It takes a couple of days for me to call Lonnie back when I've finally made desicion. At first I wasn't going to take it, but after nearly having to ask Evie to cover my rent again, I had to take the job. The contract was very specific. No dating. No speaking to anyone about the matter. However, Lonnie was right. The payment is more than generous, and there was no way I could pass up on that.
I make my way into Lonnies office and I couldn't believe my eyes. It looks like it came straight out of a movie. Marble floors that extend throughout the length of the room. A wall completely covered in glass which features the beautiful ocean view. Right in front of the window there's a massive desk with to chairs pressed before it and a small sitting area to one side, complete with a couch and two armchairs and a coffee table. Lonnie sits behind the desk deep in some paperwork.
"Ah, Mal" she finally notices her after I clear my throat. "I take it you've decided to take my offer".
"Yea, I have" I reach into my bag for the contract.
"Do you agree with the terms?" Lonnie asks when she sees the document.
"I think they're very reasonable" I hand her the folder, "and I already signed it".
"Great!" She smiles, "Then we can get started right away". She stands up and walks towards me. "I'm thinking we cut your hair a little" she seems a little excited, "and maybe dye it blonde".
I looks down at my hair. For the longest time I've had purple hair. At first it was my entire head, but as time passed I let the blonde roots grow out and her ends remain purple. What the hell. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad to go back to full blonde again.
"Here" she gets up and starts walking, "come with me. I want you to meet someone".
We walk down the hall and past the receptionists. Then she opens the door to a room much smaller than her office. This room is dark, with dark furniture and a small bar on the other end. On one of the couches you can see a body, it might be dead or it might be just sleeping but I really can't tell the difference.
"Ben" Lonnie says sternly, but the body doesn't move, "Benjamin!". She has to yell nearly in his ear and he finally wakes up.
"What the fuck!" He stands up startled he looks around the room for a few seconds before he notices me. "Who is she?" He asks Lonnie.
"This is Mal" she nods at me, "she's going to be your new girlfriends".
"What!" He yells and my heart starts beating into my throat, "Not likely!"
"I thought we agreed this was the best way to get your image back" Lonie explains clearly frustrated, "she's a nice young girl. Raised in Portland, graduated with a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, no previous relation with the media".
"How'd you know all that?" I ask concerned.
"You didn't really think I'd hire you without an extensive background check?" She asks rhetorically, and I guess she's right.
"No I'm not doing this" Ben grabs a bottle of something from the bar.
"You want that part don't you?" Lonnie takes the bottle away from him and places it back where it's supposed to go. He doesn't respond. "This will work Benjamin".
"Fine" he finally complies like an immature child. His bloodshot eyes linger on me for a few seconds. His hair is tousled, his probably still drunk, and if I'm certain if I got any closer he'd reek of booze and tobacco.
"So how will this work exactly?" I try to ignore the fact that Ben is starting at me.
"Well at first well leak some pictures of you two to a few gossip sites. We will make them look like someone took them from far away" she begins to explain, "Ben will ask for privacy and be very coy when the subject comes up in interviews. Then we'll start leaking more photos of you two holding hands, or you leaving his house in his shirt, stuff like that. By then I think we'll just let the media take a course of its own".
"Ok then" I try to seem calm, "when do we start?"
"When someone's sober enough to look handsome and collected" she throws some shade at Ben, "We'll get some shots of you getting lunch together, and maybe you two can get to know each other a little bit".
"How was your... what happened to you?" Evie asks surprised as I walk into our apartment. I have dozens of bags with new big brand clothes and of course she couldn't miss the new haircut now without purple highlights. "And where'd you get all that?"
"It was a gift" I smile taking everything into my room.
"Really!?" The taller girl with the blue highlights claps her hands together happily, "that's one expensive gift".
"Um..." I shouldn't have said anything. The contract states I may not discuss my job with anyone. "Yeah, I guess", I say vaguely trying to avoid the subject.
"So" she sits on the coffee table when I sit down on the couch, "who gave you this gift?"
"Ah" I laugh, "it's a secret!". I know she hates secret, but it's the first thing that pops into my mind if I don't want to lie. I really don't want to lie, but she raises am eyebrow and I know I'm not getting out of this that easily. "It's from this friend from work" It isn't necessarily a lie, "now go finish whatever you're cooking. It smells amazing by the way". She gets up and returns to the kitchen and a few seconds later I join her.
"I'm still not buying it" she shakes her head and we both laugh. "Help me get this ready so we can eat".
It was definitely not the last I heard about that. The next day the pictures came out and the stampede of questions started.
"So" she started as we had dinner with our friends, Jay and Carlos, "I saw something interesting today". I keep eating not really paying attention to what she says. "How do you know Ben Adamson?" I almost choke on a piece of chicken.
"What?!" I take a sip of water.
"You know Ben Adamson?" Jay grins.
"Don't deny it" Evie reaches for her phone, "there are pictures of you having lunch with him". She passes her phone around the table and when I grab it it's unbelievable. It actually looks like we're having a good time which is not true. That lunch was the most awkward moment of my life. He's such a pain, I don't even know how I'm going to put up with him for so long.
"How do you even know it's her" Carlos asks when he looks at the picture, "you can't even see the girls face"
"Oh please, I know that's her" she takes her phone back, "isn't it Mal?". They all wait for my response.
"This tastes amazing, Evie" I stuff another piece of chicken in my mouth, "you've really outdone yourself"
"It's take out" she crosses her arms, "and stop avoiding the subject".
"Fine" I set my fork down, "His publicity team is very strict and don't want anyone discussing his personal life" They all stare at me for a few seconds waiting for someone to talk. I hope that's enough to keep them from asking anymore questions for now.
After the boys leave I sit in Evie's bed as she gets ready for bed. I can't keep this to myself. I know my contract says I shouldn't discuss this with anyone, but if I don't I feel like I might explode.
"I have something to tell you" i say seriously as she walks out of the bathroom.
"You're not pregnant are you?" Her eyes grow in concern.
"What?!" I shake my head, "God no!". I take in a deep breath, "I shouldn't be talking about this since I'm not allowed to, but I really have to talk to someone".
"What is it?" She sits next to me.
"I'm not really going out with Ben" I admit, "I'm working for him".
"You got a new job!" She says excited, "what is it?!"
"I'm pretending to be his girlfriend" I mutter under my breath, but she hears me nice and clear.
"What!" The excitement washes away from her face, "Mal that's crazy!"
"I know" I sigh, "I know, I know it's absolutely insane, but I'm getting payed really well".
"You're really going to do this?" She asks but I don't really have an answer, "look, I don't necessarily agree with what you're doing, but its your desicion and I will stand by you all the way"
"Thanks E" I hug her. I feel like a small amount of weight has been taken off me.