How to Fake a Love Story

13:Of Break Ups

...at about 3:32 in the afternoon, one Jared Winston shared a precious moment with his new beloved, Ryan Grayson. Sources indicate that Winston has been courting Grayson since meeting the young man at a business mixer. A few friends of the couple have indicated that both are very much in love with each other and have plans for marriage in the future as well as possible adoption.'

Jared sighed, rubbing his temple, lowering the newspaper down.

This was what he wanted, right?

A certain phrase regarding wishes and caution flitted across the surface of his mind.

Somewhat blankly, he looked back up at his assistant, who was still dictating from a stack of fresh letters sent to him, unaware of his inattention. Many of the letters were without stamps as the senders had merely dropped it off at the company and addressed it to him.

" '...and I'd also like it very much if you both were more affectionate with each other in public. If you need ideas, I am very willing to offer them. For one, you can sweep him off his feet while staring deeply into his eyes while you kiss him passionately and then you both can-' " Nina blushed. "Erm. 'Do things with each other.' She was really quite, er, descriptive, sir." Nina coughed and cleared her throat before continuing, " 'I know a few great love hot-' "

"That's enough," Jared groaned, holding his hand up.

Nina folded the paper back politely and pursed her lips slightly. "Um. What shall I do about-"

"Toss them. Shred them. Burn them, for all I care!"

His assistant squeaked at his harsh tone. "I-I'm sor-"

Jared sighed, calming down. "No, I'm sorry, Nina. Forgive me. It's not your fault. I don't care what you do with it all. If it's not important then just... just get rid of them."

Nina nodded and left the office without another word.

Although he hadn't heard from Amelia all day-thankfully-his gut instincts told him she was probably too busy fanning the flames of all this media attention he was getting now.

Maybe taking the 'gay approach' wasn't the best idea he had come up with. It was great at first-he got less junk mail and it was a win-win situation all around. Now, he was getting twice as much and seriously considering implementing a proper recycling procedure.

And then his phone rang.

Flipping it out, he checked the display.

Amelia.

It was too good to be true. "Hello?"

"How was your first kiss with your hot new lover?"

Jared sighed. "Ame-"

She squealed. "On TV!"

He hung up on her and put his phone on silent.

Once again, memories of yesterday surfaced.

His secretary light on the office phone came on. Flicking it, Jared leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. "Yes?"

"Sir, Mister Grays-Hey! Sir, you can't go-"

The double doors to his office opened and in strode Ryan Grayson-looking somewhat terrified out of his mind and a little dishevelled. He stopped just in front of Jared's desk, placing both hands flat on the surface and leaning slightly.

Steadfast grey eyes connected with stunned green ones.

A few moments passed where Jared didn't know what to do or say.

Clearing his throat and swallowing a bit, he clasped his hands in front of him. "Ryan, how good to-"

"I'm breaking up with you."

A pane of glass shattered somewhere in the background.



Myra pursed her lips and turned to look at Cynthia. "What do you think? Red or gold?"

Cynthia tilted her head and hummed, scrutinising both outfits held up for her judgement. Tapping her chin slowly in thought, she swirled her finger magnanimously in the air before pointing to the red one.

"That one," she pointed out promptly.

Myra spun around to face the overly-large mirror in her hotel room. Holding the dress up, she tilted her head, envisioning herself wearing it.

The low-cut bust-line was one obvious reason Cynthia wanted her to wear it. The open back and how the dress would define her bottom quite clearly was the other.

Myra was assaulted by memories of Cynthia dressing her and Samantha up when they were part of the Student Council for the different parties she used to throw.

Those were the days.

But it did look good on her-she had to give it at least that much credit.

Putting the red dress away for now, Myra returned to her vanity and started to prepare her make-up. As she reached for her lipstick she was reminded of a fond memory. When she was dating Ryan, he would often come inside and tell her that he preferred her without makeup because it brought out her eyes-and so she had often deigned not to wear any.

Sighing, she took the makeup remover and swathed her face all over.

Cynthia tilted her head the other way and blinked prominently in the background of the mirror. "Why did you just take off all your hard work?"

Myra smiled nostalgically. "Because it brings out my eyes."

A soft smile from Cynthia. "You're right. It does. Miss him, don't you?"

Myra scowled. "Miss who?"

"Your lover," Cynthia said easily, getting to her feet. She draped an arm around Myra who was seated in front of the mirror. Myra merely sighed. "Do you really want to cuff this guy so badly? It's obvious you're still in love with him."

Pursing her lips, Myra frowned at that comment. She had been running high on rage, adrenaline, and various fast foods since arriving in Rosewood. Rational thought was the last thing she wanted to depend upon.

She was quite sure she was no longer in love with Ryan. That all had disappeared the moment he ran off with her money, leaving behind the divorce papers with his signature already on it.

But it would be foolish of her not to admit that she still missed him.

Shaking Cynthia off, Myra finished fixing her hair and slipped on the red dress, adding a dash of lip gloss before turning to Cynthia-already set in her golden Chinese-style dress with a black dragon curling around her.

"I don't want to think about that. He emptied a bank account and he broke my heart! You know what I found coming home one day? A divorce form taped to the door with his signature on it. I... I..." Myra held a hand to her face as tears watered out of her eyes. "I just...!" She sniffed-unable to keep a steady voice.

Cynthia sighed and hugged her, tilting her chin up slightly. "Aren't you glad you didn't wear makeup? Come on, our visiting Chinese Princess has a birthday party for which we have invites for."

Myra nodded and headed out of the room, drying her tears with tissue.

Boarding the limousine, they made quick tracks for the venue of tonight's celebrations.

-------------------

Ryan glared out the window, arms folded-on the opposite side of the limousine from Jared. The atmosphere was thick around them and the only reprieve Ryan got out of this situation was the fact that his pervert ex-boyfriend's hands would no longer be anywhere near him after tonight.

For a brief moment Ryan thanked that fatal letter for reaching him.

On the other hand he cursed it to Hell and back because he knew he could've gotten Jared's bank information in a few more weeks.

Then again, all the money in the world couldn't compensate him for acting gay in front of-

But he wasn't going to think about that because it wasn't going to happen and he wouldn't have to.

"Ryan, please-" Jared began.

"No," Ryan stated sharply.

Jared sighed and Ryan saw him twiddle his thumbs for a few moments out of the corner of his eye. Turning back to Ryan, he tried again, "But, I really-"

"No," he repeated, a little more insistently.

Another moment of awkward silence.

"I'm sorry. Whatever I did to hurt you, I'm sorry."

Idly, Ryan's mind registered that this was probably the first and only time that word ever sounded sincere out of his ex-fiance's mouth.

"Apology accepted and you're forgiven."

Jared sighed in relief. "Thank G-"

Ryan continued. "But I'm still breaking up with you."

Jared's shoulders slumped in defeat and he took to tapping his finger on the arm rest close to him.

When the limousine stopped, Ryan didn't wait for the suited man-whose job was solely to open doors all evening-and stepped out into the chill night air. He could hear Jared scrambling after him from inside the limousine. Clearly, he had thought of another desperate attempt to make Ryan change his mind.

Jared had chased after him and stopped him just before entering the building where the festivities would be held, on the top floor of a hotel the Shen Hu Group owned in town-up in the executive suite.

Ryan sighed and turned to look at Jared who wore a slightly desperate expression. "I can't under-"

An arm was thrown around Jared and Ryan forgot all about breaking up with him to stare at-

Holy Cow!

It was Fake Jared from way back, wearing another white suit. And-

HOLY MOTHER!

-CIERRA!

She winked at him surreptitiously when the other two weren't looking and he couldn't resist the urge to glare at her.

Fake Jared grinned from ear to ear and Cierra giggled, hanging off his arm. She wore a black Chinese dress with matching gloves and ruby jewellery.

"Jared! You dog! What a catch! He's enough to make anyone turn gay!" he exclaimed, winking at Ryan and running lecherous eyes up and down appreciatively.

Ryan stopped glaring at Cierra and turned to stare warily at the possible pervert.

Jared scowled. "Aaron..." he growled threateningly.

Aaron laughed, releasing Jared from his grip. "Oh, was I interrupting something? A lover's quarrel, maybe?"

Ryan twitched.

Pressing his lips into a thin, flat line, Jared closed his eyes. "Aaron..."

Cierra swatted at him playfully, giggling. "Hey now, Mr Knight, I just might get jealous."

Aaron laughed turning back to her, pulling a hand up and kissing it. "You just might have something to be jealous of when there are guys like him out there." Aaron eyed him a little longer, wagging his eyebrows suggestively before pulling Cierra inside. "Don't forget that this is a hotel, Jared! I'll make sure to let Her Highness know if... something comes up."

Cierra looked over her shoulder and stuck her tongue out a little at him.

Ryan bristled slightly.

"Ryan." Jared called.

And then his attention was dragged back. Folding his arms obstinately, he looked away. "What? No."

"You're being unreasonable," Jared pleaded.

"I'm never unreasonable."

Jared snorted. "Fine, you're being stupid."

Ryan shot him a glare. "You know what, if you-"

"Jared!"

The second interruption made Ryan start to consider that perhaps the walkway wasn't the best place to have a lover's spat. For one, it obstructed traffic, and secondly it-

Myra.

-was a really good way to meet people you didn't want to meet.

Damn.