Episode 5

My life returned to normal in the following days.

Well, more or less.

Because, as much as I tried to ignore it, Lorenzo Morreti wouldn't leave my head.

I'd pick up my phone, thinking about looking him up, but I'd stop before hitting "search." After all, what would I say? "Hi, it was me who paid you to pretend to be my boyfriend and then slept with you"?

No. That would be ridiculous.

So I continued my routine.

Until, a week later, Charlotte appeared in my office with a mischievous smile.

"You'll never guess who I just saw."

I raised an eyebrow.

"The Pope?"

"Better. Lorenzo Morreti."

My heart leaped.

"What? Where?!"

"Here in the building."

My mouth went dry.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. He was at the reception."

I stood still for a moment, trying to process the information.

What was he doing here?

Before I could decide whether to feign a faint to escape or run away, my phone rang.

"Miss Evans?" The receptionist's voice sounded on the other end. "There's a Mr. Lorenzo Morreti here. He said he has an important matter to discuss with you."

Charlotte looked at me, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Are you going to see him?"

I took a deep breath and squeezed my eyes shut.

"Send him up."

Because, as much as I tried to run from this story, Lorenzo Morreti had returned to my life.

And I needed to find out why.

The elevator seemed to take an eternity to reach my floor. My heart was pounding in my chest, and I hated it. Why was I nervous?

Charlotte was sitting at my desk, watching my despair as if it were first-class entertainment.

"You're sweating, Ruby."

"Shut up."

"Are you going to tell me you're not anxious to see your mysterious lover?"

"He's not my lover. It was one night. One."

She arched an eyebrow.

"Let's see what he has to say."

Before I could tell Charlotte to leave my office, a faint ding echoed down the hall. The elevator had arrived.

I swallowed hard as the door opened and Lorenzo Morreti stepped out.

He wore a suit perfectly tailored to his tall, athletic body. His brown hair was impeccable, and his stubble gave him an even more dangerous and irresistible air.

Damn it.

I stood up, trying to appear in control.

"Mr. Morreti."

He raised an eyebrow, amused.

"Miss Evans."

Charlotte let out a "hmmm" and left the room before I could tell her to go.

Lorenzo closed the door behind him and studied me.

"So, this is how you greet me after you ran from the hotel without even saying goodbye?"

I crossed my arms and feigned disinterest.

"I thought it was clear it was just one night. No need for goodbyes."

He smirked.

"Interesting. Because you seemed quite generous, considering you paid me afterwards."

My face grew hot.

"I already apologized for that!"

"No, you didn't."

I sighed, exasperated.

"Okay. Sorry for paying you like you were a..."

"Gigolo?"

I grimaced.

"I didn't say that."

"But you thought it."

I huffed.

"What do you want, Lorenzo? Why are you here?"

He approached, and I forced myself not to back away.

"I have business in this building. But when I saw the name Ruby Evans on the reception directory, I thought I should come say hi."

"How kind of you."

"I always am."

We stared at each other for a few seconds, and I hated the fact that I still felt a shiver on my skin just being near him.

"Business?" I asked, trying to focus on something other than the way he was looking at me. "What do you do for a living?"

Lorenzo tilted his head, as if deciding whether to tell me or not.

"Do you really want to know?"

I nodded.

He smiled.

"I'm a lawyer."

My jaw almost dropped.

"What?!"

"A lawyer. Like you."

"You can't be serious."

He took a card from his pocket and handed it to me.

Lorenzo Morreti

Corporate Lawyer and Family Law Specialist.

Morreti & Associates

I gaped.

"So... you weren't an Uber driver?"

He laughed.

"No. But apparently, I'm convincing enough for you to have believed it."

"I... how... why?"

He leaned against my desk, clearly enjoying my confusion.

"That afternoon, I had just left a trial, I stopped to answer a message, when you got into my car and started giving orders. I found it funny, so I decided to see how far it would go."

I put my hand to my forehead.

"My God."

"Relax, Evans. It was the best ride of my life."

I looked at him, still trying to process everything.

"So, you mean to say... you have a law firm?"

"Exactly."

"And you've been listening to me vent about my ex, my failed love life, and you let me think you were an Uber driver?!"

"Basically."

"Lorenzo!"

He shrugged.

"It was fun."

I stared at him, incredulous.