Livia rushed into the women’s restroom at the large event center, mentally cursing herself for drinking so much soda earlier. She had just a few minutes before her friend arrived. While adjusting her hair in the mirror, she heard a strange sound from one of the stalls. “Hey, can you pass me some toilet paper?
”
Livia froze. “Wait, what? ”
She looked around, confused, as if the restroom had somehow turned into a men’s room without her noticing. “Excuse me, the toilet paper ran out.
Can you pass me some? ”
Livia blinked. “Do you realize you’re in the women’s restroom, right? ”
“Yeah, now I do.
”
“And that doesn’t bother you? ”
“What bothers me is being out of toilet paper. ”
Livia suppressed a laugh. “Oh, so it’s okay to invade a women’s restroom, but running out of toilet paper is the problem?
Priorities, huh? ”
“Look, I’m already embarrassed enough. Can you just pass me the paper, please? ”
She crossed her arms.
“Hm, no. ”
From the other side, she heard an impatient sigh. “What do you mean, no? ”
“Exactly what you heard.
Why would I help a random stranger who invaded the women’s restroom? ”
“Random? ” he repeated, outraged. “Ma’am, I just need paper, not an FBI interrogation.
”
She smiled, enjoying his impatience. “I think you should learn a lesson from this. Maybe some time in there will help you reflect on your life choices. ”
“Oh my God, you’re giving me a lecture while I’m stuck in here?
”
“I’d call it more of a social intervention. ”
There was silence. Then, in a tired voice, he said, “Fine. I’ll make you a deal.
If you give me the paper, I’ll give you a VIP ticket to Nathan Blake’s show. ”
Livia narrowed her eyes. “What? ”
“That’s right.
A VIP ticket with backstage access. But only if you help me now. ”
“This is starting to sound like emotional blackmail. ”
“It is emotional blackmail.
”
“At least one point for you on honesty. ”
She pretended to think about it. “But how do I know this ticket is real? ”
“Because I’m desperate.
”
She bit her lip to hold back a laugh. “Hm, still not sure if it’s a good deal. ”
“Ma’am, for the love of God. ”
She heard the sound of paper being crumpled, and a few seconds later, a ticket slid under the door.
She bent down and picked it up. “Huh, looks real. ”
“Because it is. Now give me the paper.
”
She tore off a piece of the roll and threw it under the door. “Here you go, Your Majesty of Desperation. ”
“Finally. Now can you do me a favor?
You go out first. ”
Livia raised an eyebrow. “What? If we both leave at the same time, it’s going to look suspicious.
”
“It already looks suspicious, my dear. Just go already. ”
“Wow, so cranky. Do you need a hug?
”
“I need you to leave. ”
Livia rolled her eyes but unlocked the door and stepped out of the bathroom, still laughing at the situation. She put the ticket in her purse and walked down the hallway. But then something went wrong.
Behind her, she heard a buzz of voices. She turned around. There he was. The guy from the stall, coming out of the women’s bathroom, adjusting a cap.
Then, a girl’s eyes widened. “Hey, isn’t that… oh my God, Nathan Blake! ”
That was enough to start the chaos.
“What was he doing in the women’s bathroom? ”
“Who is this girl that went out first? Must be his new girlfriend! ”
Someone pointed at Livia.
Nathan froze, clearly regretting leaving so quickly. Livia stood frozen in the middle of the hallway. This can’t be happening. The women’s bathroom, which should have been a peaceful refuge, was now the epicenter of a scandal.
A shiver ran down her spine. The eyes turned toward her as if she were holding a neon sign flashing “guilty. ”
A hysterical scream echoed through the venue, and then the chaos began. Phones came out, flashes exploded, and people shouted Nathan’s name.
Before Livia could process anything, Nathan grabbed her wrist and started pulling her through the crowd. “Run! ” was all she could shout before being dragged into the chaos. He pushed through a side door and entered the backstage area, slamming the door behind them.
Livia tripped over her own feet, almost falling. “Hey! ” she protested, pulling away. “Who do you think you are, dragging me like that?
”
Nathan locked the door behind them, breathing heavily. “You wanted me to leave you there? ”
“Yes! ” she exclaimed.
“That way maybe I’d have a chance to explain that I have nothing to do with this. ”
“Oh sure, because that crowd would listen to you patiently, right? ”
Livia huffed. “Great.
Now I’m officially the girl who got caught leaving the bathroom with a pop star. How wonderful. ”
Nathan scratched his neck, clearly frustrated too. “This isn’t my fault.
You were the one who took forever to leave first. ”
“Oh no,” Livia crossed her arms. “Don’t put this on me. You’re the one who decided to take a tour inside the women’s bathroom.
”
“I was stuck, and I helped you! ”
They stared at each other, both huffing. Then someone knocked on the door. “Nathan, are you in there?
”
Ethan closed his eyes for a moment, clearly cursing the universe. “Damn it. ”
“Who is that? ” Livia frowned.
“My manager. ”
The door opened, and a woman wearing sunglasses and a perfectly tailored dress walked in, accompanied by an assistant. She glanced at Nathan, then at Livia, and squinted as if already getting a headache. “I really hope there’s a plausible explanation for what just happened.
”
Livia shrank back. “Do you want to start, or should I? ” she murmured to Nathan. He sighed.
“It was a misunderstanding. I ended up in the wrong bathroom, and—”
“And how does this girl fit in? ” the manager pointed at Livia. “I just wanted to use the bathroom in peace!
” she exclaimed, throwing her hands up. The manager massaged her temples. “Great. This is all over social media now.
”
Livia’s eyes widened. “What? ”
The assistant showed her a phone. There it was—a video with thousands of views of Nathan coming out of the women’s bathroom, followed by pictures of her right behind.
The post title read: “Nathan Blake seen leaving the bathroom with mystery girl. ”
Livia felt the blood drain from her face. “What? ”
Nathan grabbed the phone from the assistant, read the comments, and sighed.
“Oh great. Now they’re saying it’s a secret relationship. I don’t even know you. ”
“Try telling that to the internet.
”
Livia wanted to scream. “How is this a secret relationship? How do people jump to conclusions so fast? ”
Nathan tossed the phone to the manager.
“So now what? ”
She sighed. “Now we have a plan. ”
Livia raised an eyebrow.
“We do? ”
The manager smiled. “If you’re seen with Nathan in public, just as friends, we can change the narrative before it turns into a bigger scandal. ”
Livia crossed her arms.
“How exactly? ”
The manager adjusted her glasses. “You two can have a friendly dinner. You, him, and anyone else you want to bring.
This will change the story and stop the ridiculous rumors. ”
Livia blinked. “Wait. You want me to have dinner with this guy?
” She looked at Nathan incredulously. “But why would I agree to dinner with this annoying guy? ”
Nathan narrowed his eyes. “Annoying?
You almost left me to rot in that bathroom. ”
“Oh, so dramatic. You barely stayed there for five minutes. ”
“Five minutes that felt like a lifetime.
”
“What an exaggeration. You’ve never run out of toilet paper before, have you? ”
“That’s not the point! ”
The manager sighed.
“Enough! ”
Livia huffed. “I still don’t see any reason to accept this ridiculous dinner. ”
But then an idea came to her mind.
Julia, her best friend, was a huge Nathan Blake fan. Her room was basically a shrine dedicated to him. She had cried for a week when she missed the chance to buy tickets for his concert. If Livia said she had the chance to go to dinner with him and turned it down, she’d probably lose her best friend status forever.
She sighed. “Does this dinner include real food, or just a silent agreement? ”
The manager smiled. “Real food.
”
Livia scoffed, but she knew she couldn’t pass up this opportunity for Julia. “Fine. I’ll go. ”
Nathan raised an eyebrow.
“Really? ”
“Don’t give me any reason to change my mind. ”
The manager nodded. “Great.
Tomorrow night. Dinner with Nathan Blake. ”
Livia closed her eyes, already regretting her decision. What did I get myself into?
Nathan smirked. “Welcome to the celebrity world. ”
Livia rolled her eyes. “Definitely too late to back out now.
”
The next evening, Livia was on the phone with Julia while staring at her reflection in the mirror. “Say that again,” Julia practically screamed. “I’m having dinner with Nathan Blake. What?
”
Livia pulled the phone away from her ear to save her hearing. “Are you trying to make me deaf? ”
“Livia, how did you not tell me this sooner? ”
“Because I’m still trying to figure out how I ended up in this situation.
”
Julia gasped. “And you’re complaining? I’d give my soul for a dinner with him. ”
“Okay, okay, calm down.
Do you want to come with me or not? ”
The silence lasted exactly three seconds. “Of course I do! ”
“All right then.
You’re invited. But just so you know, this guy is annoying. ”
Julia chuckled. “And you’re a pain.
So you’re a perfect match. ”
“Shut up. ”
At the restaurant, the decor was far too fancy for Livia’s taste. The waiter led them to a reserved table at the back of the room.
Julia was in pure bliss. On the other hand, she noticed Nathan approaching, wearing a cap and sunglasses. “You hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long,” he said, taking off his sunglasses. Julia smiled like a child on Christmas morning.
“No way! It’s such a pleasure to meet you. ”
Livia crossed her arms. “I can’t say the same.
”
Nathan narrowed his eyes at her. “Oh, what a surprise. ”
Julia looked back and forth between them, sensing the tension. “Okay, you two clearly don’t like each other.
”
“It’s not my fault if he’s a smug smart aleck. ”
“And it’s not my fault if she’s a cynical pain. ”
The waiter appeared just in time to prevent a war. “Can I take your order?
”
Livia grabbed the menu. “I want the most expensive dish on the menu. ”
Nathan raised an eyebrow. “You’re kidding.
”
“No. You got me into this, so at least I’m going to eat well. ”
Julia laughed nervously. “I’ll just have a regular dish, thank you.
”
Once the waiter left, Livia and Nathan went back to staring at each other as if they were about to fight with the utensils. “Can you at least try to look happy to be here? ” he grumbled. “Happy?
I’m only here because my friend made me come. ”
“Oh sure, because a free dinner at a fancy restaurant is such a huge punishment for you. ”
“Not everything in life can be bought with money, Nathan Blake. ”
“Says the person who ordered the most expensive dish on the menu.
”
“You—”
Julia stepped in before things got even more chaotic. “Okay, enough! You two sound like kids fighting over the last lollipop. ”
“He started it.
”
“You started it. ”
“That’s a lie. ”
“Oh my God, are you two going to keep this up all night? ”
The waiter returned with the drinks, and the three of them fell silent while he served them.
Once he left, Julia turned to Nathan. “All right, tell me. What’s it like being a worldwide star? ”
He smiled.
“It’s amazing, but it has its challenges. Fame can be overwhelming sometimes. ”
“Wow. I bet people must recognize you everywhere, right?
”
“Yep. Even in women’s restrooms, apparently. ”
Livia almost choked on her drink. “You didn’t miss that chance, did you?
”
“I would never miss it. ”
Julia laughed. “Okay, now I need to know. Nathan, what’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened with a fan?
”
Nathan thought for a moment, then laughed. “Well, once a fan showed up at my hotel door pretending to be a housekeeper, trying to get into my room. ”
Livia widened her eyes. “What?
”
“Yep. And the worst part is, it almost worked. But then she tripped and dropped the breakfast tray she was holding, so everyone realized she wasn’t hotel staff. ”
Julia laughed.
“Oh my God, I would never do something like that. ”
“Of course not, because it’s so much more normal to break into a women’s restroom to get a VIP ticket, right? ”
Livia grabbed a piece of bread and threw it at him. “You’re never going to let that go, huh?
”
“Never. ”
The dinner continued with more teasing, but something changed. The tension started to fade, and despite the insults, there was a playful tone to every exchange. When dessert arrived, Julia noticed what was happening and whispered to Livia.
“You’re liking him. ”
Livia almost choked on her ice cream. “What? ”
“I can tell.
You’re enjoying the fight. ”
“I hate him. ”
“Uh-huh. ”
Nathan noticed them whispering and looked suspicious.
“What’s going on? ”
“Nothing,” Livia answered too quickly. He narrowed his eyes. “Suspicious.
”
A little later, the bill arrived. Nathan reached for his wallet, but Livia put her hand on his. “I’ll pay. ”
He looked at her, surprised.
“Really? ”
“Of course not. I just wanted to see your reaction. ”
Nathan rolled his eyes.
“You’re really unbearable. ”
“And you’re really spoiled. ”
Julia laughed. “I never thought dinner with Nathan Blake would be this fun.
”
Nathan gave Livia a satisfied look. “See? At least one of you thinks I’m likable. ”
Livia scoffed.
“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it. ”
When they left the restaurant, a few people were still trying to take pictures, but it wasn’t anything like the chaos from the day before. Nathan put his hat and sunglasses back on. “Well, it was a pleasure having dinner with you, Julia,” he said.
“The pleasure was all mine. ”
Nathan looked at Livia. “And you. Try not to make my life miserable for the rest of your life.
”
“No promises. ”
Nathan laughed. “See you around. ”
He got into the car waiting for him, and Livia and Julia stood there for a moment.
Julia turned to her friend with a mischievous smile. “You’re screwed. ”
“Why? ”
“Because you two together are like a romcom couple.
”
Livia crossed her arms. “No way. ”
Julia rolled her eyes. “Of course not.
”
Livia sighed. She was definitely caught up in something she didn’t know how to get out of. As they walked down the sidewalk, Julia couldn’t stop smiling. “I still can’t believe I just had dinner with Nathan Blake.
This is unreal. ”
Livia rolled her eyes at every excited word. “It was just dinner. ”
Julia stopped, looking at her incredulously.
“Just dinner? You spent the whole night arguing with one of the most famous guys in the world, and you’re acting like you just went to grab a burger at the corner diner. ”
“So? He’s just a normal person.
”
Julia sighed deeply and put her hands on Livia’s shoulders. “My friend, you have no idea what you did today. You went toe-to-toe with him. You weren’t impressed by his fame.
”
“So? ”
“So he clearly liked that. ”
Livia scoffed. “You’re out of your mind.
He thinks I’m unbearable. ”
“And yet he kept teasing you the whole night. ”
Livia opened her mouth to argue, but there was no comeback. Julia smiled.
“Exactly. You don’t have one. ”
Before Livia could retort, Julia’s phone buzzed. She grabbed it, and her eyes widened.
“Oh my God. We’re going viral. ”
Livia furrowed her brow and grabbed her friend’s phone. On Twitter, photos of their dinner were everywhere.
“Nathan Blake seen dining with mysterious girl from the bathroom. Who is she? ” “Nathan Blake spotted with mysterious girl and another friend. Could it be a new couple?
”
Livia read each post, each one worse than the last. “The chemistry between them seems intense. ” “Has Nathan finally found someone who challenges him? ” “Sources say the singer seemed very comfortable with his companion.
” “Love at first sight? ”
She let out a frustrated scream. “Is this what happens when I just want to eat in peace? ”
Julia, on the other hand, seemed more excited than concerned.
“Girl, if I didn’t know you, I’d say you’re actually enjoying this. ”
Livia looked at her like she wanted to strangle her. “You think I want the whole world to think I’m his girlfriend? ”
“Well, thinking about it…
yes. ”
Livia sighed. “I’m going to put an end to this rumor before it gets out of control. ” She grabbed her phone and started typing a tweet: “I am not dating Nathan Blake.
I only went to dinner because I was forced into it. Don’t include me in your theories. Thanks. ”
Julia read over her shoulder.
“Uh, very over the top. You sound like a cancellation statement. ”
“That’s exactly what I want. ”
She hit send.
Five seconds later, a notification came: “Nathan Blake liked your Tweet. ”
Livia blinked. “What? ”
And as if that wasn’t bad enough, he replied: “Forced?
You seemed like you were having fun. ”
“He must be kidding. ”
Julia burst out laughing. “This is amazing.
He’s publicly trolling you. ”
Livia felt a mix of anger and desperation. “What did I do to deserve this? ”
Her phone vibrated again.
This time, a private message: “Relax, princess. It’ll blow over soon. ”
Livia read it three times before letting out a frustrated grunt. “Princess?
”
Julia bent over laughing. “I love this guy. ”
Livia started typing a hateful reply, but another notification popped up—a video call from an unknown number. She frowned.
“Who the hell is calling me at this hour? ”
Julia peeked at the screen. “Answer it. It might be important.
”
Livia hesitated but picked up. “Hello? ”
The screen showed a woman with her hair tied up and a serious expression. “Miss Livia?
”
“Yes, who’s this? ”
The woman adjusted her glasses. “I’m Nathan’s team assistant. ”
Livia rolled her eyes.
“Oh, for goodness sake. What now? ”
The woman cleared her throat. “We need your help to control the narrative.
”
“Oh, so now you need me. Interesting. ”
“It’s important to keep this from growing more than it should. ”
Livia crossed her arms.
“And what do you want me to do this time? ”
The assistant hesitated. “We could arrange a casual appearance with Nathan to calm the rumors. ”
Livia’s eyes widened.
“A casual appearance? ”
“Something simple. Maybe a coffee. ”
“Oh, of course.
Because nothing’s more natural than a rehearsed coffee date with a celebrity. ”
Julia nudged Livia with her elbow. “Girl, this is going to be iconic. ”
Livia looked at her like she was betraying their friendship.
“You’re enjoying this way too much. ”
Julia smiled. “Of course. I’m living my dream through you.
”
The assistant cleared her throat. “Can we count on you? ”
Livia took a deep breath. She could just refuse.
But then she thought about Twitter, the fans, the tabloids making up crazy theories about a non-existent romance. If she did nothing, people would just keep making things up. She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Fine.
But let it be clear, this is just to put an end to the rumors. ”
“Great. We’ll schedule it for tomorrow afternoon. ”
Livia sighed.
“I can’t believe my life has turned into this. ”
The call ended. Julia grabbed Livia’s shoulders and smiled. “I just want to say I’m proud of you.
”
Livia gave her a sour look. “I hate you. ”
“I know. ”
The next day, Livia walked into the coffee shop and saw Nathan sitting in a corner, looking at his phone.
She walked over and crossed her arms. “This is ridiculous. ”
He looked up and gave a half smile. “Good morning to you too.
”
Livia sat at the table and looked around. Some people were watching them discreetly. “You realize we’re in the middle of a performance, right? ”
“I realize.
You agreed to come. ”
“Because you all pressured me. ”
Nathan laughed. “Relax.
We just have to be here for half an hour. ”
Livia sighed. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.
”
Nathan raised an eyebrow. “You really hate me, don’t you? ”
“The word isn’t ‘hate. ‘ It’s ‘tolerate in homeopathic doses.
‘”
He laughed. “Is that the closest to a compliment I’m going to get? ”
“Yes. Get used to it.
”
He shook his head, amused. “I like a challenge. ”
Livia felt a shiver down her spine. She was definitely in something she didn’t know how to get out of.
She poked the edge of her coffee cup, trying to ignore the fact that everyone in the coffee shop was discreetly trying to take pictures. Nathan, on the other hand, seemed immune to it. “Do you have some problem with coffee, or something? ” he asked, amused.
Livia huffed. “My problem is with this whole circus. ”
“You agreed to come. ”
“I wasn’t given many options.
”
Nathan gave a half smile. “I already said we just need to pretend we’re having fun. You can pretend, right? ”
Livia narrowed her eyes.
“Did you just call me fake? ”
“No. I’m saying you have a talent for sarcasm. Let’s see if you can apply it to look sociable.
”
She gave a forced laugh. “Oh wow, you’re so funny. Thanks. I practice in front of the mirror every day.
”
Livia rolled her eyes and took a sip of her coffee. “Okay. So what’s part two of your genius plan? ”
Nathan shrugged.
“We just smile, talk, and act like normal people. ”
“Normal people don’t need to rehearse a coffee to fool the internet. ”
He laughed. “True.
But I’m not exactly a normal person, am I? ”
“No. You’re a walking magnet for trouble. ”
Nathan smiled as if that was a compliment.
“You know, this pointless hatred of yours just makes me more curious. ”
Livia raised an eyebrow. “Curious? ”
“Yeah.
Most people freak out when they meet me. You treat me like I’m a nuisance. And you like that. ”
He smiled.
“Maybe. ”
Livia sighed and crossed her arms. “Look. You may be an international star and all, but I’m not a fan.
So yeah. You annoy me. ”
Nathan rested his chin on his hand, studying her. “Maybe that’s why I find it interesting talking to you.
”
Livia rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Save your charm for someone who falls for that. ”
Before he could respond, a woman appeared beside the table.
“Nathan. ”
They both looked up. A tall brunette, perfectly dressed, with a smile that seemed way too rehearsed. Livia furrowed her brow.
“Who’s that? ”
The woman smiled as if she hadn’t heard the question. “What a coincidence, running into you here. ”
Nathan let out a sigh and forced a smile.
“Hey, Alice. ”
Livia noticed the slight discomfort on his face. Alice pulled out a chair, uninvited, and sat down next to Nathan, completely ignoring Livia’s presence. “How have you been?
It’s been a while. ”
“Yeah, I’ve been busy. ”
“I can imagine. ”
She shot a quick look at Livia, as if she were an unwanted bug at the table.
Livia didn’t like that one bit. “Hey, I’m here, if anyone noticed. ”
Alice smiled falsely. “Oh, sorry.
I thought you were just—” she paused, sizing Livia up, “—well, never mind. ”
Livia raised an eyebrow. “Wow. Your disdain is so subtle, I almost didn’t notice.
”
Nathan coughed, holding back a laugh. Alice ignored him. “I heard about the scandal. The rumors are everywhere.
” She crossed her arms and smiled. “I wonder how you’re going to handle this, Nathan. ”
“Why do you care? ” Livia asked.
Alice looked at her like she was evaluating an object of little worth. “I just found it interesting. He’s never been involved in these kinds of controversies before. ”
Nathan rolled his eyes.
“Alice, it was a misunderstanding. ”
“Of course it was. ”
Livia noticed the sharp tone in Alice’s voice. There was definitely something between them.
She crossed her arms. “And what are you? His ex-girlfriend? ”
Alice laughed but didn’t deny it.
“Oh, honey. I’m much more than that. ”
Nathan huffed. “You’re a headache, that’s for sure.
”
Alice smiled triumphantly. “You never complained before. ”
Livia furrowed her brow. “Do I really need to be here for this?
”
Alice ignored her again. “Well, it was nice seeing you, Nathan. ” She stood up, casting one last look at Livia. “Enjoy your new company.
Hope it lasts. ”
And she left. Livia looked at Nathan. “What the hell was that?
”
He rubbed his temples. “Long story. ”
“I’ve got time. ”
Nathan sighed.
“She was my manager for years. We also had a thing. ”
Livia’s eyes widened. “So it’s true?
”
“Yeah. But I’m not involved with her anymore. ”
Livia crossed her arms. “Looks like she hasn’t moved on.
”
Nathan laughed without humor. “Not a surprise. ”
Livia could tell the topic bothered him more than he wanted to admit. “Well, at least now we have something in common.
”
Nathan raised an eyebrow. “What? ”
“I don’t like her either. ”
This time Nathan really laughed.
“Glad to know we have something in common. ”
Livia gave a small smirk. “Let’s see how long this unlikely alliance lasts. ”
Nathan looked at her, a playful glint in his eyes.
“I think it’ll be interesting to find out. ”
They continued their coffee, now sharing a new connection: their mutual dislike for Alice. But deep down, Livia knew this was just the beginning of their problems. And she was right.
When they left the cafe, the paparazzi were waiting. The flashes started immediately. “Nathan, look over here! Nathan, who’s this girl?
Is it true you’re dating? ”
Livia felt a chill run down her spine. “What’s going on? ” she hissed.
Nathan adjusted his cap and put on his sunglasses, completely used to the situation. “Paparazzi. Seriously. I thought they were just very enthusiastic fans.
”
He laughed. “Welcome to my world. ”
Livia crossed her arms. “I want a refund.
”
“No returns. ”
Before she could curse him, one of the photographers got too close. She stepped back. “Nathan, can we just get out of here?
”
“Relax. Just walk normally. ”
“Normally? I’m being hunted like an animal.
”
He smiled. “Looks like someone doesn’t know how to handle the spotlight. ”
Livia shot him a look of pure hatred. “Sorry I wasn’t born to be followed by people with cameras.
”
Nathan grabbed her arm, guiding her down the sidewalk like it was nothing. “Follow me. ”
“As if I have a choice. ”
The paparazzi kept shouting.
“Nathan, are you confirming the relationship? Is this the same girl from dinner? Alice already commented on this. Did you cheat on Alice with this girl?
”
Livia’s eyes widened. “What? ” She stopped walking, staring at the reporters like they’d lost their minds. “Are you kidding me?
”
The flashes got even brighter, capturing her outraged reaction. Nathan sighed. “Now you did exactly what they wanted. ”
“And what did you want me to do?
”
“Ignore them. ”
“Oh sure. I’ll just pretend they’re not turning me into the mistress of the century. ”
Nathan tried to hide a smile.
“What? It’s hilarious. ”
Livia had to hold back from punching him. She huffed, grabbed her phone, and started typing furiously.
“Just to clarify: No, I’m not Nathan Blake’s girlfriend. No, I’m not anyone’s mistress. And no, I don’t want any more coffee. ” She hit send with force.
Nathan peeked at the screen. “That’s great for the tabloids. ”
“Great. Yeah.
Now they’ll spend the whole week talking about your anger. ”
Livia had to count to ten mentally. “Tell me there’s a car waiting for us. ”
“There is.
”
Nathan guided her to a black SUV parked at the corner. The driver was already waiting. She got in the back seat and let out a relieved sigh as the doors closed. “I hate you.
”
“You don’t. ”
Livia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She couldn’t believe her life had turned into this. Nathan picked up his phone and started fiddling with it, distracted.
After a few minutes of silence, he looked at her. “Have you ever been to one of my shows? ”
Livia opened one eye. “Looks like you didn’t listen when I said I’m not your fan.
”
Nathan smiled. “I know. But your friend is, right? ”
Livia furrowed her brow.
“What are you up to? ”
He shrugged. “I’m going to send you tickets for my show. ”
Livia blinked.
“Wait. What? ”
“Tomorrow night. VIP tickets.
You and your friend. ”
Livia considered that for a moment. “Why? ”
“Consider it a thank you for putting up with all this mess.
”
She narrowed her eyes. “There’s no catch? ”
“None. ”
Livia crossed her arms.
“You want me to go to your show. ”
“Yes. ”
“You want me to mingle with your fans. ”
“Yes.
”
“You think I’ll just agree without questioning? ”
Nathan laughed. “I think your friend will convince you pretty quickly. ”
Livia hesitated.
She knew Julia would have a fit if she refused. “Fine. I’ll accept. ”
“Great.
”
Livia looked at him suspiciously. “But know that I’ll be judging the whole time. ”
Nathan smiled. “Can’t wait.
”
The next day, Livia looked at her reflection in the mirror, adjusting the outfit Julia had chosen for her. “I don’t know why I’m going to this. ”
Julia appeared behind her, practically bouncing with excitement. “Because I made you.
”
Livia rolled her eyes. “I knew I’d regret asking you. ”
Julia completely ignored that. “We have VIP access!
”
“Yeah. And I’m being dragged into a Nathan Blake fan cult. ”
Julia crossed her arms. “You have two choices.
Go and have fun. Or go and be grumpy. ”
Livia huffed. “I bet Nathan’s already laughing at me before I even get there.
”
Julia grabbed her phone. “Actually, he just posted. ” She showed her the screen. Nathan had posted on Instagram: “Tonight’s show is going to be great.
Wonder who’s going to show up. ”
Livia knew that was a dig at her. “Bastard. ”
Julia laughed.
“I love this game you two play. ”
They arrived at the stadium and were escorted directly to the VIP area. Livia could feel the eyes of some of the fans on her. She couldn’t blame them.
If I saw a girl who went viral because of a famous person, I’d be suspicious too. Julia, on the other hand, was over the moon. “I can’t believe I’m here. ”
“I can’t believe it either, but for different reasons.
”
When the stadium lights went out, the crowd went wild. Nathan stepped onto the stage, and the cheers were deafening. Livia had never seen anything like it. He grabbed the microphone and smiled.
“How’s everyone doing tonight? ”
The stadium shook with screams. Livia crossed her arms. “Wow.
This feels like some kind of summoning ritual. ”
Julia slapped her arm. “Stop being a buzzkill. ”
Nathan started singing, and Livia had to admit he was good.
Julia looked at her with a victorious smile. “You’re liking it, huh? ”
“Liar. ”
Livia sighed.
“Okay. Maybe a little. ”
Julia clapped her hands. “Finally!
A miracle! ”
But then something unbelievable happened. Nathan finished a song and walked up to the microphone. “I want to thank everyone for being here tonight.
But especially—” he looked directly at the VIP section, right at Livia, “—one certain person. ”
Her eyes widened. “No. ”
Julia squealed.
“Ahhh! ”
Nathan smiled. “I’m sure one certain person has been judging me the whole night. ”
The crowd laughed.
Livia wanted to disappear. Nathan winked. “But it’s okay. Because now she’s officially at one of my shows.
”
The crowd erupted in cheers. Livia couldn’t believe it. She had become live entertainment. And worse, she knew this was just the beginning.
Nathan went back to singing, but every time he passed by the VIP area, he would glance at Livia with a playful smile. Julia couldn’t stop shaking. “I will never get over this! ”
“Great.
Because I’m never going to another one of his shows. ”
“Liar. You loved it. ”
Livia rolled her eyes, but she knew Julia was right.
She hated admitting it, but it had been fun. After the show, Julia was still on cloud nine when they were escorted to a special exit. “That was epic! You’re going to be in all the news tomorrow!
”
“Exactly what I was trying to avoid. ”
Julia ignored her. “The best part was your gesture. You basically made history.
”
Livia sighed. “I just want to go home and pretend this never happened. ”
But fate didn’t allow it. Before they could reach the exit, a woman in a suit stopped them.
“Miss Livia? ”
She stopped. “If this is a lawsuit, I deny everything. ”
The woman smiled.
“Nathan would like to see you in the dressing room. ”
Julia let out a muffled scream. “What?! ”
Livia felt her stomach drop.
“Now? ”
“Yes. ”
Julia grabbed her arm. “You have to go!
”
Livia tried to think of an excuse, but nothing came. She sighed and looked at the assistant. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.
”
In the dressing room, Livia walked into the luxurious room, seeing Nathan sitting on the couch drinking water, still sweaty from the show. He smiled when he saw her. “Ah, the star of the night has arrived. ”
Livia crossed her arms.
“If I’m the star, you must be dying of jealousy. ”
Nathan laughed. “You’ve got guts. I’ll give you that.
”
She pointed at him. “That was revenge for the dinner, wasn’t it? ”
“Maybe. ”
Livia scoffed.
“This is harassment. ”
Nathan smiled. “You liked it. ”
“I didn’t.
”
“You did. I saw you smile. ”
Livia opened her mouth to deny it, but he wasn’t wrong. Nathan raised an eyebrow.
“Aha. ”
Livia sighed. “Why am I here? ”
He grabbed a towel and wiped his face.
“I wanted to thank you personally. ”
She narrowed her eyes. “Thank me? For making this the most talked about show of the year?
”
Livia rolled her eyes. “Great. Now my life is public entertainment. ”
Nathan smiled.
“You’re pretty good at it. ”
“I do not want to be good at this. ”
He watched her for a moment, thoughtful. “So, Livia…
”
She felt the danger in his voice. “What? ”
“What do you think about continuing this nonsense? ”
She blinked.
“What does that mean? ”
Nathan stood up and crossed his arms. “If the rumors have already started, why not make the most of it? ”
Livia’s eyes widened.
“You want me to keep pretending to be your girlfriend? ”
“Exactly. ”
Livia took a step back. “You’ve lost it.
”
Nathan laughed. “I’m serious. ”
“So am I. You’ve completely lost it.
”
“Think about it. This could be good for you too. ”
“How? ”
Nathan grabbed his phone and showed her a gossip website: “Nathan Blake’s mysterious girl has attitude and charisma.
Who is she? ”
Livia narrowed her eyes. “This looks like a trap. ”
“Or an opportunity.
”
She didn’t want to admit it, but it made sense. If her name was going to be everywhere, at least she could have some control over it. But agreeing meant getting even more involved in the chaos. She had to decide.
Nathan noticed her hesitation and gave her a sideways smile. “You’re thinking about it. ”
“I’m thinking about whether it’s worth losing what’s left of my sanity. ”
He reached out his hand to her.
“So? ”
Livia looked at him, at his extended hand, and knew she was about to make the biggest mistake of her life. “I’m such an idiot. ”
And she shook his hand.
Nathan smiled. “Great choice, princess. ”
Livia wanted to punch him. But now there was no turning back.
The mess was just beginning. The next day, the internet exploded. Livia and Nathan’s photo was everywhere. The comments were wild: “Who is she?
” “They look cute together! ” “Sorry, but this girl doesn’t look like his girlfriend. ” “Fake. Clearly fake.
”
Livia stared at her phone screen in pure panic. Julia, on the other hand, was hysterical. “You’ve become a global event! ”
“Great.
Now I’m a public farce. ”
Julia ignored it and kept scrolling. “At least some people believe it. ”
Livia just wanted to dig a hole and disappear.
“This is going to be a disaster. ”
“Or it’ll be hilarious. ”
Livia knew it would be both. Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen and froze. It was Nathan. “Pick up, already! ” Julia yelled.
Livia took a deep breath and answered. “What’s up? ”
Nathan’s laughter came through the line. “Wow.
Are you already tired of me? ”
“I was born tired of you. ”
“That explains a lot. ”
Livia rolled her eyes.
“What do you want? ”
“We have dinner tonight. ”
“Dinner? ”
“Yeah.
An event. The happy couple needs to show up together. ”
Livia huffed. “You’ve got to be kidding.
”
“I’m serious. I’ll send you a dress and pick you up at eight. ”
“I’m not your Barbie. ”
“But you are my fake girlfriend.
”
Livia bit her lip to keep from shouting. “I hate you. ”
“See you at eight. ”
And he hung up.
Livia stared at her phone as if she could burn it with her mind. Julia went wild with excitement. “Dinner with Nathan Blake! Yeah!
I officially sold my soul. ”
Livia looked at the dress Nathan had sent. “Does this man want me to look like a Disney princess? ”
Julia smiled.
“Well, you’ve got to match the handsome prince. ”
Livia huffed. “He’s more like an annoying frog. ”
But deep down, she was nervous.
She had never been to such a fancy event, and now she’d be next to Nathan Blake. What was she thinking? The intercom rang. “It’s now or never, girl.
”
Livia sighed. “I can still escape through the window. ”
“Or you can totally rock it. ”
She huffed, grabbed her purse, and headed out.
When she stepped outside, there he was. Nathan was wearing a sharp suit, waiting next to a luxury car. He looked her up and down and smiled. “Wow.
You almost look like you like me this way. ”
Livia raised an eyebrow. “Watch out. Your arrogance is showing.
”
He laughed and opened the car door. “Shall we pretend to like each other for a few hours? ”
Livia rolled her eyes but got in the car. “If I survive, I’ll let you know.
”
Nathan got in right after. “Oh, it’s going to be fun. ”
Livia was sure his definition of fun was very different from hers. But now it was too late to back out.
The event was waiting for them, and the chaos was just beginning. At the restaurant, the paparazzi were already waiting outside. As soon as they stepped out of the car, the flashes started. Journalists shouted questions.
“Nathan, how did this romance start? Is it true you’ve known each other for years? When was the first kiss? ”
Livia felt completely embarrassed.
Nathan just smiled and waved, pulling Livia by the waist and guiding her inside. Once inside, the noise was left behind. Livia let out a heavy sigh. “This is insane.
”
Nathan smiled. “Relax, princess. The worst hasn’t even started yet. ”
They were guided to a luxurious table where some important people were already sitting.
Livia tensed up even more. “This looks like a mafia meeting. ”
Nathan held back a laugh. “They’re businessmen.
Same vibe. ”
He introduced her to the group, and everyone was polite but curious. One of the women smiled kindly. “So you’re Nathan’s new girlfriend?
”
Livia felt like this was a test. She smiled, picked up her wine glass, and took a sip. “Yes. The latest victim.
”
Nathan held his breath, but the group soon laughed. The dinner went on, and Livia kept a low profile, answering questions with intelligence and just the right amount of sarcasm. Nathan was impressed. She really knew how to improvise.
But then disaster struck. A blonde woman entered the restaurant. Nathan became visibly tense. Livia noticed immediately.
“Who is she? ”
Nathan didn’t answer. The woman stopped in front of their table. “Nathan.
” Her voice was cold. Nathan forced a smile. “Alice. ”
Livia stopped breathing.
Alice, Nathan’s ex-girlfriend. She looked like she had stepped out of a fashion magazine. Alice gave Livia a long look before speaking. “So this is your new girlfriend?
”
The group at the table went silent. Everyone was waiting for an answer. Livia knew this was one of those decisive moments. She couldn’t hesitate.
So she smiled. “Nice to meet you, Alice. I’d love to say I’ve heard of you, but Nathan never mentions the past. ”
Nathan tried to hold back a laugh.
Alice narrowed her eyes. “How funny. It’s almost like you’ve known each other for years. ”
Livia didn’t back down.
“Sometimes, when the chemistry is strong, time doesn’t matter. ”
Nathan almost spit out his wine. Alice crossed her arms. “Really?
”
Livia leaned back in her chair. “Totally. But you’d know that if you had chemistry with him. ”
The group let out a quiet “ooh.
” Nathan held his breath. Alice seemed surprised for a second but quickly regained her composure. “Interesting. Are you sure you’re not just another distraction for him?
”
Livia smiled, took Nathan’s hand, and intertwined their fingers. “If I am, at least I’m a fun one. ”
Nathan finally decided to step in. “Alice, it was nice seeing you.
But we’re in the middle of dinner. ”
Alice gave Livia one last look. “Have fun. ”
And she left.
The group started whispering. Nathan let out a heavy sigh. Livia took a sip of wine. “Well, that was fun.
”
Nathan looked at her, impressed. “You’re dangerous. ”
She smiled. “You’re the one who put me in this game.
Now deal with it. ”
Dinner continued, but Livia knew this wouldn’t be over soon. And she was right. When they left the restaurant, the paparazzi were waiting.
The questions were even worse. “Nathan, did Alice try to reconcile? Livia, how do you feel being compared to the ex? Is this a rivalry fight?
”
Livia stopped, looked directly at the cameras, and smiled. “Folks, let’s focus on the most important part of this story. ”
The journalists leaned in, eager. “The food was amazing.
”
Nathan couldn’t hold back a laugh. The photographers kept shouting, but Livia simply got in the car, satisfied with the chaos she’d caused. Nathan got in right after, still laughing. “You’re a nightmare for the media.
”
She smiled. “Thanks. ”
He looked at her for a moment, as if trying to figure her out. “You don’t get intimidated easily, do you?
”
Livia shrugged. “I grew up with two older brothers. This is kid stuff. ”
Nathan smiled, clearly enjoying himself.
“I really made a good deal. ”
She raised an eyebrow. “This isn’t a deal, Nathan. It’s a controlled disaster.
”
He laughed. “Let’s see how long we can control it. ”
Livia knew he was right. This game had just begun, and she had no idea how it would end.
Livia got into the car next to Nathan, letting out an exhausted sigh. The dinner had been a real test of patience, but at least she managed to get out alive. She looked at Nathan, who was still smiling to himself. “What now?
” she asked, crossing her arms. Nathan rested his elbow on the seat back and turned toward her. “You really aren’t afraid of anything, huh? ”
“I’m afraid of flying cockroaches and overdue bills.
Other than that, I’m good. ”
He laughed. “Weren’t you a little shaken by Alice showing up? ”
Livia shrugged.
“Why? She doesn’t have anything to do with you anymore, right? ”
Nathan hesitated for a second, then shook his head. “No.
”
“Then it’s her problem. ”
He kept looking at her, like he was trying to figure her out. Livia didn’t like the way he was watching her, as if he was trying to discover something even she didn’t know about herself. “Why are you staring at me?
” she asked, suspicious. “Just trying to understand you. ”
“Good luck. I don’t even understand myself that well.
”
Nathan smiled and leaned back in his seat. “You could be an actress. ”
“I prefer real life. Thanks.
”
The driver started the car, and they began moving through the city’s lit streets. Livia rested her head against the window, feeling the exhaustion finally hit. She was mentally drained from all the acting. “I need a vacation,” she muttered.
“Oh no, princess. Our show’s just getting started. ”
She looked at him incredulously. “What do you mean?
”
Nathan grabbed his phone and turned the screen toward her. The gossip sites were in total chaos. “Nathan Blake and his new girlfriend face Alice—the iconic ex confrontation at Nathan Blake’s dinner! ” “Livia, the mysterious woman, steals the spotlight!
”
Her eyes went wide. “What? ”
He smiled. “You’ve become a celebrity, Livia.
”
She grabbed the phone from his hand and started scrolling through the comments. Some fans loved her. Others hated her. There were crazy theories that she was a scammer, that it was all publicity, that she had hypnotized Nathan.
“Oh my God. People are creative. ”
Nathan laughed. “You haven’t seen anything.
”
She threw the phone back at him. “This is a nightmare. ”
“This is just the beginning. ”
Livia felt like banging her head against the car window.
“How did this spiral out of control so quickly? It all started because of some damn toilet paper. What did I do to deserve this? ”
“Oh, several things.
But we can start with the fact that you made me look like an idiot in the bathroom. ”
She huffed. “You did that all on your own. ”
“And now the world believes we’re in love.
”
She rolled her eyes. “The world needs glasses. ”
Nathan laughed and looked out the window, deep in thought. “We need to reinforce this story.
”
Livia frowned. “What exactly does that mean? ”
He looked at her with a mischievous smile. “We’re going to have to spend more time together.
”
She felt a shiver down her spine. “I knew I’d regret this. ”
The car stopped in front of Livia’s building. She looked at the entrance, then at Nathan.
“If anyone asks, we’re madly in love, okay? ”
He smiled wildly. She got out of the car and slammed the door before he could say anything else. When she entered her apartment, she found Julia sitting on the couch, holding her phone and staring at the screen with wide eyes.
“You’re on TV. ”
Livia flopped onto the couch, defeated. “Let me know when it’s time to announce my escape from the country. ”
Julia ignored her and turned up the volume.
A gossip show was showing footage from the dinner. It showed Livia and Nathan leaving the restaurant together, smiling at each other like a perfect couple. “This girl showed up out of nowhere and is now stealing the spotlight. Is this relationship for real?
”
Livia sighed. “People really have nothing better to do. ”
Julia clapped her hands on her lap, excited. “I don’t know how you can complain.
You’re living the dream! ”
Livia flopped back onto the couch. “My dream is free coffee. This is a circus.
”
Julia smiled. “Well, enjoy the show. ”
Livia knew Julia was having fun with all of this, but to her, it was an impending disaster. Her phone vibrated.
A message from Nathan: “Ready for our next date? ”
She closed her eyes. Get me out of this. But it was too late.
She was trapped in the most absurd sham of her life. And the worst part? She had a feeling things were going to get even more complicated. The next morning, Livia woke up to see her name trending.
“Nathan Blake and his new girlfriend: true love or marketing stunt? ” “Nathan’s ex lashes out and throws shade on social media! ” “Fans divided: Is Livia the hero or the villain in this story? ”
She stared at her phone screen like she’d been hit by a truck.
“Julia… ”
Her friend, sitting at the other end of the couch, was more excited than ever. “Oh my God, Livia! You’re in the middle of the biggest romantic scandal of the year!
”
Livia let out a heavy sigh. “This is a nightmare. ”
Julia ignored the drama and kept scrolling through the articles. “Have you seen this?
Alice gave an interview yesterday, saying your relationship with Nathan is suspicious. ”
Livia’s eyes went wide. “What? ”
She grabbed her friend’s phone and opened the video.
Alice, sitting in a TV studio, impeccably dressed and with a cold smile, said: “It’s none of my business what he does with his life. But knowing Nathan like I do, this story doesn’t make sense. He never mentioned this girl before. ”
The host blinked, intrigued.
“So you think it’s a marketing stunt? ”
Alice smiled mysteriously. “I’m just saying he’s never dated anyone without hitting headlines first. ”
Livia let out a frustrated grunt.
“This woman has issues. ”
Her phone vibrated. A message from Nathan: “Hope you slept well, love. We’ve got an interview today.
”
Livia felt a headache coming on. “Interview? ”
Her phone rang. She knew who it was before even answering.
“What do you want, Nathan? ”
His laughter came through. “Wow. Great mood for a couple in love.
”
Livia rolled her eyes. “Can you explain this whole interview thing to me? ”
“Just a quick thing. We need to calm down the fans.
”
“And when did you think of telling me this? ”
“Now. ”
She took a deep breath to keep her patience in check. “Couldn’t you just do nothing?
”
“Not when Alice is throwing dirt in the media. ”
Livia grunted. “If I punch this woman the next time I see her, will you pay my bail? ”
“With pleasure.
”
She sighed. “Fine. Where’s this interview going to be? ”
“I’ll send you the address.
Oh, and wear something red. ”
Livia closed her eyes for a second. “I’m going to kill you. ”
“See you this afternoon, sweetheart.
”
He hung up before she could curse him out. Livia threw her phone on the couch. “I’ve officially lost control of my life. ”
Julia smiled.
“But at least you look good in the photos. ”
Livia almost threw a pillow at her friend. When she got to the interview location, she found Nathan already waiting at the entrance. He was wearing a casual suit and sunglasses, looking like a movie star.
Livia sighed. “Great. Here he comes with that ‘I’m amazing’ look. ”
Nathan smiled.
“Thanks for the compliment. ”
She crossed her arms. “That wasn’t a compliment. ”
He reached out his hand.
“Shall we pretend to be in love? ”
Livia rolled her eyes but took his hand. As soon as they walked into the studio, the flashes started. The interview was being broadcast live.
The host greeted them excitedly. “It’s a pleasure to have the couple of the moment here! ”
Livia smiled as if this wasn’t complete absurdity. “The pleasure is all ours.
”
Nathan gently squeezed her hand under the table—a reminder to keep up the act. The interviewer smiled. “So, Livia. What’s it like dating a music star?
”
She smiled innocently. “Exhausting. ”
The interviewer laughed, surprised. “Exhausting?
”
Livia pretended to think. “Yes. He’s demanding, spoiled, and thinks the world revolves around him. ”
Nathan looked at her with fake indignation.
“Wow. What a lovely way to describe me. ”
Livia shrugged. “At least I’m honest.
”
The interviewer smiled. “But you guys seem to have amazing chemistry. How did you meet? ”
Livia froze.
Nathan jumped in. “Oh, it was kind of unusual—”
Livia interrupted him. “He broke into the women’s bathroom. ”
The interviewer’s eyes went wide.
“What? ”
Nathan let out a nervous laugh. “It wasn’t exactly like that. ”
Livia turned to him with a sarcastic look.
“Oh really? Then how would you explain it? ”
Nathan took a deep breath. “Look, I just needed some toilet paper.
”
The interviewer covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. “Are you serious? ”
Livia nodded. “The great Nathan Blake started talking to me because he was desperate in the bathroom.
”
Nathan rubbed his face. “I should have made up a better story. ”
The studio burst into laughter. The interviewer could barely continue.
“Oh my God, this is hilarious. ”
Livia smiled. “And that’s how our story began. A roll of toilet paper brought us together.
”
Nathan shook his head, defeated. “I’m never going to get rid of this story, am I? ”
Livia smiled victoriously. “Never.
”
The interviewer was still trying to compose herself when she decided to change the subject. “What about the rumors that your relationship is fake? ”
Livia felt Nathan tense up beside her. She kept her composure and simply held his hand.
“People will always talk. The important thing is that we know the truth. ”
The interviewer smiled. “So you love each other?
”
Nathan looked at Livia, clearly waiting for her to answer. She cupped his face with both hands, staring into his eyes, and forced a dramatic smile. “I love you more than anything, my caramelized coconut sweetheart. ”
Nathan made a face, holding back a laugh.
The interviewer burst out laughing. Nathan cleared his throat and fired back. “And I love you more than my guitar, my little cheese bread stuffed with love. ”
Livia held herself back from bursting into laughter.
“That was so cute, Nathan. ”
He smiled. “I know. ”
The interview continued with more questions, but in the end, everything went well.
When they left the studio, Nathan let out a sigh. “I can’t believe you did that. ”
Livia smiled, satisfied. “I did what any girlfriend would do.
”
He laughed. “You’re trouble. ”
She winked. “And now I’m your trouble.
”
Nathan shook his head, laughing. “That’s true. ”
Livia knew the lie was just getting bigger. And deep down, she wasn’t sure if she wanted it to end so soon.
Livia felt like she was entering dangerous territory. Up until now, it had all just been a show. An agreement. An absurdity that, for some unknown reason, seemed to be working.
But something was changing. And the way Nathan looked at her wasn’t helping. In the car after the interview, he was quieter than usual. No teasing, no jokes.
Just staring out the window, deep in thought. “Is everything okay? ” she asked, crossing her arms. Nathan turned his face toward her, blinking as if he’d just returned to reality.
“What? ”
“You’re being so quiet. It’s freaking me out. ”
He laughed, shaking his head.
“I’m just thinking. ”
“That definitely freaks me out even more. ”
Nathan laughed again but didn’t explain. The car continued down the well-lit streets until it stopped in front of Livia’s building.
She sighed. “Well. It’s been fun being your fake girlfriend. But now I’m going back to my normal life.
”
She reached for the door knob, but Nathan grabbed her arm. “Wait. ”
Livia narrowed her eyes. “What’s going on?
”
He scratched the back of his neck, as if trying to find the right words. “I wanted to thank you. ”
She raised an eyebrow. “Are you sick?
”
Nathan laughed, but he seemed a bit uncomfortable. “I’m serious. You kept this lie better than I expected. ”
Livia smiled, pretending to be proud.
“I’m talented. ”
He took a deep breath. “But you still think this is crazy, right? ”
She paused for a second.
“It was crazy. But now it seems less insane than it did at the start. ”
Livia looked at him. “I’ve accepted that my life turned into a telenovela.
”
Nathan laughed. “And I’m the leading man? ”
“No. You’re the villain.
”
He smirked. “Good villains are always more interesting. ”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay.
Can I go now? ”
Nathan hesitated. Then he let go of her arm. “Go ahead.
”
Livia opened the door and left. Before entering the building, she looked back. Nathan was still in the car, watching her. And that made her feel strange.
She shook her head, pushing the thoughts away, and entered the building. But that night, she had trouble sleeping. And the worst part? Nathan did too.
The next day, Livia was having coffee when Julia walked into the kitchen, holding her phone with a hysterical expression. “Did you see this? ”
Livia raised an eyebrow. “I just woke up.
Do you really think I saw anything? ”
Julia threw the phone in front of her. There it was—a photo of them, Nathan and Livia, in the car the night before. The detail: him holding her arm, looking at her like it was something more.
The caption: “What were Nathan Blake and his girlfriend discussing? Love secrets or a breakup? ”
Livia choked on her coffee. “I can’t believe this.
”
Julia clapped her hands, excited. “This is going way too far! ”
Livia held her head. “I need a sedative.
”
Her phone vibrated. A message from Nathan: “Did you see the latest gossip? ”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah.
Already prepared my coffin. ”
“Great. But before that, we need to have a real date. ”
Livia froze.
“Sorry, what? ”
“You heard me. If we don’t go out in public, no one’s going to believe this anymore. ”
Livia threw the phone on the couch and looked at Julia.
“Nathan wants us to go on a date. ”
Julia screamed. “Oh my God! This is getting real!
”
Livia grabbed her friend by the shoulders. “Focus. This is still a lie. ”
“But you’re nervous because you don’t like embarrassing yourself.
”
Julia smiled. “Sure. That’s the only reason. ”
Livia huffed.
She knew this was just another step in the fake story. But for the first time, she started wondering if she was pretending too well. And the worst part? Nathan was probably thinking the same thing.
Hours later, there they were, in a park with an absurd number of paparazzi hiding in the bushes. Livia whispered to Nathan, “This is so ridiculous. ”
He smiled, pretending to act natural. “Pretend we’re a deeply in love couple.
”
She sighed. “Okay, my sweet condensed milk. ”
Nathan held back a laugh and took her hand. The flashes started.
Livia wanted to dig a hole and disappear. They sat on a bench, and Nathan leaned toward her, as if sharing a secret. “You having fun? ”
She smiled, but it was fake.
“Like I’m in the dentist’s waiting room. ”
He laughed. “Relax. ”
“Easy for you to say.
You were born to be the center of attention. ”
Nathan gave a half smile. “And you were born to annoy me. ”
She winked.
“I like to fulfill my purpose. ”
Nathan just laughed, shaking his head. But then something strange happened. He stopped laughing.
He stared at her as if he was seeing something he hadn’t noticed before. Livia furrowed her brow. “What’s wrong? ”
Nathan hesitated.
“Nothing. ”
She raised an eyebrow. “That didn’t look like nothing. ”
He looked away, tapping his foot on the ground.
“I just think this is going too far. ”
Livia held her breath. “Do you want to quit? ”
Nathan looked at her again, and this time he seemed confused.
“I don’t know. ”
And for the first time, Livia didn’t know either. This lie had grown into something too big. And now they were both in the middle of it.
Livia never imagined her life would turn into a circus. The problem was, in the middle of all the acting, she no longer knew what was real and what was fake. Nathan seemed lost too. Since the meeting in the park, something had changed.
The glances lasted longer. The jokes were more meaningful. The silence between them wasn’t awkward—it was comfortable. But Livia refused to believe it was anything more than a game.
Until the day everything changed. It was a cold night. Livia was sitting on the couch, scrolling through the day’s news on her phone, when she heard a knock at the door. She furrowed her brow.
“Julia, if you’re here to show me another picture of me online, I’ll kick you out. ”
But when she opened the door, it wasn’t Julia. It was Nathan. And he was soaked from head to toe.
“What the—? ”
“I walked in the rain,” he said, shrugging. Livia crossed her arms. “Why the hell did you walk in the rain?
”
“I needed to think. ”
“And does the rain have some special power to help you with that? ”
Nathan gave a half smile. “You talk too much.
”
“And you’re dripping all over my door. ”
He took a deep breath. And without warning, he cupped her face in his hands. Livia froze.
Nathan kissed her. It was an urgent kiss. Like he had been holding it in for too long. Like he had finally found the courage.
Livia should have pushed him away. But she didn’t. Instead, she kissed him back. And in that moment, she was absolutely sure it wasn’t a lie anymore.
“Damn,” she whispered when the kiss ended. Nathan laughed. “What’s wrong? ”
She rested her forehead against his.
“I really like you. ”
He smiled. “Funny. Because I like you too.
”
After that, everything changed completely. There was no more effort to act like a couple, because they were one. That kiss that night was just the beginning. Nathan started picking her up from work.
Livia began going to his rehearsals. The laughs were real. The touches were natural. The kisses…
well, the kisses were getting better and better. It all happened so fast that by the time Livia realized, she was completely caught up in it. She never wanted to be a fairy tale girl. But suddenly, it felt like she was living one.
Until the day Nathan did something she never expected. It happened in the most unlikely way possible. Nathan invited her to a romantic dinner. Livia didn’t suspect a thing.
She thought it would just be another ordinary night. But then, in the middle of the restaurant, in front of dozens of people, he got down on one knee. Livia almost choked on her wine. “What are you doing?
”
Nathan smiled. “I think it’s pretty obvious. ”
The entire restaurant went silent. Livia looked around, panicked.
“Nathan, if this is another act, I swear I—”
“It’s not,” he interrupted her. Her heart raced. Nathan pulled a little box out of his pocket. When he opened it, it was the most beautiful ring Livia had ever seen.
He held her hand and looked into her eyes. “Livia. I never planned on falling for you. But it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
”
Livia felt her eyes burn. Nathan smiled. “So… will you marry me?
”
She blinked. “Is this for real? ”
“More real than anything I’ve ever done in my life. ”
Livia held back a laugh and covered her face.
“I can’t believe this. ”
“I wouldn’t believe it either. But it’s true. ”
She looked at him again.
Nathan was nervous. He might be a global star used to crowds, but at that moment, he was just a guy in love, waiting for the answer from the girl he loved. Livia took a deep breath. Then she smiled.
“Yes. ”
The whole restaurant exploded in applause. Nathan stood up and kissed her. And at that moment, Livia was absolutely sure there was nothing fake about this anymore.
The wedding was the event of the year. All the gossip sites covered it: “The unlikely couple that conquered the world. ” “From lie to real love: the story of Nathan and Livia. ”
But for them, none of that mattered.
What mattered was the moment. Nathan waiting at the altar. Livia walking in a white dress, trying not to trip. His eyes shining when he saw her.
And then, the vows. “I never knew what luck was until I met you,” Nathan said, holding her hand. Livia smiled. “I never knew what chaos was until I met you.
”
He laughed. “Fair enough. ”
She squeezed his hand. “But I love this chaos.
”
“I love you. ”
Nathan smiled. “Then we’re screwed. Because I love you too.
”
The judge smiled. “Nathan, do you take Livia as your wife? ”
“Absolutely. ”
“And you, Livia?
”
She looked at Nathan, her heart racing. “Of course. ”
“Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. ”
Nathan pulled her into a kiss, and the whole world erupted in celebration.
But for them, there was only each other. The lie turned into reality. What started with a roll of toilet paper ended with the love of their lives. Because in the end, fate always finds a way to surprise you.
Livia and Nathan were living proof of that.
