Page 1 of The Pretender

PROLOGUE

Sebastian

“What in the mother of all fucks?” My mouth falls open. “Have I been roofied?

Was someone stupid enough to actually slip something in my drink?

I scrub a hand down my face and over the dusting of hair already growing back from this morning’s shave.

“Am I foaming at the mouth?” I ask Vee, looking around at the empty townhouse. Trash and empty beer cans are scattered on the counters—a fucking mess that someone, who is not me, will clean up later. “Where’s my phone? I need a mirror. If I’m about to die of poisoning, I prefer not to go out looking like I frenched a Saint Bernard.”

“Sebastian… I’m sorry,” she explains, her voice lighter than before. “I didn’t mean for—”

Oh, yeah, she meant for this to happen. Don’t let that pouty mouth fool you. I’ve had this shit coming, and she served her revenge up frosty with a side of fries. The camera won’t lie when she airs this video. All of her followers will see me go down like a little bitch—all red-faced and wide-eyed. Hell, I’d have been less shocked if I stuck my dick to an antenna during a lightning storm. She fucked me up good, and I have to give credit where credit is due.

“Shh… now, now,” I say, holding myself upright. “Don’t go getting all soft on me.” I mean to hold my finger to her lips, but I’m drunk as fuck, and end up shushing her with my thumb instead.

“You won fair and square. Never apologize for winning.” Gravity—or the alcohol—pulls me closer to her body. “You hear me?”

The unique gold flecks swirl lazily in the depths of her chocolate eyes as she stares up at me, a frown line creasing her flawless skin. She probably expected a different reaction. One where I yell and throw shit around while downing the last two beers sitting on the coffee table. But that would be too satisfying for her. What Valentina Lambros needs is what we’ve always had together. War.

“Sebastian—”

“Tsk, tsk.“ I chide, shushing her.

I want to force my thumb into her lying mouth and feel the warmth of her lips wrap around it and ease the ache. Instead, I swipe away a tear and drag my disappointed thumb through the layers of makeup, revealing her bare face inch by inch.

Grasping her chin between my fingers, I tilt her head to the side, allowing my breath to flutter over her ear. “You may have won the battle, Valentina. But I promise you this—I will win the war.”

CHAPTERONE

Valentina

University CamFlix Competition Submission

Entry Number: 75

Sebastian and Valentina

First Interview, also known as day one with the fake demon boyfriend

The clapperboard snaps in front of our face. I can’t believe I agreed to this. And with Sebastian of all people. Apparently, I like to torture myself for fun. Wait, no, for money.

“Why don’t you start from the beginning? Tell our producers why we should consider you for this competition.”

I glance at Sebastian, who has a stupid grin on his face. “Go ahead, tell them, sweets.” His voice is like satin: smooth, cool, and silky enough to slip off his bed of bullshit.

I’d like nothing more than to junk punch him and watch his eyes water, but I made the bastard a promise—act like I love him until we win. Trust me, it’s not as easy as it sounds. The boy might have abs for days and a face you could see yourself doing those, “see what your future baby would look like” apps, but it doesn’t help me in this situation. You see, Sebastian has a personality that makes me a little… stabby. Amongst other, violent things.

Inhaling, I level Sebastian with the fakest smile I can manage. “Sure, Honey.” The words are bitter and taste a lot like hatred. “You see, Tom—” I clear my throat and smile at the camera, “—It all started with a war.”

* * *

Two months after the incident Sebastian and I agreed to never discuss again.

“You do realizethis is breaking and entering, right?”

My sister from another mister, also known as my roommate, Aspen, actually looks like a real—and very hot—burglar in her all-black attire. Me? Not so much. I didn’t bother changing out of the worn, flannel shirt—courtesy of my brother—and the denim cutoffs I wore to class this morning. I had other things on my mind. Things like stalking my neighbor so I can break into his house, uninterrupted.

---