Winning Match

Hours after landing in Valencia, Spain, I’m newly single, tipsy, and stranded at a bar with three declined credit cards. Enter Ale: swoon-worthy local with a smirk that should be illegal and dance moves that leave me breathless. He covers my tab, takes me to dinner, and somewhere between cocktails and a reckless kiss, I forget about the awful start to my trip.

By the following morning, we’re trending on social media.

Turns out, Ale isn’t just a charming stranger—he’s a European soccer star with a PR problem.

So, we strike a deal: a fake relationship to rehab his playboy image while I use his connections to expand my family’s business.

But lines blur fast when kisses stop feeling staged and late-night talks hit too deep. I’m falling for him—for real.

Can something built on a lie turn into the real thing?