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Bachelor

“Do you want something to drink?” He smiled again. Davine returned his smile but something about it made her curious. It wasn’t fake but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

“Oh no, I’ll just get something later.” She replied. He nodded.

“Well let me know if that changes. For now let’s sit.” She sat back down on her spot at the couch and he sat in the arm chair next to her. “Before we get started let me remind you that you did sign an NDA,” he paused and she nodded. Suddenly Ethan was very serious.

“Alright, for starters I supposed I should explain why your services are needed. The books and assistant parts are fairly self explanatory.” He paused and she nodded, he smiled before continuing. “First of all it’s not because I’m gay. I am bisexual but that’s besides the point. I don’t exactly hide that.” He paused to think, “well I won’t be hiding that. The problem is, I can’t let anyone close to me. You see I have a secret and I don’t need girls following me around and trying to date me. It’s not safe for me or my family.”

He stared at her for a minute, as she bit her lip. He glanced down and sighed as if he was building up the courage to say it. He sighed again before glancing up at her and studying her face. Their eyes met a she felt a chill go down her spine. He had brown eyes but the iris appeared to be surrounded by red that faded into the brown. She’d never seen anything like it. They were beautiful but some how otherworldly.

“I am...” he trailed off, and swallowed before starting again. “I am a shapeshifter, so is my whole family.” Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “If I dated anyone, slept with anyone, it might be hard to hide this secret.”

“What-what do you mean?” She almost asked if it was a joke but considering how long it took him to get it out that seemed unlikely. Her eyes ran over him again. His neat black suit, purple shirt and black tie. Her eyes trailed back up to meet his again.

“It’s best if I show you. I’ll start small so I don’t scare you too much.” Ethan closed his eyes for a moment. When she blinked his hair went from black to pink. “See, I can do just about anything I want. Mostly I just wear my default appearance, the one I was born with. However, I can do anything. Even effect my clothes.” He changed the color of his shirt to match his hair.

Davine leaned back in her seat stunned. This sort of thing wasn’t supposed to be real. She stared at his hair, and his shirt, and his hair again. She tried to talk but nothing came out.

“So, uh, shouldn’t it be easy to keep your secret. You just don’t change your appearance. That still doesn’t explain why I’m here.” She finally managed to get out. He raised an eyebrow in surprise, he hadn’t been expecting that. He even looked impressed.

“Well so I’m still very young, especially for a shapeshifter. After we hit our mid twenties our aging slows down. I’m 30, so I’ll look like this for the next few hundred years. Being so young means I have trouble not shifting sometimes. It’s actually hard to hold one shape for a whole day, let alone a night.” He watched me as he explained, gauging her reaction. Her eyes were still wide with surprise but the rest of her face was blank as she focused on his words. “I’ve had enough practice I can keep in one form for most of a day, as long as I have occasional days off. Changing my clothes is actually more draining so I don’t do that too often. Luckily at this age the things I lose control over is mostly hair and eye color. Sometimes facial features but for the most part I’ve grown out of that. Hair and eyes are the last thing to stabilize. In another couple of years I’ll only change when I want to.” He smiled and paused so she could take it all in.

“So you need a fake girlfriend to keep other girls from asking you out? Can’t you just turn them down. Isn’t the eligible bachelor thing good for business?” Davine realized she shouldn’t be questioning this, she had it made right now and asking questions could convince him that he doesn’t need her.

“My people think it would look better if I just already had a girlfriend than not date at all. Especially at my age. Helps dodge questions and it seems to be in right now” he shrugged. “A lot of the rich and famous men my age are settling down. I’m expected to be too. If I was single people would always be trying to set me up on dates. I know people who have been stalked so someone could ask them out. But really, it just seemed easier.” She shrugged, wondering how much of the hiring process was he in on, and if this was really his idea not his peoples. Set himself up, tell them his secret then woo them once it’s settled. As long as she was getting paid, it’s fine she decided.

“Let me see if I understand what you’re saying. So you need a fake girlfriend because you don’t want anyone trying to dig too much into your personal life, and that keeps at least one area protected?” She looked into his now green eyes.

“Yes! Exactly.” He chucked, suddenly very happy. “You explained it so much better than I did.” She smiled and nodded. He was extra cute when he was excited. “Plus it lets you be my full time assistant easier. Our world, the supernatural world, has some different rules. While we interact with humans plenty, it’s mostly in passing and we keep to ourselves. Our new business model needs a face, so here we are.” His smile was so bright now that they had reached an understanding.

“Now, I’m sure you saw in your contract that s*x and anything beyond the occasional public affection are unnecessary. Your contact is two years long, with the potential to be extended depending on my needs. It’s extremely important that you do not fall in love with me.” She almost chuckled at that, covering it with a cough.

“Don’t worry, I won’t fall in love. Never have and not planning to any time soon.” She gave him a friendly smile. She noticed he said unnecessary, which meant it was still allowed. “Now just to clarify, as far as s*x goes, it’s just discouraged?”

“I wouldn’t even go that far. I mean it’s only kind of like sleeping with your boss. You’re my assistant but beyond that I’m not your supervisor.” He smiled a little then his expression quickly changed. “Oh I don’t mean I’m expecting you to or anything. You’re very beautiful and I think this partnership will go great. But yeah- um, not expecting anything.” He spoke even faster than his expression changed. She smiled in response and shrugged.

“I guess we’ll just have to see.” She left it open to interpretation which part she was referring to. “Anything else?” She tilted her head a little, still smiling. She was starting to get thirsty and she imagined he must be too after all that talking.

“Oh, no, not unless you have any more questions.” Davine shook her head no. “Well then lets go socialize and get some drinks.” He stood up and offered her his arm. He was a bit taller than her even in her heels. They started towards the party.

“Actually I do have a question.” He glanced at her. “Can you control your height?” He blushed at this question. Davine was 5’9” and a little over 6’ with her shoes.

“I do.” He cleared his throat. “But I’m this hight by default. Being 6’4” surprisingly has its drawbacks so it’s nice I can make myself shorter in the shower if I need to.” She chuckled at that. They rejoined the party and he introduced her to more people. It was a lovely night.