GIRLFRIEND FOR HIRE

Lilly's phone beeped, a relentless buzz that dragged her from the depths of sleep. She groggily reached out, slapping the screen to silence the alarm like it was a pesky mosquito. As she stretched, yawning like a cat waking from a sunbeam, she hooked her pillow back over her head, ready to reclaim sleep's sweet grasp. But just as she cozied in, a nagging thought poked her brain like a sharp elbow. An appointment? Today? She jolted upright, snatching her phone like it held the secrets of survival. She flicked her internet back on. The screen lit up, and messages exploded – a cacophony of bips, buzzes, and pings that made her eyes widen. NO. NO. NO. A client's been waiting 30 MINUTES ALREADY. "WHERE ARE YOU???? I'M PAYING FOR THIS KIND OF SERVICE?!!!" “ARE YOU TAKING OUR APPOINTMENT FOR GRANTED?” “I’LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR THIS!!!!” Lilly shrieked, leaping out of bed like it was on fire. She yanked open curtains, flooding the room with blinding morning light. The busy streets below roared to life – horns blaring, vendors calling out in a chaotic symphony, the smells of street food and petrol wafting up like a pungent cloud. She sprinted to the bathroom, splashing water on her face, brushing teeth in record time, and wrestling her hair into some semblance of order. Her dress was a rumpled mess on the floor, but she snatched it up and pulled it on like armor. Lilly pelted back to the kitchen, grabbing a slice of stale bread and cold milk from the fridge. Crumbs scattered like confetti as she chomped, not even tasting it. One foot out the door, she grabbed her bag, phone, and keys – a practiced flurry of motion. She burst onto the street, unlocked her trusty bicycle, and swung a leg over like a warrior mounting a steed. The morning air rushed at her like a slap as she pedaled like mad through the throng. Horns blared, vendors yelled, and the sun beat down like a hammer – but Lilly didn't notice. She was gonna be late. That is all she cared about. Lilly's tires scritched against the pavement, leaving scant marks on the ground as she braked hard outside the upscale restaurant. She checked her watch, sweat dripping down her face, her eyes widening like a trapped animal's. Quickly, she adjusted her dress, unzipped her backpack, and whipped out a pair of silver heels that sparkled like stolen stars. She slipped them on, stuffed her sneakers into the bag, and slong it over her shoulder. Lilly stood panting in front of the restaurant, trying to catch her breath before she smiled – not sweetly, not innocently – devilishly. Her lips curled up like a cat about to pounce. "We've got this," she whispered to herself, a dare in her voice. She checked her reflection in a nearby window. Hair: okay-ish, rumpled like she'd just rolled out of bed (which she had). Dress: hot enough to incinerate expectations. She modeled her way inside, hips swaying like a metronome set to seduce, and headed straight for the reserved table. The client had communicated he'd be wearing a navy suit. The guy at the table fit the bill – navy suit, expectant expression, phone buzzed to his ear. Lilly quickly made her way towards them, folding her hands as though she was getting into character. She stood straight, poised, unbothered... and let out a scream that shattered the decorum. "WHAT!!!!! Dave!!!!! You're cheating on me... right in my face?" The lady sitting across from Dave was shocked. Her eyes widened like she'd been slapped; she looked at him expecting an explanation. But no sooner had she parted her lips to speak than Lilly cut her off, voice like a whip. "He is mine. He is betrothed to me!! We are getting married... get lost before things get worse." The lady, flustered and mortified, stood up and looked at Dave angrily. "You've wasted my time," she spat. "I... I've fallen in love deeply, so deep I thought we could be something but too bad I can do nothing about this, especially with this embarrassment." She picked her tiny little bag up, stood up poised with eyes so red, tears forming and the veins on her head curling up. She walked past Lilly, giving her a scathing side-eye. Her heels screeched off the floor, fading into the restaurant's murmurs like a ghost vanishing. Dave's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, his tense body language screaming exhaustion. His lips, parched and dry, parted to release a whispered sigh, “finally…… finally it’s over…!” Lilly's piercing gaze locked onto his, her eyes demanding answers as she settled into the chair across from him, the soft creak of the wood echoing through the upscale restaurant's hushed ambiance. “What...what is finally over?” she probed, her voice laced with intrigue. “Did you hate her or something?” Her gaze narrowed, dissecting his every twitch. But Dave, now back to his senses, unleashed a venomous snarl. “If you’d not been here any earlier…. I’d have sued you. How do you make a deal with someone and then be that late?” His words dripped with poison, yet Lilly remained unruffled, her sugary sweet apology a stark contrast to his anger. “Traffic, I'm so sorry,” she cooed, her voice a gentle breeze on a sweltering day. As Dave's anger dissipated, he revealed the tangled web of deceit his ex had woven. Her hand, her clandestine affair, and their plan to bleed him dry – it all spilled out like a poisoned chalice. But amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope emerged. While scrolling through social media, he stumbled upon Lilly's page, “girlfriend for hire,” and a plan was hatched. He'd hire her to be his betrothed fiancé, a shield against the vultures. As the truth settled, a tentative smile crept onto his face, spreading like a sunrise over the horizon. Lilly, sensing his unease, offered a reassuring smile. “Everyone needs a shoulder, and if I can be one….then I’ll gladly do it.” Her words, a soothing balm to his battered heart, left Dave grinning like a fool. “How much do I owe you?” he asked, his voice tinged with gratitude. Lilly's mischievous twinkle resurfaced. “Well, for being late, you’ll only pay 100 dollars!” He sent the money, and with a nod, he vanished into thin air, leaving Lilly to bask in the glow of a mission accomplished. Yet, as she stood outside, the warm sun on her skin, a nagging message awaited. Her mum's text, a stark reminder of her own responsibilities, drained the smile from her face. “Is the money ready? You’d promised us, one week ago. Why haven’t you sent it?” Lilly's eyes rolled heavenward as she tucked her phone away, the weight of her secrets settling like a shroud. She rode through town, the wind whipping her hair into a frenzy, the city's vibrant pulse a temporary distraction from the emptiness within. Her sad eyes, a mirror to her soul, reflected the unfulfilled longing that haunted her. Lilly parked outside her sanctuary, a cozy restaurant tucked away from the hustle. Aunty Maggie, the owner, beamed, “You must have had a busy day, my dear. I made something special just for you today.” Lilly's face lit up as she hugged the woman, the aroma of sizzling chicken noodles enveloping her like a warm hug. As she savored the first bite, her phone buzzed. A new notification, a potential client, and a tantalizing offer. Her eyes widened, her mind racing with possibilities. Could this be the break she needed? Or just another scam? She placed her phone upside down to avoid distraction and immersed herself in the good aroma.