Meeting. More like ambush.
‘I guess it is a reasonable offer,’ Laura said, smiling uncertainly at Derek. ‘But my sister and I need to talk about it. Jessy, I know you don’t want to – but it doesn’t seem like they are asking for too much –’
‘Not too much? You’re not the one being asked to fake a relationship with a global hottie!’ I pointed out heatedly.
This couldn’t be happening.
I mean, celebrities don’t date normal people. They’re too busy dating other celebrities.
‘Patrick needs his image softening,’ Derek was saying, leaning back in his armchair and shrugging, as though he matchmade for celebrities all the time. Hell, maybe he did. ‘You’ve probably heard the rumours about all his partying – that hotel room will never be the same again. And we never did find out where he got the llama from.’ He muttered the last bit to himself.
I couldn’t help it. Despite myself, I leaned forward on the sofa that Laura and I were sharing. ‘Wait, that was true?’ Who hadn’t heard about Patrick’s wild antics in the early days of his fame?
‘My point is –’ Derek moved on hastily – ‘he needs a more relatable image, and there’s nothing more relatable than finding love.’
I rolled my eyes and grinned at my sister, expecting Laura to snort with me.
Laura wasn’t laughing. She was biting her lip as she took off her glasses to rub them on her top.
‘You seriously think I should do this.’ I looked at my twin in disbelief.
‘Youhavealways had a crush on him,’ she said, like that was a totally fair thing to point out in this moment.
‘Laura!’
‘And there’s a contract and everything. You’d be protected,’ she continued, as Derek nodded in agreement. ‘We can put it out that you met on Butterflies. Just think about it: the downloads will skyrocket. My investors will be happy; Patrick’s record label will be happy; the fans will go nuts thinking there’s a chance they could date a celebrity on my app … But ultimately, Jessy, it’s your choice.’
My stomach twisted.
She wasn’t going to push. I knew that. It was obvious she wanted me to do it – but this wasn’t something Laura would ever force on me.
I knew in my gut that she wouldn’t have to.
I focused my attention back on this Derek guy. ‘This is all legit, right?’
Next to me, Laura let out a small gasp that I firmly ignored.
‘If by “legit” you mean “carefully considered and entirely designed for your mutual benefit”, then sure,’ said Derek confidently.
My gaze dropped to the contract in his hands. Then I looked up at him. ‘Can you PDF this to me?’
I’d expected him to ask why, but he simply nodded and pulled out a tablet.
‘Email address?’
I recited it to him. It came through within seconds, but I didn’t even bother opening it. Forward … forward to …
Anna rang me two minutes later. Two excruciating minutes of Laura and Derek concocting some sort of plan that I had completely zoned out from.
Was this clinical shock?
‘What the hell is this?’ Anna asked me without any other introduction. ‘You’re pimping yourself out to celebrities now?’
‘Not just any celebrity – Patrick Tetlow!’ Laura called out with a grin. ‘Is that Anna? Tell her she’s got to give my black heels back, I need them for –’
‘Is this really the time?’ I hissed. I gave her my best glare, then turned and tried to concentrate on the flow of words pouring from my friend.
‘– not your personal lawyer. Believe it or not, I actually get paid most of the time –’
