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Rules are easier to set than to follow. Between stolen glances, whispered secrets, and an undeniable chemistry neither can ignore, their "fake" relationship starts to feel all too real. As Natalie steps into a world of attention she never wanted and Jason wrestles with emotions he's always avoided, they both must decide- is this just a game, or the beginning of something neither of them saw coming?
Natalie
The letter trembled slightly in my grip, but I refused to let frustration get the best of me. It wasn't rejection, not exactly. More like a do better warning disguised as constructive feedback.
"To remain a competitive applicant for the internship, consider elevating your social presence to reflect a well-rounded student experience."
Great. My grades, my dedication, my carefully planned future- none of it was enough. Apparently, I needed to be seen outside the library, maybe even smile in public once in a while.
The coffee shop bustled with activity, the hum of conversation blending with the occasional clatter of mugs. My laptop sat open in front of me, half a page of my research paper blinking back at me, but my mind had been hijacked by this ridiculous requirement. "What am I going to do... Where do I really start from... How's this really necessary." These were the yet unanswerable questions running through my mind.
A few tables away, a loud burst of laughter caught my attention. Jason Carter. Of course. He was surrounded by his usual entourage, effortlessly commanding attention like it was his birthright.
Campus heartthrob. Star hockey player. The kind of guy whose name alone could open doors, while people like me had to prove themselves over and over again.
The unfairness of it all gnawed at me. Then an idea took shape. If the internship committee wanted social presence, why not give them exactly that? Not through meaningless small talk or networking events, but by aligning myself with someone who already had the kind of influence they valued. Jason could be the answer.
Doubt crept in, whispering that this was a terrible idea. He'd probably laugh in my face. Or worse, say yes just to make a game out of it.
My legs carried me toward his table before my brain could fully catch up. The group of guys around him noticed me first, their amusement barely concealed. Jason leaned back in his chair, a slow grin curving his lips.
"Well, this is unexpected." His tone dripped with curiosity.
Nerves threatened to ruin my confidence, but I squared my shoulders and met his gaze head-on. "I need your help."
His brows lifted slightly. "Help?"
"A deal, actually."
Jason exchanged a glance with one of his teammates before turning his attention back to me. "You want me to help you?"
"Yes," I said firmly. "A fake relationship. We pretend to date, and it benefits us both."
Someone at the table let out a low whistle. Another muttered, "Damn, that's bold."
Jason tilted his head, amusement flickering across his face. "You think pretending to be my girlfriend is going to help you?"
"I know it will," I countered. "I need a stronger social presence for an internship. You need to-" I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "Appear more... stable."
That got his attention.
Jason leaned forward, elbows resting on the table. "Stable?"
"Your reputation is all over the place. A serious relationship-even a fake one-could change how people see you."
Silence stretched between us. A slow, thoughtful smile replaced his usual cocky expression. "So let me get this straight. You want to use me to boost your social standing, and in return, I get to look like the kind of guy who can commit?"
I nodded. Jason tapped his fingers against the table, pretending to consider it. "What's stopping me from saying no?"
"If I thought you would, I wouldn't have asked."
The corners of his mouth twitched, like he was fighting back a grin. "Interesting."
Jason
Natalie Pierce just asked me to fake date her. That wasn't something I had on my bingo card today. The whole thing should've been ridiculous, but she stood there, arms crossed, completely serious. No hesitation. No awkward fidgeting. She wasn't like the girls who usually threw themselves at me, and maybe that's what made this even more intriguing.
Leaning back, I studied her for a moment. Straight- A student, never seen at parties, always focused on her next academic milestone. The total opposite of me.
"You're actually serious," I said.
"Completely."
"Tell me what you think this involves."
Her lips pressed together, like she had rehearsed this in her head a dozen times. "We spend time together in public. Hold hands. Maybe sit together at games or study in the library. People need to see us together."
"You left out the fun parts," I teased.
Her expression remained unimpressed. "It's not that kind of arrangement."
That only made me smirk. "Sure, sure. No fun allowed."
Someone at the table coughed out a laugh. Natalie didn't flinch.
"Are you in or not?" she asked.
The smart move would be to say no. My reputation was already a mess, and agreeing to something like this could turn it into an even bigger spectacle. But that also meant controlling the narrative. Coach had been on my case about the team's image, and my bad-boy hockey star reputation wasn't helping.
This could work in my favor. I dragged it out for a few more seconds, enjoying the way she tried not to look impatient. Then I shrugged. "Alright. Let's do it."
A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she nodded. "Good."
"But there are rules," I added.
Her arms crossed tighter. "I figured."
I lifted a finger. "One: No one can know it's fake."
"That's obvious."
"Two: We have to make it believable. That means acting like a real couple, even when we're not in front of an audience."
She hesitated slightly, but nodded.
"Three." I let the moment stretch. "No catching real feelings."
She rolled her eyes. "That won't be a problem."
That was a challenge if I'd ever heard one.
I grinned, reaching for my coffee. "Alright, girlfriend. When do we start?"
"Tomorrow."
Straight to business. No hesitation. Damn. She turned to leave, but I wasn't quite ready to let her go just yet. "Wait."
Natalie paused, glancing back. "What?"
"You're really willing to be seen with me?"
The smallest smirk touched her lips. "That's my line, Carter."
She walked away, leaving me watching her go.
In the kingdom of Eldoria, Lady Evelina is bound by duty to marry a prince she does not love, her heart already belonging to a forbidden figure - Sir Alden, a mysterious knight whose loyalty to the crown is unwavering. When a powerful curse threatens to destroy the kingdom, Evelina finds herself drawn into a perilous quest with Sir Alden, seeking the ancient relic that could save them all. As they journey through treacherous lands, their bond grows deeper, but so do the dangers that threaten to tear them apart. With the weight of the kingdom's fate on their shoulders, they must navigate the perils of both magic and their own hearts. Can a knight and a lady destined for separate paths find a way to unite - or will duty and destiny keep them apart forever?
Emery James has spent years building her dream café in a quiet coastal town, far from the chaos of big-city life-and even further from the heartbreak she left behind. But when her landlord sells the building to none other than Desmond Proctor, her former best friend and the man who once broke her heart, her peaceful life is suddenly turned upside down. Desmond, now a successful real estate investor, never expected to return to his hometown-or to face the woman he's never truly forgotten. Tasked with redeveloping the property, he offers Emery a deal: work with him to save the café, and he'll reconsider the sale. Old wounds, unspoken feelings, and undeniable tension bubble to the surface as they're forced to spend time together. But as they rediscover the connection they once had, Emery has to decide-can she trust Desmond with her heart again, or is she setting herself up for another heartbreak?
Luca Montella- the cold and calculating Don of the Montella crime family, is forced into an arranged marriage to secure a fragile truce, he expects nothing more than a strategic alliance. But his bride, Maria Spaletti, is not the meek pawn he anticipated. She is fire wrapped in silk, a woman with her own secrets-and an agenda that could destroy them both. Maria has spent years plotting revenge against the family that betrayed her, and marrying Luca is her way in. But the deeper she sinks into his dangerous world, the harder it becomes to resist the man behind the monster. As deadly rivals close in and long-buried truths unravel, their marriage of convenience becomes a battlefield of passion, power, and betrayal. In a game where love is the deadliest weakness, will Luca and Maria survive their vows... or will they burn together?
Valeria Monroe has spent her life chasing perfection- top grades, a flawless reputation, and a future meticulously planned by her parents. Nothing has ever distracted her from success. Until now. A chance discovery threatens to shatter the pristine world she's built and suddenly, the truth feels more dangerous than a lie.
Yelena discovered that she wasn't her parents' biological child. After seeing through their ploy to trade her as a pawn in a business deal, she was sent away to her barren birthplace. There, she stumbled upon her true origins—a lineage of historic opulence. Her real family showered her with love and adoration. In the face of her so-called sister's envy, Yelena conquered every adversity and took her revenge, all while showcasing her talents. She soon caught the attention of the city's most eligible bachelor. He cornered Yelena and pinned her against the wall. “It's time to reveal your true identity, darling.”
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."