English Accent

A fake one

I was never going to give my phone to anyone. Anymore.

It was two days after the accident and I was bumming at home when my phone started ringing. I paused the movie, leaned over the table to grab my phone and checked the screen. Unknown caller. I hesitated. Normally I didn't answer calls like that, but after the accident, I constantly waited for a call from the mechanic.

"Hello?" I asked, hoping to hear that my Giulietta is ready and shiny and waiting for me.

"Hello, Sweetie." a deep voice sounded on the other end.

I froze. No way.

"Sweetie." he sang into the phone. "I know you're there."

God. That was creepy.

"What you're doing? It's called harassing, you know." I informed him.

There was a laugh.

"And what you're doing? It's called lying."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"The deal?" he asked, his voice amused. "The part where you keep your part of it?"

Damn.

"I don't have the money right now. I'm sorry. I swear I will pay you once I have some."

I heard his deep chuckle.

"I'm not talking about money, Sweetie."

I tensed.

"You're not?"

"No."

I frowned.

"Then what the hell are you talking about?"

"Meet me in Caffair in twenty."

"No way."

"You don't know where it is?"

"I do." I responded. "But I hate the smell of coffee. I would literally hurl all over you. Wait."

I paused dramatically.

"That's a very good idea, after all. I'll be there."

"No." he protested. "How about Sharon's? Do you like hot chocolate?"

Sure that I liked chocolate. But I had a feeling that after this meeting, I would start to hate it.

I couldn't afford to hate chocolate.

"And tell me, how am I going to get there without a car?" I asked.

"You will figure something out. You're a big girl."

I snorted.

"And if not, I'll come for you."

Yeeeaah. Over my dead body.

"No, thank you. I'll get there myself. I might not make it in twenty, though." I warned.

"I don't care. I'll be there in twenty."

I rolled my eyes. Asshole.

"Oh, and by the way." he said when I was about to end the call. "Every minute of late is going to be considered a punishment."

"Yeah, right."

I pressed the end button and threw my phone onto the couch beside me. I was half tempted to show it my middle finger, but that would be just stupid. So I didn't do it. Obviously.

After a moment of sulking, I got my ass off the couch and went to my bedroom to put on some bra. I might have forgotten about it earlier. It was Sunday, after all.

And there was no way I was going to go meet Dominic without my bra.

No. Freaking. Way.

When I could be considered decent, I grabbed my jacket and bag and headed out. I wasn't the type of a girl who spends hours in front of the mirror smudging my face with God-knows-what and brushing my hair two hundred times. Pulling my hair into a ponytail and sliding my feet into my black converse was enough.

The nearest bus stop was about a mile from my apartment, so the walk there didn't take me much. Waiting for the next bus, however, took me twelve minutes.

By the time I arrived at Sharon's, the best confectionery in the whole city, I was seven minutes late. I've spotted Dominic the moment I stepped in. He was quite hard to miss, leaning back in his seat with his ridiculously long legs stretched out in front of him and this whole notice-me demeanour going on. He was gazing out the window when I first came in, but he looked at me when I stepped closer.

Damn. I was hoping that he wouldn't notice me so I could run away.

Now I was busted.

"Good morning." I said, taking a seat in front of him.

"Good morning?" he raised a brow. "It's like two in the afternoon."

"Exactly."

I tried to make myself comfortable while fighting hard not to touch his legs which were still stretched in front of me and invading my space. Dominic must have noticed my squirming because he looked at me and smiled.

"You don't have to curl into yourself so much. We can both fit in here." he said.

I eyed him.

"If you stretch your legs any further, you're going to kick my chair to the next table." I replied.

It was true. As if feeling it made me uncomfortable, he straightened his legs even more, crowding me. I tensed, wishing I could disappear.

I felt intimidated by him.

"So." I said, propping my elbows on the table. "What is the reason for which you dragged me here all the way from my home?"

"The payment, of course."

"I've already told you I don't have any money right now -"

He let out a breath.

"How many times do I have to tell you I don't want your money?" he sounded exasperated.

I blinked.

"Then what the hell do you want?"

He smiled. Slowly. Predatory.

I smelled trouble.

"That's exactly what I wanted to talk with you about."

I opened my mouth to say something when the waitress approached us.

"Two hot chocolates and the daily special?" she asked.

Dominic nodded.

"Thank you." he sent the poor woman what I supposed was his charming smile.

It made her blush. When it comes to me, I wanted to hurl, but what the hell do I know.

The waitress left the order at our table and left, glancing back over her shoulder. Dominic winked at her before focusing his attention back on me.

"Here you go." he said, setting a huge cup of hot chocolate and a plate with some cake on it in front of me.

"What is it?" I opted between eying him and the cake.

"It's called food, Sweetie." He replied, for some reason using his husky voice. "And from the looks of it, you could use it sometimes."

I scoffed. It was true, I still haven't come back to a 'normal' weight since I'd beaten anorexia some time ago, but I still didn't like when someone told me I was too thin. I was trying, for God's sake. And I would be happy if someone finally noticed it instead of pointing out my boniness all of the time.

It was really irritating.

"And what is it doing in front of me?" I asked.

He shrugged.

"I was waiting for you for like eternity." he explained. "I got bored. So I ordered something."

" I was just seven minutes late." I pointed out. "And why have you ordered for me?"

He rolled his eyes.

"I was just trying to be nice, Sweetie. Stop treating everything I do like an assault on your personal space."

Yeah, that was not going to happen anytime soon.

"How could you know what I'd possibly like?" I insisted.

Dominic looked at me as if I went crazy.

"Sweetie, we are in Sharon's. They serve, like, the best hot chocolate in this state. Or the world, even. What could I possibly order for you here?"

"Okay." I processed the information. "And what about that?"

I pointed to the enormous piece of cake laying on its side on my plate. Dominic looked at me.

"What about it?"

"It's... huge." I said. "It looks like it's going to eat me if I don't do it first."

"Maybe it will." he winked.

Did he think I was seven or something?

"I'm not going to eat it whole." I shook my head.

I might not have anorexia anymore, but I still had some trouble eating certain things. And this twenty-pound piece of chocolate cake was surely one of those things.

"Then you're going to eat as much as you want." Dominic said. "And then I'm going to help you."

"Whaa -"

I didn't manage to finish before he grabbed my spoon and cut off a huge piece of the cake. Then he put it into his mouth, grinning wildly.

"See?" he said with his mouth full. "I'm helping."

I watched as he threw his head back and moaned. Okay.

I've heard Sharon's food was good, but I didn't suppose it was that good.

"Mmm." he sighed, opening his eyes. "It's amazing."

"I'm glad." I replied, sliding the plate towards him. "Now, could we, please, get to the point? I don't have whole day."

Dominic smiled.

"Yes, you do. But anyway," he took another bite of the cake while I waited patiently until he swallowed it. "I have an idea."

I arched a brow.

"About how you could pay back your debt." he explained.

My debt?

"I... 'm not sure I'm following." I said.

One corner of his lips tipped up.

"The debt. You said that if I drove your friend to the airport, you would do anything in return. If I remember clearly." he added.

I nodded. That was pretty much what I'd said.

"And now I have an idea about how you could pay me back." he went on.

"I'm listening."

Dominic took the steaming cup into his hands and took a sip, watching me over the rim.

I waited.

"You will become my girlfriend."

I froze.

"What?"

He chuckled.

"Not real girlfriend. A fake one."

"Again: what?"

Dominic grinned when he saw my confusion.

"You see, my uncle has a birthday this Saturday." he started.

I raised a brow.

"So?"

"Let me finish." he said. "He can be very... intimidating when he wants. Or when he sets his mind on something. Right now, he wants me to find myself a girlfriend. And he won't stop bragging until he sees me with one. And I thought to myself – hey, the party will be a perfect occasion for introducing my very new, and very fake, girlfriend."

"And you decided I would be the one who would play her." I filled in.

"Yes" Dominic looked proud of his plan.

I snorted.

"I'm sure there's a shitload of girls who would do way better than me. Or want the role, for the matter." I said.

"And there are." he smiled smugly and I rolled my eyes. "But with them, it's not that simple."

I took a sip of my hot chocolate that wasn't so hot anymore.

"How so?"

"For some reason, whenever I try to hook up with one, they want more. So if after one night they think they have the full right to own me and start planning our future together, then just imagine what would happen after taking one out for a date and introducing her to my family."

"You would have to put a ring on her or something?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Exactly."

"And how can I know I won't grow attached?" I challenged.

The look he sent me screamed poor pity.

"Please." he said. "The way you're looking at me right now? Trust me, Sweetie, I don't see anything happening between us in the nearest future."

And latter, too.

"Good." I stated, setting the mug down. "Because neither do I."

"See?" he smiled. "That's why you're the perfect candidate for the task."

I thought about it for a moment.

"So what, I just have to go somewhere with you, spend some time with your family, pretend I'm your girlfriend and then I'll be free?"

He nodded.

"That's pretty much it."

"Cool."

Dominic raised a brow.

"I mean, you could want me to be your maid or something." I rushed with an explanation. "I'm... glad it's all I have to do."

"Ah, but I have to warn you, it won't be that simple."

I eyed him suspiciously.

"Why?"

"Bran, my uncle, is very perceptive. He is a policeman, which means he can call bullshit from ten miles distance. If we don't fake it well enough, he will realize we're bluffing. And that means we will have to take it very, very seriously."

"Are you suggesting you get me an engagement ring and we tattoo each other's names on our wrists?"

He shot me a bland look.

"No. Although seeing you having my name tattooed on your wrist could be fun." He added with the irritating smirk of his.

I rolled my eyes.

"This will never happen." I assured him. "But back to the topic – what do you mean by 'we will have to take it seriously'?"

Dominic's smirk disappeared and he grew serious again.

"He is going to ask questions." he slowly responded. "Control questions. To see how well you know me."

"So I guess you could call him a control freak, huh?"

He shook his head.

"No, it's not that. But he knows me well enough to know I could come up with something like that." a corner of his lips tipped up. "That's why we are going to have to get to know each other better, Sweetie."

I ignored the not-so-hidden insinuation.

"So what, are we just going to sit here and ask each other questions?" I asked sceptically.

"Actually, that's exactly what I had in mind."

I stared at him.

"Seriously? Here?"

Dominic chuckled.

"No. But I think asking questions is the best way to get to know someone."

I wrinkled my nose.

"It's stupid."

"And do you have any better idea?" he challenged.

" Actually, yes. Let's just forget about it and instead I will find you another fake girlfriend. How does that sound?" I said with a sweet smile.

He tsk-ed, shaking his head.

"It's not how it works. Remember that you still owe me a favour, Sweetie."

I closed my eyes.

"Right." I said. "But can't you find another way how I could pay you back? I have some savings. I could pay for your car's repair -"

A quiet laugh rumbled from his chest as he took another bite of the cake.

"I don't need your money, Sweetie. But you did promise me to fulfil my every wish if I drove your friend to the airport, if I remember clearly."

"Every decent wish." I corrected him. "And you can't just let it go, can you?"

He grinned devilishly.

"And waste a favour? No way."

I sighed. I was stubborn, but even I didn't see any sense in further arguing. His offer wasn't so bad, after all. It wasn't the fulfilment of my dreams, but it wasn't my darkest nightmare, either. Besides, I was happy he didn't want any money. I was sure repairing my car wouldn't be cheap and I still had to keep some savings to go home for Christmas. Paying for his car also would take away the only chance of seeing my parents this year.

And I might not like Dominic, and he might not like met, too but no one said we had to. If we played it off well enough, no one would ever notice I was just a girl who crushed the back of his car and he was the guy who needed a favour. All I had to do was spend with him a few hours, keep smiling and not let his uncle know the truth.

And then I'll be free.

I took a deep breath and braced myself.

"Okay." I said firmly. "But it's just one time. Just one birthday. Then we go every which way, and we never interact with each other again. Right?"

He nodded.

"Couldn't agree more."

"Fine. Then I'll see you on Saturday." I stated. "But you'll have to drive me, though. My car's still at the mechanic's."

I made an attempt to stand but Dominic's hand reached across the table to stop me.

"Wait. Where are you going?"

"Uh, home?" I responded, confused.

Dominic shook his head.

"You can't meet me on Saturday." he said and I frowned.

"And why the hell not?"

Amusement twinkled in his eyes when they met mine.

"We have to get to know each other better, remember?"

Shit. I forgot.. Guess I was so busy concentrating on finding the good points that I forgot about the bad ones. Damn my one-sided brain.

"Okay, let's get it over with."

I threw my bag onto the ground and sat back.

"My name is Abi, I'm eighteen and I like cooking. What about you?"

I did my best to imitate the way I used to introduce myself in the support group meetings when I was still fighting anorexia.

Dominic let out an exasperated sigh.

"Not like that, Sweetie." he said, sounding disappointed. "I told you. I'm going to ask questions."

"Fine." I gritted my teeth. "But get it over with. I don't have time."

I did. I didn't have any plans for the rest of the day since Sierra was gone and I didn't have any assignment to do yet, but I wanted to have an excuse to get out of here.

He grinned slowly and leaned back in his chair like he owned this place. He probably thought he did, though.

"Not right here. Not right now."

"Then where and when?" I asked, irritated.

Dominic switched his position again, straightening in his seat and propping his elbows on the table between us.

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Avoiding you."

His smile widened.

"Perfect. I'll pick you up at five. Make a list of the questions you want to ask me. I'll surely have mine." he winked.

I rolled my eyes and stood up.

"Okay. But today, leave me alone. If I see you calling again, I'm changing numbers. Got it?"

He stood, too.

"Of course." Something in his expression told me he didn't.

"Good."

I picked up my jacket and shrugged it on. Just when I was about to place the strap of my bag over my shoulder, he approached me.

"It was nice making business with you, Miss Hindley." he said in a deep voice.

I eyed his extended hand, not sure if I should start laughing or hit him.

"The feeling's not mutual." I murmured but shook his hand.

Before I could process what was happening, he brought my palm to his lips and brushed them against the upper side.

I rolled my eyes.

"We're not acting yet, Sambler."

He smiled, releasing me.

"I know. But we better start training."

I snorted. I honestly doubted any amount of training could get me ready for what I had to do.