Chapter 10

Jude and Tommy followed Darius into his office. Darius didn't say anything as he sat behind his huge desk and motioned for Tommy and Jude to sit down across from him. The two didn't even glance at each other as they took their seats, looking straight at Darius, not wanting to give the older man any ideas.

Darius's eyes studied them a moment, as if he were trying to figure something out on his own before he sighed heavily and slapped the newspaper down in front of them. Tommy's eyes briefly glanced over it as he saw it was the same insert Kwest had previously handed him. Jude let out and audible gasp as she reached for the paper, her eyes skimming over it and her face paling as she read the words and gazed at the pictures plastered over the page.

"You two got some explaining to do before I go busting some ass." Darius stated, his voice firm but otherwise emotionless.

"D, it's not what"

"I think? Ya know what I think Tom?" Darius said, looking amused. "Tell me what you think I'm thinking." Tommy looked slightly surprised as he cleared his throat.

"All I meant was-" Tommy stopped talking at Darius's sharp look and clamped his mouth shut. It definitely wasn't a good idea to stay on Darius's bad side.

"Jude?" Darius said, and Jude snapped her head up from the paper. It took her everything she had not to glance over at Tommy first. The story definitely wasn't good for them; she knew it and she seriously was wondering what he was thinking, what he'd say after all was said and done.

"We went to dinner…that's it."

"And the slow dancing?" Darius asked, raising his eyebrows. "Was that the main course? Or just desert?" Tommy opened his mouth like he was going to say something and then he must have decided against it and clamped his mouth shut. Jude gaped at Darius; she knew what he was implying.

"We're not sleeping together!" Jude snapped, feeling severly annoyed. She slammed the paper down on Darius's desk and stood up. Tommy was glancing at her curiously and Darius looked mildly surprised at her outburst. "Oh, don't tell me you weren't thinking it!" She said, rolling her eyes. "We went to dinner. The restaurant had a guy singing and we danced with everyone else. Is that a crime? Last time I checked, it wasn't against the law to dance!" Darius looked taken-a-back and Jude stood there, breathing slightly heavy and sat down again in her chair. Tommy stared at her a moment and then looked back at Darius.

"D, we were at a small restaurant, they had someone there singing some older songs and I noticed Jude was watching the other couples dance…so I asked her if she wanted to. Maybe we got caught up in the moment, but there's nothing going on between me and Jude." Tommy said, feeling like he was lying. There was something but Tommy wasn't quite sure he knew what it was. All he knew was that he found he lost control whenever Jude was in the room with him and all he ever thought about was her.

Darius was quite a long moment as he looked at them thoughtfully. Darius picked up the article again and scanned through it before reading aloud:

"…In a recent survey taken for celebrity couples, our readers favored this budding relationship between artist and producer…"

Tommy and Jude glanced at each other with a look of confusion.

"It's not the first time you two have been in the papers together." Darius pointed out and neither could refute that fact.

"Wait…D…"

"This really is a good marketing-"

"You want us to…" Jude looked confused as Darius nodded at Tommy, a happy grin on his face.

"What?" Jude asked, not figuring out what Darius had thought up of.

"With Jude's album about to drop, she really would use the publicity…" Darius continued saying. Jude continued to look confused and she glanced at Tommy but he wouldn't look at her. He had his head in his hands and was looking down at the floor. Jude glanced questioningly at Darius, not understanding what he wanted.

"I'm confused." Jude stated, hoping someone would clue her in.

"You and Tom…do make a cute couple…I guess." Darius said, surveying the two thoughtfully. Jude's eyes widened as realization hit her.

"You want us to WHAT!" She asked, wanting confirmation.

"I want you to pretend you're dating." Darius stated, looking pleased. Jude glanced at Tommy who still wasn't looking at her.

"I don't think-"

"You got a girlfriend Tom?"

"No, but-"

"Then I don't see the problem." Darius said, looking at Tommy for an explanation. Tommy didn't say anything and Darius glanced at Jude, as if waiting for her to protest. "Good. That settles it. I'll schedule a few interviews…in the mean time…just…keep being yourselves."

"What's" Jude started to say as Tommy gave her a look that clearly read 'don't finish that statement'. Jude clamped her mouth shut, fuming. She was supposed to pretend to date Tommy! This definitely was going to end in disaster. She could see it now. Jude felt Tommy's arm on her hand as he guided her out of Darius's office and into the lobby. Jude shook her arm out of Tommy's grip and glared at him.

"What the hell was that!" She demanded.