Chapter 1: Beginning with(out) Love

Morning sunlight cascaded through the glass window of Blooming Tales, a quaint flower shop, illuminating a striking young woman in a fitted blue suit, her poised figure meticulously choosing flowers. Her chiseled features, captivating eyes, graceful lips, and long dark hair combined to create an irresistible allure.

She was Janevee Phipattanasap, or “Jane,” the only heir of a well-known department store empire—a businesswoman famed not only for her success but also for her reputation as the ultimate “Play Girl” that many longed to win over.

“Is there a specific flower you’re looking for today, Ms. Jane?” asked the shop assistant, her eyes alight with admiration as she seized the rare chance to serve such a beautiful, regular customer herself. Typically, the shop owner handled Janevee’s orders personally.

Janevee touched the delicate petal of a white rose, lost in thought.

“Give me a moment,” she said with a charming smile. “I’m looking for flowers that suit a woman who’s beautiful, hardworking, and sweet-natured. Can you help me pick something?” Her voice was smooth, laced with a playful flirtation that nearly melted the assistant on the spot.

“In that case, I’d recommend a bouquet of white lilies mixed with pink roses. Lilies symbolize purity and elegance, while roses signify love—a perfect match for someone as beautiful, capable, and endearing as the one you’re describing,” she replied, beaming.

Janevee nodded with a smirk at the corner of her lips. “Then I’ll go with your suggestion. Three bouquets, please.”

“Three?” the assistant repeated in surprise.

Janevee simply smiled and confirmed, “Yes.”

“Once they’re ready, would you like us to handle the delivery?”

“Please, take care of it,” Janevee replied, waving a hand nonchalantly as she checked her messages on her phone.

“Of course.” The assistant noted down the order with care. “Would you like to add a card?”

“Write it for me, if you could,” Janevee said.

The assistant turned back to her, asking, “And what names should I put on each bouquet?”

Looking up from her phone, Janevee hesitated for a moment. “The first is for Dr. Patty, the second for Bai-Fern, and the third for Fahsai. Just add something simple and professional—maybe ‘Have a wonderful workday’ or something.”

“Noted.” The assistant diligently wrote down the details.

“Wait!” Janevee interrupted. “Actually, let’s skip the names altogether. Just address them as ‘To a beautiful woman.’”

“What?” The assistant looked confused.

Janevee winked playfully. “I wouldn’t want the flowers to be delivered to the wrong person! Imagine if Dr. Patty’s flowers went to Bai-Fern and Bai-Fern’s flowers went to Fahsai. That’d be…awkward.”

“Of course,” the assistant replied, understanding but with a slight smile that hinted she might have her own thoughts on Janevee’s antics.

Unbothered, Janevee took out three 1,000-baht bills and handed them to the assistant. “Here’s a tip for handling the cards for me. Oh, and if anyone calls asking about these deliveries, please keep it confidential, okay?” She winked again.

The assistant hesitated momentarily, then accepted the bills with a nod. “Yes, Ms. Jane.”

Satisfied, Janevee typed out a message to her first recipient, then copied and pasted it to the remaining two. “A surprise is coming for you today. Hope you like it.” With that, she left the flower shop.

Such was the life of Janevee Phipattanasap, a beautiful and charismatic heir to a renowned business empire. Never one for serious commitment or lasting ties, Janevee only sought the pleasures of casual companionship. For her, time management wasn’t just a skill for the office; it was an art she mastered when it came to her social life—a delicate balance to ensure none of her partners crossed paths, like well-coordinated train tracks running in opposite directions.

Yet, beneath her flirtatious surface, there was someone Janevee kept hidden deep in her heart: Naphat Thanarattanakorn, a woman who never paid her the slightest attention—except as a rival.

...

At the grand Thanarattanakorn mansion sprawled across over two acres, a lush garden surrounded the estate with an elegantly manicured lawn, while a clear blue swimming pool glistened, contrasting against the verdant greenery.

“Preme!” the authoritative voice of Thanakorn, Naphat’s father, echoed. A powerful figure in the securities business, he stopped his daughter, who was stepping out in a white dress after returning from an arranged family dinner with a government minister’s family—an introduction her father had pushed her into.

‘Preme’ or Naphat Thanarattanakorn, the youngest heir of the family, turned back with a smile that held a hint of stubbornness, a characteristic her doting family often indulged.

“Is something wrong, Papa?” she asked sweetly, though her gaze bore defiance.

“Why did you act that way at dinner with Mr. Pakin?” Thanakorn chastised, his face tense with disappointment.

“I told you I don’t like men, but you took me anyway,” Naphat huffed, turning up her nose. “I’m not Prae, who’ll marry just anyone you and Mama choose. You know I don’t like being forced into anything.”

“Not interested in men, huh?” her mother, Ratana, chimed in with amusement. “Then whom are we supposed to find for you?”

“No one, because I only want to marry a woman,” Naphat replied with conviction, her large eyes unflinching.

“What?” Thanakorn’s voice rose in shock, his face flushed with anger.

“Take it easy, Papa,” Naphat said, steadying him by his arm. “You know I only date women, and right now, I have someone I’m seeing.”

Ratana’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she asked, “Oh, who is it?”

“Someone perfect, of course.” Naphat feigned confidence with a bold grin, though inwardly she was scrambling for answers.

“Just bring her around sometime,” her mother pressed eagerly. “Mama is dying to meet your partner!”

“I will, soon,” Naphat promised, though she had no idea who her “partner” would be.

“Oh, but not that tomboy racer—no way,” her father warned, his face darkening. “I haven’t forgiven her for breaking your heart.”

Naphat sighed, brushing her fingers through her silky, light brown hair. That tomboy racer, her ex named Nuea Nayika, had left her with the tired line that they were “incompatible,” a breakup that shattered Naphat’s world for months.

“It’s not her,” Naphat replied, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “This one, you’ll both approve of, I promise.” But inside, anxiety gripped her; she’d need to find someone with a flawless profile who’d agree to play along with her scheme.

...

Inside The Coffee Club in a bustling shopping mall, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with soft jazz, setting a relaxed vibe despite the busy atmosphere. Janevee and her close friend Tara were sipping their favorite drinks when Tara spoke up, her tone teasing.

“Jane, remember your college rival? That sleepy-headed capybara who always tried to stump you in class presentations?”

Janevee arched a brow. “Preme Naphat?”

A smirk crossed her sharp features. Though it had been years, the image of Naphat in a student uniform was vivid in her mind. “Capybara” was a nickname she’d coined back then, mocking Naphat’s habit of dozing off in class—a habit that led Janevee to gleefully report her to the professor, much to the class’s amusement.

“Yep! I heard her family is setting her up with a minister’s son. Probably an arranged marriage, but I doubt she’d go through with it—she’s way too fiery,” Tara recounted animatedly.

At that moment, Janevee’s phone rang. “Sorry, Tara,” she said, picking up when she saw her assistant’s name on the screen. But her brow furrowed at the message.

“Um, someone’s here to see you,” the assistant said hesitantly.

“Then schedule it,” Janevee replied, perplexed.

“Well…she’s already in your office. It’s Naphat Thanarattanakorn—she said she’s a close friend from college.”

Janevee froze, her heart racing. Preme Naphat? Here to see her? What could she want?

...

Janevee’s office occupied the top floor of the Phipattanasap Corporation’s headquarters, an imposing building next to the city’s newest luxury shopping landmark in Bangkok. The office’s sleek interior boasted floor-to-ceiling glass windows that framed a panoramic view of the city, with soft sunlight casting a gentle glow over the clean white furnishings, contrasting against the dark polished wood floor. A cozy corner featured a black leather sofa and a low coffee table, complete with a vase of fresh flowers that added a light, fragrant touch to the room.

The sound of the door opening interrupted the woman sitting confidently on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other. She lifted her head, pausing her scrolling on her phone as Janevee entered.

“Oh, coming into someone else’s office without permission? Didn’t your family teach you any manners, Ms. Preme? Or should I say, Ms. Sleepy Capybara?”

Janevee drawled with a smirk, her tone laced with sarcasm. But deep down, she couldn’t deny the little spark of excitement at seeing Naphat again. She looked even more stunning in person than she did in photos. Despite the years since they graduated, Jane had occasionally kept tabs on Naphat, even following her on social media under a private account.

Naphat’s brows drew together, her lips pressing into a tight line as she forced herself to respond without snapping. “It’s been a while, Janevee. You’re as…sharp-tongued as ever.”

“Oh, just go ahead and say it—I can tell you want to call me something a little less polite,” Janevee smirked, tapping her own mouth mockingly. “Your face says it all, Preme.”

Naphat felt her cheeks flush. She crossed her arms and straightened her back, meeting Janevee’s gaze defiantly. “I’m here for a serious reason.”

“Really? And what might that be?” Janevee raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.

Taking a deep breath, Naphat began explaining the situation that had driven her here today.

.

.

“What? You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend—and then actually marry you?”

Janevee repeated Naphat’s words in utter shock. She jumped up so abruptly that her foot caught on the soft carpet, causing her to nearly lose her balance.

Naphat raised an eyebrow, her tone firm as she confirmed her statement.

“Yes. We’ll act as a couple for one year, then get married. After two years, we’ll divorce. Or if I find a real partner sooner, we’ll end it then.” She finished her sentence and stared directly into Janevee’s eyes, her gaze steady and unwavering.

Janevee burst out laughing.

“Preme… are you kidding me? Pretending to be a couple is already over the top, but marriage? That’s huge!”

“I’m not joking. I’m serious,” Naphat replied coldly. She observed Janevee, whose face now clearly showed a mix of suspicion and hesitation. Taking the opportunity, she added teasingly, “Or… are you afraid I’m trying to trick you?”

“Trick me? How?” Janevee asked, confused.

“Well, maybe you’re scared I’m after your family fortune. But this isn’t some soap opera, okay? Don’t worry. We’ll sign a prenuptial agreement before the wedding. Even if laws change in the future to allow registration, we’ll find a way to delay it. After the divorce, neither of us can claim any of the other’s assets—100% guaranteed. Honestly, if you’re worried about me taking your family’s money, I’m just as worried you might take mine,” Naphat said, her explanation sharp and to the point.

Janevee was left speechless. This whole idea was wild enough on its own, but deep down, she knew someone like Naphat wouldn’t resort to something so melodramatic just to steal her fortune. Besides, Naphat’s family was wealthy in their own right.

What Janevee couldn’t wrap her head around was this: was Naphat really so desperate that she’d come to her for help?

“Are you so desperate that you have to ask for help from someone you don’t even like? What about your girlfriend? Where is she?” Janevee asked bluntly.

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” Naphat replied flatly.

“And what about that racer girl? Where did she go?” Janevee probed further.

“You know about my relationship with P’Nuea? What, have you been secretly keeping tabs on me?” Naphat teased.

Janevee rolled her eyes dramatically, her lips curling into a sarcastic smirk.

“Well, it’s hard to miss when Preme Naphat Thanarattanakorn, the gorgeous heiress of a securities empire, shows up at the racetrack cheering for some charming, cool female racer. The media had a field day with that one.”

Her tone was taunting, and she added a mocking smile for effect.

“So, how’d it end? Did your oh-so-cool racer girlfriend dump you?”

Naphat froze, her smile fading. She pressed her lips into a thin line before responding in an icy tone.

“Has anyone ever told you that some things are better left unsaid? Otherwise, you might end up eating your meals through a straw... or incense smoke, Ms. Janevee.”

“Ouch, feisty! Must’ve struck a nerve,” Janevee teased with a grin but couldn’t resist needling further.

“So, why me? Why ask me to pretend to be your girlfriend? Don’t you hate me?”

Naphat sighed.

“Yes, I absolutely cannot stand you. Ever since that day you tricked me into getting on the carousel, spinning it nonstop, and forcing me to jump off myself.”

Janevee’s grin vanished instantly. She hadn’t expected Naphat to remember such an old incident so vividly.

“That was back in elementary school! Why are you still holding onto that? Are you nursing a lifelong grudge?”

“Thanks to you, I’ve never dared go on any amusement park rides again,” Naphat said evenly. “I cried for hours because of you.”

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry!” Janevee raised her hands in surrender. “But hey, you were pretty cute back then.”

“Cute?” Naphat raised an eyebrow. “Do you know how nauseous I was when I got off that carousel? I nearly threw up while sitting there crying.”

Janevee froze, realizing that what she thought was a harmless prank had left a deeper mark than she’d ever imagined.

“All right, Preme, I’m really sorry,” she said earnestly. “I was just a kid back then. Can you forgive me?”

Naphat lifted her chin, brushing off the apology with a dismissive air.

“It’s ancient history. Let’s get back to the topic at hand.”

Janevee nodded and walked over to sit on the same couch as Naphat, though she kept a respectable distance between them.

Naphat wasted no time getting to the point.

“To summarize, I need you to pretend to be my girlfriend and marry me for three years to fool my parents.”

“And what do I get out of helping you?” Janevee asked immediately, her usual mischievous smirk firmly in place.

“What do you want?” Naphat shot back, her tone steady.

Janevee’s lips curved into a sly smile.

“Three years of being in a relationship? Fine. Then you’ll need to sleep with me at least four nights a month. Let’s do the math: three years is 36 months, so that’s 144 nights in total. Hmm... even with that, I feel like I’m getting the short end of the stick. Spending 1,095 days with you but only 144 nights together? That’s hardly worth my time—especially when I’ll end up with a marriage record on top of it.”

Naphat stared at her in disbelief, nearly rendered speechless by the audacity of the person in front of her.

“That’s disgusting! What, are you so desperate to find someone to sleep with that you have to set conditions like this with me?” she snapped, her patience wearing thin. “Let me make one thing clear: I don’t need you that badly. I have plenty of other options who’d be more than willing to help me.”

She moved to get up from the couch, but Janevee quickly spoke up to stop her, realizing she might still hold the upper hand.

“If you really have so many people to help you, then why did you come to me in the first place? Why not just ask someone else from the start?”

Naphat curled her lips before flashing a wry smile at Janevee.

“Well, let me break it down for you,” she began, her eyes scanning Janevee from head to toe. “First, I’ve hated your guts since we were kids. There’s no way I’d ever fall for you—pretending to be your girlfriend or even this ridiculous fake marriage won’t change that. Second, your parents are filthy rich. Your family’s one of the most powerful in the country, and our parents know each other. My family would definitely approve of you. Oh, and let’s not get sidetracked here. When I say ‘approve of you,’ I mean they approve of your parents. As for you? You’re just a spoiled billionaire’s kid with a big mouth who spends her days charming women left and right. Honestly, if my parents didn’t care about family background, you wouldn’t even be on my list of options.”

She paused for a moment, her gaze dripping with disdain as it settled on Janevee.

“And the final reason, Janevee... you’re openly into women. If I use you as my fake girlfriend, my parents would absolutely believe it.”

Janevee was momentarily speechless.

“Oh, and if you’re wondering why this has to last three years—it’s because if my parents start liking you, they’ll push for us to get married. That’s why I’ve already planned this out: we pretend to date for one year, get married, live together for two more years, and then go our separate ways. By the time three years have passed, I’ll probably have found and tested the waters with someone who’ll be my real partner.”

Janevee remained stunned, her face blank.

“What’s the matter? Feeling a little deflated now that you know the truth?” Naphat laughed, her tone biting. “You’re nothing more than an overconfident, self-absorbed rich girl. You’re not all that. Don’t let it go to your head.”

With that, Naphat turned on her heel, her chin held high, ready to leave. But before she could take another step, Janevee grabbed her wrist.

“Wait!” Janevee’s expression shifted to something more serious. “I have a counteroffer.”

“What is it?” Naphat snapped, spinning around to face her.

“I want your family’s land in Chonburi. I’ve been planning to build a mall there for a while, but I haven’t been able to find the right location. I heard your family owns a large plot in a prime area.”

Naphat let out a sharp laugh. “Land worth hundreds of millions in exchange for being your fake girlfriend—a deal where you’re already coming out ahead? Sounds like I’m getting the short end of the stick. No thanks. I can find someone else to help me. I don’t need to beg you.”

She yanked her hand free from Janevee’s grip, but Janevee refused to let her go, clutching her arm again.

“Fine,” Janevee relented, her tone softening. “Then just let me lease that plot of land.”

Naphat hesitated, her eyes narrowing as she calculated her options. “You seem really desperate for that land.”

“I’ve evaluated that it’s a worthwhile investment,” Janevee replied firmly.

But Naphat immediately shook her head. “Not worthwhile for my family. Here’s the deal—if you really want to lease that land, I’ll need a profit share from that mall branch for the entire lease term. How much of a share? I’ll decide later. Also, you must let my securities firm open a branch office in your mall free of charge. The location? The busiest area of the mall. Oh, and I’ll need space for hosting promotional events, also free.”

Janevee raised an eyebrow. “That’s a lot to ask.”

“What’s it gonna be? Take it or leave it?” Naphat crossed her arms, her tone challenging.

“Fine,” Janevee agreed without hesitation, her response quick and confident. “But... I have one more condition.”

Her gaze sparkled as she looked directly into Naphat’s eyes.

“What is it?” Naphat asked, raising an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued.

“While we’re pretending to be a couple, you have to move into my house and live with me. And if you find your real partner, we’ll end this arrangement immediately.”

“Deal,” Naphat replied without missing a beat. “But everything we’ve discussed so far—none of it includes sex.”

“No problem,” Janevee said with a casual shrug. Then, leaning in slightly, she grinned mischievously. “But what if you’re the one who ends up wanting me?”

Naphat rolled her eyes and tilted her chin upward dismissively.

“Keep dreaming, sweetheart,” she retorted with a mocking tone before striding confidently out of Janevee’s office, her every step radiating a mix of elegance and defiance.

Left alone, Janevee could only watch her walk away, a bemused smirk creeping across her face. Naphat’s bold and headstrong demeanor made her more intriguing—annoyingly so, yet irresistibly fun.

And just like that, Janevee found herself grinning without even realizing it.

Naphat, in this unyielding, fiery form, was becoming her favorite kind of challenge.

…

Hojicha Studio Writer 

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Lies Between Us by Hojicha Studio