Who Are You Dating

One day, a long-term client of mine hit me up. [15k to meet my online boyfriend for me? You can keep everything he buys you.]
I was about to type out a polite no thanks when she sent the next message. It was a picture of my nemesis.
My face went blank. [Are you telling me youve been using my photos and videos to date him?]

1
[You've been scammed, girl,] I typed back, trying to be gentle.
[Impossible,] she shot back instantly. [He's sent me so much money. He has to be the real Julian Henderson, the heir to the Henderson fortune.]
I sighed.
I dragged the photo she sent of Julian into a Google search. It was a stock image, used and abused by dozens of gossip blogs. I took a screenshot and sent it to her.
She was unmoved. [We've worked together for ages, would I lie to you? My online boyfriend is the Julian Henderson.]
I let out a slow, frustrated breath. From what I knew of the insufferable Julian Henderson, the swarm of women he dealt with in real life was more than enough to handle. The idea of him bothering with an online romance was laughable. Especially one where he had to look at my face. He wouldn't fall in love behind a screen; hed probably just throw up.
[He saw mywell, myphotos and didn't say anything?] I asked.
[He said they were beautiful. I mean, you are,] she said, then quickly added, [I even used your voice notes! He sends me ten grand every time I use one!]
Oh, dear god.
If Julian actually heard my cutesy, high-pitched voice from those recordings, he'd lose his appetite for a week.
That settled it. There was absolutely no way the guy she was talking to was Julian Henderson.
With that comforting thought, I scrolled through the photos and videos Id sold her. The pictures were just standard selfies, nothing too crazy.
The videos, however
Me, in a series of tight mini-dresses, complete with a cutesy kitten-ear filter.
Whatever. It wasn't the real Julian. No harm done.
My clients messages turned desperate. [Please, babe, just help me out. It's a totally safe, public meetup! I told him I'm not ready for anything physical. We're meeting at the downtown galleria, it's always packed.]
When I didn't reply, she sent another barrage of texts. [If you're nervous, just stay for one minute and leave! Please? If he thinks I'm a catfish, how am I supposed to keep getting money from him?]
A few seconds later, a notification popped up. A direct deposit of $50,000 had just landed in my bank account.
The fingers Id been using to type my refusal froze mid-air.
Then again, what kind of person uses Julian Hendersons photos for a dating profile and then has the guts to meet in person? Wasn't he afraid of getting called out for false advertising? This client could hire me to be her stand-in, but nobody could order the real Julian Henderson around.
You know what? I was curious. I wanted to see what kind of train wreck this guy was.
I deleted my half-written rejection.
[Fine.]
This client was playing with serious cash. Honestly, the fake Julian sounded more generous than the real one.
Fearing I'd change my mind, she immediately sent a flurry of screenshots of their chat history. It was a cringe-fest of "Hubby, kisses!" and "I only love you, hubby!" peppered with gifs of spinning cats and blushing kittens.
The fake Julian's replies were always the same.
[You're so beautiful, baby.]
Transaction Notification.
[You're so cute, baby.]
Transaction Notification.
Transaction Notification.
Transaction Notification.
Holy moneybags.
She quickly sent me the location. [This mall.]
I glanced at the address.
Well, what do you know.
The Crown Prince actually did frequent this place; it was near one of his family's villas.
Maybe
I pulled up Julian's contact and hit dial. Wouldn't it be perfect to have the imposter see the real Julian Henderson show up right in front of him? Scare him half to death.
Ah. Right.
I forgot. He blocked me.
I silently closed my phone.

2
After a thousand last-minute instructions from my client, I got dressed to the nines and arrived at the galleria half an hour early to scope the place out.
I never expected to actually run into Julian Henderson himself.
He was lounging near the central fountain, one hand casually tucked in his pocket. A girl was chattering away at his side, and while he wasn't really listening, he wore a lazy, detached smile. The fact that he wasn't showing any sign of annoyance was a miracle in itself.
I just stood there, stunned.
Then his eyes found me, and the smile vanished from his face.
He muttered something under his breath. "Just my luck."
I heard him loud and clear but kept my expression neutral.
The girl beside him instinctively tightened her grip on his arm, glaring at me. "And who are you?"
When I didn't answer, she turned to Julian with a wounded look.
Julian sneered. "A charity case."
He wasn't wrong. If I wasn't broke, I wouldn't be here to meet a fake Julian Henderson.
I let out a small, dry laugh, my voice light. "To be hated by the great Julian Henderson I must be doing something right."
His face instantly darkened. He crossed his arms, his words dripping with contempt. "Thea, what in this mall can you actually afford?"
"As long as you can afford it, that's all that matters," I replied with a breezy smile, gesturing to a luxury boutique nearby. "Didn't you buy me a purse from that very store once?"
The girl's eyes widened. "What's your relationship?"
What was our relationship? We were first loves.
And dating this spoiled prince was the single biggest mistake of my life.
Julian didn't say anything, and I wasn't about to embarrass myself further. I adjusted my bag and turned to leave.
"Thea." His voice was soft, but it carried the same arrogant, condescending tone it always had. "Which poor sucker did you trick into paying for your things this time?"
I turned back. "Don't worry, Julian. I haven't managed to trick anyone more generous than you yet."
Of course, the guy my client was tricking didn't count.
Julian had been coddled his entire life; he never bothered to hide his emotions. So I knew, right then, that he was in a very bad mood. Worried he'd ruin my upcoming meetup, I decided to placate him. "You were right before," I said softly. "Someone like me will never be happy. But as long as you're happy, that's what counts."
Honestly, I think the "nemesis" thing was one-sided. I never go out of my way to make enemies, especially not with a wealthy ex who used to be an open wallet.
But the spoiled boy who was once so hard to please was even less receptive now.
He curled his lip, his voice laced with venom. "Don't you go anywhere. I want to see what kind of trash you've managed to catch this time."
I froze.
I had no idea what kind of persona my client had created with this guy. What if it was some pure, innocent flower? My cover would be blown in seconds. Julian's personality was tailor-made for exposing lies; he'd tear me apart with a few pointed questions.
I swallowed my pride. "He's not as handsome as you, and he's not as rich. Julian, why do you have to humiliate me like this?"
The girl beside him nodded. "Yeah, Julian, let's just go."
Julian didn't even glance at her. He pulled a black card from his pocket. She took it, her entire demeanor shifting as she turned and walked away briskly. "Okay, I'm going shopping then. Text me if you need anything, Julian!"
"She's cute," I commented with a faint smile.
Julian ignored me but made no move to leave. He just stood there, staring down at me. That was him, though. Impulsive and willful.
I remembered a time he had a fever. I was frantic with worry, but he just lazily held my hand and whispered, "Want to see what 104 degrees feels like?"
My eyes went wide, and my face turned beet red. Not from embarrassment, but from sheer rage. "Are you sick in the head?"
He just smirked, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest.
In the end, we did try. And he ended up in the emergency room.
Such childish memories.
I lowered my gaze.
Julian's patience was wearing thin. He looked at me, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. "You didn't just make someone up, did you?"
I stayed silent.
His patience finally snapped. He answered a call from a friend. "Yeah, I'll be there in a bit." Then he shot me one last look, his eyes swimming with mockery. "Instead of carrying that cheap canvas tote, you should've just swallowed your pride and kept the bags I gave you."
With that, he turned and strode away, his long legs carrying him further and further from me.
I watched his tall figure recede. Even the way he walked was infuriatingly nonchalant.
After Julian and I broke up, I packed up every single luxury item he'd ever given me and shipped them back to his family's estate.
His only reply was a text with four words: [I don't want trash.]
Then he blocked me.
As for the gifts, a friend told me he threw them all in the dumpster outside his villa.
My phone buzzed incessantly.
N: [Hey, are you there yet?]
[Maybe we should meet in the coffee shop? I'll just tell him I'm waiting for him there?]
[Babe, please answer me!]
I took a deep breath, composing myself. [Okay, heading to the coffee shop now.]
I walked in and scanned the room.
I sent a text to my client: [Babe, bad news. Your Julian Henderson isn't here. Even worse news, there's only one handsome guy in the entire place.]
[Impossible! He said he's already there!] she replied frantically.
I sighed.
Just then, the one handsome guy stood up and started walking toward me. His eyes were almond-shaped, tilting up slightly at the corners, and a tiny beauty mark sat just beneath his left eye. He smiled, a gentle, warm expression that somehow radiated the charm of a cunning fox.
I instinctively took a step back.
He spoke, his voice a low, magnetic hum. "Thea."
My blood ran cold.
I looked down at my phone and furiously typed: [Your name isn't 'N,' is it? You didn't use my real name, did you?]
She replied instantly: [Uh, yeah. I was too scared to use my real name, and we were negotiating prices for the photos, so I just sent him yours. Sorry!]
[Wow.]
I shut off my phone, took another deep breath, and looked up at the handsome stranger. "Hi there."
Up close, he was even more striking. His features were exquisite without being feminine. A high-bridged nose, thin lips curved into a slight smile, and a single, sparkling stud in his left ear. He was far better looking than I had imagined. Stunning, even.
Wait a minute. Why would this guy need to use Julian's photos?
I gave a weak smile. "You look a little different from the photos you sent me."
He raised an eyebrow. "I don't recall ever sending you any of my photos."
My face twitched.
This guy never even sent a picture, so how on earth did my client become so convinced he was Julian Henderson?!
"Oh, my mistake," I said through a clenched jaw, forcing another smile. "Would you mind if I used the restroom really quickly?"
"Of course," he said, his smile never wavering.
The second I was inside the restroom, I dialed "N."
The moment the call connected, I exploded. "I TOLD YOU, YOUR ONLINE BOYFRIEND IS NOT JULIAN HENDERSON! NOT JULIAN HENDERSON! But you wouldn't listen. I figured he was just a catfish, but it turns out HE NEVER EVEN SENT YOU A PHOTO! How in the hell did you decide he was Julian?!"
There was a long silence on the other end.
Finally, a stunned "Holy shit" echoed back.
It was a man's voice.
I froze.
"He's not Julian Henderson? How is that possible? Then who is he?" a torrent of panicked questions came pouring out.
"You're asking me?!" I practically screamed back. "Where did you even find this guy? This is so unprofessional!"
I thought I was dealing with some girl running a romance scam. Who knew it was a guy? No wonder he had to buy my voice notes.
"What does he look like? Describe him, quickly!" The guy on the phone sounded even more panicked than I was.
"He's actually really handsome, so you don't have to worry about that," I said.
Another silence.
After a long pause, his voice came back, devoid of all life. "He doesn't have a beauty mark under his eye, does he?"
"He does."
"AHHHHHHHHH! I'M SO DEAD!"
Right, now he's dead. Where was this fear when he was scamming money off the guy? If he had been scamming the real Julian, he really would be dead. Julian would have had him skinned alive.
A moment later, he asked mournfully, "So what do we do?"
"I'm curious," I said. "This guy seems a lot nicer than Julian. What made you think Julian was such a great catch anyway?"
"No, you don't understand. This guymy brotheris way scarier than Julian. If Julian wanted to kill me, my grandma might step in. If my brother wants to kill me, no one will lift a finger to help!"
He started sobbing.
My eyes widened. "What did you just say?"
He was clearly in despair. "No wonder Julian said I was an idiot. Am I really that stupid?"
"So what now?" I asked. "Should I just make a run for it?"
"NO!" he yelped. "If you run, he'll investigate. He'll one hundred percent trace it back to me!"
I was speechless.
"You know what? Just take over my account," he said decisively. "Just pretend it's been you two talking this whole time. My brother's not bad-looking, and he's loaded"
My jaw dropped.
Before I could answer, he started muttering to himself. "I never knew he'd be so generous in a relationship. Shit, why isn't he like this with my allowance?"
"Forget it," I said flatly.
Ever since breaking up with Julian, I'd learned one thing: what doesn't belong to you will never be yours. Especially not these wealthy young masters. Don't waste your time fantasizing.
Besides, if I actually got involved with this guy and Julian found out, who knows how he'd freak out.
No, wait. He'd probably just sneer at the guy: "Your taste is terrible, getting involved with a girl like Thea."
I sighed.
The guy on the phone wasn't happy. "Hey, doesn't your service include after-sales support?"
Wow. They really were related. That twisted logic was just like Julian's.
"I'm hanging up," I said.
"Fifty grand! I'll add another fifty!" he pleaded. "That's all my New Year's money! My brother can't find out!"
"One hundred."
"You're a loan shark! You know you can get plenty from my brother, and you're still trying to bleed me dry?"
"Then forget it," I said.
"DEAL!" he cried, defeated.
"What's your brother's name?" I asked.
"Sebastian Henderson."
My head shot up. "You mean Julian's cousin? The one who's always been abroad?"
"Yeah."

3
I smoothed down my dress in the restroom mirror, reapplied my lipstick, and took a final, deep breath before walking back out.
Sebastian was waiting for me.
To be honest, Sebastian didn't seem as prim and proper as his name suggested. He had an air of effortless confidence, like someone who existed outside the rules. That constant, gentle smile made him look like a fox.
Why would someone with his kind of money and power bother with online dating?
I took the initiative and linked my arm through his. He stiffened for a fraction of a second, then his smile widened.
"Anything you want to buy? Or should we eat first?" he asked.
"Either is fine," I said.
He then led me from one boutique to another. Unlike Julian, he would patiently comment on how each bag or dress looked on me before buying everything. Julian would just find a chair, play on his phone, and pay when I was done.
It was strange. It felt like a perfect boyfriend had just fallen from the sky.
But I knew Sebastian wasn't as easygoing as he appeared. The more perfect they seem, the more dangerous they are.
For now, though
He even had two bodyguards following us, their arms laden with shopping bags.
"Thea, I made a reservation at that restaurant you said you wanted to try," Sebastian said, his lips curling into a soft smile.
"Let's go!" I agreed cheerfully.
"Do you remember which one it was?" he asked, his gaze dropping to me, deceptively casual.
He looked like a cat watching a mouse in its paws.
Which one.
I had no idea.
And I couldn't exactly pull out my phone and ask my male-client-who-is-now-my-fake-boyfriend's-brother.
The silence stretched.
My heart hammered against my ribs. I bit my lip, a sudden chill creeping over my skin.
I finally understood what the kid meant when he said Sebastian was scarier than Julian. Julian wore all his emotions on his sleeve. If you pissed him off, you knew it immediately.
But Sebastian I couldn't read him at all. I had no idea what he meant by asking that question.
I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, he chuckled, his voice a warm, deep timber. "It's okay. You're busy, it's normal to be forgetful. You'll know it when we get there."
I nodded frantically.
Sebastian was actually a nice guy! If Julian had known I'd forgotten something about him, he would have spent the next five hours delivering a non-stop monologue of creative insults.

4
When we arrived at the restaurant, the ma?tre d' bowed respectfully. "Mr. Henderson."
He led us to a private room in the back, an elegant space complete with its own koi pond.
I sat across from Sebastian. He had the cuffs of his shirt loosely rolled up, revealing well-defined wrists. The pale skin made the blue veins stand out even more.
"You can order," I said, not even looking at the menu. "I'm not a picky eater."
Sebastian smiled. "Alright."
I took the opportunity to text the kid, Noah. [You told Sebastian you wanted to eat at a French place? I almost got caught. Are there any other details I need to know? Tell me now.]
Suddenly, the door to our room was pushed open.
A familiar voice rang out. "Sebastian? You're back in the country?"
I froze.
Julian clicked his tongue, his voice bored. "I thought this room was empty, so I didn't bother making a reservation. The others are full. Mind if we share?"
I ducked my head, trying to shrink into nothing. But I forgot what Julian once told me: he could recognize me even if I was reduced to ashes, just so he could scatter me to the wind himself.
"Thea?" The lazy drawl in his voice instantly turned to ice.
I didn't dare look up.
Worse, my phone lit up with a reply.
[Huh? No way. I never told my brother where I wanted to eat. I hate French food. I like rotisserie chicken.]
My eyes widened in horror.
"Look at me, Thea," Julian growled, his voice a low threat.
Sebastian's fingers tapped lightly on the table. "Is that any way to speak to your sister-in-law?"
"My what?" Julian's voice shot up an octave.
Only then did I slowly raise my head, offering a weak smile. "What a coincidence." Then, taking Sebastian's cue, I added, "Little brother."
"Who the hell is your little brother?!" Julian exploded. He pointed a shaking finger at me, then turned to Sebastian. "You don't know she dated me?"
Sebastian sipped his coffee, completely unbothered. "I didn't. Are you two still together?"
"No, no! We broke up a long time ago," I interjected quickly.
"Shut up," Julian snapped, his voice tight with suppressed rage. Each word was ground out from between his teeth. His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles white. "Sebastian, didn't you run a background check on me when I was dating her? Don't you dare lie to my face and say you don't know who she is."
Sebastian crossed his legs, his posture relaxed. In the suffocating tension, he actually managed a lazy smile. "I did. So what?"
Julian's eyes were red with fury.
I sighed and decided to intervene. "Don't be mad. Maybe we just weren't meant to be. Why don't you have some water and calm down?"
I started to get up to pour him a glass.
"Thea." Sebastian's voice was light, but his gaze was sharp.
My heart seized. I immediately sat back down, perfectly still.
Julian looked at me in disbelief. "You argue with me about everything, but you listen to him like that? Did he put a spell on you?"
I didn't answer. To be honest, Sebastian was just more intimidating.
A long silence passed.
Finally, Julian's voice was hoarse. "When did you two get together?"
I couldn't answer that.
Sebastian answered for me, his tone even. "End of last year."
"When, exactly?" Julian pressed, relentless.
"The day after Christmas."
My smile froze on my face.
A cold, mocking sneer spread across Julian's lips. "Wow, Thea. You really are something else."
Julian and I had broken up on Christmas Day.
But I wasn't the one who started talking to Sebastian on the 26th!
I kept my mouth shut, swallowing the bitter truth, and let him think I was the kind of girl who moved on in a day.
Seeing my silence, Julian slammed the door on his way out.

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