I was in paradise in a penthouse. So, how exactly would that qualify as work? It mostly doesn’t. I could go to anything in the courtyard that the facility offered, and have a good time with it. When would I have such an opportunity again?
The whole purpose of me going on this trip was to play a game of pretend. Since that was true, why shouldn’t I pretend in style? I mean, wouldn’t I look more convincing as a girlfriend if I went out and did some fun stuff? I might even be able to meet people to have fun with it. Where’s the harm in that?
To the other extreme, this trip was indeed at least partly business. I made a formal agreement with Tyler to pose as his girlfriend. If I didn’t make this agreement, I wouldn’t have been able to come in the first place. In that respect, it was business.
I guess I just have to go with the flow and hope everything works out. As long as I did my job, Tyler wouldn’t have the right to get upset with me if it blew up in his face. That would be his problem, not mine.
After all the hemming and hawing, I just pranced playfully into my bedroom. I kept my soft, white, cotton robe on, and parked my butt on the bed. I stretched my legs and sat up in the bed, as I looked at the widescreen Samsung TV.
After a few minutes of playing with the buttons, I accidentally turned on the TV and shrugged my shoulders. “That’s how I turn it on…I guess” I said as I started flicking through the channels. I don’t know how many channels I could see, but there were a lot of them. They even had channels in foreign languages that I didn’t recognize.
I put on a cooking show, and then plopped the TV remote to my side. I tapped my iPhone and turned it on. I saw a new source of great annoyance – I had four missed calls, that were all from the same person – Franca.
My heart skipped a beat because I didn’t know why she was calling, but I knew it had to be something important. A boss doesn’t call her employee four times in a row just to say ‘hi’. She was calling about something else, and I wondered what.
I went over to my voicemail, and found just one message from her – despite missing four calls. The message was long, and panicked, too. She rambled a lot and was very emotional.
Maya, this is Franca – your boss. I’ve been very patient and compassionate with you in the past, and you know that. I’ve tried very hard to meet your needs and now it is your turn. I’m really upset that you put me in the position of asking for time off, when you knew I would have a hard time making it happen. I’m having a real hard time, and I need you to come back immediately. I also need to you call me back right away. This is urgent and I’m very upset.
That wasn’t easy to hear, and I didn’t know what would happen to me – especially if I didn’t call her back. She knows this is my cellphone, so I can’t just use the excuse that I wasn’t home and didn’t get her message until later. That’s one of the problems with modern technology. There is no escape.
Thus, I felt the need to play it with a little strategy. I would continue to lie about where I was, and what I was doing. Nothing good would come out of me telling her the truth. That was the first step.
The other thing I had to do, was call her back at a time when I knew that she wouldn’t answer the phone, or couldn’t answer the phone. Then, I could say with complete honesty that I called her back, and take several hours to call her back.
Just to jazz it up, I could use some lame excuses. I can’t come back because I got a non-refundable ticket. I’ll be at business meetings most of the day, so I can’t call again until either late tonight, or tomorrow. I needed shit like that get time for everything to blow over.
I looked at the date on my iPhone and I grinned when I thought of the solution. I had a perfect timeframe to call her. She had a business meeting at 1:30pm that I knew she wouldn’t answer a call during. I could call her then, leave a message, and then tell her I wouldn’t be available until later.
That was partially true – because I had an appointment at 2 p.m. Most of it was crap though. I had better availability than that. I made myself a mental note to call her back when she had a business meeting. I called her number, and it went straight to voicemail. I went for the kill.
Hi Franca, this is Maya. I’m so sorry that I missed your call, and I was just trying to call you back. I’ll be in business meetings until later tonight, so feel free to call me back when you come in. If you need me back in the office, give me a call back as soon as possible to we can make flight arrangements. Naturally, I doubt it would be easy to change my flight, so I would need funds from you to do that. Give me and a call and we’ll have a talk and put our heads together to find a solution. Thanks!
I disconnected the call and gave myself a little grin, and even a literal pat on the back. It was perfect because I foiled her – at least temporarily. Maybe when she decided to call me back, she would be in a better mood. It was all a guess and only time would tell.
I suddenly heard the door to our apartment open. My heart jumped because I thought someone might be breaking into the room. Tyler didn’t say anything to me about anyone who might be coming by. I looked around the room and snatched the closest thing I could find – an envelope opener. It was sad and pathetic, but it was all I had.
I tiptoed my way over to the bedroom door, and looked very carefully through the crack. I saw something interesting that I wasn’t expecting.
It was a woman. She was an older woman, too – maybe mid-fifties to early sixties. She had salt & pepper hair that was tied tightly behind her head. Her face had little wrinkles around the eyes, but was otherwise smooth and attractive. She was carrying a small leather purse that dark brown.
Needless to say, she didn’t look like a stereotypical robber at all. If she was a robber who was committed to the crime at hand, would she really carry a purse around? Also, would she be moving so slowly about? I think not.
Still, I wasn’t going to take any chances. I very quietly closed the door and kneeled right in front of it on one knee. My soft knee was pushed into the carpet and my little hand was holding the discolored envelope opener. It even had a little bend in the blade – probably from having a lot of use.
If she came in the room, I would be ready. In fact, I could lunge at her and cut her throat out. I never took any karate classes, but I knew I could pull it off. Just then, I saw the little brass doorknob rotate quickly.
She put her right foot forward as she was opening up the door. “Freeze!” I screamed at her and kept the envelope opener tight in my hand. I was ready for battle.
She blinked her eyes and looked right over at me. She looked dazed and confused. “Wait a second, who are you? And why are you in that bath robe? You could at least cover the front because I can see your...”
I was part embarrassed, and part angry. I partially crossed my legs and stood to my feet. I kept the envelope opener in the same place without budging it. “I’m Tyler’s girlfriend. If you came to steal something, you can take it, but I’ll be reporting you to the police.”
She slowly rose up her hands and I saw a wedding ring on her right finger. “No, no. You don’t understand. I’m actually Tyler’s mother. I’m a little surprised to see a woman here. He never brings his girlfriends over. I’m Jessica.”
Even though I was still revved up, I felt that she was honest and true. It was my opinion that she was perfectly wholesome and kind. “I’m Maya. I’m sorry about the misunderstanding. I really wish he would have told me that you were coming over.”
She giggled and waved one of her hands at me. “Well, that’s Tyler. Sometimes he forgets the important details. So, since I know nothing about you, how did you two meet?”
I finished putting the envelope opener away by putting it into my pocket. I half-smiled at her, as I was beginning to calm down. “I’m actually an interior designer, and he has hired me to help decorate a hotel that is being built up in Seattle.”
She turned her right sole around, so that it ran perpendicular to her other foot. I never understood how many people – especially women –
can stand like that. Just watching them do it sometimes makes me wince because it looks painful. “Well, that’s great. Maybe my son is settling down and finally growing up. Listen, can you have him contact me immediately the next time you talk to him? It’s important.”
I didn’t ask what it was about, but I agreed. A woman is often loyal when she needs to help another woman with an important matter – even if the two of them barely know each other. “Will do. I think it would be a good idea for me to get dressed, huh?”
Chapter 11 - Maya
Tyler’s mom had left, and it turns out that I liked talking to her. While she was there, we talked about what types of art are great, and which ones might be good for the hotel. To my surprise, it turned out that she really likes Norman Rockwell.
I thought that was interesting because that’s not the type of art that one would normally find in a hotel. I asked her what exactly she liked about that type of art. She said that Rockwell paintings are ‘real’ and that she likes seeing the people in them. She joked that many artists in today’s world just blot paint on a piece of canvas and call it art.
In that respect, I could see why she liked Norman Rockwell. Some people only see art through a tangible and practical lens. When they see a shape, they refer to it as a triangle. An art-savvy person might look at the same thing, and call it the structure of human beings existing under God – who is at the top of the peak.
Even though I liked her points of view and I like Rockwell, I don’t think his art is right for our hotel. This hotel is going to be modern and slick. It’s not going to have wild colors and paintings all over the place.
First of all, Rockwell existed a long time ago and most of his paintings are very old, indeed. The items in his paintings look as if they might have existed in the 1950’s or earlier. Since our hotel would be modernist, that would not fit. Not at all.
The other problem about Rockwell is that the paintings didn’t really reflect the building itself. For example, I thought of one Rockwell painting that shows a young child flying a kite. What exactly would that have to do with a modern hotel? It doesn’t make sense. Maybe if the child was in a modern environment, and was doing something related to a hotel (reading in bed, perhaps) that would be different.
While I was sitting and brainstorming art designs for the hotel, I heard a knock at the door. “Well, this person probably isn’t a burglar” I mused to myself as I walked over to the door.
I grabbed the brass doorknob and opened it. I spotted a handsome man on the other end. He smiled at me, and extended his hand for me to shake. He looked nice, and was apparently a gentleman.
He had a cleanly shaved face that I couldn’t see any stubbles on. His skin was smooth and youthful – maybe late twenties. His hair was well combed and parted out to the side. The amber hair matched his brown eyes. His teeth were white and straight, and his ring-less hand was smooth and clean. “Hi. I’m Chad, and I’m a personal shopper that Tyler has hired. I assume he told you that I would be here?”
This time around, Tyler had told me, and for that reason, I didn’t have to feel confused or surprised. In fact, I might even enjoy time that I would going out with the young man. “Yes, I’m Maya” I said as I reached over to shake his hand. He took me a little off-guard because he kissed it. I thought it was sweet, but it’s not something most men do these days.
I stepped aside and waved him into the room. He was dressed all semi-formal. He had khaki pants with a button-up shirt, leather belt, and black leather shoes. He was average height for a guy – maybe 5’ 10”.
I twiddled my thumbs because I didn’t really know what to say. I had never met a personal shopper before, and didn’t really know what to say or ask him. I could come up with just one basic question. “So, um, where are we going to go today? Is there any place in particular that you want to go?”
He stood with his legs straight and his back bent slightly backward. “Well, that’s really up to you, isn’t it? Although, Tyler is having me take you to one specific place – Herve Leger.”
“Herve what?” I asked with renewed confusion.
“Herve Leger. It’s an upscale clothing store where we can get you a nice dress. They have a lot of wonderful dresses that I think you’ll be impressed with. Then from there, we can check out any additional stores that you’d like to see. There are many fine clothing stores in the area that I can bring you to. Does that sound good?”
Well, of course it sounded good. I would get to tour the community of a tropical paradise, pick out a nice dress, get the dress for free, and not have any costs associated with it. What person in their right mind would object to that? “Yeah, that sounds great, actually. Well, I’m ready to go if you are.”
He escorted me out of the building and into his Lincoln Town Car. When I got outside, it felt like the air hit me like bricks. It was hot, and it was humid. I saw two men working outside who were trimming hedges. They were covered in sweat. I felt really sorry for them.
I got into the upscale, luxury car which had beautifully chromed rims. I slid my way in carefully and plopped onto the leather seat in the rear of the car. It was much cooler in the car – thank God. It was comfortable, and roomy too.
The car slowly accelerated and traveled down a busy avenue. The avenue wasn’t busy because of cars, but it was busy with people walking, biking, riding motorcycles, and taking pictures. It was very ‘people attractive’, I guess would be a good way to put it.
I tapped my kneecaps with my hands as we were traveling down the road. Eventually, we got away from the tourists and got onto a highway. The highway was pretty quiet, which I guess makes sense because it was only 2 p.m. on a weekday.
We made a few turns and stops, and then we ended up stopping and the engine was shut off. He never said anything to me, but I just assumed we were at the store, and it was time to get out of the car. So, I reached for my handle and got ready to grab it.
The door opened quickly and he smiled and held it in place. Gee whiz! I felt like a queen. Although, I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would. I can open my own door, and I don’t need my hands kissed. Weird. “Thanks, Chad” I said politely and gave him a half-smile.
When I walked through the front door – which was a fancy, revolving door – and looked around the store, I was in awe about what they had. I had never seen so many beautiful dresses in all my life. Normally, I would go to TJ Maxx or Marshalls to get my clothes.
“How does this dress look? Do you like it?” I asked Chad as I extended my leg and circled myself in front of a large mirror.
He smiled over at me and pointed his thumb up in the air. “I think it looks great. That would be a wonderful dress for you to get.”
Yeah, he had said pretty much the same thing for the last four dresses I tried on. I’ll admit that I’m normally a shy person and I don’t like people staring at me. A person who is shy – like me – doesn’t like people staring, either.
When I pulled out my phone a few minutes ago and glanced at the screen, we had already burned an hour. I needed to just make up my damn mind and pick something. If I hated it later on, who cares? I could just throw it away or donate it since I got it for free.
One issue I had was that the tight dress was a bit uncomfortable. Many of the dresses in the store were tight, which I think is a testament to the dressing style of the wealthy. They probably don’t wear baggy or yucky clothes. They find really nice stuff, and it makes themselves look good.
I changed my mind (yet again), and picked out the maroon cocktail dress. It wasn’t too ‘showy’, but it was nice. It was tight and would show my cleavage, but it wasn’t so slutty that I would feel like I was walking around in underwear.
The right leg of the dress had a vertical cut that went way up, and there were occasional sparkles on the dress. The fabric felt like a cotton with a high thread-count. The fabric didn’t look flimsy, either. It looked like it wouldn’t rip after accidentally getting caught or tangled on something. I made up my
mind. “I want this one.”
Chad brought his hands together and give a single clap in approval. “Fine choice, madam. Now if I may be so kind, I’d like to take you to a shoe store you are going to love.”
“But, what about my evening dress? Tyler said I would need two dresses, and I’ve only got one picked out.” I really liked how I looked in my cocktail dress. I think I looked sexy and attractive. But, I still needed an evening dress.
Chad smiled over at me waved in the direction of the cashier. “I actually know a great store on the way that sells perfect evening dresses. It’s called MesmerizeMe. It’s right on the way to the shoe store. Come on! Let’s get you checked out.”
“Well, so much for picking out my own places to shop” I thought to myself as I grabbed my purse and walked to a cashier line in the store. I took one last look around just to soak in the memory about how special this store was, and how wonderful it made me. Granted, it was Tyler that gave me the privilege to shop there.
I felt like I was on a roll after we left MesmerizeMe. I picked out a hot dress, that I think was even better than the cocktail dress that I had picked out earlier in the day.
Much like the cocktail dress, it was a tight fit on me. That meant boobs.
The dress had a clever color sequence, too. The top of the dress was a faint blue color, and the blue gradually got darker further down the dress. There was a fashionable (but only decorative) cloth strap around the waist that was a little glittery. To top it off, it had a small flower right over the heart with various shades of blue petals.
I held the box open and grinned as I looked at it. I knew that Tyler would love it. I joked with myself and said that I should be a pretend girlfriend for a living. Why not? It would be fun, and it would probably pay more.
We pulled up to the shoe store and this time around, I waited in the car to have Chad open the door for me. I was getting used to this princess thing. Call it adjustment or a learning curve, but I was starting to get the hang of it.
A Fake: A Pretend Girlfriend Billionaire Romance Page 7
