Veil Of Ruse

hrough the long, polished hallways. Among the crowd stood a woman, her face partially hidden under the brim of a baseball cap, her

mories she carried. The kind of memories that clung to her skin like an unwelcome shadow. Her last relationship had ended in a fiery mess, leaving her broken in ways she hadn't

heartbreak. She remembered the endless nights she spent crying over her ex, wondering what she had done wrong. That last relationship had wrecked he

e had

was sharper, more guarded. Her heart was still fragile, but her instincts

the seat, staring out the window as the city whizzed by. The familiar streets felt strange no

here for one reason, and one reason only:

sful, and, on the surface, devoted. But that's the thing about surfaces-they can be deceiving. Her doubts about his loyalty had been grow

hing. But her failed relationship had taught her that trust was far more fragile. That'

him in a way no woma

The receptionist handed her a key card, and as she rode the elevator to her floor, Lucia felt the weight of

, snapping her out of her thou

dy. You sure you

friend since college, the only one who knew about her plan. She had been the one to help her craft t

typed back

ould she trust her instincts? Was she capable of rebuilding the trust that had been sha

charismatic, too, just like Diego. She had caught him cheating on her, and he had blamed her for bei

ture held. But one thing wa

appearance that Diego had always admired. Instead, she wore simple, inexpensive clothes-a faded blouse, worn jeans, and scuf

who had struggled, someone who wouldn't catch anyone's eye. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, leaving stray tendrils framing her face. She wor

identity. This was no longer the same Lucia who had once believed in fairy-tale

and messaged Ivy. "Lea

y sharp. Remember,

a cheap, worn-out jacket to conceal the last t

Diego's company, posing as his new driver. It had taken some convincing and a few w

d through security without a hitch, the ID card Ivy had forged allowing her acce

a man in a suit approached he

u doing here?" he asked, his

Diego," Lucia responded co

oking her over from head to t

his gaze lingering on her attire. Af

h his tone suggested h

re assertively. "Pull the car aroun

rofessional role without missing

r the next few weeks. Her hands shook as she gripped the steering wheel, but she force

dark hair was styled with precision, not a strand out of place, and his olive skin seemed to glow under the soft lighting of the lobby. Lucia's breath caught in her throat as she watched him

an. His success was evident in the way he carried himself, exuding an air of sophistication that took her by surprise. They hadn't seen each other

eir futures. But this Diego, the man she now saw, was far more than she ever imagined. The years had turned him into someone both familiar and foreign, and she could

lancing at her. "Morning," he said c

she replied, h

," he instructed, scrolling through notifications as if

she turned the car onto the busy street, the

ut steal glances at him in the rearview mirror. There he was, the man she was supposed to mar

her disguise. But for now, she had the upper hand. She was the invisible observer, w

o it

he entered the compound, she was taken aback by the stunning beauty of his house. The architecture was modern, with sleek lines and large wind

re done," Diego instructed as he stepped out

nside the building, she parked the car, the engine's hum fading in the comp

roduced himself wit

y, her voice clipped but pol

y to me, right?" Andre as

r cap again, making sure her face stayed partially hidden

ll have it ready for you." He

. Watching Andre walk back to his post, she released a slow breath, relieved to be wrapp

keep her guard up. She stepped outside the gate and quickly booked a cab, glancing back at Diego'

And the longer she kept up this act, the har

ying flat against the soft mattress. She sighed deeply, her mind spinning from the day's events. Just as she

o greeted, his voic

se quickened. She had spent the entire day in disguise, driving for the

he asked, trying to kee

ego said with a tired sigh. "I

but she forced herself to sound casual.

en pay much attention. I was so tired I barely gl

nize me, she thought. Keeping her voice st

ened then, filled with affection. "You know, my love, I can't wait to see you

lf and her past heartbreak. During that time, she and Diego had reconnected, their childhood friendship blossoming into som

though her heart felt heavy. "I'll come b

yourself over there," Diego said

replied softly, feeling the wei

e. We'll talk

ely. Bye

, Lu

phone buzzed again-t

rough, teasing as always. "How di

raziest thing I've ever done. I'm playing the role of a driver and a f

y said, her tone lighthearte

man up close but not being able to hug him or kiss him-it hurts. And the worst p

laug

uldn't take my eyes off him when I saw him earlier! He's my definition of a prince charming in a shining armour, Ivy. That

till think this whole plan is a little... mad.

er voice steady but filled with co

serious. "Anyway, we'll see how it all plays

phone down beside her. She stared at the ceiling,

t after the heartbreak she had endured in the past, she couldn't shake the need for certainty. Sh