AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She gives me a final soft smile before she heads back to the main counter across the room.
I close my eyes. I want to run back to my apartment and hide under the bedcovers.
I hate being reminded of the divorce. It makes my stomach churn. Like with a lot of things these days, I want to be sick.
And I’m trying to avoid the elephant in the room - the thing that’s been eating away at me. The thing that is making me avoid actually having a nice relaxing break.
Victor’s leather briefcase.
It’s sitting on the chair beside me ominously. Like a creature waiting to pounce if I show a moment’s weakness.
I’ve been avoiding looking at it all day. I’ve been avoiding even thinking about what it means and what it contains...
The offer.
The crazy fake relationship.
The potential ticket to getting a divorce lawyer and therefore my freedom. Victor promised me that. I wonder if I should even trust him.
I’ve read through the agreement already. I’ve done it twice, in fact. It’s all the same stuff the actor told me in the park. It seems legit. The same terms for his harebrained scheme - a fake relationship until he gets that best actor award. I’m to act as his girlfriend. I don’t have to sleep with him, but I do have to display my love for him in public. I might even have to kiss him if it helps the cause.
I might have to actually do this.
Like, what other choice do I have, though? There’s nothing for me now except for this. I need that lawyer, and then I can move on with my life. The bank rejected my loan. There’s no way in hell I’ll get the money to divorce that man. Victor’s handing me a life raft in the middle of a storm, and I’ll be stupid not to take it.
I sigh and open my eyes.
And I pick up the briefcase. And I take out the agreement.
Victor’s written a note in his handwriting on the first page.
Josie,
Will you be my fake girlfriend?
It’ll be the acting performance of your life.
And I’ll be your supporting actor.
Victor.
What a cheeky bastard.
I slowly flick through the pages of the document, scanning the agreement one final time before I land on the last page. There’s space for my signature right there at the bottom of the page.
This is crazy. I must be crazy for what I’m about to do.
I take out my pen and I sign it. One quick, easy movement.
I hold my breath full of apprehension as I whip out my phone and scan the document on a special app - my hands shaking uncontrollably with nervous energy.
And I send it to Victor as per his instructions.
“Oh God,” I whisper to myself. “That’s it.”
And as soon as I lean back, the bell for the coffee shop’s front door rings. Someone enters. I take a glance.
Oh. Shit.
