Stella is a 26-year-old fashion influencer and aspiring designer. She works tirelessly to afford an expensive care facility for her surrogate mother. Her severe anxiety keeps her conforming to her family's strict expectations rather than pursuing her true creative passions. She enters a fake-dating arrangement to boost her online engagement and secure a lucrative brand ambassadorship.

Christian is the wealthy CEO of Harper Security and the owner of The Mirage apartment building. He maintains intense control over his environment, keeping a nonexistent digital footprint and a sparsely furnished home. He approaches the world with cold pragmatism and views human interactions as puzzles to solve.

Maura is Stella's childhood caretaker who raised her while her parents focused on their careers. She currently resides in an assisted living facility as she experiences worsening Alzheimer's disease. She serves as the primary motivation for Stella's desire to increase her income.

Ava is a photographer for World Geographic magazine and a close friend to Stella. She frequently travels for her work and is actively planning her upcoming fall wedding. She provides a warm, supportive presence for Stella during stressful transitions.

Bridget is the Queen of Eldorra and one of Stella's best friends. Despite her royal duties abroad, she remains closely connected to her friend group in the United States. She maintains a healthy skepticism regarding Christian's intentions.

Jules is a busy attorney and Stella's former roommate. She recently returned from a weeklong trip to New Zealand. She is the only friend in the group who knows the full history of Stella's past harassment.

Natalia is Stella's older sister. She aligns perfectly with their parents' expectations of traditional success. She frequently criticizes Stella's choices and attempts to catch her in lies regarding her career.

Jarvis is Stella's father. He views creative careers as unstable and hobbyist, frequently pressing Stella to find practical work. He enforces a strict family dynamic where worth is measured by conventional professional milestones.

Mika is Stella's mother. She fully supports her husband's strict standards and readily scolds Stella for failing to meet them. She struggles to understand Stella's dedication to Maura.

Kage is Christian's oldest and most sought-after employee at Harper Security. He works directly on mitigating corporate threats and investigating rival companies. He acts as a sounding board for Christian's strategic decisions.

Julian is a lifestyle columnist for Washington Weekly. He profiles prominent figures in the DC area and is assigned to write an extensive feature piece on Stella's career and her new brand ambassadorship.

Meredith is Stella's boss at DC Style magazine. She frequently overworks her assistants and expects them to prioritize their jobs above all personal obligations.

Dante is the CEO of the Russo Group and Christian's very first client. He holds onto an ugly Magda painting in his art gallery that Christian is determined to retrieve for sentimental reasons.

Vivian is Dante Russo's fiancée. She gives Stella a tour of their home and openly admits her confusion over Dante's taste in art.

Alex is Ava's fiancé and a member of the exclusive Valhalla Club. He easily distracts Christian during their matches by bringing up Stella.

Rhys is Bridget's husband and a former top employee at Harper Security. He checks in on his old boss to ensure Stella's safety.

Josh is Ava's brother and Jules's boyfriend. He occasionally attends social gatherings with the extended friend group.

Luisa is the CEO of Delamonte. She is the final decision-maker for the highly coveted brand ambassadorship that Stella desperately needs.

Raya is an influencer who rocketed to fame after she began dating Adam. She is a former friend of Stella who abandoned the friendship once she gained a massive online following.

Adam is Raya's boyfriend. Together, they form a highly successful influencer couple that brands want to hire.

Brady is Stella's social media manager. He focuses entirely on algorithms and engagement metrics, prompting Stella to find a fake boyfriend to boost her online relevance.

Brock is an employee at Harper Security. He is tasked with providing subtle protection for Stella during public outings.

Mike is the CEO of Sentinel Security. He aggressively targets Harper Security by undercutting their prices to steal their clientele.

Richard is a wealthy individual seeking a new security team. He initially finds Christian too cold to hire but reconsiders after Stella vouches for his character.