‘Bethe scene!’ he said brightly.
For fuck’s sake …
‘You look unhappy.’ Her words were directed at me.
My gaze flicked back to Jessy, and I found myself caught in her eyes again. She was observing me closely, with none of the caution that I’d expected.
‘Why wouldn’t I be?’ I muttered back, anger creating an edge in my tone. ‘I’m a product, and Derek is about to sell me to the highest bidder.’
‘Let the record show I haven’t actually offered any money for you,’ Jessy pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
No, but what have you been offered?
‘It’s simple, really,’ Derek insisted. ‘Two dates a week – I’ll be sending you to events, you won’t have to worry about organizing anything. Public suggestions of affection –’
‘I’m sorry,’ Jessy interrupted. ‘Public suggestions of affection?Is that not PDA?’
‘We would never actually ask you to kiss Patrick. Consent issues and all that,’ Derek said soothingly.
Do not think about kissing her. Do not look at her lips. Do not think about –
‘The music industry needs to see the two of you together,’ he went on. ‘It can’t all be candlelit dinners in expensive restaurants.’
‘Candlelit dinners, you say?’
I glared at Jessy.Of course she’s into it – and why wouldn’t she be?Wined and dined by a celebrity, the dream of half the women in the world.
‘What?’ she said defensively, shrugging again. ‘I like wine. I like dinners. Sue me.’
‘– then there’s the album launch for Cassandra’s Chorus, following week the after-party for Fashion Week, you’ve got the interview on primetime TV, then you’ll be attending –’
Christ, he really had organized it all. A fabricated love story with a choreographed relationship. Why was I surprised? I’d ridden this rodeo before.
‘– until the Songwriter Awards next month,’ Derek said brightly. ‘To prove to the fans that it’s real, even if it ends straight after. Hell, it can’t continue when you start the Southeast Asia tour in two months anyway.’
‘And I’ll get wine.’ Jessy grinned, sweeping a hand through her hair and messing it up.
I hated that it looked better that way.
My brain was melting, all coherent arguments fading away with every passing second – and Jessy hitching up her spaghetti straps as one fell from her shoulder didn’t help.
I needed to think straight – I needed a way out of this nightmare. The sensation of being trapped was returning: something I thought I’d escaped years ago.
‘Sure, it’s not the most romantic document in the world.’ Derek’s voice broke through my thoughts. ‘But this isn’t a real relationship. You won’t actually be dating – no feelings, no emotions, no hearts to break. Isn’t that what you wanted?’
Isn’t that what you wanted?
I swallowed hard, ignoring the bile in my mouth and trying not to look at the woman beside me.
I wanted to be left alone. I wanted to make music, not to have to act as though I was in love, or whatever, with someone who was probably only into this for the bragging rights.
And the wine.
‘What are you thinking, Patrick?’ Jessy murmured.
My whole body twitched.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look up at her. Blue eyes, freckles, rosebud mouth. Body to die for. She was probably looking for a way to break into trashy reality TV … and I would be spending the next five weeks with her on my arm.
