Page 69 of The Fake Dating Plan

“If you’re worried about the expense. Don’t. The studio will give us a discount if we mention them on Social Media.”

“If I had known it was that easy, I would have done it a long time ago.”

He laughed at my dry joke. “I don’t think it would have worked. We are big now. Especially on the socials.” Even I had to admit it wasn’t flattery. Ever since we made the deal with KMVH, doors that had been shut to us before were now wide open. Before he had to prove up and down that we were a legit company and not just an up-and-coming startup that could blow up in a few years, now VCs and banks were begging us to take their money. Part of me knew it was because of Ax and KMVH’s standing in the industry. I couldn’t deny that. Looking back, I wonder if things would have been better if I had gone to him earlier. But knowing me, if it weren’t for Heron pushing me to the edge, I doubt I would have gone to Ax.

“Em?” I turned to the source of the voice.

“Chad?” I went over and hugged him. “It’s been a while. What are you doing here?”

“I’m the owner of this grand place, you see.” He waved around the studio. Of course. “I should have guessed you were the reason we got such a good discount. I didn’t know, you were into… what is it you do now?”

He chuckled. “Real estate, mostly.”

“Real estate? You? Chad looked like a chad. He had a generic handsome face, blonde hair, and an air of spoiled rich kid. He was very muscular and when he folded his arms, his big biceps bulged, threatening to rip off the white sweater he had on. Not much about him had changed, except maybe a wizened streak about him. But working for a living was not something I associated him with, especially if that work had nothing to do with looking good.

“It was about time I did my own thing. Like you. I hear you’re making waves in the fashion industry.” I hoped he won’t ask me about his father and why I ditched him as an investor. I wasn’t sure how he would take it, but thankfully, he made it easy for me. “Don’t think I’m here as my father’s spy, by the way. Couldn’t care less if you took his money or not.”

“He was an excellent partner when we were with him.” That part was a lie. “He helped us grow.” This wasn’t. Jewelry making would still be a hobby for me if it weren’t for Heron.

“But you seem to grow even more under your new investor. Must I take it that things are going well between the two of you?” His words were laced with a second meaning.

“We’re doing as well as we can.”

“I still felt guilty over what happened last time. I couldn’t bear the thought of being responsible for breaking up you two.”

I waved it off. “It wasn’t your fault. We would have broken off eventually, anyway.”

“Well, I’m glad you are back together.”

“Okay everybody, take five,” the photographer shouted, breaking off our conversation, and Chad made his excuses and left. I went back to studying the pictures coming out. They were amazing. He knew his shit. I watched as Gia got up from the stage and made her way towards us. Towards me. Her long legs carried her like a gazelle. She was just as wispy too. I couldn’t help but feel a brief pang of jealousy at the thought of her and Ax together. She was the type of person people would expect her to be with. Long hair, thin frame, legs for days. The opposite of my petite and curvy frame.

“That was a great shoot,” I said to her when she was within hearing distance, “the camera loves you.”

“And I it! Thank you for giving me this opportunity to work with you.” She sounded genuine. I could take her words to not be the truth. Gia, Blake, and I launched into small talk, but I felt like she was holding something back. She kept giving me nervous stares that had me. When Blake left us to speak with the photographer, say, “Something’s bothering you?”

She blurted out, “I’m so glad you didn’t drop me after you know, the incident.”

“Why would I do that?” If anything I was the more embarrassed party.

She shrugged. “I knew you and him were a thing before. I just wanted you to know that our thing was nothing at all. Casual at best.”

“He told you about us?”

“Not exactly, but he did call me Emy once.”

Uh… I didn’t know how to feel about that. Knowing he was still thinking about me, and knowing that he called someone else my name. Something I wouldn’t want happening to me.

“Don’t worry about me,” she added, no doubt having seen my frown. “I was still hung up over another guy, so I totally understand. But I wanted you to know that if anything comes out, it won’t come from me. Francie will kill me first.”

I chuckled. Glad to have cleared the air with her. All this time I was nervous about her, while she was more nervous than I was.

“I’m just glad you two are back together.”

I was about to say thank you when I noticed a mood shift in the studio. People kept glancing at their phones and then stealing glances at me as they whispered.

“What now?”

Blake came rushing at me with a knowing smile, waving his phone. “Youweredating a hot guy during the holidays.”

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