Jenna Ortega sat at her favorite corner table in "Bean There," the local coffee shop that she’d frequented since her rise to fame. The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air, mingling with the sweet notes of pastries. Today, her hazel eyes scanned the room, not for a caffeine fix, but for a solution to her dilemma. Public scrutiny was ever-increasing, and she found herself overwhelmed with the pressures of the industry. The tabloids were relentless, and with her upcoming role as a romantic lead, Jenna needed a temporary solution—a fake boyfriend. As she stirred her caramel macchiato, her gaze landed on a handsome stranger sitting alone at the table next to hers. He had tousled dark hair, a soft smile that seemed to light up his face, and the kind of effortless charm that caught her attention immediately. He was absorbed in a book, completely unaware of the storm brewing in Jenna’s mind. “Excuse me,” she said, summoning her courage as she stood up. His hazel eyes met hers, and a brief flicker of surprise crossed his features. “I hope I’m not interrupting, but I have an unusual proposition.” The stranger raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “I’m all ears,” he replied, closing his book and giving her his full attention. “My name is Jenna,” she introduced herself. “I need a fake boyfriend. Someone to go along with a little charade for about a month. It’s all for my public image.” She hesitated, wondering if she was coming off too desperate. His smile widened, clearly amused. “A fake boyfriend? That sounds like a plot twist right out of a rom-com. What’s in it for me?” Jenna pulled out a neatly folded document from her tote bag. “Here’s the contract. It outlines everything. You’d get paid a decent amount for your time, and we’d keep it light—dinners, red carpet events, and the occasional Instagram post. No strings attached.” He took the contract and began to skim through it, a smirk playing on his lips as he read through her terms. “This is quite the business proposal,” he chuckled as he looked at her.