Chapter 1 The Lie That Lit The Fuse

Chapter 1: The Lie That Lit the Fuse

The sticky summer heat of New York City clung to my skin like a bad memory as I pushed through the doors of the old high school gym in Queens. It was July 2025, and the ten-year reunion banners fluttered under the fluorescent lights, mocking me with their cheerful "Welcome Back, Class of 2015!" script. I shouldn't have come. My life was a dumpster fire—my influencer gig had blown up in my face two weeks ago when some troll exposed my sponsored posts as half-faked. Brands dropped me like a hot potato, my followers dipped by the thousands, and now here I was, drowning my sorrows in cheap chardonnay. Nine glasses in, and the room spun just enough to make everything feel like a hazy dream. Or nightmare.

I scanned the crowd, faces blurring into ghosts from my past. Laughter echoed off the walls, people hugging, swapping stories about promotions and babies. Me? I had nothing. My ex-fiancé Mark had cheated with my so-called friend Sarah six months back, and the wound still festered. I tugged at the hem of my little black dress, feeling exposed, like everyone could see the "loser" stamped on my forehead.

That's when she appeared. Brittany Hayes. The Mean Girl. Even after a decade, she looked like she'd stepped out of a magazine—platinum hair cascading in perfect waves, sapphire eyes sharp as knives, towering in heels that made her 5'9" frame even more intimidating. She was married to some tech mogul now, flaunting a rock the size of a walnut on her finger. Back in school, she'd made my life hell: spreading rumors, stealing my crushes, turning the cafeteria into her personal throne room.

"Ava Thompson? Is that you?" Her voice sliced through the chatter, sweet as poison. She sauntered over with her entourage—two women I vaguely remembered as her sidekicks—sipping cocktails and eyeing me like I was yesterday's trash.

"Hey, Brittany," I muttered, forcing a smile. My heart pounded in my chest, a mix of old fear and fresh anger bubbling up. Why did she still get under my skin?

"Oh my God, you look... well, the same." She tilted her head, her lips curling into that signature smirk. "Heard about your little influencer drama. That viral takedown video? Brutal. And Mark? Cheating with your bestie? Ouch. How are you holding up, sweetie?"

Her words hit like slaps. The room seemed to quiet, or maybe it was just the blood rushing in my ears. I gripped my wine glass tighter, the stem cool against my sweaty palm. "I'm fine," I lied, my voice steadier than I felt. Inside, I was crumbling—humiliated, raw, like she'd peeled back my skin to expose the mess underneath.

"Fine? Come on, dish. Who's the rebound? Anyone hotter than Mark? He was cute, but let's be real, not exactly A-list." Her friends giggled, and Brittany leaned in, her perfume overwhelming, floral and fake.

I opened my mouth to snap back, but nothing came. The wine fogged my brain. Hotter than Mark? My mind raced. I scanned the room desperately, looking for an escape, a distraction—anything. And then my eyes landed on him.

Damian Black. Standing by the bar, alone, nursing a whiskey. God, he was even hotter than I remembered. Back in high school, he was the ultimate bad boy—tousled raven hair, steel-blue eyes that could pin you in place, a jawline chiseled from marble. He'd been a senior when I was a sophomore, Lena's stepbrother after their parents' messy merger of families. Every girl crushed on him, including me. I'd doodle his name in notebooks, blush when he'd nod in the halls. Now, at 30, he was a billionaire tech mogul, running Black Enterprises, but he still had that brooding edge, tattoos peeking from under his crisp black shirt, broad shoulders filling out his suit like it was made for him. 6'2" of pure intensity.

Before I could think, the words tumbled out. "Actually, yeah. I'm dating someone way hotter than Mark ever dreamed of being." My voice carried louder than intended, fueled by liquid courage.

Brittany's eyebrows shot up, her smirk faltering for a split second. "Oh? Do tell. Is he here? Point him out."

Panic surged through me, hot and electric. What had I done? My stomach twisted, but I couldn't back down. Not with her staring at me like that. I pointed subtly toward Damian. "Him. Damian Black."

Her eyes followed, widening. "Damian? Lena's brother? No way. He's... well, out of your league, hun. Prove it."

The challenge hung in the air, her friends whispering. My cheeks burned with embarrassment, but anger pushed me forward. I excused myself with a mumbled "Watch this," and wove through the crowd toward him, my heart hammering like a drum. What was I doing? This was insane. But the wine whispered, Just ask. What's the worst that can happen?

Damian turned as I approached, his blue eyes locking onto mine. Up close, he was intoxicating— a faint scar on his cheek from some old fight, the scent of sandalwood and something darker, like secrets. "Ava," he said, his voice low and smooth, like gravel wrapped in velvet. "Long time."

"You remember me?" I blurted, surprised. My crush from back then flooded back, making my knees weak.

He smirked, that half-smile that had melted hearts in high school. "Lena's friend. The one who always had her nose in a book. Or was it a phone these days?"

I laughed nervously, the sound too high-pitched. "Yeah, that's me. Listen, Damian, I need a huge favor. Like, massive. Brittany's over there grilling me about my love life, and I kind of... said we're dating. Just for tonight. Please? Pretend to be my boyfriend? I'll owe you forever."

His eyebrow arched, amusement flickering in his eyes. He set his glass down, leaning closer. "Pretend boyfriend, huh? That's a new one. Why me?"

"Because you're... you. Hot. Successful. And she's watching." I glanced back; Brittany was staring, arms crossed.

Damian followed my gaze, his expression hardening for a moment—something unreadable flashing there. Then he nodded. "Alright. But I'm gonna collect on that favor, Ava. A favor for a favor."

Relief washed over me, mixed with a thrill I couldn't place. "Deal. Thank you. Seriously."

He stepped closer, his hand sliding to my waist, warm and possessive. Electricity shot through me at the touch—real, not pretend. "Let's make it convincing then," he murmured, his breath tickling my ear.

We walked back together, his arm around me like it belonged there. Brittany's face was priceless—shock mixed with envy. "Well, well," she said, recovering quickly. "Damian Black. Didn't know you slummed it with influencers."

Damian's grip tightened slightly, protective. "Ava's more than that, Brittany. Always has been." His voice was calm, but there was an edge, like he knew her game.