“Is that so? And what, pray tell, does a copy editor like yourself want from me?”
I swallowed. He’s talking to me as if he knows me! Does he know what I look like? I haven’t even told him my name yet because I’m caught off guard!
“Well?” His voice snapped me out of my thoughts. His eyes never left mine. He cocked his head to the side as if urging me to continue talking. My heart skipped a beat when he called my name! “Haven Thorne… right?”
I stood rooted to the floor. What. The. Hell! He DOES know me!
But how? Through Jessie? Wait… she said she wouldn’t squeal that I am in the party—that I’m using her invitation to get inside! Right?
She’s not like that. Even though she’s also friends with Joaquin, she assured me she wouldn’t tell… right?
“Who is she?”
“Does Joaquin know her?”
“It looks like someone we don’t know.”
“Is she a writer?”
“A referred friend, perhaps.”
“Then why is Joaquin acting like it’s the first time they met?”
“Hmm… quite audacious of her to approach him in the open if they don’t know each other.”
“She looks ordinary despite her pretty face.”
My lips turned into a tight line as I noticed that people already started gossiping about me being in front of Joaquin. Heck, they even started judging me! I know I’m ordinary… they don’t have to point that out!
I just want to talk to Joaquin, alright? Yeah, I’m taking advantage of my friend’s connection (and illness since she can’t come)… but it’s only for today—and I won’t ever ask for his attention anymore!
I swear!
I took a deep breath, not letting myself get distracted by the people talking about me.
This was it; it’s all or nothing!
“I need your help. I want to become a better writer, and I believe you can teach me.”
A slow smile spread across Joaquin’s lips. He sat his glass down on the table beside him and stepped closer, the crowd around them fading into a blur. “Teach you, hm? That’s rather a bold request.”
The crowd near them chuckled and sneered when they heard what he told me.
“See? I told you she’s a nobody.”
“Makes me think how she came to this party…”
“Please… it’s a no-brainer. Of course, through connections!”
“Taking advantage of it, perhaps. It’s even obvious that Joaquin doesn’t know her.”
I balled my hands into a tight fists, determined to talk to him despite the people looking down at me.
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” I replied, my voice firm with determination.
Joaquin studied her for a moment, then laughed for a moment. “Very well. But first, let’s see if you have what it takes to impress me. Follow me.”
Without another word, he turned and began walking towards a door at the far end of the room. I hesitated only for a second before following him, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
This was just the beginning, and I have no idea what awaits behind that door.
‘Please… grant me the courage to power through!’
I followed Joaquin through the throng of guests, feeling their eyes boring into my back, their whispers nipping at my confidence. The door he led me to was slightly ajar, and as he pushed it open, the noise from the party dulled to a muted hum.
We stepped into a dimly lit hallway, the opulence of the main room giving way to a quieter, more intimate setting.
Joaquin glanced over his shoulder, his expression unreadable. “Keep up, Haven. We don’t have all night.”
His tone was sharp, almost impatient, and I quickened my pace to match his long strides. My mind raced with questions—why had he decided to entertain my request? What was his real motive? But I forced myself to stay focused.
This was my chance, and I couldn’t afford to waste it.
We finally reached a door at the end of the hallway. Joaquin opened it and gestured for me to enter. I stepped inside, my breath catching in my throat as I took in the sight before me.
The room was a private library, its walls lined with shelves that stretched from floor to ceiling, filled with books of very size and color. A large, mahogany desk sat in the center, papers and manuscripts scattered across its polished surface.
He closed the door behind us, sealing off the noise from the party completely. He walked over to the desk and leaned against it, folding his arms across his chest. His piercing gaze was fixed on me, assessing, calculating.
“Sit,” he said, nodding towards a leather chair positioned opposite the desk.
I sat down, feeling the weight of his scrutiny. My palms were sweaty, and I wiped them discreetly on my dress. Joaquin’s presence was overwhelming, but I forced myself to meet his gaze.
“Let’s get one thing straight,” he began, his voice low and authoritative. “I’m not in the habit of taking on proteges—especially not ones who crash my parties.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up a hand to stop me. “That said, your audacity intrigues me. And in this industry, a little audacity can go a long way.”
I bit my bottom lip. Who knew that Joaquin Greyson is like this in person!? Well… he does give that air when you look at his photos… but I didn’t expect him to live the expectations in person.
“I’m sorry,” I blurted out, almost coming out as a whisper. “I asked a favor from Jessie… and I really want your opinion.”
He arched a brow at me. “I know that you know each other as she’s so kind to work for that small company, but I didn’t expect that you’re THAT close.”
“Sorry,” I apologized once more. “It’s obvious that I took advantage of her not being present because she’s sick...”
He narrowed his eyes at me, as if really judging my presence. “That really sounds like her… helping out a friend.”
Silence…
He reached for a stack of papers on his desk and flipped through them. “Anyway… you want to be a better writer, Haven? Fine… after constantly rejecting you and to you now crashing my party, show me what you’ve got.”
I pointed at myself. “Me?”
He rolled his eyes at me. “No, your shadow.” My lips straightened at his sarcasm. “Now, write something. Anything. I want to see your raw talent.”
I paused when I heard him challenging me right on the spot. I actually have the draft of my work here on my phone and it’s already finished and that’s what I plan on showing him so I could ask for his opinion.“Umm…” I hesitated, my eyes locking with his. I stiffened once more as his eyes really never left mine. “I actually have my story here in my phone’s drafts and—”“No,” he interrupted, cutting me off from my upcoming suggestion. “I want a new one on the spot.”I furrowed my brows. “What do you want me to write?” He’s challenging me, so fine… let’s take the challenge!“What’s your genre?” he asked, now sitting on the leather chair opposite mine.“Contemporary romance, fantasy romance,” I answered, Joaquin giving me a single nod.“Alright. Then write something romantic,” he replied, giving more details. “A domineering man, softening to a sweet woman. Go.”I held the pen on my hand as I stared on the blank paper. I felt cold sweat on my back as I grew conscious of the fact that Joaq
I froze, my eyes wide as I processed what Joaquin had just said. His father’s stern gaze flickered with surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.“Your fiancée?” His father’s voice dripped with skepticism.Joaquin tightened his grip around my waist, his posture relaxed but his eyes intense. “Yes, Haven and I have been keeping it private, but I suppose the secret's out now.”My heart pounded in my chest, my mind racing to keep up. Why is he dragging me into this? What does he mean by fiancée?His father’s eyes narrowed. “I see. Then perhaps you won’t mind if we have a private discussion, Joaquin.”Joaquin’s expression hardened slightly, but he nodded. “Of course, Father. We’ll schedule it at another time.”His father gave me one last scrutinizing look before turning and leaving the room, closing the door behind him with a decisive thud. Joaquin looked at me, too, making me conscious on the borrowed clothes that I am wearing at this party.Yeah, yeah… I look ordinary, a girl with
I found the bar nestled in a corner of Joaquin’s opulent mansion, a secluded spot away from the prying eyes of the partygoers. The dim lighting and polished wooden counter offered a semblance of solace amidst the whirlwind of emotions I was feeling.I ordered a strong drink and downed it quickly, hoping the alcohol would numb the confusion and frustration swirling inside me. As the warmth spread through my body, I leaned back against the bar, staring into the empty glass.‘How did I end up here?’ I wondered, my thoughts racing. I came here to learn, not to get tangled in someone else's problems.The bartender approached, refilling my glass without a word. I nodded my thanks and took another sip, savoring the burn as it slid down my throat. I couldn't help but replay the evening's events in my mind, trying to make sense of Joaquin's unexpected proposal.Why couldn’t he settle this on his own? What kind of man needs a fake fiancée to escape his father’s demands? Who is he, really, beyon
I stared at Joaquin, my mouth hanging open as the weight of his words settled in. “You’re the son of Joseph Bryan Greyson? The Joseph Bryan Greyson?”Joaquin chuckled, clearly amused by my shock. “Yes, that’s me. Surprised?”I scoffed, settling my coffee down once more after I drank it all in one gulp. “I didn’t think that you’d really be connected to THE Joseph Bryan Greyson since there are a lot of Greysons in the world… but it now made sense that you resemble him.”He grinned, cocking his head to the side to make fun of me. “I don’t know if you’re just hungover… or really dumb.”I narrowed my eyes at him. “Remember… you’re asking for me help.”He didn’t say anything. I let out a sigh and blinked my eyes, trying to process everything. “But… why would the son of the richest man in the country really need to fake an engagement? Can’t you just do anything you want?”Joaquin sighed, leaning back in his chair. “You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But I already told you. My father is… complicat
I smiled at Joaquin’s curiosity, enjoying the shift in our dynamic. It was nice to have a bit of leverage, even if it was just a teasing secret. "A promise I made with someone, I guess," I said, my tone light yet evasive.Joaquin raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what exactly was this promise?"I chuckled, mimicking his earlier nonchalance. "Just like you said, I'll only answer questions that are beneficial to our situation. Whether I made a promise to someone or not is none of your concern."He laughed, appreciating my cheeky response. "Fair enough. We'll leave it at that for now. But don’t think I won’t try to find out.""We’ll see," I replied, still grinning.With the way he said “we’ll see”, it made me think that he does have ways to find out who the person is. With his status, he can find out just about anything.Now that explains why he knows who I am… and even said my name when I approached him without me even introducing myself.The question is: up to what extent does he
Before we left for our first "date," I took a moment to freshen up. I applied a bit of makeup, just enough to enhance my features. When I returned, I noticed Joaquin’s eyes lighting up with approval.“You look great,” he said, his tone genuine. “See, a little effort goes a long way. You’re even prettier when you put some effort into it.”I rolled my eyes at him, feeling a mix of irritation and amusement. “You don’t have to point out how ordinary I usually look. It’s not like I have a wardrobe full of designer clothes and a makeup artist on standby.”He shook his head, his expression softening. “That’s not what I meant, Haven. You need to have more confidence in yourself. You’re beautiful as you are. Just believe it.”His words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn’t know how to respond. Instead, I simply nodded, feeling a strange warmth spread through me.As we walked out of the mansion, the morning sun casting a golden glow over everything, I couldn’t help but notice the way
“Haven,” he said, looking up at me with a serious expression, “will you do me the honor of being my fiancée?”For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The reality of the situation faded, and all I could see was the handsome man in front of me, asking me to marry him. Even though I knew it was all part of our plan, I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of emotion.“Yes,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. “Yes, I will.”Joaquin smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile, and gently slipped the ring onto my finger. It fit perfectly, as if it had been made for me. I felt a strange thrill as I looked down at the ring, sparkling on my hand.He stood up, and for a moment, we were both silent, just looking at each other. I couldn’t deny the chemistry between us, the way my heart skipped a beat when he looked at me with those intense eyes.“This may be fake,&rdq
“Haven,” Joaquin began as we settled into the lounge, “I think it’s best if you pack your things and move in as soon as possible. Don’t worry about the house—I’ll make sure it won’t be bought. I’ll just put it under my name temporarily and move it back to you once the contract ends.”I nodded, still processing everything. “Alright, then. I’ll need to go home and get my stuff.”“I’ll accompany you,” he said, standing up. “It will be quicker if I help.”Surprised, I looked at him. “Are you sure? It’s not exactly a quick trip.”“I’m sure. Let’s get you settled in,” he replied, already heading toward the door.With a sigh of resignation, I followed him, giving him my address as we left the mansion. The drive was quiet, filled with the hum of the car engine and my racing thoughts. When we finally pulled up in front of my home, I felt a pang of emotion.My small, one-story house in the peaceful neighborhood stood in stark contrast to the grandeur of Joaquin’s mansion.We walked up to the fr