She sat alone at the wedding until the millionaire whispered to her, “Pretend you’re with me. Before we begin the story, tell us where in the world you’re watching from. Enjoy.” The grand ballroom of the five- star hotel in Switzerland was adorned with white roses and silver candles. Everything exuded such obvious luxury that it was almost overwhelming.
Lucía Fernández sat alone at a round table against the wall, trying to maintain a calm expression, though her hands were slightly sweaty. Her navy blue dress hugged her slender figure, and the black heels she had chosen made each step she took on the red carpet somewhat awkward. She barely knew anyone else there, apart from her best friend Mariana, the bride, who at that moment was holding hands with her new husband, smiling radiantly under the photographer’s flashes.
“Alone, right?” a woman asked from the next table with a half- smile. Lucía nodded with a brief grimace. She knew she was being watched. It was n’t the first time it had happened at a wedding of this magnitude. The murmurs began to flow as usual. She came alone. She doesn’t have a partner.
It seems a bit out of place, doesn’t it? Lucía sighed and brought the glass to her lips to hide her discomfort with a sip of wine. She generally didn’t care about other people’s stares, but that night, under the pressure of that atmosphere full of appearances, the loneliness felt amplified to an almost unbearable level. She looked at the clock. It was barely 8:00.
Too early to leave without seeming rude. Just as she was about to get up to get some fresh air, a tall man appeared next to her table and sat down decisively, as if that seat had always belonged to him. His features were sharp, with a penetrating gaze that made several people turn immediately. Lucía froze, surprised, when the man leaned toward her and whispered in a deep voice, “Let’s pretend you’re with me.
” Lucía’s heart leaped. “Sorry,” she replied softly, moving away slightly. He wasn’t looking directly at her, but who kept his eyes fixed on a group of guests a few tables ahead. ” They’re talking about you and me too. If you don’t mind, let’s pretend we came together.” Lucía let out a short laugh, somewhere between annoyed and amused.
” And I’m supposed to play the girlfriend of a complete stranger?” It was then that he turned his face toward her. He had intense gray eyes, cold and calculating, but with a hidden glint that threw her off. He lowered his voice slightly, so close that Lucía caught a whiff of the sandalwood scent emanating from his neck. “Let’s just pretend.
Trust me. That way you’ll avoid those awkward stares, and I’ll avoid an arranged date I’m not interested in. We both win.” Lucía bit her lip, doubting. Deep down, she knew he was right. Several glances had already shifted from mockery to curiosity. Now they seemed to be thinking, “Ah, the girl alone actually did have a date.
” ” Okay,” he said with a defiant half-smile . “But how far do you plan to take this act?” He raised an eyebrow and, with barely a curve to his lips, replied, “Leave it to me.” Then, he rested his arm on the back of his chair with such casual ease that several guests covered their mouths, chuckling amongst themselves .
Lucía tensed. Danger, she thought. This man knows too well how to play a role. “What’s your name?” she asked softly. “Alejandro Morel.” The name wasn’t unfamiliar. Lucía swallowed hard. He was the most feared young CEO in the Swiss financial world, famous for his ruthlessness and for crushing anyone who stood in his way.
Seriously, I’m pretending to be Alejandro Morel’s girlfriend, she thought. Before she could react, he calmly poured her more wine, as if they were a couple who had known each other for years . ” Relax,” Lucía Fernández said serenely, she murmured. “I already knew that,” Alejandro replied calmly, fixing his eyes on hers.
“I have a good memory for faces that are worth remembering.” Lucía had to look away. Her heart was beating too fast and she couldn’t tell if it was discomfort or something else. The rest of the evening turned into a kind of silent theater. When a guest approached their table, Alejandro introduced her as someone very special with a firm voice and confident gaze.
Lucía, although nervous, went along with it and smiled as if it were all real. “They make a lovely couple,” commented a lady in a suggestive tone. Lucia almost burst out laughing. I, a financial journalist addicted to instant coffee, supposedly thanks to this arrogant tycoon. But under the inquisitive gazes, the role did not seem so unbearable to him.
Whenever he faltered, Alexander would either whisper some ironic comment to her or skillfully change the subject to save the situation. “You’re a good actor,” she murmured to him as she served herself dessert. “And who said I was acting?” he retorted, flashing another of those tiny smiles that disarmed her.
Lucía looked away, feeling the heat rise to her face. Between the lights in the ballroom and the soft music, anyone would have sworn they were a real couple. She took another sip of wine and told herself it was all just an act. Tomorrow everything would go back to normal, but deep down something told her that Finge’s simple whisper, “That you’re with me,” had marked the beginning of a story neither of them could have foreseen.
Lucía thought that little performance would end as soon as the ballroom lights dimmed and the fireworks lit up the night. The next morning she would return to her world of reports, half-finished coffees, and endless spreadsheets. But life rarely lets things follow such a simple plan. Three days later, as she left the newsroom tired, a shiny black car pulled up right in front of her.
The window rolled down slowly, revealing a face all too familiar. Alejandro Morel. Lucía froze. ” Don’t tell me you came to buy the newspaper,” she said sarcastically, trying to hide her surprise. He checked his watch with a calm expression. ” If you’re not busy, I need five minutes of your time.
Sounds like a political interview,” he joked, but still opened the door and got into the car. The luxurious interior contrasted sharply with his shoes, worn from so much walking around the city. Alejandro wasted no time beating around the bush. “Do you remember what I told you at the wedding?” ” Impossible to forget,” Lucía replied with a half-smile.
“I almost suffocated from faking smiles in front of those ladies.” The corner of her lips curved slightly. ” The situation is this. The press and some investors are putting pressure on me. They think something’s wrong with me because I don’t have a partner or family. My stock doesn’t depend on that, but the rumors are unbearable.” Lucía looked at him suspiciously.
” And what do you want me to keep pretending?” ” Exactly.” Alejandro stared at her intently, without blinking. “I need someone intelligent, who knows how to handle herself, who doesn’t…” A breakdown in front of the press. At the wedding, you played the part perfectly. Lucía let out an incredulous laugh. What a compliment.
Instead of telling me I’m beautiful, you tell me I ‘m a good actress. Both are true, he replied calmly, leaving her speechless. Silence filled the car for a few seconds. Lucía knew she should reject him. She didn’t have time to play anyone’s fake girlfriend . But then a thought crossed her mind.
Through this charade, she would have access to the most powerful circles of the financial elite, right where the scandal her newspaper had been investigating for months was brewing. “Maybe this is the door I need,” she thought. She rested her chin on her hand and pretended to release it. “And how do you plan to compensate me for this role?” ” Respect, discretion, and convenience,” she replied without hesitation.
“I’m not that cheap, Morel.” “I want the right to drag it out when I get tired of it.” A soft laugh escaped him, warm and rare, like ice cracking in the sun. “Done, and I reserve the right to end it if you turn into a PR disaster.” “ The only disaster here is your dress, so perfect it makes everyone else look at me like I’m hanging you out of my clothes,” she retorted.
“Then I’ll look at you with enough devotion to make them think otherwise.” His tone was flat, but there was a mischievous glint in his eyes. Lucía swallowed. This man really knows how to throw anyone off balance. Temporary arrangement, she finally said, extending her hand. He took it firmly, warmly, and confidently. Just pretend, Fernández. Yes, pretend, she repeated, though something inside her screamed that she was entering a dangerous game.
The next day, the first test arrived. Alejandro drove her to a charity gala at a museum in Geneva. “ Are you sure about this? These are new shoes, and I might fall on the red carpet,” Lucía whispered as she got out of the car. “If you fall, I’ll carry you,” he replied without a hint of humor.
“Do you realize that lines like that don’t help me concentrate? That’s precisely the plan.” He offered her his hand like a gentleman from another era. When They entered the ballroom, and all eyes turned to them. Murmurs soon arose. Alejandro Morel has a girlfriend. Who is she? Lucía took a deep breath and smiled elegantly. Act it out, Fernández.
It’s like writing an undercover report. Alejandro leaned close to her ear, his voice brushing against her skin. Your smile is better than the one at the wedding. It seems less forced. You should try it too. Your statue-like face doesn’t help. He whispered back . He let a slight curve soften his expression. Like this.
Lucía glanced at him and her heart skipped a beat. Damn it, that half-smile is more dangerous than any falsified financial report. The gala unfolded, and to Lucía’s surprise, they acted like a real couple, without a single stumble. Alejandro held her hand when introducing her to businesspeople, and she handled the journalists with ease. When it was all over, back in the car, they both sighed with relief.
“I have to admit it,” Lucía said. ” You were born for this.” This. Alejandro adjusted his tie without looking at her. For everyone else, it’s enough to maintain a cool demeanor. But with you, I don’t have to pretend so much. Lucía was speechless, staring out the window to hide the smile that threatened to escape.
“Be careful, Fernández,” she told herself silently. “This little game could stop being pretended sooner than you think.” In the following days, Lucía’s name began to circulate among Swiss high society, not for her work as a journalist, but for being Alejandro Morel’s unexpected girlfriend. She constantly wondered how she had ended up in this mess.
And every time she saw her reflection in a borrowed dress and invitations in her purse, she was reminded. It’s just one chance. Play the part, observe, gather evidence. One Friday night, Alejandro took her to a fundraising gala at an art museum. The hall glittered with dazzling lights, the paintings hung like chess pieces, and the people moved with the same calculated strategy.
“Don’t be nervous,” he told her as he entered, his hand firmly on her waist. “I’m not,” she replied just before tripping on the carpet. Alejandro caught her quickly, frowning. Carefully, I don’t want my fake girlfriend to be the joke of the night. Lucía shot him a death glare. I could just say I look beautiful.
He studied her with those cold eyes that sometimes let out a warm glimmer. You look beautiful, but your shoes are the traitors here. Lucía bit her lip to stifle a laugh and straightened up, resuming her role. Throughout the evening, they had to appear affectionate under everyone’s gaze. Alejandro maintained the composure of an executive, but whenever she made a mistake, he covered for her effortlessly.
At one point, he dropped a spoon into his wine glass, producing a clatter that turned heads. She blushed instantly. Without hesitation, Alejandro gently tapped his own glass with the spoon and raised an impromptu toast. I propose a toast to the success of tonight. The crowd followed suit with applause and laughter.
Erasing the awkward moment, Lucía looked at him in astonishment. So the famously icy executive really does know how to salvage situations. He barely inclined his head. ” You did well to smile. It looked natural.” ” So he always smiled fake,” she sarcastically remarked. He didn’t reply, only letting out that half-curl of his lips that so disarmed her.
While they pretended, Lucía didn’t forget her true objective. Every time Alejandro chatted with a partner, she approached the tables to eavesdrop on random conversations. One night by the buffet, she overheard two businessmen talking in hushed tones about transfers to accounts in the Cayman Islands.
That detail ignited her journalistic instincts. She memorized the company name and the figures they mentioned. When she returned to the table, Alejandro looked at her suspiciously. “Where were you? Getting more dessert?” She showed him a small piece of mousse with an angelic smile. He studied her for a few seconds as if he could read her mind, but in the end, he shook his head slightly.
“Don’t disappear without a word. Not even a fake girlfriend would.” Lucía smiled, Although inwardly he remained alert. He’s more perceptive than I thought. As they strolled through the art gallery, Alejandro stopped in front of a painting in deep blue tones. His voice, usually so firm, dropped suddenly.
“My mother loved this color. She said it reminded her of the sea of her childhood.” Lucía looked at him in surprise. It was the first time she’d heard him speak of something so personal. She noticed that his gaze was no longer cold, but filled with memories. “I did n’t think you’d talk about your family,” she said gently. “I didn’t think I’d do it tonight either,” he replied almost in a whisper.
That flash of vulnerability stirred something in Lucia. Suddenly, Alejandro was no longer just the distant executive who used coldness as armor. He was also a man with hidden corners, with wounds he did not show. On the way home, the silence filled the car. Lucia fiddled with the invitation card in her bag, reminding herself that she should remain vigilant.
I need to follow the money trail in the alligators. But what if he’s involved? He glanced sideways at Alejandro, who was looking out the window with an impassive expression. “What’s wrong?” he asked, noticing her gaze. Nothing, I was just thinking about what I’ll wear to continue being your girlfriend tomorrow. Alejandro let out a faint smile.
Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. I’ll handle the rest. Lucia responded with a faint smile, although inside she felt a whirlwind. It was all just a role, yes, but it felt more and more real. On Saturday night, Alejandro showed up in front of her apartment in the same fancy car. She sighed when she saw him looking as impeccable as ever.
So what now? Another gala filled with champagne and boring speeches. He asked as he settled into his seat. No, this time it will be different. Less wine, more music. Fifteen minutes later they arrived at an old theater in the center of Geneva. The sign read Special Concert of Beethoven and Rachmaninov. Lucia stared at him, mouth agape. You really brought me to a classical music concert.
My fake girlfriend also deserves a touch of reality. “ Otherwise, anyone will figure out the script,” he replied with complete seriousness. She chuckled softly and followed him inside. The theater gleamed with golden lights, its high ceilings painted with frescoes and its seats upholstered in red velvet. When the lights dimmed and the orchestra began, Lucía felt the sound envelop her.
Alejandro sat upright beside her , his expression relaxed for the first time between pieces. He murmured softly, “My mother used to play melodies like these at night. She would tell me, ‘ Alejandro, you can be whatever you want, but never stop listening.’” Lucía watched him silently. It was the first time she had heard him speak so openly about his childhood.
“And your father?” she asked carefully. “He was different. For him, silence was worth more than music. He believed that a Morel had to be strong, perfect, without flaws.” “ It sounds suffocating.” He turned his face toward her, his gray eyes gleaming in the dim light. “It was, but without that demand, I wouldn’t be where I am. He left me no choice.
” Lucía had to bite her tongue to keep from caressing his hand. She simply smiled gently at him. Perhaps she forgot that sometimes imperfection is the most unforgettable. Alejandro let out an almost imperceptible exhalation. “You might be right.” After the concert, they walked to a small café near the plaza. Nothing fancy, just wooden tables, warm lighting, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee.
Lucía scoffed as soon as they sat down. “I never thought I’d see Alejandro Morel in an ordinary café.” “Don’t say that too loud. If anyone finds out, I’ll lose my image as a cold, calculating man,” he retorted, taking a sip of cappuccino. She burst out laughing. Little by little, amidst laughter and comments, Lucía realized that behind the ruthless executive was a man who could still surprise her.
For a moment, she almost forgot she had a mission, but when Alejandro stepped out to take a call, Lucía seized the opportunity, pulled out her cell phone, and reviewed the photos she had taken: plaques with donors’ names , envelopes of contributions, lists of sponsors. Several of the names matched those in the documents she was investigating regarding suspicious funds.
Her heart pounded. This is progress. She put her phone away just as he returned. “Everything okay?” he asked, a spark of suspicion in his eyes. “Yeah, I just thought I should wear lower heels tomorrow so you’ll stop making fun of my stumbles,” she replied lightly. He smiled slightly. “Then I’ll have to hold your hand so your shoes don’t betray you again .
” The words disarmed her and she let out a nervous laugh. That night, back in his small apartment, he opened his laptop. The names she had heard and those that appeared in her photos were beginning to form a disturbing pattern. “I’m closer to the truth,” he thought. But at the same time, her mind kept repeating Alejandro’s phrases about his mother.
His duty as a journalist clashed with something new that was being born in his chest. What if Morel was guilty? What if not? His heart and his conscience were beginning to wage a silent battle. A few days later, while reviewing financial reports on her computer, Lucia stopped dead in her tracks.
There was a company called CB Holdings, directly linked to shady transactions and transfers to tax havens. The detail that left her breathless was the owner’s name, Grupo Morel. He leaned back in the chair, his head spinning . I’m pretending to be the girlfriend of the owner of this suspicious company. His journalistic instinct screamed at him that it was an opportunity to uncover a scandal, but something in his heart whispered the opposite.
The confusion stayed with her until the night Alejandro invited her to a private birthday party. No ties or formal dresses, more cocktails, less formality. Lucia agreed, thinking she might hear something useful. The party was completely different from what I expected. Neon lights, jazz music mixed with pop, and people laughing without worrying about appearances.
Lucia sat at the bar, moving the glass between her hands. “If tomorrow I wrote an article titled ‘The Ice CO dances the cha,’ investors would faint,” she thought, amused. What makes you smile when you’re alone? Alejandro asked, approaching with a glass of whiskey and his tie loosened.
Nothing, I was just imagining some headlines. Morel dancing drunk causes the market to fall by 3%. He raised an eyebrow, amused. If that happened, I would lose at least 10%. Lucia burst out laughing. I couldn’t believe he had a sense of humor. The night progressed amidst music and drinks. When most of them had left, they left together. The fresh air of Geneva caressed their faces as they descended a stone staircase illuminated by lanterns.
“Are you feeling a little dizzy?” Lucia asked, tilting her head. “Can I handle it?” he replied, although his steps were slower. Suddenly he stopped and looked at her with a different intensity, his gray eyes shining with unusual warmth. ” Lucía, Cuque,” she stammered, taking a half step back until she was up against the wall.
You make me forget that all this is just theater. And without giving her time to react, he kissed her. The kiss was short but intense, mixing the taste of the whiskey with its unmistakable aroma. Lucia stood motionless, her heart pounding in her chest. When he moved away , he was still so close that his breath brushed against hers.
“Are you crazy?” she whispered, her cheeks burning. “Maybe,” he replied with that fleeting smile that always disarmed her. Lucia brought her hand to her lips, unsure whether to laugh or scream. Part of her thought, “God, the ice king just kissed me.” Another part reminded her, “Don’t forget about Cía Be Holdings.” ” Don’t forget your mission.
” ” We’re still pretending,” she said, her voice trembling. “Yeah.” Alejandro nodded, although his gaze said otherwise, “But there are times when I no longer want to act.” The return journey was silent. She stared out the window, her mind a jumbled mess . She had found a clue about money laundering and at the same time a kiss she couldn’t get out of her head.
Let’s play a game for those who read the comments. Write the word cookie in the comments section. Only those who have come this far will understand. Let’s continue with the story. The night after the kiss, Lucia couldn’t sleep. Her laptop was still open on the desk, lighting up the room with a financial report she didn’t dare read again.
There was the name of CB Holdings and the signatures that confirmed suspicious transfers. The problem was that everything pointed to the Morel group. He put his hands to his face, laughing bitterly. Great, Fernández. You are kissed by the same man you should investigate. On Monday in the newsroom, his desk mate approached him in a low voice.
Lucia, new information arrived, some copies of documents. According to this, the final signature in CLB operations is that of Alejandro Morel. Lucia’s heart stopped for a second. You’re sure? 70%. They are not originals, just leaks. Confirmation is needed. She tried to appear calm, but inside she felt like she was suffocating.
Alejandro, the man who had just confided memories of his mother to her, the same one who had stolen a kiss that still made her tremble. Her journalistic mind screamed, “Your chance!” But her heart insisted, “What if he’s innocent?” That afternoon she received an unexpected call. “Are you free?” Alejandro asked in a firm voice.
“I want you to come to the group’s headquarters.” “There’s something I need to show you.” Lucía hesitated, but finally agreed. It was also an opportunity to take a closer look. The Morel Group building, right in the heart of Zich, stood imposingly, its glass walls reflecting the city. Upon entering, Lucía felt as if she had stepped into another world.
Dozens of employees walked briskly by, each with an air of impeccable discipline. The elevator took them to the 50th floor. Alejandro’s office resembled a modern museum, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views, a polished walnut desk, and shelves lined with leather-bound books . “Impressed,” he asked, noticing her expression.
” Add a kitchen and I’ll move in,” Lucía replied, half-jokingly. He let out a barely perceptible grimace. You would n’t enjoy it. Working here isn’t comfortable, but I want to show you something. He led her to a huge world map with dozens of red pins. “This is my expansion plan,” he explained in a deep voice.
Clean energy in Asia, biotechnology in Europe, online education in South America. I do n’t just want profits, I want to leave something of value for the next generation. Lucia listened in astonishment. It wasn’t the icy wolf portrait the media was talking about. He looked like a man dreaming of transforming the world.
“You sound like a Nobel Prize candidate,” she quipped, though inside her chest was sinking. He smiled with a different kind of gleam in his eyes. “Do you always have to hide behind sarcasm?” Lucia looked away uncomfortably. He felt guilty. While he opened up his world to her, she kept a USB drive full of documents in her bag that could sink him.
That night, Alejandro invited her to dinner at a restaurant by Lake Lucerne. There were no journalists or formal attire, only tables with candles and the murmur of water. Lucia looked at the menu without really reading it. Not a single word stopped blinking in his mind . Signature. “Are you okay?” asked Alejandro, leaning forward.
Yes, just hunger. If you’re hungry, we order the whole menu. His tone was so serious that Lucia couldn’t help but laugh. Are you planning to diversify your empire with restaurants? If you agree to eat enough, maybe. He answered without hesitation. For the first time in a long time she felt light, but every time their eyes met, the memory of the document returned like a shadow.
After dinner, they walked along the lake shore. The lights reflected in the water created an almost unreal atmosphere. “You never feel,” he said suddenly, “that you’re carrying impossible expectations, as if it’s never enough.” Lucía paused for a second. “Are you asking about yourself or me?” “Both of us.
” Alejandro looked at her intently. He’d never met anyone as independent and direct as her, and yet he still felt like protecting her. A blush crept across Lucía’s face . “ You should drink less wine. It makes you say things that are misinterpreted.” “It’s not the wine,” he replied seriously. She looked away, her heart pounding.
On one hand, she wanted to shout at him, “You signed those papers?” But she couldn’t. Not yet. Back in her apartment, she turned on her laptop and opened the scanned document. The stroke was clear, confident, identical to Alejandro’s signature. It could be forged, or it could be real. She rested her forehead in her hands, her breath ragged.
Justice or love, Fernández, she decided. The dilemma haunted her all night. The next day, her boss at the newsroom called her into the office. Her glasses were perched on her forehead. His nose and the desk covered in folders, his tone was sharp. “You have the signature, Lucía. What are you waiting for to write it? It ‘s not confirmed yet,” she replied, avoiding his gaze.
The editor slammed his fist on the table. “We can’t wait. Either you hand in the grade within a week or I’ll pass it on to someone else.” Roberts would publish it in two days and turn Morel into the perfect villain. Do you want that? Lucia froze . Roberts was a ruthless journalist known for destroying reputations in a few lines. “Okay,” he said.
“I’ll finally write it myself.” He left the office with heavy legs, as if he were carrying chains. That night, staring at the blank screen, he couldn’t write a single word. “What are you doing, Fernández?” she said to herself. Her journalistic conscience urged her on, but her heart refused.
Alejandro didn’t fit the image of a criminal, and yet, that signature. She looked at the box containing the pen he had given her days before, with her name engraved on it. She felt a knot in her chest. If he was innocent, a hasty article would destroy him. If she was guilty, falling in love with him would be her greatest shame.
Days passed and the rumors in the newsroom grew. They say Fernández has the bombshell of the year. If Roberts takes it, Morel is finished. Lucia pressed her lips together. She decided that if anyone was going to write that story, it would be her. That way at least I could buy some time and perhaps discover the truth.
He entered the boss’s office with a firm voice. I will do it. The article will be mine. He smiled contentedly. One week, not one day more. Lucía left with her heart pounding wildly. He had sealed his own fate. That night, in her bed, she wrote and deleted messages on her cell phone over and over again. We need to talk about your company. Delete.
I have something important to tell you. Delete. In the end, he simply wrote, “I need to see you alone.” The answer arrived in seconds tomorrow at my office. Lucía put the phone aside, her chest sinking. I knew that everything could explode the next day . The next morning dawned bright in Zich, but for Lucia the sun meant nothing.
She had barely slept a few hours and every time she closed her eyes she saw two images: Alejandro’s signature stamped on the Cob Holdings documents and the way he had looked at her the night of the kiss. When her cell phone rang, her heart skipped a beat. Low. I’m waiting. He read the message over and over again.
Alejandro was standing in front of his building. A lump formed in his throat. He didn’t even have time to react when there was a knock at the door. Upon opening it, he found it there, filling the frame with his height and that presence that seemed to dominate the entire space. His gray eyes were colder than ever.
Alexander stammered. ” Don’t say my name as if you had the right,” he said, cutting each word like a knife in a harsh voice. You approached me just because of your story, right? Lucia felt the ground disappear beneath her feet. I confided in you things I had never said before. I took you to my house, introduced you to Isabelle and you, her voice cracked for a moment, but then hardened again.
You are the journalist who digs into my company. Lucia took a deep breath, her hands trembling. Yes, I approached you because of my work. I found irregularities. Yes. And you think I ‘m to blame? Am I just another con artist? His throne noó with rage. She pressed her lips together, tears burning in her eyes. Don’t know.
I have proof with your signature. I cannot ignore them. But I also can’t ignore what I feel. I don’t want to believe you’re guilty. The silence was brutal. Only the echo of his own heart filled the space. Alejandro looked at her as if trying to decipher her, but all he let out was a bitter laugh. And you expect me to trust you after all this? You turned me into a joke.
I, who never trusted anyone, ended up falling into a reporter’s trap. Alejandro, please listen to me. It’s over, Lucia. I do n’t want to see you again. He turned around and left, closing the door with a sharp thud that echoed in the silence of the room. Lucia collapsed in the chair, her face buried in her hands.
Everything had broken in an instant. For a second he thought about abandoning the note, deleting the files, quitting. But the voice of his conscience whispered to him, if he is guilty, you cannot remain silent. And if he is innocent, the truth will save him. That day he wandered around the newsroom like a ghost.
Her colleagues murmured, her boss pressured her, and her laptop screen glowed with a cursor that flickered mockingly. He would write a few lines and then immediately delete them. As night fell, he looked out of the window of his small apartment. Somewhere in the city, Alejandro would be in his glass office, as distant as it was unreachable.
“I never meant to hurt you,” he whispered into the darkness. The following days were a whirlwind. The media began publishing speculations. Morel’s name was on everyone’s lips, and his empire was teetering. Roberts, his most ruthless colleague, was eager to steal the note from him. One night, while checking emails in a nearly empty cafe, Lucia received an anonymous message.
The real culprit is Ernesto Vidal. Be careful. Attached was a file with documents, contracts, transfers, signatures. Everything pointed to the group’s vice president, the man Alejandro trusted the most. Lucia froze . If that was true, then Alejandro had been betrayed from within, and she had accused him in her heart.
When she left the cafe with the folder in her bag, she noticed someone was following her. Heavy footsteps accompanied her under the streetlights. Two men blocked his path at the corner. Mr. Vidal says to stop digging. You do n’t want to disappear, do you? One said with a crooked smile. Lucia stepped back, her pulse racing. They do n’t scare me.
One raised his hand and the metallic gleam of a weapon was reflected in the light. Lucia swallowed, paralyzed. A roar of an engine burst into the scene. A black car braked suddenly and the door swung wide open. Alejandro appeared tall, imposing, in his dark suit, with a gaze as cold as steel. “Dare to touch her,” he said in a grave voice. He didn’t need to scream.
His tone was enough to make the men look at each other and back away into the shadows, cursing under their breath. Lucia collapsed against the wall, trembling. S. How did you know where I was? He asked, his voice breaking. Alejandro didn’t move from his spot. His gaze was still fixed on the place where the men had fled .
I have a habit of not abandoning those who were once by my side. His tone was curt, without a trace of tenderness. Lucía wanted to shout at him that he wasn’t guilty, that she had proof against Vidal. She wanted to take the documents out of her bag and show them to him, but his eyes were so cold, so inaccessible, that the words got stuck in her throat.
Alejandro, don’t say anything. I saved you because I don’t intend to carry the guilt of your blood on my hands. Nothing else. The stab wound was direct. Lucia clenched her fists, feeling tears blur her vision. “You don’t believe me,” he whispered. He let out a bitter laugh. After everything you hid, do you expect me to trust you? Forget it.
He turned around and walked back to the car. She watched him disappear into the night, her heart shattered. She was left alone, tears running down her cheeks. You do n’t believe me, but I’m going to prove it. I will clear your name, even if you never want to see me again. That same morning he turned on his laptop and began to type with trembling fingers.
She knew that Ernesto Vidal wouldn’t stand idly by , that he was risking his career and perhaps his life, but she also knew that it was the only way to save the truth and save the man she loved. Dawn found Lucia in front of her computer, her eyes red with tiredness and her heart beating strongly. For hours he had written and deleted paragraphs looking for a way to expose Ernesto Vidal without completely destroying Alejandro.
He finally came across a draft that compiled the most solid data: illegal transfers, forged signatures, and documents that pointed directly to the vice president. When it was published, the whole city exploded. The headline wasn’t eye-catching, but every word weighed like lead. The real person responsible for the Morel group scandal , Ernesto Vidal, Lucía detailed how funds had been diverted, presented evidence of altered signatures, and made it clear that Alejandro had been the victim of an internal betrayal. The article
spread like wildfire. The newspapers reported it, the news programs discussed it, and the group’s shares stopped plummeting. But Ernesto wasn’t going to stand idly by . That same afternoon, as Lucía was leaving the newsroom with her bag over her shoulder, a dark car blocked her path.
She didn’t have time to react; someone held her down and a cloth soaked in a chemical liquid covered her mouth. The world became blurry. She woke up tied to a chair in an abandoned warehouse. The air smelled of rust and dampness. Facing her, with a poisonous calm, was Ernesto Vidal. “Miss Fernandez,” he said with an icy smile. “I’m disappointed in him.
I warned him not to meddle in things that are n’t his business.” Lucia pressed her lips together, though her voice trembled. “Do you really think you can hide the truth forever?” “The truth.” Ernesto took a shiny knife from his pocket, turning it slowly. Truth only exists as long as the person who holds it is alive.
And you, miss, are already getting in my way too much. Lucia swallowed. Fear overwhelmed her, but she still gathered her strength. I would rather die than let him continue to tarnish the name of Alejandro. Ernesto’s eyes hardened. You’re stubborn. I hate stubborn people. At that moment, a loud crash resounded. The roar of an engine, followed by police shouts.
The door burst open. Alejandro entered first, followed by several agents. “Let her go, Vidal,” he roared, his voice filled with fury. Ernesto reacted immediately, placing the blade of the knife against Lucia’s neck. One more step and I’ll kill her right here. Alejandro’s heart almost stopped. Every fiber of his body screamed for him to run to her, but he held back, his gray eyes burning.
Don’t do it, Ernesto, you can still turn yourself in. Don’t ruin your life any further. My life laughed bitterly, Ernesto. I built everything for you, Morel. I kept your company afloat and now you repay me by turning me in to the police. You were the one who sold out. “I never asked for betrayals,” Alejandro replied, his voice breaking with suppressed rage.
The tension was palpable . The police moved slowly, waiting for an opportunity. Lucía felt the cold edge on her skin, but she didn’t take her eyes off Alejandro. Alejandro whispered, barely audible. That murmur was enough. In an instinctive movement, Alejandro lunged forward just as Ernesto hesitated, grabbed Lucia tightly, and pushed her back away from the knife.
A gunshot echoed in the air. The police subdued the vice president in seconds. Lucia fell to the ground gasping. She barely felt a burning sensation in her arm and saw the blood staining her blouse. Lucía Alejandro held her with a distraught expression. His mask of coldness had disappeared. “I’m fine, it’s just a cut,” she whispered, though her voice was weak.
“Don’t close your eyes. Do you hear me? Do n’t you dare leave me,” he said desperately, pressing his hand against the wound to stop the bleeding. The paramedics entered immediately, placing her on a stretcher. Alejandro got into the ambulance without letting go of her hand for a second.
As they advanced with sirens blaring, he murmured like a prayer. Please, God, don’t take her away from me. I give up everything: the company, the money, the reputation, but let me live. At the hospital, the emergency room doors closed and Alejandro was left outside with his shirt stained with blood and his hands trembling.
I had never felt so much fear before. The minutes dragged on until finally a doctor came out. It’s stable. The wound was not deep. He will recover. Air rushed into Alejandro’s lungs again as if he had been drowning. Hours later he entered the white room where Lucia was resting connected to an IV drip.
He sat down beside her and took her hand in his own. His gray eyes were red, tired, devoid of their usual hardness. “I’m sorry,” he whispered against her skin. I’m sorry for not believing you, for leaving you alone. Forgive me. The silence in the room was broken when she moved her fingers and her eyelashes began to tremble. Alejandro leaned forward, his heart in his throat.
Lucia. She slowly opened her eyes. Ah, Alejandro, I’m here. I’m not leaving your side. She took a deep breath, exhausted, but conscious. So I’m still alive. He let out a gasp of relief. More than ever. And I don’t plan on letting you go again. Tears streamed down Lucia’s face . I hid things too. I approached you with a purpose, and then my heart betrayed me.
I did n’t want to fall in love with you, but I did . Alejandro rested his forehead on his hand, his voice breaking. From the day you almost tripped over those heels, I knew my life was no longer just mine, but I was too proud to admit it. Lucia smiled weakly. The great Alejandro Morel talking about heels and pride.
Now that ‘s a headline! He smiled too, his eyes moist. I don’t want to pretend anymore. I want this to be real, I want the whole world to know that you are the woman of my life. Lucia squeezed his hand with what little strength she had left. So, promise me something. Never leave me alone again. I swear, never.
And that night, in the solitude of the hospital, they both understood that there were no more roles to pretend to play and no more walls to keep standing. What had been born between them, however strange it had begun, was real. Let’s play another joke on those who only check the comments section. Write the word chocolate.
Those who have made it this far will understand the joke. Let’s continue with the story. The following days were spent between bandages, medical check-ups and sleepless nights . Lucía was slowly recovering in the hospital, and Alejandro barely moved from her side. He had turned the room into his makeshift office.
She silently reviewed reports by the window, answered calls in a low voice, and even tried to peel an apple, cutting it so clumsily that her sister, Isabelle, couldn’t help but laugh. “If Dad saw you using a knife like that, he’d faint,” she joked as she took control of the fruit. Lucia smiled from the bed, her heart warming at the domestic scene.
Alejandro, always so impeccable, now appeared clumsy and human. “I’ve never done this for anyone,” he admitted with a half-smile. “Feel special.” Lucia looked him in the eyes, feeling that he was no longer the cold man everyone talked about. Days later, when she was finally discharged, Alejandro took her by the hand and led her to a car that took her directly to the garden of the family residence in Lausanne.
There, in front of dozens of journalists, he announced what many expected: a conference to clear his name. The flaccids exploded as Alejandro, impeccable in a dark suit, stood in front of the tril. ” I am Alejandro Morel,” he began in a firm voice. And I want to make something clear. I am not guilty of the crimes I have been accused of.
The real culprit, Ernesto Vidal, is already in custody. And I must thank a person who, risking their life, brought the truth to light . He turned to the side and extended his hand. Lucía, wearing a simple dress and still with her arm bandaged, took a step forward. The murmur of the press turned into a roar.
Alejandro held her firmly and looked at her as if nothing else mattered. She is Lucía Fernández, he continued. And she’s the woman I want by my side. The photographers captured every gesture, every look. To the world, she was no longer the undercover journalist who had infiltrated an elegant ball. She was the woman who had saved the most powerful man in the Swiss financial industry .
Lucía felt her legs tremble, but when she saw Alejandro’s determined look, she knew there was no turning back. That night, away from the press, they returned to the residence. Isabelle awaited them with a smile that mixed relief and mischief. Finally, he said, hugging Lucia, I thought my brother was going to live locked in his ice tower forever.
Lucia laughed, blushing. Alejandro huffed silently, but didn’t let go of Lucia’s hand for a second. The following days were strange for both of them. For the first time, they didn’t have to pretend. They walked together through the garden, shared breakfasts in comfortable silence, and sometimes Alejandro surprised her with such unexpected comments that Lucía couldn’t stop laughing.
One afternoon, as he was adjusting the chain of a necklace over her shoulders, she rolled her eyes. You look like my stylist. ” Not a stylist,” he gently corrected . Only a man who appreciates beauty. Lucia bit her lip, trying to suppress a nervous smile. That Alejandro, the one who allowed himself to be tender and direct, was much more dangerous to her heart than the icy executive.
But amidst the calm, Lucia’s conscience wouldn’t leave her at ease. He remembered every lie, every omission. Yes, he had exposed Vidal, but he had also used Alejandro to get to the truth. And although he wished he had forgiven her, she felt the need to confess everything clearly. One night, while strolling along the pier of Lake Lucerne, he mustered up his courage.
Alejandro, there’s something I need to tell you. He looked at her intently. I’m listening. Lucia took a deep breath. When I met you, I was only thinking about the story, about finding evidence, about getting to the root of what was happening with your company. And yes, I approached you with that goal in mind. He did not respond immediately.
She walked a few more steps with her hands in her pockets as the breeze stirred her hair. “I know,” he said. Finally. “I always knew it, Lucía.” She looked at him, confused. ” How so? Your eyes were never those of a woman who only wanted to shine at parties. You observed, you listened, you analyzed everything. I noticed it from the wedding.
” Lucía lowered her head in shame. “I’m sorry, I used you, although afterward I couldn’t control it anymore.” Alejandro stopped and took her face in his hands. “Stop apologizing. Yes, it hurt, but in the end, you were also the only one who trusted that I wasn’t guilty and the only one capable of risking her life for me.
” She felt tears welling up, but stopped them with a kiss on her forehead. “Now I want what we have to be free from pretense and hidden agendas. I want you to be my truth, not my lie.” Lucía hugged him tightly, as if with that gesture she could erase all the past wounds. Days later, Alejandro surprised everyone with an unexpected decision.
He invited only family and close friends to an intimate ceremony in the garden of his residence. No excessive luxuries, no thousands of guests, just roses and ribbons. White and a sunny afternoon. Lucía stood behind the glass doors that opened onto the garden, wearing a simple white dress, without extravagant embellishments.
Isabelle accompanied her, adjusting her veil with a knowing smile. ” Breathe, Lucía. My brother is waiting for you out there, more nervous than you are.” Lucía let out a nervous laugh. ” Alejandro, nervous. I really want to see that.” The music began to play, and the doors opened.
Lucía walked slowly down the aisle covered in petals. The crowd was small, but all eyes were on her. When she reached Alejandro, she found him in an impeccable black suit, his gray eyes shining brighter than ever. His expression, which had always been a wall, was now open, vulnerable, and emotional. The minister began the ceremony with simple words.
” Today we do not celebrate a game or a facade. Today we witness true love.” Lucía squeezed Alejandro’s hand, feeling as if her heart were about to burst. ” I pretended at first,” she said in a trembling voice, “but I soon understood that what I felt was not a Paper, it was real. I promise to be by your side in light and in darkness.
And by the way, I promise to choose better shoes so I don’t make you suffer.” The guests laughed softly. Alejandro smiled too. That strange smile that Lucia had learned to love. ” I thought I had to be perfect and cold to protect everything,” he confessed. But with you I learned that the only perfect thing is to be yourself.
I promise to always believe you, even when the world doubts. The minister looked at them tenderly. They can kiss. Alejandro leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. The applause erupted. Isabella applauded amidst tears and laughter. And Lucia felt that all the weight of doubts, lies, and masks collapsed at that moment. Now there was no need to pretend anymore.
The garden still smelled of roses when the ceremony ended. There was no huge banquet or hundreds of guests. Just a long table under warm lights, glasses of wine, soft laughter, and the people who really mattered. Isabelle raised her glass and toasted with an excited smile. to my brother, who swore he would never get married, and to Lucia, who had the courage to break down his wall of ice.
Those present applauded amid laughter. Lucia blushed, but Alejandro, far from being uncomfortable, tilted the glass towards her. For us. The afternoon turned into night and little by little the garden fell silent. Now that there were no photographers or murmurs, Alejandro led Lucia to the wooden dock that stretched out over the lake.
The moon’s reflection illuminated the water and made everything seem like a dream. “Do you realize how ironic that is?” Lucia said, laughing nervously. It all started with pretending. ” And now there is nothing more real,” he replied, taking her by the waist. Lucia looked him in the eyes and realized that there were no traces left of the distant executive she once knew.
That Alejandro had transformed into someone who could smile, make mistakes, and even show fear. “You promised you’d never let me go,” she whispered. “And I will fulfill it,” he replied. before kissing her under the starry sky. The following days were a respite after the storm. Lucía moved into the residence where she discovered a completely different Alejandro, the man who argued with her about what breakfast to prepare, the one who preferred to sit with a coffee reading the newspaper in silence, the one who got irritated when he couldn’t find his
silver cufflinks. “I never thought I’d see you rummaging through cushions like a mischievous child,” she said one morning when she saw him messing up the sofa. “And I never thought I’d have someone laughing at me in my own house,” he retorted, though his lips betrayed a smile. Lucía also learned to live with the external pressure.
The media labeled her the journalist who had become the tycoon’s wife. Some praised her, others criticized her, but she had decided she wouldn’t let the headlines dictate her life. One afternoon, Alejandro came home early from the office and found her working on her laptop, surrounded by papers. “You’re still a journalist, even if you don’t need to be anymore,” he observed, crossing his arms. “I don’t do it out of necessity.
” “I do it because it’s who I am,” she replied without taking her eyes off the screen. He approached and gently closed the laptop. “Then don’t give that up, but promise me you won’t risk your life alone anymore.” Lucía looked at him seriously. “And you promise me you won’t distrust me again?” Alejandro nodded without hesitation. I’ve learned my lesson.
The atmosphere in the house became warmer. Isabelle used to visit them and always joked about how Lucía had humanized her brother. “You used to be unbearable,” she told him one day, laughing. “Now you even know how to smile.” Alejandro snorted, but Lucía noticed that those kinds of comments no longer bothered him.
On the contrary, he seemed to enjoy the idea of having changed. Love, however, didn’t eliminate the challenges. Alejandro still had to clean up his company’s image and rebuild the partners’ trust. Lucía, for her part, had to face the distrust of some colleagues who accused her of selling out to the man she was investigating.
One night, exhausted by the rumors, She sank down onto the bed with a sigh. “They say I betrayed my profession for you,” she murmured. Alejandro lay down beside her and stroked her hair. “You don’t owe them any explanations.” ” You’re the reason the truth came out, and the truth is all that matters.” Lucía hugged him tightly.
” Promise me that no matter what happens, we won’t lose this.” “I promise,” he said, kissing her forehead. A few days later, they decided to return to the place where it all began, Zich’s hotel, where Mariana, Lucía’s best friend, had gotten married. This time there were no ball gowns or orchestras, just the two of them walking hand in hand into the same ballroom illuminated by crystal chandeliers.
” This is where you asked me to pretend,” Lucía remembered, smiling. “And this is where I understood that my life would change forever,” Alejandro replied. They stood for a moment in silence, observing the empty ballroom. It was like coming full circle. What had begun as an absurd agreement was now the foundation of a love that had survived betrayal, danger, and doubt.
On their way home, Alejandro surprised her with a small package. “What ‘s this?” Lucía asked, opening it. It was a pair of low-heeled shoes, elegant but comfortable. “So that “Never stumble again,” he said with a mischievous smile. Lucía laughed, thrilled. “You’re impossible, and you love me just the way I am,” he replied, leaning in to kiss her.
Their life together was just beginning, and although they knew it wouldn’t be perfect, they also knew there were no more masks or lies. Just them, learning to be a couple beyond the headlines. That night, as they watched the fireworks reflected on the lake, Lucía rested her head on Alejandro’s shoulder and thought that, for the first time in a long time, the word “future” didn’t scare her.
Time passed, and with it came new routines that, to Lucía’s surprise, proved more valuable than the big events. It wasn’t the galas or press conferences that reminded her how much their lives had changed, but the small moments: having breakfast together as the sun streamed through the windows, walking barefoot in the garden after the rain, or arguing about who was the better cook, even though they both knew Alejandro could barely fry an egg.
One autumn afternoon, they were strolling through the center of Geneva. Without bodyguards or luxury cars. It was strange for both of them to feel anonymous in the crowd. But also liberating. Lucía took an ice cream and passed it to Alejandro. ” Come on, try it.” He raised an eyebrow. ” I’m a Morel. You’re my husband, and you’re going to try it.
” Alejandro sighed with feigned resignation and gave her a spoonful. Her expression transformed into an unexpected smile. ” It’s good.” Lucía burst out laughing. “I ca n’t believe it. Alejandro Morel discovering vanilla ice cream in the middle of the street. This definitely deserves a headline.” He shook his head, but in his gray eyes there was a different kind of gleam, one that said he was happy.
The wounds of the past didn’t disappear immediately. There were tense moments with partners who still distrusted him, with journalists who questioned the relationship, and with employees who had experienced changes in the company. But little by little, with patience and transparency, Alejandro demonstrated that his empire wasn’t built on lies.
Lucía, for her part, recovered her voice as a journalist. She did n’t stop writing, although now she carefully chose her articles. battles. She published reports on corruption in other companies, on financial abuses, and on human stories that went unnoticed. Every time she did, Alejandro would read it silently and then leave a short note on her desk.
I’m proud of you. One night, while they were having dinner on the terrace of the residence, Lucía gazed at the starry sky and spoke softly. You know what I think sometimes? That everything could have ended badly. That if you hadn’t come to me that night at the wedding , I’d be somewhere else now writing anonymous notes, and you’d still be the ice man everyone feared.
Alejandro put his fork down and looked at her intently. Maybe, but I’m glad I dared, even if it was just with a whisper. Lucía smiled, remembering that moment that had changed her destiny. “Let’s pretend you ‘re with me,” she repeated, imitating his deep voice. “And look where the most sincere lie of all led us,” he replied, leaning in to kiss her.
Autumn was passing, and the rumors Finally, the drama faded. People stopped seeing them as a scandal and began to see them as a couple who had survived everything: the lies, the danger, and the fear. One ordinary Sunday, they organized a small gathering in the garden with friends and former classmates of Lucía.
Among them was Mariana, the friend whose wedding had been the beginning of it all. “I still can’t believe it,” Mariana said, hugging her. “It all started because I was sitting alone at my wedding.” Lucía laughed knowingly. ” And now look at me, married to the man who asked me to pretend for a few minutes.” Mariana winked at her.
“Sometimes the unexpected is the best thing that can happen to us.” As night fell, Alejandro took Lucía’s hand and led her to the edge of the lake. The reflection of the lights illuminated the still water. ” I want us to always remember this,” he said seriously, “that even in the midst of the storm, we chose to believe in each other.” Lucia squeezed his hand.
“So, let’s stop pretending and start truly living?” They remained silent, observing the stars. There were no more masks or doubts, only a shared future. And that night, as the fireworks lit up the sky above the lake, Lucia and Alejandro embraced with the certainty that there were no more doubts. Theirs was forever.
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