‘And who the hell would be insane enough to agree to that?’ I ask, because I honestly have no idea. It’s not like there’s a ‘fake girlfriend for hire’-agency. Or is there? Either way, I’m not interested. And if we can’t find anyone, this bullshit idea might go away. I can sit it out.
The quiet stretches, taut as a pulled hamstring. Theo’s eyes flick to Charlie, then to me. One beat, two.
‘Me,’ she says suddenly. ‘I’ll do it.’
Charlie turns her head sharply to stare at Theo.
My jaw drops. ‘Wait. You?’
‘Yes, me.’ She meets my gaze head-on. ‘I’m already handling your social media rehabilitation. This is merely an extension of that.’
‘But—’
‘I’m organised and reliable. The opposite of your type. Gives it a realistic edge.’
‘My type?’
‘Blonde, leggy, rich, famous, likes to party.’ She ticks them off on her fingers. ‘I’m none of those things.’
‘I don’t have a type,’ I protest, but my eyes drift to her curves despite myself.
Not that I’d say it aloud, because I know better, but they painted curves like that on bomber planes in the Second World War.
‘Are you serious about this?’ Charlie’s focus narrows to Theo’s face.
‘Deadly.’ Theo adjusts her posture, subtle but exact. ‘We can frame it as workplace romance. Happens all the time.’ Now her gaze darkens for a second. ‘It’s the most logical and efficient solution. I’m familiar with the strategy and can control the narrative. Keep him in line.’
‘Keep me in line?’ I cough out a laugh. ‘I’m not a dog.’
‘True. Dogs can be trained.’ Her gaze flicks over me. ‘Consider it a professional arrangement, leash optional.’
‘What’s in it for you?’ I watch her too closely and let her sense it.
Her shoulders lift a fraction, lips firming into a neutral line before she answers. ‘Elite Edge’s survival. My job, which I happen to really, really like.’
I lean back and take her in. The navy pencil skirt. The way she holds herself, spine straight, shoulders back.
Charlie clears her throat. ‘This is…unexpected. But yeah, it might work. We can trust Theo. She’s smart and capable with girl next door vibes.’
‘And completely not my type,’ I add with a wink. ‘Your words, not mine.’
Theo’s eyes frost over. ‘Which makes it perfect.’
Perfect isn’t the word I’d use. Insane, more like. ‘So, you’ll be my…girlfriend.’
‘Your redemption arc and colleague,’ she corrects. ‘Nothing more. Nothing less.’
I study her face. Those full lips, the cool depth in her eyes. She’s not afraid of me. Not impressed by me. And not interested in me at all.
The last one stings a bit, I have to admit.
‘So, we’re agreed?’ Charlie taps a manicured nail against her phone. The tap-tap-tap grates on my already frayed nerves.
‘Aye,’ I mumble, even though ‘agreed’ is a vast understatement. More like reluctantly strapped to a rocket headed for Planet Awkward.
‘Fab. We tell the team you fell in love at work and had been secretly seeing each other for a while before you briefly broke up. Needed to keep it quiet. Professional and personal reasons. Blah blah. The usual bollocks. The team needs to buy it,’ Charlie explains and ignores my existential dread. ‘Except… We have to tell Brodie. He can smell bullshit from a mile off, and no one in this room wants to incur his wrath when he does.’
I glance at Theo, who’s busy making a list. Her fringe falls across her forehead, and she blows it aside with an impatient puff. Focussed and precise. Everything I’m not.
