CAITLIN
Day One
I woke up in a cold sweat, feeling as if I'd made the biggest mistake of my life. There was a massive engagement ring on my ring finger, a stack of engagement announcements on my nighstand, and a flock of paparazzi outside my apartment.
Today was supposed to be the first of thirty for me and Ms. de Leon (Well, "Bea," now that I was her fiancé), and I wasn't ready to embark on the insane itinerary that Deanna planned. She'd updated it multiple times – sometimes within the same hour, and she kept adding things that weren't necessary to land the Watson deal. At least, in my mind.
Sighing, I got out of bed and looked at the last edition of the itinerary I'd printed at my office.
Subject: Thirty Day Fiancé (Some Reminders)
To the future "Mrs. & Mrs. De Leon,
I'm including a short itinerary and some things I NEED you both to make sure you do while the press is watching so we can make sure that we: A) Convince Watson that Bea is a 'family woman'; B) Reform Bea's image in the press as a former playgirl instead of a current one; C) Secure the million-dollar bonus that was promised to me if we land this deal!
Day 1 – 3:
Fly to Bea's hometown of Blue Harbor and stay in The Four Seasons for a couple nights before staying in the de Leon's family estate.
Rehearse the "how we fell in love" story (Sinend ko 'yon sa inyo ng maraming beses).
Do a few interviews with the welcoming press.
If you see cameras, kiss each other. If you don't see cameras, kiss each other.
(Try to look deep into Bea's eyes each time, Caitlin. Oh, and Bea, try to lightly rest your hand on Caitlin's ass when you're kissing, so this can seem like a "hot" relationship.)
Days 4 – 20
At some point, Mr. Watson will fly in, and he will want to: A) Play golf with Bea; B) Have dinner with the de Leon Family; C) Get a tour of all the Bed Breakfast villas that Bea's brother co-owns with Bea's mother; D) Sign off on this damn deal we've worked on for MONTHS.
Days 21 – 30: We'll return to New York, get a few more "couple" photos and interviews done for the press (if necessary).
Day 31: Amicable break-up.
Please don't be late for your flight.
Deanna Wong
Special Advisor to CEO of de Leon Industries
I debated whether I wanted to go through with this or not, if it was too late for me to back out. I'd told my sister I was still on the fence, even though I signed the contract without thinking twice.
I scrolled down to Bea's name in my phone, but then I heard her voice in my living room.
Opening my bedroom door, I saw her standing on the steps of my apartment – shaking her head at my sister. She was wearing a grey shirt and a pair of dark lounge pants.
"Where's Caitlin?" she asked, impatient.
"I'm Caitlin."
"You're a very good lookalike, Reg."
"We're identical."
"Not to me." She rolled her eyes. "Asan s'ya?"
"Nasa kwarto n'ya." Reg let her in, betraying me within seconds.
"Where's her luggage?"
"Bakit di mo s'ya tanungin?" Reg's eyes met mine, and she smiled. "Morning, Cait!"
I shook my head and stepped out of my bedroom. "Morning, Reg. Bea."
"Where's your luggage?" she asked
I shrugged.
"I know damn well you've packed for our flight, Caitlin," she said. "Where is your luggage?"
"I've decided not to go."
"You really need to get better at reading the terms in the contracts you sign." She looked around the room. "I'm only going to ask about your suitcase one more time."
"I'm not going," I said. "The door is right behind –"
"Sinabi mo na ba sa walang hiya mong boss na nagbago na ang isip mo tungkol sa –" Isa, my sister's best friend, stopped short as she entered the living room. She looked Bea up and down, her cheeks reddening with every second that passed. "Well, damn. Can I go in your place?"
"You wouldn't want to," I said, hating the way that Bea was staring at me right now had made me wet. "She's far worse than anything I've ever told you about on the phone."
"You have twenty minutes to get ready," Bea said to me. Then she extended her hand to Isa, and then my sister. "Ako yung walang hiyang boss, but I prefer to go by Bea."
"Pleasure to meet you." Reg smiled. "Nasa hallway yung maleta n'ya."
What the fuck? I looked at her in utter shock, completely taken aback by her betrayal.
I am definitely not standing in for her at that meet and greet next month...
"Thank you," Bea said, walking over to the hallway. "Hihintayin kita sa car." She left, and I waited until she'd walked down the steps.
"Bakit naman ginawa mo sa'kin 'yon, Reg?"
"One, gustong gusto mong makawala sa employment contract mo since the day you signed it, at makakakuha ka ng five million for doing this," she said. "Two, thirty days lang naman. And three, I think deep down you want to fuck her, and what better way to get that done than this?"
"You're delusional." I headed into the bathroom. "I really don't want to go anymore."
"Oh,please! You were grandstanding," she said, following me. "That's why bumili ka ng isa pang ticket for later this morning. Gustomo lang isipin n'ya na hindi ka pupunta because I personally think parehaskayong may control issues." She put her hands on my shoulders. "Caitlin Viray, thirty days lang ito. If anyone can handle this, it's you."
