Chapter 5

Aniya:

Handling a client’s public image and being involved in a client’s public scandals were worlds apart; however, with Donovan Sterling, those worlds collided, and I felt them clash as I walked into the now-empty VIP section of Donovan’s newest bar, Noir.

I recognized the shirt he was wearing because it was the same one from the video I had watched countless times since it was posted.

“Miss Carter..” he neared me in two long strides.

“I hope it wasn’t a hassle getting here; the paparazzi are a lot to handle.” He explained.

He didn’t need to tell me; I knew. Those people were a different breed; they would do anything for even a hint of hot gossip.

“I’ve dealt with worse. They’ve flooded your villa expecting a word from you; it would take about a week or two after our response goes out for this to die down. You’d have to stay low for the moment.”

“I figured.” We walked to the bar; it was exactly as in the photo, with a few bottles of liquor arranged on the island and two shot glasses.

“Everything is the same.” I scanned for differences, using my phone to cross-check it like a spot-the-difference puzzle.

“I made sure of it.”

“Okay. I have the contracts ready.” I said dropping the purse I had borrowed from Janelle on the counter and the file next to it.

It was the same purse Lucy had worn that day. I may have had the bracelet but I didn’t have the outfit. Thankfully, Janelle’s giant shopping habit paid off today. I had taken the dress and purse from her.

“Okay, let’s get this done.”

We sat by the bar, our eyes fixed on the contract.

“The duration of the contract is three months.”

“That’s enough time for all this to be over,” I explained.

“How sure are we that this will be over in three months? We should rephrase…” he paused, eyes on me. “The agreement should hold until the allegations completely die down.”

“Okay.” I rephrased the section with my pen and signed it for formality's sake.

“This is good.” He looked at it one more time before scribbling his signature on it.

I followed, signing both documents before exchanging them with him.

“It’s wonderful doing business with you.” I didn’t know if that was right to say since I was getting a lot from this monetarily and he on the other hand. He was getting a rumor cleared.

Maybe it was no different since he was Donovan Sterling and every rumor was like a bomb ready to ruin his career.

“It’s great doing business with you, Miss Carter ” he shook my hand for the second time this week and I felt my heart palpitate. I knew it was the adrenaline rush from all of what was going on.

“Now for the next agenda. We need the pictures except it’s going to be from our own point of view.”

“We could make a video to some romantic song.” He recommended, “That’s pushing it.” I sighed.

“No, I think it’s a good idea. Many online couples do it. They say it’s for the memories.”

“We aren’t an online couple; we are just a fake couple trying to prove one innocent.”

“Oh, we will be an online couple once the news about us dating hits the internet. No one would know we’re fake dating except us, Miss Carter and we would have to make them believe that whatever is going on between us is real.”

“You don’t have to tell me.” I rolled my eyes.

The realization of what I had signed up for, for the sake of thirty percent of my firm's current value and some hectic hockey players as my new clients.

It was a good deal but hell!

“Okay, let’s do this?” His brow furrowed as he asked.

“Sure, let’s pick a cute song.”

It had taken us fifteen minutes to find a good song because apparently Donovan and I had very different tastes in music and we’d actually had to come to a compromise. Something that didn’t sound too irritating to me and something he liked.

“So we are supposed to sing along and do some romantic things while at it?” I’d sworn to hide my irritation at dancing to a romantic song but my face displayed it so well that Donovan was trying so hard to suppress his laughter.

“Yeah..” he grabbed my phone from me, pressed the recording.

“Now sing along.” The timer went on and he pulled me into the view of the camera.

Donovan stood behind me and as tall as I was, he towered over me.

“I don’t know the song.” I turned to look at him but he rested on me even more, his hands now wrapping around my waist. “Just smile and let me do this.” His mouth—by my ear and his words echoed softly in my ear.

I looked at him and for a second, I’d forgotten that my phone’s camera was on; I ogled at him. My eyes drank in his beautiful features.

Donovan held me tighter, chin on my shoulder while I leaned into his chest and my body mirrored his gentle moves.

When the video ended, Donovan reached for the phone immediately and played it.

We looked like a real couple or would I say those performative social media couples.

He had his hand wrapped around me and I eased into his touch, looking at him like a love-struck puppy while he sang along. It looked believable.

“You did good, Miss Carter. But I think you should loosen up. And you can touch me; I’m not acidic.” He had this sly smile from holding his laughter in for too long.

“I’d try next time.” I snorted.

“Okay,” he turned round to the empty bar and poured a good amount of tequila into the glass.

“To wake you up.” The glass slid smoothly across the counter to me.

I didn’t hesitate. I needed the drink. I gulped it down in one go and let it wash down all the nerves racking through my body.

Donovan attended to a call while I tried figuring out what angle was good for the picture, making random videos just to make sure everything looked good.

Donovan took a seat right next to me, my phone still stretched out recording; he leaned in, his phone still pressed against his ear. He lowered his lips to my ear, whispering that we didn’t have much time to spend here but his voice left a hot trail down my neck.

It was for the video but every nerve in my body was active and my heart palpitated. When he was done, he focused on his call and all I could do was stare.

My gaze lingered for more than it should have.

There was something about Donovan’s composure that held my attention. And for the first time in a decade, I let myself look at Donovan without the guilt of betraying Logan.

All those years, I had let Logan persuade me to stay away from Donovan just to keep our friendship.

Now the reality of what this meant for me and Logan was fast approaching. I didn’t know how he was going to take this.