Page 29 of The Fake Play

Keke

As soon as my hand leaves his, Luke pulls out his phone, his fingers flying over the screen as he calls up Whitney. I lean a hip against the counter, trying to organize my thoughts. This is a crazy plan and I know it, but despite my initial protests, I think it just might work. Every PR bone in my body screams, “Stop!” but this is a simple solution, and simple solutions are usually the best ones.

I know fake dating my client is a huge risk. My entire career, my relationship with my brother are both on the line. If I screw this up, I’m out of options. I’ll have to move in with my aunt on the West Coast and find a new career.

But fake dating my client can also be a high risk-high reward. If we play this right, he’ll come out looking like a golden boy instead of a playboy, and I’ll have a secure position on Whitney’s team. We’ll both get what we want, and that is well worth the risk.

I hope.

Whitney picks up and Luke puts her on speakerphone. “Luke, I assume you're calling about Keke. Regardless of your complaints, she's still your nanny. Deal with it.”

“No complaints on my end,” he says, smirking at me. “Actually, Whitney, I’ve got something I'd like to run by you, and for the record, it's about Keke.”

There’s a beat of silence, and I can picture Whitney raising an eyebrow, taking in what he just said. She’s probably already suspicious. “Tell me you did not sleep with her.”

Okay, she’s more than suspicious. My stomach sinks.

“No.” He takes a deep breath, looking at me as he speaks. “Hear me out. We let the world think Keke and I are a couple. Fake dating if you will.”

“And what exactly do you hope to accomplish with that?” she asks suspiciously.

“Redemption.”

“How so?”

“People think I'm a playboy hockey player, a bad boy who can't stay out of trouble. But a real girlfriend? That's a game changer. Keke is stable, smart, hot, funny… all the things a man could ever want. They'll think I'm in a serious relationship with someone who is actually respectable. Not a dancer, or a cheerleader?—”

“Or a flock of strippers?” Whitney cuts in flatly. “What is a group of strippers called, anyway? I’m sure you know the proper term.”

“There were only three, and I did not date them at the same time,” he says defensively.

“Right, so Keke is Mother Teresa, and you’re the Devil. She’s supposed to redeem you?”

I fight back a laugh. The idea that I could be the one to redeem someone's reputation was just absurd.This is such a bad idea.

“Her reputation will polish mine. Keke said politicians do it all the time.”

I could be very convincing. Bad idea or not, I knew I could make it work, and it would give me the most control possible over the situation. I sigh. I was really doing this. “It will score us a ton of earned media, Whitney.”

Whitney wasn’t sold. “Yes, it will but if that goes south, you could tank my reputation alongside your own. Luke, you think you can just use a woman to repair your reputation and all will be forgiven?”

“Sort of,” he admits. “People go crazy for a love story. And this isn't just about me, it's about her, too. She gets to control me in a controlled environment. No surprises. It'll be a stable narrative that people will want to believe.”

I shift beside him, trying to keep my poker face intact. “This isn't just his idea, Whitney. It's mine too. I think it's the right call. He requires a lot of habit changing if we’re going to fix this. No one will think twice about a girlfriend being around him, but if I'm stalking him from the shadows all the time, it's going to get weird fast.”

Whitney laughs softly. “Alright, you two. I'll admit this is interesting. Keke is capable and level-headed enough to keep you in check, which is more than most could handle. I'll consider it, but we'll be laying down some ground rules.”

“Thank you, Whitney. I knew you'd see the potential in this.”

She sighs then adds, “This isn't high school theater. Make it convincing or don't bother doing it at all.”

The line goes dead. I look up at Luke who smiles as if he doesn’t know what to say. I don’t think either of us expected Whitney to even consider the idea but as long as she approves, we will officially be a fake couple by tomorrow. By the sound of things, it seems like she’s already on board, otherwise she would have shot it down immediately.

“So, it sounds like the big boss approves,” he teases. “You still in?”

“I suppose I don't have much of a choice anymore, do I?” I tease right back.

He grins playfully. “My girlfriend always has a choice.”

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