Playing Pretend

Bella Day-Lewis, a nineteen-year-old actress and social media star with a sun-kissed, athletic vibe, is thrust into the high-pressure world of Formula 1 publicity when Oracle Red Bull Racing asks her to fake-date their star driver, Max Verstappen, to boost both their profiles.

The arrangement: carefully scripted kisses, staged cuddles, and strict NDAs force Bella to perform intimacy while juggling a real, quiet crush on her best friend Jude, who knows nothing of the contract.

As PR stunts escalate into shared hotel rooms and mornings that blur into something dangerously real, Bella must choose between career momentum and the honest connections that matter most. Chemistry, guilt, and unexpected jealousy collide in a tense, steamy story about authenticity, friendship, and how far someone will go to protect the people they love.