That evening, Lucia returned Diego's car, handed over the keys as usual, and made her way back to the hotel. She took the elevator up to her room, her mind racing. As soon as she stepped inside, she headed straight for the wardrobe. There, hidden beneath a pile of clothes, was her other phone—the one she used to communicate with Diego as his fiancée, separate from the one he used to contact her as his driver. Ivy, of course, was the only one aware of this double life, the one person who knew all the phone contacts to keep the charade going.
Sitting on the bed, Lucia switched on the phone and took a deep breath. It was time to call Diego.
She dialed his number, and after a few rings, Diego, who was wearing his earpods while preparing something in the kitchen, noticed his phone lighting up on the coffee table in the living room. As he approached it, his heart skipped a beat. The name "Soulmate" flashed across the screen. He grinned as he picked up the call.
"Hey, baby! Wassup?" he answered, sounding thrilled.
"Hey," Lucia replied, her tone more reserved.
"How are you, baby? Oh my God, I've been worried sick about you!" Diego exclaimed.
"I know, right?" Lucia said sarcastically, rolling her eyes, though Diego couldn't see her.
"What's going on? You didn't pick up my calls, didn't reply to my messages—why?" Diego asked, his voice tinged with concern.
"I just finished my exams," Lucia lied smoothly. "So, I'm planning on returning soon."
"Really? Oh my God, I can't wait to see you! Honestly, I've missed you so much!" Diego's excitement was palpable.
"Hmmm… are you sure?" Lucia replied, feigning doubt.
"Yes, baby! I can't wait to see your face. It's been years since we were kids!" he said, laughing nervously.
Lucia let out a small sigh. "You're sounding like I'm the only one in your life," she said, testing him.
"Of course you are, baby! You're my soulmate, my Miss World, my baby for life, my sweetheart," Diego gushed, oblivious to her rising frustration. "Come on—"
"That's enough already," Lucia interrupted, cutting him off. "I've heard it, okay?"
"Okay, okay," Diego said, chuckling sheepishly. "I was just preparing my favorite dish. I'll get back to it now."
"Oh, you don't have a chef?" Lucia asked, raising an eyebrow though her tone remained casual.
"Chef?" Diego laughed. "Nah, I'm my own chef. Don't worry—when you get back, I'll cook for you and serve you breakfast in bed like the queen you are."
"Hmm... okay," Lucia said, smiling despite herself. "I gotta run now. I just wanted to check in."
"Alright, baby. Take care, and I'll talk to you soon, okay?" Diego's voice softened.
"Yeah, later," she said before hanging up.
Diego stood there for a moment, still grinning. Hearing Lucia's voice had brightened his evening, completely unaware that the woman he thought was thousands of miles away had been right beside him every day, talking to him both as his driver and his fiancée. Lucia placed the phone back in its hiding spot, her emotions conflicted. Each call was a reminder of why she was doing this, but also a test of her own resolve.
Later that evening, as Lucia sat in the hotel room, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Ivy. She picked it up immediately, knowing exactly what Ivy wanted to talk about.
"Hey, girl!" Ivy's voice chimed through the speaker, full of curiosity. "So… how did it go? Did you talk to him?"
Lucia leaned back against the headboard, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Oh, I talked to him all right," she said, her tone sly. "And, as expected, Diego was losing his mind. He was freaking out because I didn't answer any of his calls or messages yesterday."
Ivy let out a short laugh. "I knew it! That boy is predictable. What did he say?"
"He was all 'I've missed you so much' and 'you're the only one in my life,'" Lucia mimicked his voice, her sarcasm thick. "You should've heard him, Ivy. He was acting like I'm his entire world, completely clueless about what I see every day when I'm driving him around."
"Typical Diego," Ivy scoffed. "He probably doesn't even realize that he's playing both sides of this without knowing it."
Lucia sighed, her smile fading a little. "He has no idea. He thinks I'm still abroad, finishing my exams and getting ready to come back. But the way he was panicking about me not talking to him for just one day? It was almost laughable. He's so used to having things go his way, always thinking I'll be there."
"So, how did you play it?" Ivy asked, curious. "Did you let him off easy or keep him hanging?"
Lucia chuckled softly. "I played it cool. I just told him I was busy with exams and planning my return. Didn't give too much away. But I could tell he was getting anxious, and honestly? That's exactly what I wanted. It's like he's juggling two different lives, and I'm the one pulling the strings without him realizing."
"I love it," Ivy said, laughing. "But be careful. You're playing a dangerous game, Lucia. What if he starts to catch on?"
"I'm not worried about that," Lucia replied, a glint of confidence in her voice. "Diego is so wrapped up in his own lies, he won't see it coming. Besides, I'm in control. He's already fallen for the 'driver' version of me without even knowing it."
Ivy sighed, impressed. "You're really going through with this, aren't you?"
Lucia paused for a moment, her mind drifting to the long-term goal of her plan. "I have to," she said quietly. "I need to know if he's really the man he pretends to be. And so far? Everything he's shown me says otherwise."
"Well, I'm here for it," Ivy said supportively. "Just keep me updated. And hey, don't let this get to you too much, okay? You deserve better than this mess."
Lucia smiled, feeling a warmth in Ivy's words. "Thanks, Ivy. I will."
They said their goodbyes, and Lucia placed the phone down beside her, her thoughts swirling. Diego had no idea how close he was to having his entire life flipped upside down. And as much as Lucia found some satisfaction in the control she had, a part of her still ached with the truth she would soon have to face—one way or another.
For now, though, she was content knowing that Diego had spent the last 24 hours worrying about her, unaware that his fiancée had been right under his nose all along.