Isabella had been leaning against the marble countertop for nearly ten minutes, trying to find a solution that seemed more ridiculous the longer she thought about it.
The enormous living room of the residence was completely silent.
At that hour, the owners had gone out and most of the staff had finished their shifts. Only a few golden lamps remained on, illuminating the elegant furniture, the tall windows, and the perfectly polished marble floor.
Isabella was still wearing her work uniform.
Simple black dress.
White apron.
Dark hair tied back.
Flat shoes that were already beginning to hurt after working since early morning.
But none of that worried her as much as the phone call she had just received.
“Mom, I understand,” she said, trying to keep her voice low. “You don’t have to keep repeating it.”
A response came through the phone that made Isabella close her eyes.
“Yes, I’m going tomorrow.”
Another pause.
“No, I’m not going alone.”
That was a lie.
And that was exactly the problem.
Isabella did not have a date.
And for weeks, she had been assuring her family that she did.
It had all started as a small lie.
A rather stupid one, really.
During a family dinner, her older sister had started talking about the San Germán annual gala.
It was one of the most important social events in the city.
Business owners.
Wealthy families.
Diplomats.
People whose last names regularly appeared in society magazines.
Isabella’s family did not belong to that world.
But her uncle worked for one of the sponsoring companies and had managed to get several invitations.
Then Mariana appeared.
Isabella’s cousin.
Elegant.
Conceited.
Always perfectly dressed.
And always interested in proving that her life was better than everyone else’s.
“You’re going too?” Mariana had asked.
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
Isabella made the mistake of hesitating.
Just for one second.
But Mariana noticed.
“Don’t tell me you still don’t have a boyfriend.”
Several people around the table laughed.
Not cruelly.
But Isabella felt uncomfortable.
“I have a boyfriend.”
The words came out before she could stop them.
Mariana raised her eyebrows.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“What a surprise.”
Then came the inevitable question.
“What’s his name?”
Isabella improvised.
“Alejandro.”
“What does he do?”
“Business.”
That had only made things worse.
Mariana smiled.
“Then bring him to the gala.”
Isabella could have confessed immediately.
She could have said she was joking.
But her pride took control.
“Of course.”
From that moment on, the lie grew by itself.
Her mother wanted to meet Alejandro.
Her sister asked how they had met.
Mariana had even reserved two seats together at her table.
And now there was less than one day before the gala.
Isabella tightened her grip on the phone.
“Mom, tomorrow you’re going to meet Alejandro.”
She lied again.
“Yes. I promise.”
She ended the call.
Then dropped her forehead against the countertop.
“I’m finished.”
“Looks that way.”
Isabella straightened suddenly.
A man was standing behind her.
She had not heard him approach.
He looked to be around thirty-five.
Tall.
Dark hair perfectly styled.
Custom black suit.
White shirt.
Burgundy tie.
Immaculate shoes.
He looked far too elegant to be casually walking around that house without Isabella knowing who he was.
She quickly put away her phone.
“I’m sorry.”
The man smiled.
“You don’t have to apologize.”
“I didn’t know anyone was here.”
“I noticed.”
Isabella felt embarrassed.
How much had he heard?
The stranger rested one hand lightly against the countertop.
“Does Alejandro have a problem?”
Isabella widened her eyes.
“You heard my conversation?”
“Only the part where you promised to introduce a boyfriend tomorrow who apparently doesn’t exist.”
Isabella took a deep breath.
Perfect.
Now a stranger knew she was a liar.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Correct.”
The man looked amused.
Isabella quickly gathered some glasses she had to take to the kitchen.
“Good night.”
“Wait.”
She stopped.
“What?”
He spoke with complete calm.
“Let me go with you.”
Isabella frowned.
“Go with me where?”
“To the gala.”
She gave a small laugh.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know who you are.”
“That can be fixed.”
“And because I need to introduce a boyfriend.”
“That can be fixed too.”
Isabella stared at him.
“Are you suggesting that you pretend to be my boyfriend?”
“Exactly.”
She studied his face, trying to figure out whether he was mocking her.
He did not appear to be.
“Why?”
The man shrugged.
“Sounds fun.”
“For you.”
“For you, it could solve a problem.”
Isabella shook her head.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Probably.”
“You don’t even know who I am.”
“Isabella Torres.”
She froze.
“How do you know my name?”
The man discreetly pointed toward the name tag on her uniform.
Isabella looked down.
She felt even more embarrassed.
“Of course.”
He smiled.
“I’m Sebastián.”
“Sebastián what?”
There was a brief pause.
“Sebastián is enough for now.”
That made Isabella trust him even less.
“Definitely not.”
She picked up the glasses.
Sebastián walked beside her.
“Why did you invent a boyfriend?”
“That’s none of your business either.”
“I’m guessing someone bothered you.”
Isabella stopped.
“My family thinks I need to arrive with someone to prove my life is going well.”
“And do you believe that too?”
The question surprised her.
“No.”
“Then you could go alone.”
“I could.”
“But you don’t want to give someone the satisfaction.”
Isabella looked at him.
Sebastián smiled.
“I have sisters. I recognize this kind of problem.”
She tried not to laugh.
“My cousin is unbearable.”
“Ah.”
“Her name is Mariana.”
“And you want to prove something to her?”
Isabella hesitated.
“Maybe.”
Sebastián nodded.
“Then you need a convincing boyfriend.”
“I don’t need anything.”
“You just told someone on the phone that tomorrow you need to introduce one, even if he’s fake.”
Isabella closed her eyes.
“Did you literally hear everything?”
“Almost everything.”
“How embarrassing.”
“I’ve heard worse conversations.”
She placed the glasses onto a tray.
Sebastián was still there.
“Suppose,” Isabella said, “that I agreed to this insanity.”
“Excellent start.”
“I haven’t agreed.”
“Continue.”
“The gala belongs to the San Germán family.”
Sebastián did not react.
Isabella expected at least some surprise.
Nothing.
“Do you know what event I’m talking about?”
“Yes.”
“It’s very exclusive.”
“I know.”
“You can’t just show up wearing a nice suit.”
Sebastián glanced at his suit.
“How disappointing.”
Isabella ignored the comment.
“They check invitations.”
“Good.”
“There’s security.”
“That sounds responsible.”
She started losing patience.
“You don’t even know where it is.”
Sebastián smiled.
“I know exactly where it is.”
Isabella crossed her arms.
“Of course.”
“As a matter of fact, they’re expecting me tomorrow too.”
Now Isabella went completely still.
“What?”
Sebastián looked at his watch.
“I have to go.”
“Wait.”
He started walking.
“Who are you?”
Sebastián turned.
“Tomorrow. Seven-thirty.”
“I haven’t said yes.”
“I’ll be here anyway.”
“Sebastián!”
He smiled.
“Good night, Isabella.”
And disappeared down the hallway.
She remained still.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Then whispered:
“This man is insane.”
But that night, while trying to sleep, she could not stop wondering who he really was.
The next morning, Isabella tried to get information.
She discreetly asked the staff.
“Do any of you know a man named Sebastián?”
One of the cooks replied:
“Sebastián what?”
“I don’t know.”
“That helps a lot.”
Isabella described him.
No one seemed to recognize him.
Until she spoke with Teresa, the head housekeeper.
When Isabella mentioned the black suit and burgundy tie, Teresa stopped checking a list.
“You spoke to him?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
Isabella sensed something strange in Teresa’s tone.
“Nothing important.”
“Isabella.”
“He asked me about tonight’s gala.”
Teresa watched her.
“And?”
“He said he was invited too.”
Teresa hid a smile.
“Then he probably is.”
“Who is he?”
“Ask him.”
“I already did.”
“And?”
“He wouldn’t answer.”
Teresa returned to her papers.
“Then he probably has his reasons.”
That only made the mystery worse.
At seven that evening, Isabella was convinced she had made a mistake.
She stood in front of the mirror in her small apartment, looking at a dark blue dress she had bought on sale months earlier.
It was pretty.
Elegant.
But simple.
Her sister Claudia entered the room.
“You look incredible.”
“I’m terrified.”
“Why?”
Isabella looked at her through the mirror.
“Alejandro.”
Claudia smiled.
“We’re finally meeting the famous Alejandro.”
Isabella swallowed.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
The doorbell rang.
Claudia smiled.
“That must be him.”
“No.”
“No?”
Isabella rushed toward the door.
She opened it.
Sebastián stood there.
Black suit.
Burgundy tie.
Exactly like the night before.
Except this time, he was holding a small bouquet of white flowers.
Isabella looked at him.
“You came.”
“I told you I would.”
Claudia appeared behind her.
“Alejandro?”
Sebastián looked at Isabella.
She looked at him desperately.
He understood.
He smiled.
“Nice to meet you.”
Claudia extended her hand.
“I’m Claudia, Isabella’s sister.”
“Pleasure.”
Claudia looked at Isabella with an expression that clearly said:
You’re going to explain everything later.
Sebastián handed Isabella the flowers.
“These are for you.”
She accepted them.
“Thank you.”
Then she leaned closer and whispered:
“Your name is Alejandro tonight.”
Sebastián murmured:
“I thought I could keep my own name.”
“My family is expecting Alejandro.”
“Perfect.”
He smiled.
“Alejandro Sebastián.”
Isabella almost laughed.
When they went outside, Isabella expected to see a taxi.
Instead, a black car was waiting in front of the building.
A driver opened the door.
Isabella stopped.
“Whose is this?”
“Mine.”
“You have a driver?”
“Tonight I do.”
“Sebastián…”
He offered her his hand.
“Alejandro.”
She sighed.
“This is starting to get weird.”
“We haven’t even arrived yet.”
That was not the answer she wanted to hear.
The gala was being held at the San Germán Palace, an enormous historic property converted into a venue for private events.
When they arrived, Isabella looked at the line of cars.
Bentley.
Mercedes.
Rolls-Royce.
Cars worth more than her apartment.
She looked down at her dress.
Sebastián noticed.
“Don’t do that.”
“What?”
“Compare yourself.”
“Easy for you to say when you arrive in a car like this.”
Sebastián smiled.
“Look around.”
She did.
“What do you see?”
“People with a lot of money.”
“I see people pretending to look relaxed while checking who arrived behind them.”
Isabella smiled.
“You’re strange.”
“Thank you.”
When they reached the entrance, the guard checked the guest list.
Isabella handed over her invitation.
“Isabella Torres and guest.”
The man checked the information.
Then looked at Sebastián.
His expression changed immediately.
“Sir…”
Sebastián raised one hand slightly.
“Tonight I’m Miss Torres’s guest.”
The guard understood.
“Of course.”
Isabella looked at him.
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
“He recognized you.”
“Probably.”
“Sebastián.”
“Enjoy the evening.”
Mariana appeared twenty minutes later.
She wore a spectacular red dress.
A man in a gray suit accompanied her.
When she saw Isabella, she smiled.
Then she saw Sebastián.
The smile weakened.
“Cousin.”
“Mariana.”
They hugged.
Mariana looked Sebastián up and down.
“So you’re Alejandro.”
Sebastián smiled.
“Apparently.”
Isabella almost elbowed him.
Mariana examined his suit.
Then his watch.
Then his shoes.
She was clearly evaluating him.
“What do you do?”
Isabella interrupted.
“Mariana.”
“I’m just asking.”
Sebastián replied:
“Investments.”
Mariana looked impressed.
“What kind?”
“Several.”
“Do you work for a bank?”
“No.”
“Private company?”
“Yes.”
“Which one?”
Sebastián took a drink from a passing tray.
“A small one.”
Isabella looked at him.
Small.
Of course.
Mariana smiled with superiority.
“My boyfriend works for the Montenegro Group.”
Sebastián looked at the man in the gray suit.
“Excellent company.”
The man smiled.
“I’m regional vice president.”
Sebastián nodded.
“Then you probably know Martín Salcedo.”
The man went still.
“Yes.”
“Tell him Sebastián asked about him.”
The vice president’s expression changed.
Mariana noticed.
“You know him?”
Sebastián took a sip of his drink.
“A little.”
The man in the gray suit suddenly seemed much more interested.
“Excuse me… Sebastián…?”
Before he could finish, the ballroom lights dimmed.
A woman stepped onto the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, in a few minutes we will welcome the San Germán family and the special guest of our charity gala.”
Isabella looked at Sebastián.
“Who is the special guest?”
“I don’t know.”
“You said you knew everything.”
“I know many things.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
“Correct.”
Dinner began.
Isabella discovered something unexpected.
Sebastián was excellent at pretending.
When her mother arrived, he spoke to her as if he had known her for years.
He answered questions about supposed trips with Isabella without committing to too many details.
When Claudia asked where they had met, he replied:
“Working.”
Technically true.
When they were asked how long they had been together, Isabella nearly choked.
Sebastián said:
“Long enough to know she talks when she’s nervous.”
The whole table laughed.
Even Isabella.
For the first time, she actually began enjoying the evening.
Until Mariana interrupted again.
“Alejandro, why had we never heard about you before?”
Sebastián looked at Isabella.
“Because some things work better when they don’t need to be announced.”
Mariana smiled.
“How mysterious.”
“That wasn’t my intention.”
“Are you planning to get married?”
Isabella almost dropped her fork.
“Mariana!”
Sebastián remained calm.
“I think first I need to convince Isabella to stop believing everything I say is suspicious.”
Claudia replied:
“Good luck.”
The table laughed again.
Isabella looked at Sebastián.
He seemed to be enjoying himself far too much.
After dinner, an elegant woman approached Sebastián.
“I thought you weren’t coming.”
Isabella immediately paid attention.
Sebastián stood.
“I wouldn’t miss this.”
The woman looked at Isabella.
“And she is?”
Sebastián replied:
“Isabella.”
The woman smiled.
“Finally.”
Isabella frowned.
“Finally?”
Sebastián quickly changed the subject.
“Is everything ready?”
“Yes.”
The woman continued:
“Your father is asking for you.”
Isabella looked at Sebastián.
“Your father?”
He closed his eyes for a moment.
The secret was beginning to unravel.
“Yes.”
The woman smiled.
“You should go before the announcement.”
When she walked away, Isabella crossed her arms.
“Explain.”
“Not now.”
“Sebastián.”
“Give me five minutes.”
“I’ve been asking you all night who you are.”
“I know.”
“And everyone seems to know you.”
“I know that too.”
“Are you a politician?”
He laughed.
“No.”
“Actor?”
“Definitely not.”
“Then what?”
At that moment, the presenter stepped onto the stage.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us at the annual San Germán Foundation Gala.”
Applause.
Sebastián looked at Isabella.
“I suppose it’s time.”
“Time for what?”
The presenter continued:
“Tonight we are also celebrating the return of one of the youngest members of the family, who has spent the past five years managing our international investments.”
Isabella began to understand.
She looked at Sebastián.
He smiled with a hint of guilt.
The presenter finished:
“Please welcome Mr. Sebastián San Germán.”
The ballroom exploded in applause.
Isabella did not move.
Mariana literally dropped her glass onto her plate.
Claudia’s mouth fell open.
Isabella’s mother looked first at the stage.
Then at Sebastián.
Then at her daughter.
Sebastián stood.
Isabella grabbed his arm.
“San Germán?”
“Yes.”
“Sebastián San Germán?”
“That’s my full name.”
“This gala belongs to your family?”
“Technically to the foundation.”
“Sebastián!”
He tried not to laugh.
“I told you I knew where it was.”
“You let me believe you were just some random guest.”
“I never said that.”
“You said your company was small!”
“Compared with some.”
Isabella stared at him in disbelief.
“I hate you.”
“That complicates our fake relationship quite a bit.”
She tried to stay serious.
She failed.
She started laughing.
“Get onstage before I change my mind and hit you with my purse.”
Sebastián smiled.
“Wait for me.”
He spoke from the stage for almost ten minutes.
He no longer looked like the mysterious man Isabella had met by the countertop.
He looked exactly like someone accustomed to leading rooms full of important people.
Confident.
Polite.
Natural.
He spoke about scholarships.
Educational programs.
Small business owners.
Social projects.
Then he said something unexpected.
“For years, we have believed that helping means simply handing opportunities down from above.”
The ballroom grew quiet.
“But many times, the most capable people are already standing in front of us. The problem is that no one stops to ask what they know how to do.”
Isabella listened.
“Our job should not be deciding who looks like they belong in a certain place.”
Sebastián glanced discreetly toward her table.
“We should create places where no one has to prove their worth by pretending to be someone else.”
Isabella lowered her eyes.
That sentence sounded as though it had been meant for her.
Maybe it was.
When Sebastián returned, Mariana no longer looked interested in making fun of anyone.
“Isabella…”
“No.”
“I just wanted to say—”
“No.”
Mariana looked at Sebastián.
“Are you two actually together?”
Isabella opened her mouth.
But Sebastián answered first.
“Tonight, I came with her.”
Mariana insisted.
“That wasn’t what I asked.”
Sebastián smiled.
“Then you’ll have to keep wondering.”
Mariana walked away.
Isabella looked at him.
“That was cruel.”
“A little.”
“I liked it.”
“I figured.”
The gala ended after midnight.
During the drive back, Isabella spent several minutes staring out the window.
Sebastián finally asked:
“Are you angry?”
“A little.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”
He thought for a moment.
“Because when I offered to accompany you, you immediately assumed I didn’t belong there.”
Isabella looked at him.
“That sounds worse when you say it like that.”
“I’m not judging you.”
“But it’s true.”
Sebastián nodded.
“I also thought it would be interesting to see how long it took you to figure it out.”
“So you were enjoying yourself.”
“Very much.”
She lightly hit his arm.
“Idiot.”
Sebastián laughed.
After a few seconds, Isabella asked:
“Why did you really help me?”
Sebastián stopped laughing.
“Because I heard you say you needed a fake boyfriend.”
“I already know that.”
“And you looked genuinely desperate.”
“That still doesn’t explain everything.”
He looked forward.
“A few years ago, I went to a similar event.”
“Everyone expected me to show up with someone.”
Isabella listened.
“So I hired a friend to pretend we were dating.”
Isabella started laughing.
“No way.”
“Yes.”
“Did it work?”
“Terribly.”
“What happened?”
“My mother figured it out before dinner.”
Isabella laughed even harder.
Sebastián smiled.
“I guess when I heard you, you reminded me of myself.”
“So this was solidarity between liars.”
“I prefer to call it strategic cooperation.”
They reached the apartment.
Sebastián walked Isabella to the entrance.
She turned.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Tomorrow I’m going to tell them the truth.”
“About me?”
“About Alejandro.”
Sebastián smiled.
“Poor Alejandro.”
“He never existed.”
“He’ll live forever in our memories.”
She laughed.
Then a strange silence settled between them.
No family.
No Mariana.
No gala.
No need to pretend.
For the first time, Sebastián looked slightly less confident.
“Well.”
“Well.”
“Good night, Isabella.”
He turned around.
“Sebastián.”
He stopped.
“Yes?”
She breathed.
“If I ever needed a fake boyfriend again…”
Sebastián raised an eyebrow.
“Again?”
“Hypothetically.”
“I see.”
“Would you be available?”
Sebastián pretended to think.
“Depends on the fee.”
“Fee?”
“The first night was free.”
Isabella crossed her arms.
“Forget it.”
Sebastián laughed.
Then started walking away.
Isabella smiled.
“Although…”
He turned.
“Although what?”
She hesitated.
“Maybe next time it wouldn’t have to be fake.”
Sebastián stopped smiling for a second.
Then slowly walked back.
“That changes the conditions.”
“For the better?”
“Definitely.”
Two weeks later, Sebastián invited Isabella to dinner.
No gala.
No driver.
No luxury suit.
He arrived wearing dark jeans and a simple shirt.
Isabella opened the door.
She looked him up and down.
“What happened to the millionaire heir?”
“He has the night off.”
“And who showed up?”
“Sebastián.”
She smiled.
“Much better.”
Their first real date was less spectacular than the fake one.
It was also much more important.
They talked for hours.
Isabella discovered that Sebastián had studied economics abroad.
That he hated certain social ceremonies.
That he preferred small restaurants to gala dinners.
That he constantly argued with his father over how the foundation should be managed.
Sebastián discovered that Isabella wanted to study interior design.
That she worked as a domestic employee to save money.
That she had temporarily left college when her father became ill.
“Do you want to go back?”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you?”
“Money.”
Sebastián remained silent.
Isabella raised one hand.
“No.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Your face did.”
“I was only going to ask—”
“I don’t want you paying for my education.”
Sebastián smiled.
“All right.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
He respected her decision.
That surprised Isabella.
He did not try to rescue her.
He did not turn their relationship into charity.
Months later, Isabella herself found a design scholarship funded, ironically, by a foundation associated with the San Germán family.
When she found out, she called Sebastián immediately.
“Did you do this?”
“What?”
“The scholarship.”
“It’s existed for eight years.”
“You didn’t manipulate anything?”
“Isabella.”
“I need to hear you say it.”
“I didn’t manipulate anything.”
She breathed with relief.
“Good.”
“Although I’m glad you applied.”
“They haven’t accepted me yet.”
They did.
A year later, Isabella returned to the San Germán Palace.
Another gala.
Same entrance.
Same chandeliers.
But this time, she was not wearing a uniform and did not need to invent a boyfriend.
She wore an elegant dark blue dress she had partly designed herself.
Sebastián walked beside her.
Mariana appeared.
She looked at both of them.
“So Alejandro never actually existed.”
Isabella smiled.
“No.”
“And him?”
She looked at Sebastián.
Isabella took his hand.
“He does.”
Mariana shook her head.
“I still can’t believe it.”
Isabella smiled.
“Sometimes I can’t either.”
Sebastián added:
“I simply offered to go with her.”
Mariana walked away.
Isabella looked at Sebastián.
“Technically, all of this started because you listened to a private conversation.”
“We can leave that part out when we tell the story.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s the best part.”
Over time, Isabella understood that the first night had begun for a rather ridiculous reason.
She wanted to impress people who did not need to be impressed.
She had invented a relationship because she feared that being alone meant she was failing.
Then a stranger appeared, willing to play the role.
The great twist in the story seemed to be that the stranger turned out to belong to one of the most important families at the gala.
But over the years, Isabella stopped seeing that as the real twist.
What mattered was something else.
Sebastián never made her feel small because she worked as an employee.
He never treated her uniform as a measure of her intelligence.
He never assumed that her financial situation defined how far she could go.
And when he had the opportunity to use his money to solve her life for her, he chose to respect the fact that she wanted to build it herself.
That was what truly turned the fake boyfriend into someone real.
Because relationships do not become genuine when they impress a ballroom full of strangers.
They become genuine when, after the performance is over, both people still want to stay.