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☼ ☾ ✩
𝟏𝟐... 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
☼ ☾ ✩
The energy in the windowless boardroom simmers like a live wire, no one knowing quite what to expect of this impromptu meeting.
Having changed out of our pyjamas and looking significantly more presentable than we did thirty minutes ago, Matt and I are sitting next to each other on one side of the long mahogany table. My fingers are tapping an anxious beat on the smooth surface and my eyes are rapidly flickering back and forth between the other members of this meeting. Matt, on the other hand, is slouched in his chair with his gaze focused on his clasped hands in his lap.
My manager Becca is sitting across from us, and her sharp blue eyes are narrowed at Matt and I. As always, she is dressed to conquer the world in tall stilettos, a slim black dress, and her bright blonde hair slicked back in a classy ponytail. Beside her sits Matt's manager, Laura, whose warm smile and kind eyes make me want to give her a hug and cry on her shoulder. Two other lower level agents of the company that represents me are sitting at opposite ends of the table, their presence apparently being necessary.
"Thank you both for coming in." Becca folds her hands on the table in front of her, her posture and tone of voice clearly indicating her professionalism when it comes to her job. "As I mentioned to Logan on the phone, Laura and I believe we may have determined a course of action that will help both of you."
"Our idea isn't ideal, but this is the only thing we can think of that might help get you both out of this mess," Laura chimes in, her gaze lingering on Matt, who has begun to pick at his fingernails under the table.
"Can you get to the actual solution?" I huff impatiently as my knee begins to bounce, my body thrumming with nerves. It's been a long day, and I don't have any more patience for beating around the bush.
Becca's makeup-covered eyes hold mine as draws in a steady breath. "We suggest you two fake date."
My knee immediately stops bouncing. "Pardon?" Fake dating is cheesy crap reserved for books and movies. No way do people actually do that in real life.
"Would that not just make rumours worse?" Matt finally speaks up, his gaze still locked on his hands. When my knee starts bouncing again, he casually bumps my foot with his own. "Breathe," he mumbles under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear.
I send him a quick look out of the corner of my eye as I take a deep breath and hook my feet around the legs of my chair to stop my knees from bouncing. When my fingers start involuntarily tapping the surface of the table again, I cross my arms across my chest and take another deep breath. Everything is going to be fine.
