THE RED CARPET, THE RED FLAG

I woke up in the beautiful room but it feel unfamiliar. The silence was heavy. Some part of me missed my sister and longed for my mother. I went up and put on my robe. The unfamiliarity of the place made rest impossible.

When I went down stairs, Jake was already working, pacing back and forth while on the phone. I went to the dinning table. The servant passed by me .

 

“Would you like some help ma’am?” She asked stepping closer.

“No thank you i’m alright.” I said my eyes following Jake as he continued his call.

I poured myself tea and sipped quietly, the table was enormous,and I sat alone. I wondered if this was the kind of live I was supposed to be living for thirty bloody days, and if I was ready to do it. Jake acted as if I was invisible and maybe I was, I reminded myself not to get things twisted. I reached my cell phone and called home.

“Chloe?” My mom answered

“Mom, how are you?”

“ I am doing well, but you haven’t been yourself these past days, Is everything okay?”

“I got a contract,mom, I won’t be home for a month.”

“A month? What kind of a job is that? Is it out of New York?”

“No it’s in New York but that’s what the contract says, I can sneak out and visit you, and check on Sarah.”

“Alright, i trust you. All the best.”

“How is she doing mom?”

“She had been doing better, she is trying to eat.”

“Can you give her the phone?”

“Unfortunately i cant now, she just fell a sleep. Maybe later.”

“ Alright mom, I will call back.”

I ended the call, sadness pressing on my chest. I felt disappointed in myself for risking being away from my family. Anything could happen. I needed the money, it want easy nothing had been easy. Life had been hard and it had been us against the world. No family. No friends just us. My heart felt heavy.

“Is everything alright?” Jake asked, suddenly sitting across from me.

“Yeah,” I lied.

“You are not a good liar.” He said pouring himself a glass of water.

“I am not lying Jake.”

“Jake? Thats new. You have never called me by my name before! Did you call home?”

I nodded. Pain filled in my eyes. Tears burned my behind eyelids but I didn’t let them fall.I had to be strong this wasn’t personal, it was just a contract.

“You know you’re not great at hiding your emotions either. Cheer up, everything will be okay.” He said handing me a glass of water.

“I have some good news for you.” He added.

“We’re going on a date tonight.” My lips curved into a smile but it didn’t reach my eyes.”When?”

“ Seven_thirty.”

“Alright, i’m looking forward to it.”

“I already know which dress you’re wearing.” He said, brushing his hair back.

“ which one?”

“The gold one with the diamonds”

I smiled. He stood up grabbed his coat from the hanger.

“I need to step out darling, I will be back for a nap, if not, I will see you tonight.”

“You look excited.”

“Of course, that tonight, our relationship goes public. The press will be there.”

“Where are we going?”

“Well, to my brother,s foundation anniversary, David Wolfe foundation. See you.”

Public? I wasn’t s sure if I was ready to be in the spotlight with Jake Wolfe the billionaire. The man every girl in the city envied. He was bold, attractive and powerful, yet something about him felt oddly familiar. I couldn’t pace it but I was certain we had crossed paths before.

I spent the evening memorizing the fake résumé Jake had given me. Everything I’d need to say to his friends or family. My new education, career and background all fabricated by him. I wondered how long it took to put it all together. But for someone with his wealth and staff, it probably took no time at all. He even told me to forget my real last name Quinn. Now, I was Chloe Mackenzie. Did that even sound right? Well that was my name now.

I spent the whole evening practicing trying to make the lies feel like truth. This contract meant more to me than he probably realized. Still , so many questions were on my mind. How did he knew about me?My family? My sister?Why did he choose me? Our financial struggles? I was a nobody, he was a billionaire, how in the world would a man like Jake find me? At the gala I thought it was a coincidence but clearly it wasn’t. He knew so much about me , maybe more than I thought.

My phone rang it was Pamella.

“Pam?”

“Don’t you fucking Pam me, what the fuck is wrong with you Chloe?”

“What do you mean?”

“Bitch your phone’s been off for days, and you haven’t replied a single text.”

“It’s a long story friend, I don’t even know where to begin.”

“What the fuck does that supposed to mean? You’ve quit the job. And all of a sudden you’re nowhere to be found. What the hell are you hiding from me?’

“Pam, I am not hiding anything, I will try to meet up soon, I swear, I will explain everything to you.”

“Well,bitch, you better, i’m not going to sit here worrying about a grown ass woman.I’m tired of this shit.”

“Alright, Pam.”

“What the fuck aren’t you cussing back? Huh?”

“I can’t right now, I will call you tomorrow morning, we need to talk.”

“Alright bye.”

“Bye”