LOGINMIA'S POV
"Can I seat?" I nodeded, not raising my eyes to look at him. I didn’t have to. Ryan Hayes was the National hockey star and Logan’s greatest rival and the playboy of Michigan University. Logan hated him that he wouldn't watch a match when he was playing. Logan used to say that he was too proud because he was a star. And that he was egocentric, not knowing that being a star wasn't permanent. That one day when he joined the national hockey team, he wouldn't be like him, that he would be different. And I had believed him. And I? Well, I hated him too and that, maybe because he was a heartbreaker but the main reason was because Logan hated him, so I did too. Call it loyalty. "A star like you, shouldn't be here." I murmued, not wanting to look at him. I could already imagine him smiling at my heartbreak. He hated Logan, so of course he hated me too. "Mia," he called. As him being here at the wrong time wasn't already too much, he took my hand, making me turn and look at him. To my surprise, Ryan wasn't smiling, or making faces as I thought in my head. In his dark green eyes, was something else entirely. Concerned. "I may not know what you're going through right now but..." "Who told you I am going through anything?" I pretended, a smile that didn't reach my eyes formed on my face. "I saw what just happened, I was in my car." He turned away, pointing at the direction of the parking. "So you're stalking us?" I blurted out, not giving him any chance to breathe. I didn’t care now that he was so close to me, the guy was handsome with high cheekbones and lazy green eyes and a nose like a model. Well, he was a playboy too and I had to be careful with him. Being rich and a star, gave him enough time to fuck hookers. Who didn't know? "Okay, listen to me Mia." He put his hand on my lap, making me gasp and he quickly pull it away, waving it in apology. "I am sorry for what has happened with you and Logan Mia, and that's why I am here." I stared at him, really stared at him in confusion. "What do you mean?" "I have an offer for you Mia," he grabbed his hair, pulling as if that would give him confidence, sighing at the process. "What are you even talking about? If Logan sees you here with me, he will kill you." At that, Ryan laughed, really laughed that he started tearing up. Well, I was stupid to even say that. I felt embarrassed now. "Don't make me laugh at your problem, Mia. But I heard him breaking up with you, and taking Nyra instead." I clenched my fists at the side of my trousers, my mouth biting inside. "It doesn't matter..." "I want you to be my girlfriend Mia." Ryan blurted out, cutting me of guard, the emberassment I felt earlier, disappearing, replaced with pure shock. "W-what? Are you out of your damn mind?" "Listen to me Mia." He moved closer, his eyes scanning the park, at the children who were playing while swinging, then turned to me. "I know you're hurt that Logan dumbed you to be with Nyra," he stopped, his words, making me swallow hard. "And I also know, the bastard kicked you out of the house you two shared." I looked away, the pain from before, twisting my heart that it was hard to breathe. "That's why I want you to be my girlfriend, Mia." "I can't be your girlfriend!" I blurted out. How could he just appear from God knew where and claim me to be his girlfriend? Didn't he see how painful all of this was to me already? "You will be just pretending to be, for the camera and for my teammates and for my fans, and in exchange, I will be paying you Mia." At Ryan's words, I broke out into a heavy laugh, burying my heartbreak behind my back. "Really? You think that cheap of me?" I couldn’t believe this man. He just came from nowhere, interrupting me as if we were friends. And now this? "No I didn't mean it that way, Mia" Ryan blurted out, his hands on his hair as If not knowing what to say. I stared at his eyes, and something like desperation, I wasn’t sure flickered before it disappeared. "Why me? Hmm? Don't you have so many hookers who will be happy to do that for you?" "Because you were Logan’s girlfriend." I scoffed, my eyesbrows narrowing. "And you want to get back at him?" "Yes." His words were like cold water in my heart. "Think about it, Mia." With that, he also got up and walked away. What was wrong with people today? Just now, Logan was here, and he really broke up with me for Nyra and for a spot in national team, the same team that Ryan was a star in. And now, Ryan wanted me to be his pretence girlfriend? I sighed, trying to digest all of this. The bitterness from before, returned and I felt like an orphan. Logan had really did that to me. I turned around, the kids who were happy playing, their parents nearby monitoring them. And I wished I was them. Just happy and not care about anything. I slowly got up from the bench and walked away. I had to move out and find a place. I remembered my mother and a tear landed on my cheek. I took out my phone and dialed a number, "Sophie, c-can I come over?" I asked as I walked away. "Of course, are you alright, Mia?" The concerned from my best friend, made me want to choke out the tears. "Are you and Logan fighting?" "I will explain when I get there, Sophie." I couldn't stop the tears anymore. But I made sure not to sound sad at the same time. I didn’t want Sophie worrying about me. "Okay, I'll be waiting." With that, the phone ended.LOGAN'S POV"Shiet!"I paced across the room, my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles hurt. My jaw ached from grinding my teeth, but I couldn't stop. The burning in my heart was worse than anything I had felt recently.I hadn't expected things to turn out like this.Not in a million years.When I first saw Mia at the Michigan National Team's welcoming party, I thought she was pretending. I thought she was trying to make me jealous because I had chosen Nyra over her. After all, she was head over heels for me.I thought she would eventually come crawling back.But she hadn't.Instead, she had stood beside Ryan Hayes as if she belonged there.And now the entire world seemed determined to remind me of it.My phone was still filled with pictures and videos of them.Ryan protecting her.Ryan holding her hand.Ryan defending her online.Ryan looking at her like she was the only woman in the room.My stomach twisted every time I saw it."No, they are only trying to make me jealous, thats it.
NYRA'S POV"LOOK AT THE WAY HE'S LOOKING AT HER!""He's completely gone.""Our hockey king is in love!""I've never seen Ryan smile like that.""He looks at her like she's his whole world.""Shit!" I screamed as I glared at the comments flooding my phone. My fingers tightened around it until my knuckles turned white. My chest rose and fell heavily. My face twisted with disgust.This wasn't supposed to happen. None of this was supposed to happen. Ryan was supposed to be embarrassed and ashamed for being with a whore. Mia was supposed to be hated. The entire world was supposed to turn against her. Instead, Ryan had done the exact opposite. He had defended her. He had claimed her publicly. And now thousands of people were talking about how much he loved her.My chest tightened. Hatred crawled through my veins, mixing with jealousy and something far more painful."What's wrong?"I looked up. Jina was standing in front of me, staring at me as if she couldn't see what was happening on my ph
MIA'S POVMason glanced toward Ryan before looking back at me."You know the arrangement.""Yes.""But there's something you haven't considered, Mia."My brows pulled together."What?"He hesitated, as though weighing whether he should continue."You know Ryan is a playboy, right?"I nodded slowly."Then ask yourself something."He lowered his voice."Why would a man like Ryan announce to the entire world that he has a girlfriend because of a small scandal?"My heart skipped.I opened my mouth, but no words came.Mason leaned slightly closer."Ryan comes from money, Mia. Real money."His eyes flicked toward the crowd before returning to me."Do you honestly think repairing his reputation would be difficult for him?"I frowned."He could have handled that club video differently."My fingers tightened around the edge of my dress."Then why did he choose you?"My heart stopped.I stared at him.For a moment, I couldn't breathe.Why had Ryan chosen me?I had asked myself that question bef
MIA'S POVI swallowed hard.No.I shouldn't even think about it.Shiet, why was I even thinking about that?The thought was so disturbing that I almost felt like throwing up."If you're so sure Ryan loves you, why are you doing all this?" I finally asked, forcing myself to push the disgusting thoughts away.Rebecca's expression changed."Why are you willing to spend all that money just to get rid of me?"Clara immediately stepped forward."What an ungrateful bitch you are."Her eyes flashed with anger. Her fists clenched at her sides, and the veins on her neck became visible as she struggled to control herself."Miss Lodrigo is offering you a chance to completely change your life, and you're still acting like you're some kind of queen."I stared at her.Really stared at her.And suddenly, I saw what I had been looking for.Fear.It was there beneath all that anger.Clara wasn't only angry because of Rebecca.She was afraid.And suddenly, everything started making sense.She was scared
MIA'S POVI remembered her name. Clara. Ryan spoke about her."You will be working under me."My fingers tightened around the bouquet."I see." She took a sip from the glass in her hand."Being without experience can be difficult."Her eyes moved over me."But don't worry. I'll teach you what you need to know."Her smile looked polite. But her eyes were anything but warm."I just hope you have a good memory because this job is not...""Stop it, Clara." Loise's voice cut through the room. Clara's smile disappeared."Why?" Clara asked,"I am simply trying to get along with her. She will be working under me.""You should be grateful Mia agreed to become Ryan's assistant," Loise replied."Otherwise, you would be kissing your position goodbye."The glass in Clara's hand almost shook."Besides, Ryan had already fired you once before he reconsidered.""That isn't true." Clara's voice came out sharper than she intended. Several people turned toward us. She immediately smiled."Sorry. I misun
MIA'S POVI couldn't believe the sight before me. The lights were now on, unlike when Ryan and I had first entered the room. My eyes moved slowly around the huge hall, taking in every little detail. Then I saw the enormous board standing beside the entrance.CONGRATULATIONS, MIA CARTER, ON YOUR NEW ROLE AS THE ASSISTANT MANAGER TO HOCKEY STAR RYAN HAYES.My mouth fell open. Before I could even process what I was seeing, tiny pieces of silver foil confetti floated down from the ceiling, catching the light as they fell around me. Balloons were tied around the enormous chandelier, some floating above us while others were arranged beautifully around the hall. Fresh flowers decorated the tables and corners, filling the air with a sweet fragrance. Music played softly in the background as people laughed and talked. This was nothing like what I had expected when Ryan told me he wanted to introduce me to his friends.I slowly turned to him."Do you like it?"Ryan asked. There was a wide smile







