Page 5 of The Expiration Date

“Immediately if possible. We need to get pictures of you two together at various locations around L.A. and NYC to make this seem legitimate. Like you said, people want to believe what they perceive to be true.”

I place my hand on my forehead and then rub my temples. “And how do you expect me to find someone trustworthy enough not to talk to the press and leak that this is all fabricated to help with my image?”

“Funny you should say that. Both Chris and I have come up with a list of potential fake girlfriends for you,” Samantha says proudly as she reaches over her desk, grabs a paper and hands me a list of A-list actresses who apparently would be willing to fake-date me. How flattering. Although these women are undeniably famous and beautiful, I don’t know any of them well enough to trust them with this task. I shake my head as I am reading. My stomach is in knots. How is this even going to work? Even if I do pretend to date one of these women, there has to be real chemistry between us to truly make this believable.

Who can I really trust?

Then I hear a pen hitting a notepad and my gaze naturally drifts toward my trusty personal assistant of three years, who is frantically scribbling down all these notes. Suddenly, I know the best solution to my problem. It may be crazy. Or it may be totally genius.

I hand back the list to Samantha. “This isn’t going to work.”

“Of course it is. These are all A-list actresses who would look great by your side.”

“That’s not the problem.”

Samantha narrows her eyes at me. “Then what is the problem?”

“I don’t know any of these women. I don’t trust them. Just because you are deemed an A-list actress, doesn’t mean you have good intentions or a good heart. Trust me.” An image of Natasha flashes into my mind. I shake my head to get rid of it, as if my brain is a fricken Etch A Sketch.

Chris chimes in from the back of the room. “Okay, Aidan, so what is your suggestion?”

“Haley could do it.” I glance back at Haley, and her brown eyes are round with surprise. Shit, she looks mortified. I mean, can I blame her? I just dropped a completely outrageous solution to my problem. But I trust her with pretty much every aspect of my life, so why not go all-in and trust her with this, too? I know she would be discreet about our little secret.

Samantha laughs. “Haley? Like the Haley who is sitting right there, looking like she just saw a ghost?” Samantha points her finger toward my assistant, who does in fact look frozen like a statue.

Chris chimes in. “Yeah, I don’t know about this, Aidan. She’s your assistant. Won’t that send the media the wrong message?”

“What wrong message? People date their coworkers all the time. How is this any different?”

Haley still isn’t saying anything. I’ve overstepped. I should have talked to her first about this. She is definitely going to quit on me now. I can’t have her quit. She is the best assistant I could ask for. I clear my throat. “Haley? Are you okay?”

She gives the slightest nod.

Yep, it’s official. She is going to quit. She’s probably calculating all the ways she could escape this room, run out the door and never come back.

Samantha isn’t giving in so easily. “Aidan, I’m really not sure about this. Why her? People don’t even know who she is.”

“So? Maybe the fact that I date people who aren’t in the industry can be seen as endearing and relatable. Maybe people will finally see that I am just like them–a fucking human being who can fall for anyone in this world. It doesn’t matter if they’re famous. And to be honest with you, it’s all about trust. Look, Samantha–Haley has been my assistant for close to three years. And I really don’t trust anyone else. I know she is going to keep it professional. And no one outside the industry knows her role in my life. She has been nothing but discreet and we can use that to our advantage.”

“How so?”

“Haley’s not going to draw any negative attention to us. She will draw enough attention because of the mystery of who she is. The press will finally shift their focus from my recent behavior and because she is not in the limelight all the time, will help protect the fact that this whole relationship is just for show. Plus, with Hales by my side for a while, I won’t be bombarded by screaming women, and let’s face it, sometimes men, out on the street. I’m sick of being swarmed everywhere I go, and maybe if I have a ‘girlfriend’ those superfans will back off and respect that I’m in a relationship. I need things to calm down on, and this will simultaneously restore and strengthen my ‘good guy’ image, as you put it. It will look like I’m in a committed relationship.”

Samantha leans back in her chair. “What about after you stop this little arrangement? What then?”

“We can cross that bridge when we get there. For right now, with your outrageous suggestion, this is the only solution that I am comfortable with. That is,” and I look back at Haley, who finally looks up into my eyes, “if Haley is willing to do this for me.”

Samantha sighs and directs her attention to Chris. “What do you think about this plan?”

I glance over at Chris, who has been my agent since I moved out here, and his arms are crossed. But then he gives a little nod and his demeanor relaxes a little. “Surprisingly, I think this could actually work. I think people seeing you in a relationship, and honestly with someone who is not an actress, could work in your favor. We always see these couples that starred in romantic comedies end up together but then their ‘love’ never lasts.” He winces, as if realizing what he just said. “Sorry man.”

Yep, that one hurt. That’s basically what happened to me and Natasha. We starred in one of the biggest romantic comedies of the year. Then after a while, the love obviously fizzled out… for her, at least.

“Anyway,” Chris continues, “I think if you want to continue on the path you're on and you want people to see you as a serious actor, having a stable girlfriend would benefit your career. You can turn over a new leaf. It not only shows that you’re now in a committed relationship, but also that you’ve moved on from the Natasha fiasco.”

Good, he is on my side. Now, I need to make sure that Haley is also with me.

Samantha clasps her hands together and places them against her lips as she thinks about this proposal. Her gaze shifts toward Haley. “Ms. Swann. What do you think? Are you willing to do this for Aidan?”

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