Chapter 2

I sat in the same seat as my interview waiting for Stephanie to arrive and tell me what exactly I was supposed to be doing. Candice said she would just be five minutes, but it seemed like it had been at least twenty.

"Sorry I'm late," Stephanie pushed open the door to her office, coffee in hand. "Emilia, Robert. Robert, Emilia," she introduced us nonchalantly. "Sit down, Rob."

Rob shyly waved and took a seat next to me.

"Not to sound rude or anything," Rob began, "But what is this all about, Stephanie?" I was certainly glad he asked because I was wondering the same thing.

"I'm going to ask you a question, Emilia, and I want you to be completely honest. Who is Rob dating?"

"Uh," I hesitated, glancing over my shoulder at him; his facial expression displayed bewilderment. "Kristen Stewart, I think. His costar."

"Exactly," Stephanie responded. "And you are 100% incorrect."

"What are you getting at?" Rob questioned.

"Emilia, you are going to pose as Robert's girlfriend for the time being," Stephanie casually remarked.

"I'm sorry," Robert scoffed. "I wasn't aware you were also a matchmaking service."

He took the words right out of my mouth.

Stephanie sighed. "Rob, you complain about the rumors and I am offering you a way to fix them for good. You'll never have to answer a question about your 'chemistry' with Kristen again."

"That may be true, but I'll get more questions about where she came from!" he pointed to me. "Sorry," he apologized.

"No problem," I laughed gently. I was just going to sit back and watch them go back and forth.

"Just go out with her a few time and see what happens. It can't hurt. It could only mean good things for your image – hanging out with a normal girl your age."

"Whatever," he gave in and headed for the door.

Stephanie caught him before he left. "You have a reservation at Orso at seven. Don't be late, Rob."

"Let me guess, you tipped the paparazzi about that, too?" he snapped.

"He'll come around to the idea," she told me after he had left. "He's under a lot of stress at the moment."

I was in no place to question her judgment. Besides, Rob had already done a pretty decent job in making a scene. Stephanie has been working in this business for over fifteen years, dealing with countless celebrities who have come and gone through the limelight. She knew what she was doing. And me? I was fresh out of college and this was my first job. As bizarre as it was, I was going to do whatever it took to make a good impression.