Prologue

"Pretend? To be in a relationship? With you?"

He said it emphatically and seemed surprised at what I said. I nodded slowly and avoided looking at him. He chuckled and his perfect white teeth showed up, he touched the bridge of his knows and his expression became dark. There was some pain in my heart as I watched his mocking reaction.

He has a fiance, this man in front of me has a fiance. And I'm here asking him to pretend to be his girlfriend so her fiance will show up.

"So what is this? You'll use me as a cover up for your scandal?"

"Oh! Says by the mighty respectable CEO having some enclosed important meeting for hours in his office." His auburn eyebrows met in one line.

"What?" He laughed with no humor.

"Oh! You can't fool me. Meetings that last that long??"

My voice trembled with extreme irritation. I can feel my face heating up again. I want to cry at the thought he believes in the scandal that is spreading. His eyes narrowed seemingly unable to understand what I was saying. I rolled my eyes at him.

"We're sailing too far from our topic. I don't care who you fvck  and how long you do your woman here-"

"Where did you learn those words Ava? And what the fvck are you talking about?"

His voice thundered. His hawk like eyes are ready to destroy me. I rolled my eyes again.

"It's okay. Don't be so defensive, I'm open minded. I'm used to-"

"You’re ‘used’ to!? What the actual fvck are you tryna 'say huh?"

"What else then? You secretary said that you are having an enclosed important meeting and it took another five hours? Really Levi? Who's the unprofessional now?"

"Look at me."

He whispered. I didn’t follow him and focused on my nails.

"Look at me, please."

He touched my chin with his fingers and made me met his eyes. The tenderness and sweetness of his voice shook the wall I had tried to build between the two of us. His deep set of eyes are soft and drunk. He grabbed the tip of my elbow and pulled me even closer to him as if the thin space gap between the two of us was still missing. I was like a flame dancing with his flow of wind. Letting him take me on his own swing.

"Katrina is my dad's employee. She arrived just when I ended my meeting with attorney to drop by the documents I need."

His eyes were wide as he stared at me. I looked at his lips and he gently grabbed my attention again to look him in the eye.

"It's your employee's fault." My voice was hoarse and I couldn’t recognize it.

"Should I fire here?"

"No!"

That's ridiculous, you don't fire people just because of that.

"Uh-huh?"

His eyes were playful so I avoided looking at him again.

"Now tell me, where did you learn those words huh? You're accent is music to my ears but it's not working with that dirty mouth of yours."

I gulped again when I felt his warm breath on my face. Now his eyes are on my lips.

"That's not what I meant here. If you don't agree with what I'm saying I'm leaving."

I said without hesitation. Gradually I began to feel annoyed with myself because I was like a slave enslaved by his caresses. It's just like that and I immediately weaken and give in to him.

"What's this all about huh? The last time we talked you asked me to pretend that we don't know each other. And now this? What's with pretending thing?"

He hissed. I didn’t answer him because I just remembered what happened to us last week.

"What are you up to? Please tell me."

He groaned and rested his forehead on my shoulder. It was as if something was missing in my stomach at the tenderness of his voice.

"We'll pretend?"

His palm found its way to my hands while his other hand is on the side of my chair.

"But the last time I checked we didn't broke up."

My heart beat went berserk. Like an animal that has long been confined and loves to get away.

"You won't bring the past to me again, Levi."

Her eyes narrowed as he nodded. His hands slide from my hands down to the side of my chair. Now he seems to be confining me here in my chair. He sighed heavily. It seemed so hard with his emotions.

"I've waited for years ... If that's the only thing you can offer then I'll gladly accept what I deserve."

The corners of my eyes warmed at what he said. I can sense the pain in his words making me weak.

How can I unlove this man? I can't just put all the blame on him, because in the first place I'm hurting because I'm allowing this to happen. When it comes to him I am so weak. All the strength and plan I had developed over the years seemed to be disappearing. Just by his touch, his words, his caress - everything has surrendered to me. He's good. He's good at pretending and playing with me.

"Great!"

I said enthusiastically even as my tears were forming clouds in my eyes. He raised his gaze to me as if confused. I'm pursing a smile on my lips and it's dark looked.

"My company will soon give a statement about this, since you already know that our photos have been spread everywhere." Her eyes were cold and silent at what I said. "From now on, if you're asked by the press and media, say that I am your girlfriend-" "You are my girlfriend." I don’t know if he was imitating me or correcting that in what I said.

"Y-yeah! And If I'm asked then I'll tell them that you are my boyfriend."

"So what am I? I'm sort of your boy toy huh?"

"We'll both benefit from this Levi and you know that. Just cooperate!"

I wanted to say it for her fiance but it was good and I resisted. He raised his brows and pursed his lips. He did not speak for a few seconds as I waited for his answer. "Okay." I narrowed my eyes to him. His eyes were very lazy.

"Treat me like your slave if you want, if that's the cooperation you're talking about."

Wow. Did he agree? That's easy. "Okay then, I'm good to go."

I stood up and that he backed away from what I had done. He held my wrist and looked up at me with his puffy eyes. It looks like a child will be left by his mother.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going home." He cocked his head to the other side and glared at me.

"Let's go." He stood up and turned the table around again. I was confused by what he did.

"What? I'm going home, alone!" on his cellphone he turned to me again.

"And what do you want people to think? That I'm letting my girlfriend book a car service, going home alone? Coming from the inside of my company? Really Ava?"

I looked at him innocently as if I couldn't get what he said. He's right but ... we have to pretend just by the press and not by the each citizen of this country. He raised his eyebrows because I look so puzzled looking at him. Am I circling him or am I circling him?

"Let's go."