My boyfriend of eight years didn’t just leave me. He left me for my sister. And then suddenly, they were getting married. I hate being seen as the weakling, the ugly one. So I did what I could. I made an offer to Liam Carter —my Highschool Bully when we met in Tuscany. The last person I ever wanted to owe anything to. We pretend to date for the summer, to make everyone believe I’ve moved on and in return I help with his PR stunt. It was supposed to be fake. No feelings. No strings. Just a deal between enemies with something to prove. But the more we pretend, the more the lines blur—and suddenly, the boy who once made my life miserable might be the only one who truly sees me. And the worst part? I think I’m starting to fall for him.
View More~•Maya•~
Eight years. I was excited to celebrate our eighth anniversary and even though he hadn’t called yet —probably because of how busy he was —I decided to surprise him myself. His apartment was unlocked and that meant he was home. It made me even more giddy. We’ve been together ever since our first year in college and we were just perfect for each other. Two nerds doing what they knew best. Even though one of us was hot. Which wasn’t me by the way. I practically skidded towards his bedroom but I heard noises and slowly drew to a stop. It wasn’t just any noise. It was moans. My heart lodged itself in my throat and for a second, I thought one of his friends had brought a woman over. That meant, Tom wasn’t home. It should have made me turn around and back away, but I was curious, so I pushed the door open, and what I saw shredded my heart into pieces. “Harder, Tom,” my sister moaned as my boyfriend drove in and out of her. I blinked and pinched myself. Oh well, this was reality and I wasn’t dreaming. The bunch of flowers I had come with, left my hands and fell on the floor with a soft thud. It drew Tom’s attention and he whipped around to see me. His eyes widened and he pulled out of her. “Maya?” he called and glanced at Jenny as she lazily sat up on the bed putting her arm around him and staring me right in the eyes—the audacity. “Maya? What are you doing here?” he asked, running his fingers through his hair. I had no idea if he realized how ridiculous that sounded. “We did not mean for you to find out this way...” he said and I blinked again. My eyes felt dry and I couldn’t even formulate words at the moment. “You just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” he asked before pulling his pants up his waist and tossing her a blanket to cover herself up. “It’s our eighth anniversary,” I whispered. I had no idea if I was supposed to feel some sort of betrayal and anger or why I wasn’t feeling it yet. “Right,” he muttered and shrugged. “She’s my sister,” I whispered again and he glanced at Jenny who plastered a smile on her face. “Oh, Jenny? We’ve been together for almost two years now. I’ve been thinking of a way to tell you,” he said and my mouth tasted bitter. He’s been cheating on me for two years? With my sister?! Jenny batted her lashes at me. I stared at both of them, how could they? “I’ve no problem with you, Maya. You’re cool and I honestly wish we ended on better terms and not for you to find out like this…” he said and stood up. My eyes fell on my sister. “Really? You couldn’t get any other man and decided to go for the one I love?” I asked and she huffed. “Oh please, Maya. Spare me the nonsense. We both know Tom is too good for you, he deserves someone better,” she said, rolling her eyes. Of course, it should be her. She was the bitchy older sister who took away everything from me. Friends, gifts, parents…and now? My boyfriend. I should have known she’d go the extra mile, she was good-looking, hot, and in good shape. What I never expected was for Tom to fall for her. I took a step back. “Maya…” he called out and I glared at him. “Don’t,” I bit out and he pressed his lips together. I bit my lower lip, before taking a deep breath. I could feel it now, the pain ripping through my heart. It felt like my heart was being extracted from my chest. But I won’t give them the satisfaction of breaking down. I would just turn around and walk away. They can continue fucking themselves for all I care. “I loved you Tom, and this is how you repay me? By fucking my sister?” I asked, even as tears welled up in my eyes. I blinked. Don’t break in front of them. “Don’t act all emotional right now,” Jenny hissed but I didn’t even spare her a glance. I was used to her taking everything away, but God, this one hurts the most. I closed my eyes for a split second. Once I reopened them, I had my mind made up. “Yeah, of course,” I said, more to myself than anyone before I grabbed the bouquet I’d come with. Pathetic me. “She brought you roses, Tom,” Jenny sneered and I pressed my lips together. I gave her and Tom one last look before storming out of the room —and the house. I’d always been the unlucky one both in relationships and in real life. While Jenny? She got favoured because of her looks and while I wasn’t as pretty as she was, I knew I had my perks. But they were all ignored when it came to her. As always. I had no idea when tears streamed down my cheeks as I crossed the street and waved a cab. I got in immediately slamming the door shut. I managed to call out my address to the driver before breaking down in the back seat of his cab. It hurts. God, it fucking hurts. Being betrayed by a man whom I’d thought loved me and a woman I’d thought was family. It hurts. So fucking much. I caught the cab driver glancing at me through the mirror. He looked away when our eyes met and I curled into myself shielding my face from his view. Tom had told me, I ugly cried and it wasn’t good for a woman like me. He said my face always had this blotchy look and it made my eyes look smaller. He’d said my crying face annoyed him. Jenny had announced to the whole school back then how ugly I looked on a normal day and I was worse if I cried. So crying wasn’t my strong suit. Especially, in public or where someone could see me. I’ve always been ridiculed and bullied my whole life and my family wasn’t an exception. I sniffed and wiped my eyes. I needed a break. From life. From the harsh reality. From everything. And I knew just the perfect place to go.~Maya~It was our first date—or technically, our first fake date.I’d given thought to Liam’s proposal and while it was ridiculous, there was a little sense in it. If I’m going to be tossed into a world I know absolutely nothing about except that it’s toxic, then yeah, I deserved to be paid.A lady had reached out to me. She’d said she was Amber Smith—or whatever she said was her last name.Turns out she works for Liam as his PR manager. She offered to pay three thousand dollars if I agreed to date Liam for the next three months, and if it was going to exceed that, she’d get in touch with me.I made a mental calculation. Something would be happening in the next three months, maybe a movie shoot or something, and they wanted to extend the timeline of this… relationship.Top marketing strategy.Well, three thousand dollars was a big deal for me, and that’s why I was seated across from Liam with a frown on my face and a dozen eyes on us while he took a sip from his pumpkin latte, starin
~Maya~A sigh escaped me as I scrolled through the comments under a picture of Liam and I that had been uploaded online. People were brutal with their words—but at the same time, oddly sweet?“–boy_128–: Let’s not deceive ourselves. She’s pretty.”“–deborahyang–: I’d be sad if I had a face that looked like that.”I tapped on the profile, only to find it was a full-grown lady who looked like she’d been exiled from the rest of the world. What the fuck?If I had her face, I’d be depressed.I was tempted to reply, but I knew it wouldn’t take long before everyone figured out it was my burner account. My inbox was already drowning in DMs from people I’d never met in my life.Why don’t people mind their damn business?“Here,” Liam muttered, and I looked up from my phone as he extended a glass toward me. I sat up straighter, set my phone aside, and took it.He settled on the couch, and I glanced at the drink.“Scotch. Not poisoned,” he said casually, taking a sip before draping his arm along
~Liam~With the guards outside, no paparazzi showed up the next day. We were supposed to change scenery, but the town was full.And despite how unaffected I acted, I was worried. Not for me—Maya. Poor girl had no idea what she’d be walking into once this blew up. Crazy fans and all.My phone buzzed as I lay sprawled on the bed, not because I wanted to hide up here, but because giving the little brown-haired lady downstairs her space felt necessary. Didn’t help there was only one couch. So yeah, my ass stayed up here.I glanced at the screen. Amber. The head of PR.For a second I considered letting it ring out, but whatever she had to say was probably for my own good. I swiped the call.“Liam!” she shrieked, bubbly as ever. I rubbed my jaw and winced. Oh boy.“Amber,” I returned, curt. Talking to these people drained me. Some days I wished for a normal life—no cameras, no one shoving into my private business.Maya’s flushed face from yesterday slipped into my head, lips pressed tight,
MayaI stared at nothing. Shocked and a little defeated.Liam walked into the room and paused when he saw me sitting helplessly on the bed. He raised one brow, his eyes a little guarded.“You look like you were almost run over by a trailer,” he said, his tone amused and warm. I don’t know.I groaned, burying my face in my hands.“Um, okay. What’s going on?” He asked and I shook my head before running my hands through my hair and staring at him.I can’t believe Ava would do this to me.I asked for a favor. Whatever pictures of mine that would be uploaded today, should be taken down. I knew she could do it.She could call in a few favors here and there and boom. Job done.But no. Apparently, “everything comes with a price” and that also included a staff member who’d given her three—maybe four—loyal years.“My team sent in bodyguards and they’re here. The paparazzi left.” He said, like that was supposed to make me feel better. I get that he was trying but —ugh.“I called my boss to call
~•Maya•~“Step back,” Liam growled, smoothly stepping before me and shielding me from the flashes.Saying I was in shock was an understatement. I was watching everything unfold, but I couldn’t process any of it. It was so sudden.“Mr. Carter, what do you have to say about your relationship with Miss Caldwell?” the woman asked, shoving a microphone into Liam’s face.He held one arm out protectively while keeping the other behind me, pushing me back.They even got my name? I shouldn’t be surprised. But hell—it was still shocking.“Step back!” he barked again, but this time at the lady before him. He guided me backward as he stepped with me. This was ridiculous.I never knew celebrities went through this. The media is right in your face the second they smell a story. Sure, I worked in the media, but I did the back-end stuff—the headlines, the copy, the daily reports.I wasn’t the one sticking mics in people’s faces.Ava said I wasn’t cut out for it, since I had minimal interaction skills
~•Maya•~I rolled onto my back and stiffened for a second before peeling my eyes open. My gaze landed on the space next to me.It was empty.Which was strange—because I know Liam isn’t an early bird.I sat up and immediately felt a splitting headache shoot through my skull. I groaned, pressing both hands to the sides of my head.Goddamn that drink.If I remember correctly, I’d only had two glasses—two little glasses—and this is what I get in return? A pounding skull, heavy head, and eyelids that weighed a ton.If I had it my way, I’d go back to bed. It was comfortable anyway.But then again, Liam might be in the bathroom—and the last thing I need right now is an awkward encounter. For the sake of my mental health, I definitely don’t want to see him in a towel.I dropped my hands from my head and got off the bed, slowly making my way to the door. Walking felt like work, and it did nothing to help the thumping in my skull.What was the name of that drink again?Something with an H? No—w
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