The Meeting
1148 Words
Careful not to let history repeat itself, Lisa chose the next hangout spot with Roland Emmerich. They agreed on a high-profile gallery.
Three hours later, Lisa found herself drowning in the chaotic mess of her date with Roland at the said gallery.
“You b***h!” Was the last thing Lisa heard before a hot sizzling glass of alcohol was poured all over her dress.
It was the only dress she owned.
The unexpected appearance of Roland’s wife added a cruel twist to the evening, leaving Lisa scrambling to fix the situation.
Saved at the last minute by the gallery’s owner, Lisa retreated to her car, blinking furiously to hide the tears stinging her eyes.
Sebastian, her driver, were already watching anxiously from the rearview mirror.
The moment he saw her, he jumped down, and opened the car door. However, Lisa raised her head like she hadn’t been crying.
But her eyes were clearly puffy.
"How many are left?" she asked flatly. She just wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.
“One more,” Stephanie replied guiltily. “Andrew. Just Andrew.”
If he was just another client, Lisa wanted nothing to do with it.
"Cancel it. Sebastian, take me home," Lisa muttered, sinking into her seat. Her cranky bed was the only thing she wanted right now.
“No!” Stephanie suddenly screeched, causing Sebastian to ease the brakes. “I don't think so.”
Lisa turned, brows furrowed. “What's going on?”
“There are a lot of zeros.”
Lisa narrowed her eyes. That was a tempting offer from the client. A lot of zeros could erase her humiliation, maybe even buy her freedom for a few months.
Still…
“I don’t care,” she said stiffly. Tonight’s disaster was enough.
“Please. If you don’t go, Jeremy will be furious. We could lose our jobs,” Stephanie pleaded.
Lisa didn’t respond. But before she could ask Sebastian to drive, her phone rang. It was Jeremy.
She reluctantly picked up. “Hello?”
"Lisa!" His sharp voice burst through the line.
She moved the phone away from her ear. “Boss.”
“I have a feeling you don't want this client.” Jeremy didn’t pause as he launched into a rant about client loyalty, company policy, and personal responsibility.
"But sir… I can’t take any more clients. It’s already 9 p.m.,” Lisa protested. “I’m done for the night.”
Jeremy didn’t budge. “No. You have to take this job or consider yourself fired. Then let's see how things will turn out for you.”
He hung up.
Lisa sighed in defeat. “Tell me the details of the last client.”
“It was scheduled this morning,” Stephanie began quickly. “But the time was set for 8:30 p.m. You’re already thirty minutes late. I hesitated to confirm because it was approved directly by the boss. He must be someone important.”
Even if he was important… Lisa blinked. That was a first. Most of her clients were older and important, but Jeremy had seemed oddly cautious about this one.
He even called her. That piqued her curiosity.
“And he’s not married yet? Just how many girls has he hired from our agency?”
Stephanie tilted her head. “From his record… none. You’re the first.”
Lisa groaned.
First timers were… problematic.
—------------------
Lisa stood before the restroom mirror, adjusting her lipstick as she prepared to step into her second character: Lee Paul. A mask and performance she wore better than anyone else. It was why she was an actress… right? Still, something about this night felt… different.
It was her first time meeting a man who was important. The idea unsettled her more than she expected. But with practiced confidence, she squared her shoulders and stepped out of the restroom.
Her eyes scanned the lounge for the signature white T-shirt and gray flannel pants given to her.
This man had odd choices. From the pictures, his clothes seemed expensive, yet casual. And it told her two things: he didn’t care for the date, and he didn’t expect to be impressed by her.
Lisa spotted him at the bar, sitting alone, swirling a clear drink in his glass.
When she approached, her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. He was tall and undeniably attractive, even in his casual clothes.
Not that it mattered. Lisa wasn’t here to swoon. If anything, his disheveled arrogance confirmed what she already assumed: He was the kind of man who expected women to fall at his feet.
She would never be that woman.
______________________
An hour earlier, Arthur Brook paced the hotel lobby, restless and annoyed. He checked the large wall clock for the fifth time.
“She’s late,” he muttered.
He’d never waited for a woman before. She was supposed to arrive first, not him.
Frustrated, he turned on his heel. “I need a drink,” he muttered, heading toward the bar. He couldn't look too eager, anyway.
Just then, someone approached—and Arthur stilled. Each step the woman took held grace, poise, and something else… something unexpected. He blinked, unable to look away. Her green eyes, soft smile, and confidence took him by surprise.
All his irritation vanished like mist.
"My name is Lee," she said, holding out her phone to show a picture. “Are you Andrew?”
Arthur blinked again, then turned to the bartender. “Yeah, that’s me. Get her juice.”
Lisa raised a brow. “What makes you think I want juice?” she asked dryly and snapped her fingers. “Whiskey. Neat.”
Arthur smirked. “Long day?”
Lisa nodded as her drink arrived. “Very. Now let’s get to business.”
She reached into her bag for the documents. As she rummaged, Arthur found himself watching her lips.
“I want you.” He suddenly blurted out.
Lisa froze. “What?”
Arthur coughed, mentally kicking himself. He didn’t mean it like that. He just needed a fake fiancée for one stupid dinner. Rita had warned him clearly: no funny business. No sleeping with her. No falling in love.
And yet, he couldn’t understand why a woman like her would choose a job like this.
He cleared his throat. “I mean, my sister introduced the app to me. You act as my fiancée, I pay you. What do you say?”
Lisa narrowed her eyes. Arrogant—just as she expected. He was a man who saw this as a game, and Lisa hated men like that.
Thankfully, she had her own rules too. Her job was strictly one day, one role, and never as a fiancée. Being a fiancée was complicated, almost permanent and dangerous.
There was a reason for that. And Lisa didn't plan on breaking it.
- Writer
