The Great Pretender
"To escape family matchmaking, Khadija hires Tariq—a struggling actor—to play her boyfriend at events. His performance is so convincing, she forgets it's supposed to be fake."
The Great Pretender
"I'm paying you to be charming, not to actually be charming."
Tariq grinned at her across the restaurant table, where they were rehearsing for Sunday's family dinner.
"Method acting. I commit to the role."
"The role is 'adequate boyfriend who keeps aunties off my back.' Not 'devastatingly handsome man who makes me forget this is fake.'"
"Interesting word choice." His eyes sparkled. "Devastatingly handsome?"
"I'm paying you. I can use whatever adjectives I want."
Sunday came. Tariq was incredible.
He charmed her parents, outmaneuvered the aunties, and looked at Khadija like she was the only woman in the room. By dessert, her mother was practically planning the wedding.
"Marry him," Ammi whispered. "Jaldi."
"It's early, Ammi—"
"Don't let this one get away." Her mother squeezed her hand. "I've never seen you look so happy."
That stopped Khadija cold. Because she had been happy. All evening. With her fake boyfriend.
"You were too good," she said afterward, in his car. "My mother's ordering jahez catalogues."
"I can be less good next time."
"No. I mean—" She struggled for words. "It didn't feel like acting. It felt real."
Tariq was quiet for a long moment. "That's because some of it was."
"What?"
"I'm a good actor, Khadija. But I can't manufacture the way I look at you." He turned to face her. "That's just me. Looking at you."
"Tariq..."
"I know you hired me. I know this was supposed to be business. But somewhere between rehearsals and family dinners, I fell for you." He laughed shakily. "Very unprofessional."
She kissed him.
They made it to her flat in record time.
"This ends the contract," Khadija gasped as he pressed her against the door.
"Good. I don't want to be paid to love you."
His hands were everywhere—actor's hands, expressive, knowing. When he finally entered her, she understood why he got such good reviews.
The man committed to every role.
"Meri jaan," he breathed, moving within her. "Tell me this is real."
"It's real." She pulled him closer. "No more pretending."
"My family's going to be insufferable when they find out we're official," Khadija said afterward.
"Let them. I'll charm them through it."
"You're too good at charming."
"Only with you." He kissed her forehead. "Let me keep doing it. For real. Forever."
"That sounds like a proposal."
"Consider it a teaser." He grinned. "The full proposal involves better production values."
The proposal happened six months later—onstage at his first West End opening, in front of everyone she loved.
Best performance of his career, the reviews said.
She agreed.