One blind date. Two reluctant hearts. A fake romance that feels way too real… Sienna Blake isn’t looking for love—not after her last relationship left her with more scars than memories. But when her meddling mother sets her up on a blind date, she agrees just to keep the peace. What she doesn’t expect is to come face-to-face with Julian Thorne—her arrogant ex’s boss, a ruthless lawyer with a reputation as cold as the suits he wears. Julian Thorne—high-powered attorney, cold-blooded strategist, and her ex’s dangerously attractive boss. They met once, a year ago, at a company gala. He thought she was a gold digger clinging to her meal ticket. She thought he was an arrogant snob with a god complex. Now he’s her blind date. Julian has his reasons for going along with the charade. Sienna might be the key to taking down a betrayal that nearly cost him everything. All he has to do is play nice, get close, and keep his heart out of it. But the more time they spend pretending, the more real it starts to feel. And when secrets from the past resurface, they’ll have to choose: continue the lie—or risk everything for the truth. From fake to fate—what if the biggest lie becomes their only truth?
Lihat lebih banyakSienna's POV
"It was beyond epic, it was just like in the movies, you know that big plot twist and all," Lila, my all-time best friend, ranted on. Her voice blared through my AirPods, her excitement quite contagious. "I am sure your client can't even believe you figured it out, playing victim when he was the culprit all along, quite bold and sinister if you ask me," I said. "Old man probably thought I was horrible at my job and thought he would easily take himself off the suspect list since he had hired me himself, little did he know that my loyalty only lies with me. All I had to do was dig into some files and documents, then make a few calls, and boom, I got the contract for the company, like it didn't mean anything," She chuckled. "Little did he know, he hired the best PR agent anyone could ask for," I replied with a bright smile on my face at how excited she was. "Oh, please, don't flatter me, I just try my best." She blushed, making me roll my eyes. We both knew she was damn good at what she does but she just loves to hear it every single time. "I will not be fuelling your already oversized ego this afternoon, I have work to get back to, maybe we could meet up later for celebratory drinks," I suggested, my eyes immediately falling to my phone on my desk, as it lit up, signalling a notification had just come in. "Sounds like a solid plan," She chuckled. "Fuck this, Not again" I cursed out as I opened the message I had received. "What's wrong?" Lila asked all traces of excitement leaving her voice as she suddenly sounded serious. "My Mother is really trying to kill me," I complained as I read through the details she had sent. "Let me guess, another one of her famous blind dates?" Lila said, her voice calmer now. "The fucking third one this week, even if I was some stripper looking for a good lay" I groaned' Lila bursted out in a fit of laughter at my description before replying, "Come on, it is not that bad," She said amidst laughter. "Easy for you to say, your Mum isn't trying to hook you up with every Bachelor in town," I shot. "Well, it really sounds good, at least you don't have to do it yourself, right?" She joked, earning a loud sigh from me. "This is not funny, so stop laughing, this is too much." "I know, but she means well, it is obvious she is doing a terrible job at showing that, but she is really about this shell you have crawled into, and if I didn't know you so well I would say you are starting to act like some depressed old woman" She replied. "Fuck you" I cursed out as she laughed loudly. "You could try talking to her, though, you both may come to an agreement that suits you both," She advised. "You know what, I would do just that." "Exactly, I have to go now, but don't forget drinks later, date or no date," She added a little warning in her voice, making me smile. "I won't forget," I chuckled. "Great, later girl," She said softly before ending the call, and without hesitation, I dialed Mum's number immediately. "No, Mum, not this again," I grumbled once she picked up on the first ring like she knew I was going to call. "Well, hello to you too, my princess," Mum replied calmly, a hidden laughter in her voice. "Sorry Mum, how are you?" I asked, putting my current anger at bay, if I was going to talk myself out of this, then I needed to be as calm as I could be so I could reason this with her. "Much better, I am good, my child, and you?" She asked. "I am okay, just trying to finish up all I have left for the day," I answered. "Beautiful, you should be there by 7pm sharp, wouldn't want to keep the young gentleman waiting now, would you?" She said in a singsong voice, I can literally make out the little gestures she would be making with her hand right now, and the smirk on her face. "Mum, I am going nowhere," I said adamantly, stating the exact reason I had called. "Why not?"She asked, sounding shocked, making me chuckle a little. She has got to be kidding me. "Really, Mum, this is the third blind date you have arranged for me this week, and it's Friday," I replied, stating the obvious. "And? I don't understand, "she said, actually sounding confused. "Mum, it is not working out, give up already, please," I pleaded, rolling my eyes as a flashback of how the past month has been. From one date to another and all of them and I mean every single one of them always found a way to get on my fucking nerves just few minutes into the night. The last guy literally brought out a pack of condoms from his back pocket with a bright smile on his face when I asked if he was interested in dessert. On the first freaking date, maybe it was supposed to be funny or sexy, I don't know but I walked out right after so I guess I will never know. "That's because you wouldn't give any of them any chance to even introduce themselves properly, and then you are off to that apartment of yours where no one can access you," Mum replied. "You really can't blame me, Mum, I don't know where you get these men from, but they are not for me, they are not even close to it," I shot, it doesn't seem to me like I am getting anywhere with her right now. "We both know I don't agree with you, maybe when you stay for a whole night without taking off after a few minutes then I may just consider listening but till then I still have a long list of fine gentlemen quite excitement to date you and trust me you don't want to even imagine" She said her voice firm and adamant, her way of telling me she was being serious. "Mum," I tried, knowing fully my chances of getting out of this are pretty slim. "This is not up for discussion, my child. Sienna Elise Blake, you need to put yourself out there again, you can't keep hiding in that apartment of yours, you can't heal if you don't push yourself out of your comfort zone" Mum said her voice firm, she used my full name, that's enough to know there is no way out of this. These exact same words have been her mantra for the past month since the incident, since the day everything fell apart, happened exactly like Mum and Lila always said it was going to happen, if only I had listened to them. "If I stay for the complete dinner without leaving, you would stop with the dates, right?" I asked. "I would give you a month break from them but if you don't come out from the hole you are slowing getting yourself trapped in then I would pick off from where I left of and there would be no backing out" She said and I knew she meant every word, this is my chance to get her off my back even if it is just for a month, it is just one night right, what's the worst that can happen?Sienna's POV 'You are expected to be at work on or before 8am today, I do not accept tardiness so trust me when I say you don't want to know what I do to people who are late. Prepare yourself because later today, we have a very important business trip to go on in New Jersey. We will be back tomorrow' Julian's bland but information-filled message read, my eyes lingering on the ending longer than I wanted. This message is the only thing he has said or sent to me since he stormed out the day before yesterday. I called in sick from work yesterday but I guess he isn't having it today and so am I. The incident with Damon traumatized me so much, I had to bail on the dinner at Grandma's. I could feel how disappointed everyone was, especially Grandma but I couldn’t have gone. They would have known something was wrong immediately I walked in, and knowing Lila is one hell of a best friend. She would definitely not have let it slide.My eyes moved over the last words so many emotions in my ches
Julian’s POV“Julian, Julian, please wait let me explain” Sienna yelled running after me but I didn’t bother stopping. Why did I doubt her for even a second, I was always right about her.“Julian please, just hear me out” She kept yelling tears streaming down her face as she tried to catch up with me. Fake tears or probably tears from pleading with Damon over whatever they were talking about. I hurriedly got into my car, shutting the door in her face before she could stop me.“Drive” I instructed my driver paying no attention to the banging on my window. He met my eyes through the rearview mirror and immediately started the car…better for him. Sienna hurriedly stepped away as the car began moving, an indifferent look I didn’t understand her face. She shut her eyes closed whispering incoherently to herself before turning and walking away leaving me even more confused. *****“Julian baby” A familiar but unwanted voice whine
Sienna’s POV“I am still very shocked you are home by this time but I promise to come over immediately I am done for the day. You have to tell me exactly what’s wrong” Lila said softly over the phone. She had been going on about how shocked she is for the past five minutes, and I just can’t help but laugh at her. I guess seeing a workaholic like me at home on a Monday of all days speaks for itself."That's fine, I am here, not going anywhere yet” I laughed."You are scaring me more, Babes. Just wait till I get there” She feigned a shiver making me laugh even more.“You are just being dramatic”“Whatever you say” she rolled her eyes.“Bye,” She said in a sing-song voice.“Wait” I called out before she could end the call.“What, you wanna take a month's leave now?” She joked.“You are being silly, Lila,” I laughed. “Just want to remind you about the dinner tonight, Grandma is going to have our necks if any of us are late and I am not ready for that” “I cannot forget the last time I was
Sienna’s POVI was so close to losing it, he had reduced the distance between us once again, tracing my skin with his fingers. None of us exchanged words, we just sat in silence, the tension thickening by the second. “Birdie” He whispered, his voice thick. Right now all I could think about was how much I wanted his lips on my skin, this is wrong but I don’t want to care, only his hands were getting me this riled up.“Why exactly did you come here, Birdie?” He asked, his voice ragged. As I processed his words, it hit me….“Fuck you, Julian” I spat, pushing myself up from his lap, his hands dropping from my waist. He is playing with me as usual, how stupid could I have been?“It doesn’t seem like you would mind a few seconds ago” He smirked, my earlier mood was back and he is definitely not getting away with this.“You are sick”. I put a safe distance between us before continuing, “ You broke one of the rules and we are barely one week in” I stated, folding my arms across my chest.“I
Sienna’s POV“Remember, we have dinner with your Grandma today, better not be late” Mum yelled from the kitchen as I hurried out of the house. It is funny how she has her own house yet she is in my kitchen as early as 7 in the morning so that she can make me breakfast and lunch.“I won’t, Mum” I answered back, placing a kiss on her cheek and then grabbing the food bag she had packed.“Thank you, Mum, you are always a lifesaver” I beamed at her.“Always my darling”. I hurriedly grabbed my keys and ran out, knowing fully well I was already going to be late. Such a beautiful start to a Monday.Once I was a safe distance from Mum, I dialed Grandma’s line,“Grandma,” I said in a rushed voice as soon as she picked up, throwing my bags into the back seat of my car.“My child, what’s wrong?” “ This isn’t the time you usually call, hope everything is okay?” She added before I could even respond.“I am fine, just wanted to remind you about tonight just in case” “When have I ever forgotten, I
Julian's POV'BILLIONAIRE TYCOON ADMITS TO BE IN A SERIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WOMAN HE BROUGHT WITH HIM TO THE GALA' That was the heading on the front cover of Story Grid's weekly magazine, It seems they really ate the story up just like I knew they would, Sienna may not know it but she is an excellent actress, but she can't fool me."Julian" Sienna yelled through the phone as I picked up the call, I couldn't hold in the smile that filled my face. How much I love an angry Sienna."Yes, Birdie...are you missing me already?" I joked almost bursting out in laughter picturing the look that would be on her face right now."You wish, why is my face on the front cover of Story Grid's front magazine?" She yelled."Well, first of all, it's our faces, I can clearly see my charming smile that gave life to the photo".She snickered, loudly."Whatever lets you sleep at night, Julian""And secondly it is because I don't approve publications that involve me if it isn't on the front cover" It wa
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