Deal And Rules
1139 Words
Sienna Vale sat cross legged on the couch, her blacker wrapped around her as she sipped her piping hot coffee. Her apartment smelled faintly of vanilla candles the one Lola stole from work. She was her roommate and best friend.
Lola DeLuca sat across from her, flipping through a fashion magazine, legs stretched out, her toenails freshly painted bright red.
“You should have seen his face,” Sienna muttered. “That arrogant smirk like he owned the world. God, Lola, he was insufferable.”
Lola barely took her eyes off the magazine. “What else were you expecting from someone like Julian Blackwell?”
“He's such a brat,” she was still pissed from last night and she just feels like talking about it over and over again would help her feel better. “Can you believe he told me my dress looked good but he implied I couldn't afford it. As if that was not enough, he went ahead to ask how much I was being paid.”
“Yikes,” Lola snapped the magazine shut. “I mean…. he's not completely wrong”
Sienna raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“You're an escort,” Lola said, shrugging unapologetically. “He wanted to know if he could afford you.”
They both laughed.
“I was slightly offended, but he was hot so I got distracted at some point.”
“I bet he was.” Lola teased. “So did you tell him how much you charge?”
“Not really, he wasn't paying for s*x though. He asked me to be his fake girlfriend, and escort him to a family dinner party. He was going to pay double my rate.”
Lola’s jaw dropped. “Double?”
“Yes,” Sienna sat upright. This time she had a serious look on her face. “Before you say anything, no. I'm not doing it. I don't care how much money is on the table.”
“You don't mean that, do you?” Lola looked at her like she was retarded.
“I mean it, I just can't deal with him.” Sienna didn't sound convinced. “He's arrogant and the type of man who thinks women are mere accessories. I refuse to be anyone's puppet”
Lola couldn't believe how stupid her friend
was sounding right now. “What business of that is yours Sienna, whatever is happening between the two of you is a business transaction.” She paused trying to catch her breath. “You refuse to be anyone's puppet while sitting here on a mountain of student loan debt, with outrageous hospital bills piling up.”
Sienna froze, the mug felt heavier in her hands.
Lola's tone softened. “I know you hate men like that, I hate them too. Babe this isn't about pride, it's about survival. He's offering a gold ticket just for a performance. Baby, what can actually go wrong?”
Lola was right, she needs the money.
……….
Julian Blackwell stood before the towering window of his father's office. His jaw tightened, as he father spoke to him angrily. Julian knew he wasn't his father's favorite but he doesn't really care. The old man was a pain in the ass.
“You embarrassed me, Julian.” Richard Blackwell's tone was razor sharp. St sixty five, the patriarch of the dynasty still commanded respect in every room he stepped into, his salt and pepper hair shun under the light. “Party scandals, late night tabloids. Is that what an heir to the dynasty should be known for?”
Julian forced a smirk. “Better to be known than forgotten.”
His words enraged his father, he glared at him. “Thie is not a joke, do you think running an empire is about who drinks the most champagne? I built this company from the ground, with blood and sweat and I would not watch you bring it down.” He pointed a finger towards Julian, who looked unfazed.
He's spent years perfecting indifference under his father's continuous disapproval. But this time his dad looked furious.
“Mr partying has got nothing to do with the company. I'm the COO already and I put in the work, so what else do you want from me?”
“What I want is a son that can be trusted with leadership. Until you prove you can settle down, and show the world you're responsible, you'll never inherit this company, never.” The sound of finality in his voice was hard to dismiss.
Julian's voice was shaky. “Settle down?”
“Yes Julian, a proper one. Not some scandal draped on your arms. If you want to be in charge some day, then you have to fix your image.” Richard leaned back on his chair.
His father has repeatedly said these words in the past but this time he was standing on business. He walked out of the office, his jaw clenched so hard that it hurt. His father would always look for every opportunity to control everyone around him. If Richard wanted the image of a dutiful, respectful heir, fine. Julian would give him one, on his own terms.
He smiled at himself as he thought of his plans. He didn't need a real girlfriend, he needed a believable one. Which meant calling Sienna Vale.
…………
Sienna was folding laundry when her phone buzzed. There was no caller ID, maybe it was one of her clients.
She answered reluctantly. “Hello?”
“Miss Vale,” his voice was formal, no trace of last night's mockery. “I trust you've had time to think about my offer.”
Sienna rolled her eyes, she immediately recognized the voice. The arrogant Julian Blackwell. “Offer?” She acted like she couldn't remember what he was talking about.
“You'll take it,” it wasn't a request, it was a command. “Here are my rules. No scandals, no drama and absolutely no real feelings. You laugh when I say something funny, you hold my hands and smile politely at everyone. You're going to keep the illusion flawless. In return you'll be compensated generously.”
Her jaw dropped. “What do you mean by rules?”
“I’m hiring you for an act and you'll have to adhere to the rules I've given you.”
Her blood boiled, she hates to deal with his arrogant ass. She had no choice, she had bills to settle, so she just has to go with whatever he wants.
She swallowed. “Fine, I'll see you tonight.”
“Dress appropriately, be convincing.”
She opened her mouth. “About my payment….”
The line went dead.
She whispered to the empty apartment, her voice low. “What have I gotten myself into?”
- Writer
