Episode 3: The Most Terrifying Decision
1207 Words
I shut my eyes tight and grabbed the jacket, then wrapped it around my waist. My heartbeat quickened as panic crawled up my chest. Of all the places to get a period stain, it had to happen in front of two of Hollywood's most gorgeous men.
Jordan's expression remained unreadable as he stared right into my eyes for a few seconds before speaking.
“Which floor do you get off?” he asked, his voice calm and soothing.
No wonder women flocked around him. Aside from his gorgeous face, his deep voice alone was enough to make girls lose their minds. And then there was the way he smelled. A rich mix of lemon, musk and something warm I couldn't quite place.
Enough ogling, Lori.
“Fourth,” I mumbled under my breath, clearing my throat in the process.
He pressed the button and stood right behind me, way too close.
The elevator dinged and the door slid open. He turned, whispered something to Zeke then walked me out.
Was he following me to the bathroom? He probably just wanted his jacket back.
We got to the front of the female bathroom. I stopped and turned toward him. “Thank you,” I muttered before holding out the jacket. “If you don't mind, I’d like to wash it before returning it to you.”
Without taking his eyes off me, he nodded.
I swallowed hard and pressed my lips together. His gaze was doing something to me. Something I couldn't describe.
“Sam is going to get you new pants,” he said.
If I didn't know better, I would have said he was concerned about me.
“Thank you, I-I’ll head in now.”
The same awkward smile slipped onto my lips again before I disappeared into the bathroom with his jacket.
I had just entered one of the bathroom cubicles when two girls walked in.
“Was that JD we just passed?” One of them asked, excitement bubbling in her voice.
“I heard he is the new owner of this studio,” she said excitedly. “Can't wait for the first project we get to work on with him. Imagine being around him every day,” she let out a dreamy sigh.
The sink faucet turned on as one of the girls spoke again. “He might be planning to return to the screen after his three-year hiatus. Think about it. He is wealthy, Forbes listed him as a billionaire. He’s influential, famous…What else would make him buy a production company if he wasn't planning a comeback?”
“You’re right,” the other girl said. “I guess talent managers will start flocking around him again, trying to get him to fake date their clients and make them super popular.”
“Like he did with Mariah, right?”
“Yeah. Not many people know that he and Mariah were never in a real relationship.” She lowered her voice. “From what I heard, he doesn't do real relationships at all, almost like he’s severely allergic to having an actual girlfriend. I heard no matter how hard women tried, none of them had ever managed to get him committed.”
Had I been living under a rock that I didn't know all this about him. I knew he once dated Mariah but how was all that they both showed us fake? I guess it all made sense now why Mariah had gone after Cole the moment his career started taking off.
“Which one of you is Lori?” Another feminine voice said from outside the cubicle.
“That would be me.” I raised my hand for her to see who was talking. But how did she know my name? I never told Jordan my name.
From above the cubicle, she handed me a new pair of cream-colored pants and a small hamper basket containing sanitary pads, wet wipes, painkillers, and a bar of chocolate.
Something warm crept up my chest and I couldn't help but smile. Was he always this nice to every stranger he came across?
“Thank you so much.”
“Do you need anything else?”
“This is more than enough,” I said.
She muttered, “Okay” before the bathroom door clicked shut.
A few minutes later, I was all freshened up and hurried to the executive floor where the general meeting was being held. By the time I got there, the handover was already done. The last thing I heard from the speaker was, “So the official name for this production company is now JSB Entertainment.”
I scanned the conference room, subconsciously looking for Cole.
Zeke owned the talent management company Cole, Mariah, Jordan and several others were signed to, though Jordan looked far more like Zeke's business partner than a celebrity under management.
Neither Cole nor Mariah was in sight. I asked around about what had been discussed during the meeting and got the best news possible, they weren't firing any of the current employees.
I got home later after work, freshened up, before settling down with the pad thai I’d grabbed on my way back. I’d been so bloated all day that I barely had the appetite to eat.
The warm smell of tamarind sauce and garlic filled the apartment as I opened the carton. The noodles were still warm, and surprisingly, the first bite made me feel a little better.
I had almost finished the entire meal when my phone pinged. Without checking, I already knew who it was.
Saint: How was your day? You feeling any better?
He was probably referring to last night when I told him I’d gotten my heart broken.
Lori: I'm much better. How about you?
Saint: I'm good, Ri. Anything interesting happen today?
Lori: You won't believe it if I told you. I met Jordan Bishop. And he was super helpful and nice.
I went on to tell him everything that happened today. Not like I had anyone else to talk to.
Saint: He better not be trying to hit on you.
I laughed softly. Why would a man like Jordan Bishop hit on me when women far classier than me practically threw themselves at him?
I was about to reply Saint when a normal text message came in.
Cole: Hey. You good? Just wanted to let you know I sold the apartment and the new owner might stop by tomorrow. Thought I should give you a heads-up.
You’ve got to be f*****g kidding me.
My blood boiled. Why was he suddenly being this cruel?
It was at that moment it finally dawned on me that if I kept on wallowing in self-pity, I'd end up getting trampled on even more than I already had.
All my life, I’d avoided confrontations and fights but Cole was biting off far more than he could chew.
This was the last straw. I wasn't going to remain invisible anymore.
I hit the delete button on Cole’s message before going back to my chat with Saint.
Lori: I think I'm about to make the most terrifying decision of my life.
Saint: What's that?
Lori: I'm going to ask Jordan Bishop to fake-date me.
- Writer
