FAKE DATING MR ARROGANT

Chapter 3

ELARA

“You know it's a crime to hide yourself at home all day right?” Vanessa bursted in, like she owned my apartment. She never knocks, and for a second, I almost smile because that's the most normal thing in my life right now.

I locked my phone and looked up with a small smile. “Good evening to you too, Van.”

“What are you doing?” she asked as she sat near me. I shrugged.

“Nothing, just trying to search for job opportunities,” I replied with a sigh.

“And?”

“Nothing,” I deadpanned.

Vanessa looked at me then.

“You look worse,” she said quietly and I let out a humourless laugh.

“Thank you for stating the obvious van,” I replied sarcastically.

“El.”

I sighed and finally looked at her, the tears almost falling out. “Once I respond and they know I have no job, they will take her,” I rambled.

“You haven't responded?”

“No.”

“El,” Vanessa scolded.

“What? I can't afford a lawyer van and they are sure as hell going to give me an incompetent one if I respond without a lawyer. You know that,” I explained, my voice higher than I expected.

Vanessa pulled closer. “Elara–”

“They will say I'm unstable,” I cut in. “That I can't provide, that I'm not fit,” I continued, my voice dropping.

Vanessa pulled me in for a hug immediately.

“What if they take Maya before I even get a chance to fight back?” I asked, my chest tightened, my throat burned. But I didn't cry, I wanted the tears but it wasn't forthcoming.

“I think I might have a solution,” Vanessa finally said after a few seconds of silence.

I pulled away slowly and looked at her.

“A solution?” I asked and she nodded slowly.

“So there's a contract.”

I stared at her hard. “A what?”

“A contract, it isn't easy but it will take care of at least 80 percent of the problem, which is money.”

I crossed my arms. “I’m not selling drugs Vanessa.”

She chuckled. “You’d make great money if you did.”

“Vanessa.”

“Fine, it's not drugs, okay. It's just something a little unconventional.”

“That’s reassuring,” I replied sarcastically.

She hesitated for a second.

“My boss needs a fake girlfriend.”

The room went silent then. I blinked, trying to connect the dots.

“You're joking,” I bursted out.

“Think about it El, the pay is so good. All you gotta do is pretend in public with him,” she cooed.

“No.”

“Elara.”

“No,” I repeated. This time firmer. “I don't care how much it pays. Just no.”

“It could solve your problems.”

“It could create new ones,” I snapped.

Vanessa studied me for a moment ,and then softened.

“I’m not saying you should say yes immediately, but at least think about it.”

I sighed. There was nothing to think about.

She stood up then. “I’ll go check up on Maya. Think about it El,” she urged and strolled off.

************************************************

I walked in at Rowe Enterprises at exactly 9 p.m. It was cold. Not temperature wise, emotionally cold.

I walked towards the receptionist who was looking at me as though I was an alien. What's wrong with her and why was her shirt stained?

“Good evening, I'm here to see Vanessa Clarke,” I said immediately as I got to her.

“And you are?”

“Elara Moore.”

“Do you have an appointment with her?” She asked while still giving me the weird look

“Yeah”

“Are you sure about that?”

I looked her in the eye then, and for a moment, I felt disrespected. “What? Because I'm not all suits and heels? You know, instead of being all rude and unprofessional, give Vanessa a call and know if we have an appointment or maybe I'm just here to look at your lunch stained expensive shirt.”

She looked at the shirt then, it seemed she never noticed.

“Sorry,” She recoiled.

“Apology accepted.”

She called Vanessa immediately then.

“Please sit there, she stepped out, but she will be here soon.”

“Thanks,” I said.

I looked around and thought about what kind of person the boss was. I really hope he was someone I could deal with.

Vanessa walked in then. “El!” She whispered. “You came.” I stood up.

“Yeah, I called you, remember?”

“Yeah, but I was still scared you wouldn't make it.”

I hugged her for a few seconds and pulled away. “Let's get it done.”

She nodded with a smile and led the way. Her boss's office, I think.

“This is a bad idea,” I mumbled when we stopped at a door.

“Probably,” Vanessa replied. She wasn't helping.

She opened the door and we walked in. For a second I didn't recognise him but then, I did. The rude ass man who had me fired! How could he be Vanessa's boss? My nose flared.

“You!” I blurted out. He recognised me, I could see it. But there was no hint of guilt in his face, he looked cold, calm, and collected. Like he didn't just make me lose my job days ago.

I turned to Vanessa. “This is the ass you're working for?”

“You should watch your mouth,” The ass suddenly talked.

“Oh look he talks. For your information, you can't sack me anymore,” I replied sternly.

“You both know each other?” Vanessa asked.

“Of course, he fired me!”

“And yet, here you are,” he replied smoothly. Pissing me off more.

“I can't do this,” I said finally.

“El,” Vanessa cooed, walking closer to me.

“No Van, I can't pretend to tolerate this man, let alone pretend to love him!”

“It's mutual then,” He said calmly.

“I wasn't talking to you rudie, so please shut it,” I replied. His jaw tightened. Great.

“Watch your mouth,” he warned.

“Or what, you fire me?” I taunted. He looked at me for a few seconds and sat down slowly.

“You're not as important as you think,” he finally replied coldly. “There are thousands of ladies who would love to be in a relationship with me.”

“But yet here we are, trying to get you in a fake one,” I replied sarcastically.

“This arrangement benefits you as much as it benefits me,” he said, ignoring me. It pissed me off more. “If I didn't fire you, you wouldn't have gotten this opportunity.”

“Is this your way of making yourself feel better?” I asked him. He shrugged. Asshole.

I looked at Vanessa who begged me with her eyes. I made up my mind then, if I'm doing this, then I'm doing it well. I sat down slowly.

“If I agree to this, it would be on my own terms. Legal protection starts immediately, you get me a good lawyer and great security. My payment is $20,000 monthly. Direct payments, no delays.

He stared at me for a few seconds. “Done.”

I sighed in relief. For a moment I thought he was going to argue.

“This is purely business. Nothing attached. No emotions involved. Any hint of you showing emotion and the contract is terminated.” he stated immediately.

“That should be the least of your problems Mr. Rudie,” I replied. He handed me the contract then and I paused. Was this a good decision? I looked at Vanessa and she nodded, like she was reading my mind. ‘For Maya' I whispered as I signed it. I handed the contract back to him.

“Since we're done, I could take my leave now right?” I asked no one in particular.

“Don't fall in love,” he suddenly warned.

“Excuse me?”

“This is purely business, an act for the public and nothing more.”

“And here I was thinking you were irresistible,” I replied sarcastically.

“I’m serious,” he deadpanned.

“So am I.”

My phone rang then.

“You can't answer calls here,” he said.

I rolled my eyes at him and answered anyway.

“Hello,” I said quietly why Mr. Rudie stared at me coldly.

My hands froze when I heard what the caller said. My face went cold. I pulled the phone slowly out of my ear, and stood up slowly. Vanessa looked at my mortified face then.

“Elara?”

“They are at Maya's school, they are about to take her,” I whispered as tears finally fell from my eyes.

My worst dream was about to happen.