes," Brielle said, her tone pointed.
Alessia gave her a bored look as she started packing up her things. Lunch break would be over in-yeah, three minutes.
"And if he says no?" Alessia challenged, though she had no intention of asking him.
Brielle shrugged. "Then you call your mum and tell her it was all a lie. Or better yet, tell her he died. That way, you don't even have to go."
Alessia stared at her, a mix of surprise and amusement on her face. "Seriously? They'd think it was a joke. Besides, how convenient would it be for 'him' to suddenly die a week before the wedding?" she asked, exasperated.
Brielle closed her eyes in response, clearly summoning her patience. "Jesus, Ali, death knows no time," she muttered while zipping her bag.
Maybe Brielle was right. Maybe she could tell her family-
"Is that Noah?" Brielle's voice shot up a few octaves, dragging Alessia's attention back to the present.
She turned to see the man himself, his tall, broad frame impossible to miss, his blonde hair catching the light. He scanned the room before his gaze locked on hers. His lips twitched slightly, and Alessia quickly looked away.
"Yeah, lunch is over. I'll see you later, okay?" Alessia mumbled, leaning in to press a quick kiss to Brielle's cheek before walking off.
She knew she was being childish, avoiding him like this, but she had bigger problems to deal with than another argument with Noah.
That always seemed to happen when they crossed paths. She hurried to the nearest elevator, hitting the button just as the doors began to close. But they didn't-because a large hand had stopped them.
Noah stepped in, his eyes briefly meeting hers before muttering something under his breath.
Alessia shut her eyes. Just when she thought she'd managed to escape meeting him. Her rivalry with Noah was born when he first walked into the company. She'd watched him greet every other employee with a smile, but he frowned at her, staring at her like she irritated him.
She had thought it was just a coincidence and he had no problem with her -like, why would he when they just met?
But, she was wrong as Noah kept giving her weird glances and doing his best to avoid her, not to talk of their frequent disagreements. Noah wasn't her best, but well, the man was hot.
She stared at her fingers and immediately knew she couldn't -she couldn't ask Noah to be her fake boyfriend.
She never liked him. Or maybe she did. Amber Kingston had always been irritated by her boss's lifestyle. She never wanted anything to do with him outside of work, but then he brought a proposition to her table. To marry him. She did it for a price, and now she is breaking his one rule. How would she tell him, she'd fallen in love with him when it was something he'd clearly warned her about?
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
"I've warned you from the beginning. Don't marry him, but you won't listen." She stood close to me and smiled with concern. "You are not a woman worthy of a man as handsome, rich, smart, and virile as Blaze." My whole body trembled at her words. "Have you no shame?" I asked in a quivering voice. "Take a good look at yourself, Heather." She looked at me in the mirror. "You can't even look at your ugly face. Do you think Blaze can endure a lifetime of looking at that face?" Heather Bailey had a surprise from her husband that night: a divorce agreement. After a year of marriage and facing ups and downs, she couldn't believe Blaze intended to divorce her. But she was devastated when she saw him gazing lovingly at another woman because that person was closest to her. Shortly after she put her signature on their divorce papers, shock waves caught her up. Her flower shop was severely burnt, beyond repair. Her father's company collapsed, and her parents blamed her. She struggled to rebuild her life from the ground up and became more successful than ever. Having many customers who came from influential families, she started her action against Blaze. She won the very thing he wanted. But that was just the beginning.
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"