Book one | Alexa Harvey, a celebrated actress known for her fierce independence and uncompromising nature, has always steered clear of the sports world. But when her latest film role requires her to shadow Jude Bellingham, a rising football star wit...
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The next morning, Alexa was a bundle of nerves as she prepared to head out. She'd spent most of the night tossing and turning, unable to escape the images of the previous evening that had been plastered all over the internet. The tabloids had spun their narrative, and now everyone believed she and Jude were more than just colleagues—much more.
She was tired of it. Tired of the lies, tired of the performance. But what unnerved her the most was how much she had started to blur the lines herself. The way Jude had looked at her last night wasn't just for the cameras. It felt real. And despite every warning bell in her head, she had liked it.
This morning, she needed to set things straight with him. She had to remind herself and Jude what this whole charade was really about. They were not a couple. They were not falling for each other. This was a business arrangement—nothing more, nothing less.
The car ride to the training grounds felt longer than usual. The London streets blurred past her as she stared out the window, her mind racing with what she would say to Jude.
She had no script for this conversation, no clever retort or banter to fall back on. All she knew was that she needed to see him and get back in control of whatever was happening between them.
When the car pulled up at the facility, Alexa hesitated before stepping out. Her driver gave her a questioning look, but she forced a smile and nodded. "I'm good, thanks," she murmured, more to herself than him, before opening the door and stepping out into the cool morning air.
The familiar buzz of activity surrounded her as she walked through the entrance. Players were scattered across the pitch, warming up and chatting among themselves. But her eyes were immediately drawn to one figure in particular—Jude.
He was at the far end of the pitch, deep in conversation with his teammates. Even from a distance, he stood out, his tall frame and confident posture making him easy to spot.
He hadn't seen her yet, and for a brief moment, Alexa considered turning back and leaving before he did. But she shook off the impulse. She was here for a reason, and running away wasn't going to solve anything.
Taking a deep breath, she walked purposefully towards the pitch. As she approached, a few of the players noticed her, and she caught snippets of their whispered conversations.
"Is that Alexa Harvey?"
"Yeah, what's she doing here?"
"Probably here to see Bellingham..."
Ignoring the murmurs, Alexa kept her focus on Jude. He was laughing at something one of his teammates said, his expression carefree and relaxed. It was a stark contrast to how she felt—anxious, on edge, like a live wire. When she was close enough, Jude finally noticed her presence. His laughter died on his lips, replaced by a look of mild surprise.
"Alexa," he greeted her, his voice neutral. But there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes, as if he was trying to figure out why she had come.
"Jude," she replied, her tone equally guarded. "Can we talk?"
