Chapter 9: Hailey's Call with Her Boss

They did find something in her size. Hailey guessed that it wasn't all supermodels that used private jets. It was a life she only reported on and didn't live it. The blouse and pants fit her well and it was the nicest material she'd ever worn that wasn't cotton. Silk maybe? She didn't know and she wasn't going to ask and show her ignorance.

She intended to fake it until this was all over. She would walk off this plane as if she dated rock stars every day. Noah wasn't better than her.

"The coast still looks clear. Just one person is wandering around the tarmac," the pilot said.

Noah nodded. "Thanks." He turned his gaze to Hailey. "You ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

They stood as the pilot opened the airstairs. The warmth of the sun hit Hailey and she blinked as she put her foot on the first step. There were no camera flashes. No reporters shouting questions.

There were logistical things she had to deal with, like getting back to her car, but that was okay. She felt as if Noah was on her side. At least as long as she kept up her role in things.

He put his hand on her back. "No scary reporters."

She looked up at him. "I'm not scary."

His gaze took on something molten. "No, you aren't scary."

Then he smiled and she wasn't sure she saw what she thought she saw. Then again, Noah was an actor. A singer at first, but he'd acted in movies before this one he was going to begin filming. That must be what he'd been doing. He'd been acting, but why? There was no one but the pilots to see them. She was pretty sure they knew what had transpired on the flight. She expected discretion from them, but that didn't mean they wouldn't gossip in the pilot lounge.

Hailey reached the bottom step and her feet tried to go out from under her. Noah grabbed her and steadied her. "You okay?"

"Shoes are a little slippery."

"You can take them off in the car," he said.

He tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and walked her toward the hangar.

"You don't have to hold onto me. The only ones watching are the pilots," she said.

He grinned down at her. "I'm protecting my investment."

"You haven't invested anything yet."

"But I plan to, Hailey. We'll make a good team."

Her phone buzzed in her hand. The slacks she wore didn't have any pockets so she had to hold them. She hadn't brought a purse. She'd left that in her car, which she hoped was still where she'd parked it. She didn't want to add a towing fee to her already massive bills.

"I need to take this," she said when her editor's face came up on the screen.

"You'll be okay? I have to arrange a new car anyway," Noah said.

"Go ahead. I'll take this right here."

She let him walk out of earshot before she answered. "Hi, Martina."

"Hailey."

Hailey couldn't tell if she was in trouble or if things were good based on her editor's tone. That wasn't good. The woman was a master at putting you down or lifting you. It all depended on her mood. Martina must have seen the photo of Noah and Hailey by now. The woman didn't miss much that went on the internet.

"Martina."

Hailey wasn't going to begin the conversation by making excuses. She'd let Martina reveal her mood first. A sigh came out of the phone.

"I feel as if you've been holding out on me," Martina said.

"Holding out?"

She'd been as open as she could be with her boss. She hadn't told the woman about her father, but that was all she'd kept to herself. Bringing problems to work had never been Hailey's style.

"I've seen the picture. It looked intimate."

Hailey had to make a quick decision. Did she play along with Noah as her boyfriend or did she reveal to Martina what was going on? She took a deep breath. "We aren't dating, but we're pretending."

There was silence on the line for a moment and Hailey held her breath.

"Pretending to date?"

"The story is complicated, but what will end up happening is that I will have access to a lot of celebrities."

That was the part that Martina would appreciate. How Hailey managed that was secondary. Martina would love the outcome. She'd have scoops on other gossip rags and that's what would matter.

Hailey needed to breathe because Martina was taking her time answering.

"Okay," Martina said. "I think we can work with this."

That was about as positive as her editor would be. Hailey would take it. "I can file stories. I'll give you first right of refusal, but if you don't want the story, I want to be able to sell it somewhere else."

Hailey held her breath again. She'd never been so forthright with Martina and she hoped it wouldn't come back to bite her.

"I can live with that," Martina said.

Hailey wouldn't make as much money as a staff reporter in this position, but the potential to sell some of the more salacious stories to other rags would make up for it. She could make this work.

"Good. I'm glad," Hailey said with relief.

"But there is one thing I need from you."

Oh. No. "Okay."

"It's important that you listen to me. I don't want there to be any confusion as to what I want. Are you listening?"

Hailey had no idea what was coming next, but she'd probably agree to it. If Martina was going to let her go on with the charade, she'd agree to almost anything. This was a win-win situation and Hailey couldn't imagine how it could get better. She would spend time with a hot guy and get paid to do her job.

Nope, there were no downsides to this.

"I'm listening, Martina."

"I want the inside scoop on Noah Magellan."