Chapter 21
VICTOR
“There she is.”
Evelyn points to the person power walking toward us on the airport tarmac. In her other hand, my publicist has her phone out, opened to her messages. She’s glued to that thing every day and every hour. She must’ve just received word that Josie made it to the airport. That’s why she’s pointing.
That might be her...
“You’re sure?” I ask Evelyn as we stand together on the runway in front of the jet.
“Yep. Security just informed me. It’s her.”
“I think I’ve just lost a bet.”
“You didn’t think your new girlfriend would come?” my publicist asks.
“Nope.”
“Well, that’s definitely her. You’ve lost that bet, I’m afraid.”
“Good.”
I really didn’t think Josie would actually show her face here at the airport today. Even though she sent through the signed agreement to me, I still couldn’t fully believe she would actually turn up and go through with my crazy plan.
The figure gets closer and closer until I can definitively, firmly make out it’s her.
“She looks normal,” Evelyn remarks with surprise. “Too normal for you.”
“Don’t you dare start,” I retort with a scoff.
My publicist smiles.
“She’s very different to other girls we’ve caught you in bed with, Victor. You have to admit that.”
Evelyn has been my publicist for years. She does a good job – going way beyond what I hired her for. She’s like my personal assistant, social media manager, financial advisor, and just general life manager, all rolled into one. But, despite all that, even she doesn’t know about the fake relationship agreement between Josie and me. I’ve kept that secret closely guarded. Evelyn thinks I’ve actually swung into Crystal River and picked up a new girl.
I can tell she’s apprehensive about Josie and what I’m planning for us. When it comes to me, Evelyn has dealt with a lot of crazy things, but she has never had to juggle an actual girlfriend before. Sure, there have been girls staying the night in my hotel suites that she’s had to bargain with, but never a woman I might actually care for.
“She is very different, and that’s what I like about her,” I say.
“Well, I can’t wait to meet her,” Evelyn replies.
Josie is the right girl for this outlandish scheme, and she doesn’t even realize exactly how much I need her for this. She probably thinks I’m some arrogant, cocky, vain actor bastard, and yes, that might be true, but I also know a good person when I see one.
And Josie is one of the few good people in this world.
“Hello, my new fake girlfriend,” I say when Josie finally reaches us.
She’s wheeling a big bag behind her, sweating profusely from lugging it this far. I reckon there must be her entire life’s possessions stuffed in there.
I’m wearing a leather jacket and am definitely not sweating. My bag is already on the plane – I didn’t even have to touch it on the way here. I had one of the maids back at the mansion pack it for me, and Evelyn arranged a driver to pick it up for the plane.
Josie is not really looking at me. She’s looking at the jet starting up behind Evelyn and me.
Oh. Right. Of course. She hasn’t seen a private jet before. I sometimes forget that normal people don’t live in disgusting wealth.
“Is that what we’re flying on?” Josie asks, nodding at the plane in disbelief.
I can practically hear Evelyn’s side-eye to me.
I turn around nonchalantly at the private plane.
“Yes,” I reply. “Is that a problem?”
“I thought we might go First Class on a commercial plane,” Josie mutters. “Or at least Business Class... just not something like this...”
“Nothing less than private for me,” I reply. “Never.”
Josie looks totally shocked.
Yeah, she’ll win that award for me.
A normal girl in a Hollywood world.
“Meet my publicist, Evelyn,” I say, flipping the subject.
“Hi,” my fake girlfriend says, greeting my life manager.
Evelyn is all smiles. Ever the professional.
“Hello, Josie. I’ve been very much looking forward to the girl who’s caught Victor’s eye.”
“Well, here I am. Warts and all.”
“Yes. Indeed.”
“We’re one big happy family,” I remark, smirking.
“What time is the plane due to take off?” Josie asks, still staring, flabbergasted, at the aircraft.
I shrug.
“Whatever time I say so,” I mutter.
“Oh, wow.”
“He’s the boss,” Evelyn remarks with a smirk.
“How about I help you bring your bag on board?” I suggest to my new girlfriend, reaching down for the handle.
But Josie is already pulling back, priming to protest.
“It’s okay,” she murmurs. “I can do it...”
Our hands accidentally touch - a brush of fingers against warm bare skin.
A jolt of electricity sparks between us.
Josie looks at me.
I look at Josie.
She blushes and looks away.
I let go of the handle and her hand.
“I can manage,” Josie whispers to me. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You’re not a burden,” I tell her in a serious growl.
She looks back at me, then, with a fire burning in her eyes.
“Thank you, Victor.”
“Let’s get on this plane,” I say. “Then we can go.”
I can still feel Evelyn’s side-eye on me. She seems taken aback by this new side of me.
“I’m with you on that,” Josie says, still looking at me directly, unblinking.
I never get involved with girls, but even I have to admit how goddamn pretty she is.
And I can sense the doubt radiating off Evelyn.