by Serena Vale
“Well this is awkward,” she said and was thankful when Tate burst out laughing.
“Tell me about it! It’s like we’re on a blind date or something.”
“I just had a sudden thought,” she said, her eyes wide, “Am I on a reality show now? Like am I being pranked? Did I just agree to the weirdest thing on earth in front of the whole world?” The thought had just occurred to her and she looked around frantically for any signs of hidden cameras. But this only made Tate laugh even more.
“No! I promise you. It’s not. This is real.”
She visibly relaxed and the two of them sat talking for the next twenty minutes with ease. Tate was far easier to talk to then she had imagined but certainly just as charming. It was easy to see why the women were all swooning over him. She tried to take the image of those women out of her mind and tried to see him for the man he was portraying to her at present. Which was actually quite pleasant.
“You know, you’re quite different to how I had imagined you to be,” she said.
“Oh really? And what exactly did you think I’d be like?” he grinned at her.
She wished she hadn’t said that, how was she going to explain herself. “Well, uh… you know, I mean you seem nice. I mean, not that I didn’t think you’d be nice before. You’re just… well, you’re just different to how I thought. I’m saying it all wrong but I really meant it as a compliment.”
He was laughing, “That’s okay. Let’s be honest, I come across as a complete idiot. Don’t worry, I know that already. Sally has told me on numerous occasions.”
It was her turn to laugh. “I like Sally.”
“So do I. She’s a tough cookie but she’s one of the only people who tells me everything as it is, and I like that. You always know where you stand with her. Hey, do you want to grab a cup of coffee? I think we have quite a bit to talk about.”
The two of them walked to a café down the road, aware that Sally was watching them walk out together but neither of them mentioning it. They spent the next hour sitting over coffee and chatting about themselves, both of them asking questions about one another hour. By the end Alexis couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“Hey, what’s so funny?”
“This. I mean, I came in for a job interview. And I might be leaving with a fiancé.”
“Might?”
“Ah Tate, I just don’t know about all of this. It’s so weird. I cannot quite wrap my head around what’s happening. And what do I tell people? My mom knows I came for this interview.”
“Tell her that you got the job. I mean, that’s what it is in a way.”
“Tate. Uh… I know this might come across the wrong way. But I’m really only thinking about doing this because I really need the money to help my dad out. I don’t want to lie to you.”
“That’s a good thing. If you told me you were doing it because you were madly in love with me than I’d really start to worry. Well look, we both have our reasons. And how about this – we can both pull out of this deal anytime we want. We’ll set up a meeting with Sally and we’ll find a way to end it nicely. That way, nobody gets hurt.”
Alexis found that she was nodding, “Okay. Ah what the heck. Let’s do it. One day we can write a book about it!”
“Yeah, when my football career is over. I’ll become co-author with you. I like this plan!”
And just like that, Alexis had a new boyfriend. I did NOT see that one coming, she laughed as she walked back to her car. Then, when she arrived back home, she ran straight up to her mother.
“Guess what mom?! I got the job!”
Chapter 3
Tate
“I have a girlfriend. I have a girlfriend. I have a girlfriend.” Tate practiced the words over and over again. He couldn’t quite believe it himself. The two of them had sealed the deal over dinner with Sally the night before and the whole thing was quite surreal. The dinner had taken place at Sally’s house because they didn’t want anyone to know about it just yet, but the next day the media was abuzz with news of the mysterious woman seen with him. He had no idea how they knew but he wasn’t surprised at all. The media were always around. Always watching.
“You need to be careful Tate,” Sally told him over the phone that morning, “Always be aware that people might be listening and watching at all times. So act like it’s real.”
Tate had to admit, having a girlfriend like Alexis wasn’t exactly hard work. The moment he had seen her walk into his office he knew that he was going to agree to the deal and he had said a silent thank you to Sally for knowing him so well. Alexis was gorgeous. She had been born in Zimbabwe but had moved to America with her family only five years ago, so while she was now a fully-fledged American with a passport and accent to boot, she still had a sense of uniqueness about her. “It’s my African blood,” she liked to tell him.
The two of them had hit it off immediately and yet they still had not had a proper date together. Tate had invited her out for dinner that evening. They were well aware that they had to be careful not to talk about the deal in case anyone might be listening but they were both interested in a night of simply getting to know one another. Tate had specifically chosen a restaurant where he knew the booths were each secluded from one another, just in case one of them did slip up. It was a cosy little Italian restaurant down the road and he was just about to meet her there. How bizarre, he thought, I’m about to go on a date to get to know my girlfriend. Of course, he knew that the ‘relationship’ would eventually end and the two of them would part ways, but he tried to think of it as a relationship for now, just to get himself in the right mind frame.
When he arrived at the restaurant he saw that she was already there and when he walked in she got up to greet him. She wrapped an arm gently around his waist and gave him a quick kiss on the mouth. “Wow, you’re good at this,” he whispered and he saw her giggle with delight. The two of them ordered some champagne and toasted to their new relationship. Tate looked around and smiled, he had been right about the restaurant, the place was abuzz but he could barely hear the conversations of those around him. If they kept their voices low there would be no ways anyone would hear them.
“So, how about a game of Get to know your partner?” he asked her.
“Oh, I like this game. Me first. Favourite movie? But think wisely. It might seem like an easy question but I will be placing great judgement on the answer.”
Tate laughed, he couldn’t believe how easy he felt around her. Alexis was a far cry from some of the girls he had been hanging around with lately and he cringed at the thought of some of his previous girlfriends. If he could even call them such.
“Oh really. A movie snob, are we? That’s okay. This is an easy one. I’ve watched it over and over again and it really never gets old. The Shining.”
“The shining?! Ooh good answer. Good answer. The proof that even a good man can descent into darkness. Also, you can’t go wrong with Stanley Kubrick. Very good. I was worried you were going to say something like The Fast and the Furious or something.”
“I may not look the brightest, but thou should not judge so easily. Not all men are just into car chases and women you know. Now, your movie choice my lady.”
“I sincerely apologise.” She batted her eyelids and he laughed. “I’ll be honest, my favourite movie changes often. But my current one is definitely The Shawshank Redemption. Not that it’s current, but I did see it recently and fell in love with it all over again.”
“Get busy livin’ or get busy dyin’ - that’s goddamn right.”
Alexis looked impressed, “Okay, marry me now!”
“Oh really? All it took was my fantastic ability to quote good movies? What about my looks? My charm? My money?”
“Nope. Another quote and you’re all mine.”
“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room.”
Alexis giggled in pure delight, “Dr. Strangelove! Okay Tate, that’s it. I’m going to start taking this marriage busin
ess seriously if you carry on like this. I think your new title should be Tate Hendersen: Movie Guru and part time Football player.”
They ordered dinner and spoke easily for the next few hours. Tate laughed more than he had in a long time and was sad when the evening came to an end. Then he remembered that she was his girlfriend now and he asked her out for the following night.
“Already?” she asked.
“Too soon? Had enough of me already? How about a movie? At my place?”
“A movie? Oh Tate, you know me so well already. It’s a date.”
They walked out together, holding hands, and they were laughing at some joke that Alexis had made when out of nowhere he felt a hand slap across his face and he stumbled back.
“What the –
He turned and saw Belinda, his ex-girlfriend, standing in front of him. She had her arms over her hips and was glaring at him and Alexis.
“Belinda! What are you doing here? And what was that for?”
“Who is SHE?” Belinda asked and glared at Alexis. It took everything that Tate had not to laugh out loud. The contrast between the two girls was striking and in that instant Tate knew that he had made the right decision.
“Belinda, this is Alexis. She’s my girlfriend. We broke up Belinda. And we haven’t seen each other in ages. Belinda, you and I were not good together. You know that. You even said it yourself once.”
“Well good luck to you Alexis. He’s not worth it. And anyway Tate, the not-so-great, I was ONLY in it for the money.” And she stormed off. Unfortunately that was when Tate noticed some flashes going off – a sure sign that the media had been following them. He groaned when he thought about what the papers were going to say the next day. So much for gaining a new reputation quickly. He looked at Alexis, who was standing bewildered next to him and reached over to kiss her on the cheek.
Alexis, I’m sorry about that.”
It took her a few seconds to recover. Then, as if suddenly remembering the deal, she smiled and kissed him back. “That’s okay!”
The next day, just as Tate predicted, the slap made it into the papers and was all over social media. However, the response was very different to what Tate had expected. ‘We haven’t seen Tate ‘The Great’ Henderson look this happy and relaxed in a long time. Well done to him and his new girlfriend for staying so calm. Personally, I would’ve hit that girl back.’
Tate had laughed at that. Afterwards, the story went on to talk about the ‘mystery’ woman that he was with – stating her to be a striking, dark haired beauty. That she is, he agreed. In the next article there was more, ‘It seems Tate Henderson has found true love at work, by falling for his new assistant. And we don’t blame him. Alexis Washington is a beautiful, hard-working woman who has moved back to live with her parents after the devastating news that her father has fallen ill with cancer.’ Tate cringed at that, he hoped Alexis didn’t mind her personal life being sprayed out in the paper like that. He was used to it after all these years but he knew how strange it was at first.
But Alexis was fine. In fact, she said, she was quite surprised at how good the reaction had been from everyone. And her parents were loving the attention. Also, some people had taken it upon themselves to send money towards his chemo therapy, and they were overwhelmed by the kindness from everyone.
Tate and Alexis had started spending almost every day together. They hadn’t planned to see each other so often, but they simply couldn’t help it. They just felt easy together, and thankfully no more crazy ex-girlfriends had come forward again.
“But are you dying to go out and party?” Alexis had asked him that night, while the two of them were curled in front of the television watching a movie.
“Are you crazy? And miss this? Watching your reaction to my movies is like a party for me anyway. It’s way more entertaining. You, gorgeous Alexis, are far more interesting than any party I’ve ever been to.” Then, he had turned to kiss her, taking her face into his hands and moving in closer to her. It had taken them three days to finally kiss each other, which is far longer than with any other girl he had been with before. But he knew that she was still sceptical over the whole thing. After all, they weren’t really boyfriend and girlfriend. It was all just a bit of acting. But since that first kiss, they had not been able to stop, and tonight he was not sure if he’d be able to stop at just that. The way he felt around her was unlike the way he had ever felt before. Her lips were soft, and her kiss was gentle. But tonight, she moved closer, and allowed the kiss to deepen. He loved the way she looked next to him. Her dark skin a beautiful contrast against the lightness of his. She was always so calm, gentle and composed, and yet when he placed his hand over her heart he could hear that she was excited. Her heart beat as wild as her curls. Soon, he had lifted her shirt off and she had done the same with him. Then, he took her hand and led her to the bedroom, where the two of them fell into bed together for the first time.
Afterwards, the two of them lay together, and he played with her hair – straightening a piece and then watching with amusement as it simply bounced back into a curl. He loved it.
“I did NOT expect that to happen,” he said, watching her next to him.
“Oh sure, sure, whatever Mr. Casanova.”
“What do you mean? Honestly, I had no idea.”
“Oh you are good at this.”
“Alexis. I promise. I didn’t plan that.” He was now confused. Perhaps she still saw him as the man he had always portrayed himself to be.
“Yeah, yeah. You know I have a penchant for thrillers. You buttered me up with a good movie. Allowed me to get excited by the plot. And then you kissed me just at the part when the movie got good and you turned my excitement to you. I know your plan, Batman.”
Tate laughed, relieved. “You’re right. It really was part of my ultimate masterminded plan. Get the movie. Get the girl.”
“It’s MY movie choice next, Superman.”
“Oh really? I have no problem with that, Wonder Woman.”
Chapter 4
Alexis
The next two months went by quickly. Alexis was working part time as Tate’s personal assistant and full time as his girlfriend. The assistant part was more of a cover up but to make it real she had started doing work in the office with him anyway. She preferred this because it made it feel as if she were actually working for her money. Every time she saw money get deposited into her account she would cringe – a stark reality that she was being paid to be with Tate. Thankfully, the office work made that a little easier and she enjoyed working alongside Sally who seemed to enjoy her company back. Sally was so happy with her plan of getting Tate a new girlfriend and so far the plan had worked well. Tate’s reputation was starting to improve although there were still many sceptics wondering when his next fling would be. ‘When will he get bored of the dark haired beauty?’ the latest comment had been. The problem was that Alexis was worried about that too, but she didn’t want to say anything to either Sally or Tate. Telling them that she was worried meant that she was openly admitting that she was starting to see Tate as more than just a pretend boyfriend. Also, she was well aware that Sally was going to ask Tate to start the engagement process soon so that the world would see them as something more permanent. Then, a few months after the engagement Alexis would be allowed to break up with him. Breaking his heart in pieces for all the world to pick up and repair, and Alexis would be left as the bad one. This didn’t bother her though. What bothered her most was that every time she saw Tate she felt herself falling for him more and more. And she knew she couldn’t complain. After all the money that she had been getting had far surpassed the money that she would’ve gotten anywhere else and she’d been able to help her parents out more than she thought she could. Her dad was now in the best care ever and all their bills were paid for.
Alexis just simply wasn’t sure that she could do it anymore. She hadn’t realised quite how much she would end up liking Tate and how easy it would be to have a ‘relationship
’ with him – no matter how fake it might have been. Also, she couldn’t help but worry that he really was getting bored with her. After all, Tate had been known to be a ladies’ man as well as a big party person before she had met him. Alexis hadn’t seen that side to him at all, and she hoped that she was not stopping him from a life he would prefer to be leading. Mostly though, she was falling for him and she knew that the only way to save herself was to end it. And to end it now.
That day when she got to work she handed in her resignation with Sally, who looked up startled by the news.
“Oh no, but Alexis why?”
“Sally, you’ve been amazing to me. But I need to do this. I cannot explain. I’m going to go speak to Tate now. I just can’t do this anymore.”
“Oh Alexis, I’m so sorry to hear that. You know I actually love having you here at work. None of that was fake. This job is still yours if you want it. Even if you don’t want to be with Tate any longer. The job is still yours. Please at least think about it.”
“Thank you Sally.”
She walked out with tears streaming down her face. She loved Sally and the job had been so easy and interesting each day. But she wasn’t sure that she’d be able to stay there. It would only make her decision with Tate harder.
She got to his house and knocked on his door. Despite going there almost every day she still marvelled at the sheer size of the place. She often forget what a big deal he was. She remembered the way she used to look at him on the TV, the way she looked up at him with reverence. But now he was just Tate. Her Tate. When he opened and saw her face he quickly ran forward to embrace her and she immediately started crying.
“Alexis, what’s wrong? Come in. What’s wrong?” He led her to the living room and the two of them sat on the couch together, holding hands.
“I’m sorry Tate.”
“You’re sorry? Why?”
