4. Sebastian
four
Sebastian
It would take me an entire day to list all the women I’ve dated. Being in the spotlight has its perks, but it also means that everything I do eventually makes headlines.
Finding someone to play the role of my girlfriend wouldn’t be difficult. I know plenty of women who would jump at the chance for a spot in the limelight. But it wouldn’t take long for news of a fake relationship to surface, and the last thing I need is more bad press. That’s why Ava is the perfect candidate.
She’s my coach’s daughter, but no one outside our circle knows who she is. She’s quiet, private, and totally removed from the media circus that surrounds me. By the time our arrangement ends, we could stage a breakup—she’d tell her father it was because I was more focused on my game, and we’d both be off the hook.
The problem? She won’t agree to my proposal.
After a grueling day of training, I hit the showers and bump into an old friend, Miguel .
Miguel is a retired athlete whose career ended after a severe spinal cord injury. Doctors warned him that another injury could leave him unable to walk, so he made the tough choice to retire and prioritize his health.
This evening, Miguel and I are grabbing drinks. It’s been months since we last hung out, and it’s good to see him looking so much better.
“I suppose you’ve heard the rumors,” I say, breaking the awkward silence between us.
Miguel hesitates for a moment. I can tell he wants to say something but is holding back, worried he might offend me.
“Who hasn’t?” he finally replies, his tone neutral. We both know they aren’t just rumors.
Miguel, now married with a young daughter, settled down early in his career. By the time he retired, he had built a life outside of sports.
“What’s it like being married?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.
Miguel smiles warmly. “It’s the best thing ever.”
His answer surprises me. It’s hard to imagine a man giving up his freedom for one woman and being genuinely happy about it.
“Don’t you miss the good old days? When you were free? ”
Miguel chuckles under his breath. “These are the good days,” he says, pulling out his phone to show me pictures of his daughter. His face lights up as he adds, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I take a long swig of my beer, trying to process his perspective.
“You should give it a shot,” Miguel suggests casually.
“You mean get married?” I laugh, stunned he’d even suggest such a thing.
Miguel nods, his expression serious.
“I’m just trying to get out of this mess,” I admit, shaking my head.
“Have you come up with a solution yet?” he asks.
“Sort of,” I say hesitantly. “But it’s complicated.”
Over the next few minutes, I fill Miguel in on Ava and my plan to get her to agree to the fake relationship.
“Why don’t you just fund her project?” Miguel says, shrugging as if it’s the most obvious solution in the world. “That way, she’ll see what a nice guy you are. Maybe she’ll even agree to help you after that.”
His suggestion hits me like lightning.
That could actually work.
“You’re a genius,” I say, grinning at him .
Miguel’s advice feels like the missing piece of the puzzle. I know Ava would never willingly accept a favor from me upfront—her pride wouldn’t let her—but if I helped her succeed, she’d have no choice but to recognize my generosity.
Ava is unlike any woman I’ve ever met. Usually, women fawn over me, but she’s completely indifferent. From what I can tell, the only thing that matters to her is her work, and that’s exactly why my plan will work perfectly.
If I secretly help fund her project, she’ll have no reason to suspect an ulterior motive. She’ll think I did it out of genuine kindness, and by the time she realizes, I’ll already have her on board.
This might actually work.
If Ava won’t accept my help in finding an investor, the only option left is to invest in her project myself.
The next morning, I send her an email, letting her know that I’m willing to partly fund her project. I also offer to personally speak to Rubin McNeal to convince him to fund the other half.
I wait for a reply, but none comes.
I’m not about to accept defeat. Sooner or later, she’ll have to face me and make a decision.
I know she’d be furious if I showed up at her workplace again, but with the season’s kickoff party tonight, I see an opportunity to change her mind .
Dressed in my black tuxedo, I arrive at the event. The halls are buzzing with celebrities from across the globe. Spotting Ava in this crowd seems impossible, so I wait patiently, sipping my drink and making polite conversation.
As I’m being ushered toward a short interview, I see her.
Ava walks in wearing a stunning short red dress, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. She strides past the flashing lights, ignoring the cameras, her discomfort in the spotlight clear. Yet, she holds her head high, exuding an effortless confidence that makes her even more captivating.
Among all the glittering faces at the party, Ava stands out. Not because she tries to meet anyone’s expectations, but because she sets her own. While everyone else basks in curated perfection, Ava’s authenticity shines through. It’s something I hadn’t truly noticed before tonight.
The halls are lavishly decorated to mark the beginning of a new season, the perfect setting to show everyone that I’m ready to get my act together. And with Ava by my side, they’ll believe it.
Our eyes meet across the room, and she starts walking toward me, her expression a mix of irritation and determination.
“You’ve got some nerve!” she says, pulling me aside the moment she reaches me.
“So, you did get my email,” I reply, smirking .
“You know I’m not going to accept it,” she hisses, her voice low but sharp.
“We can talk about that later,” I say, taking her hand and pulling her into a dance.
“I’m not falling for it this time,” she protests, trying to pull away.
I glance toward the cameras and flash a big grin. Ava notices the attention we’re drawing, and I feel her reluctantly relax in my arms.
“How does it feel to be in the spotlight?” I tease, pulling a rose from my pocket and tucking it gently behind her ear.
Her reaction isn’t as charmed as I hoped.
“You can’t buy me, Sebastian. You can’t just try to impress me with your money,” she says, her frustration still palpable.
“I’m not trying to buy you. I’m trying to show you my good-guy side,” I explain.
“Then you’ll need to try harder,” she shoots back.
Convincing Ava isn’t going to be easy.
“I want to help you, Ava,” I say earnestly.
Her expression shifts slightly, and she narrows her eyes at me. “What’s in it for you? What do you want? ”
“You know what I want,” I reply. “Be my pretend girlfriend. Help me secure my inheritance, and you’ll get your project fully funded—by me and McNeal. After that, you’ll be in the clear.”
“You know I can’t do that,” she says, her voice tinged with hesitation.
I spin her around, catching her as she falls into my arms.
“Smile,” I murmur, noticing the cameras focused on us.
Ava glances at the photographer and flashes a forced smile.
“It’s a win-win for both of us,” I continue. “I know how much this project means to you. This is your ticket to make it happen.”
“And we go our separate ways afterward?” she asks, her voice softening as if she’s starting to consider it.
“Exactly.” I smile, sensing her resolve starting to crack.
“What about my father?” she asks, her hesitation lingering. “Or have you forgotten that he’s your coach?”
“I’ll handle that,” I assure her confidently.
Her expression remains uncertain, but I can tell she’s thinking it over. The pieces are starting to fall into place.
I’ve known Coach Harrison for years. He’s the reason my career skyrocketed, pushing me harder than anyone else ever dared to. We’ve had our rough patches, but I know how to handle him. He knows his daughter better than anyone, and surely, he’d respect her decision to be with me—at least temporarily—if he believed she saw something good in me.
By the time I secure my inheritance, Ava and I would stage a breakup. She’d say I was too focused on my career, and we’d go our separate ways. It would be clean, simple, and effective.
“My father won’t be happy to hear that you dumped his daughter,” Ava says, her voice low as the music fades and the crowd around us begins to settle.
She’s right. Coach Harrison wouldn’t take kindly to me breaking his daughter’s heart. He’d likely refuse to train me again if he thought I caused her any pain.
“You dumped me,” I reply smoothly.
Ava smirks, lowering her gaze.
“Is that a yes?” I ask, stepping closer.
She hesitates for a moment before nodding.
“I need you to say it,” I insist.
“It’s a yes,” she finally says, her voice steady.
Unexpectedly, my chest tightens with a strange flicker of joy.
I move closer, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Thank you,” I whisper .
Her eyes meet mine, wide and uncertain, and I can feel her nervousness as I linger near her.
“Don’t worry,” I murmur into her ear. “I’ll make it worth it.”
Ava is undeniably beautiful, but this is nothing more than a mutually beneficial arrangement. For both our sakes, we’ll need to stay focused—keep our minds in the game and our hearts out of it.
Still, I can’t deny the thought that maybe, just maybe, there’s no harm in enjoying ourselves a little along the way.