Chapter Six

"What did you just say?"

She asked in shock, she must have heard him wrongly, there is no way he just said what she heard.

"Kat, no need to raise your voice, hear me out first,"

"I am not raising my voice, I may have heard you wrongly that's why I am asking,"

"You heard what I said, I am asking you to be my girlfriend,"

He said again, this time she was sure she heard him right, did he like her? Why will wanting her to be his girlfriend be a favor to ask, he could have just asked, she suspected there is more to this but it didn't stop her lovesick heart from doing a little, Nah scrap that, her heart did a major jump for joy but she felt she needed to hear everything he wanted to say first before all these dancing or jumping for joy.

"I don't understand, your girlfriend?"

"No need to look so disgusted or dismayed Kat, I am not in love with you or anything, I just need your help to...

She couldn't hear the other part of what he was saying, her ears stopped working when he mentioned that he wasn't in love with her, she knew this had been too good to be true, she felt ashamed for overthinking before hearing him out but it wasn't all her fault though, still, she couldn't help but feel ashamed.

"Kat? Are you listening? You seemed so far away?"

"Sorry, I am having a slight headache,"

She lied.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to break it to you like that but I need your help if you would consider helping me,"

He said in a pleading voice but she didn't wanna listen, her head was spinning, what had she been expecting? It's not like he had shown any interest in her in any way, she was just been stupid, trying as much as possible to compose herself she looked up at him.

"Can you explain why you need a fake girlfriend Lucas?"

She asked with much bravery though she wasn't feeling anything like brave, she just wanted to run and hide and scold herself in her hiding place.

"If you will just sit and stop looking at me like that, then I will,"

He responded.

"How am I looking at you?" She asked in fear that he might see through her.

"Hmm, like you are disappointed in me like I just said something unholy,"

He couldn't read her, thankfully cuz she couldn't bear the shame if he did.

"Sorry, I was just thrown off balance for a while so can we talk now?"

"Sure, see the thing is the old man we are going to meet in California has a huge chunk of properties here in New York and he wanna hand it over to someone, namely the people he invited, but the old man is pretty much old fashioned and believes every successful man needs a woman by his side, I want this property cuz it will be a huge impact to our company if I acquire it, this is where you come in, as you know, I have had bad luck with women, and you are the only woman that comes to mind who I know won't catch feeling or overthink the situation and make it awkward for the both of us, so I am asking, no begging you to think about it, I am willing to pay you, you just need to be my girlfriend for the week we are gonna be in California."

He paused but she didn't say a word, her head was still spinning,

"Say something, Katrina,"

He persuaded.

"What if I say no?"

"Well, I didn't consider you saying no but if you don't wanna do it I will understand,"

He said in a defeated voice that made her want to tell him that she will do it immediately but she scolded herself.

"Why don't you ask one of your girlfriends? Or one of those women who wouldn't think twice before agreeing? It would be easy you know plus they will know how to act,"

She suggested even though the thought of another woman following them to California and clinging to him made her wanna throw up, one time his girlfriend then had come to visit him when they were on a business trip and it had not been funny at all.

"I already explained to you, and besides you and I both know I am currently single, Kat it just for a week, just think about it as an extended part of your job, all you have to do is switch from sir to Lucas or darling and also be a little touchy with me,"

He said it so easily that she couldn't help but laugh.

"What's funny?"

"You are funny, so is that why you have been on about me calling you Lucas? I knew there had to be a reason but I didn't know it would be this, this is worst than babysitting,"

"You keep bringing that up, come on, pretty, please help me, I will give you a promotion and lots of benefits."

He added even though she knew he was making it up, he sweetened the deal to make it very enticing but she wasn't moved, he pays her well enough and if not for her crazy emotions she would have agreed to help him.

"Sounds fake,"

She replied and sat down, her legs were beginning to hurt.

"You can't promote me, where and what would you do without me?"

"Yeah, I know but well, I can give you a name higher than a secretary and also increase your salary three times more,"

He offered.

"All for pretending to be your girlfriend for a week?"

She asked in shock. "Or Is there more to this? Cuz you are offering pretty much for just a week deal, just let it out completely then I will tell you if I can do it or not,"

She questioned.

"Nope, that's the deal Kat, nothing else, but if you would add the fact that we are spending a total of one month together then, yes that's the added deal."

"Wait, one month? What about Lilac's wedding?"

"I included the three weeks we will be there to it making it one month, Kat please do this for me, you are the only woman I can trust with this,"

He pleaded again, she so wasn't used to a pleading Lucas, he has always been bossy and gives commandments instead of asking so this was so new to her, she didn't know how to handle it.

"Did you ever consider that I might be in a relationship and my boyfriend or partner will have a problem with this arrangement?"

"Well, I know you are single,"

He replied and she wanted to wipe the arrogant smiled that followed that statement off his mouth but she reframed herself and just let it slide.

"Give me time to think about it, I will get back to you tomorrow, it is such short notice that I don't even know if I can conclude tomorrow but I will try and give you a response by tomorrow,"

"Fair enough, I will be expecting a positive answer, I should take you home now, it's almost five and you need to rest, we have a long day and week ahead of us.

He said getting up and picking up his phone.

"No, don't worry, I can call a cab, there is no need for you to take me home, you still have work to do,"

"But I insist,"

He argued but she couldn't let him, adding to the fact that her house would look like a mess, she didn't want anyone barging in on Jord in his weak moments.

"No, Lucas I can get home myself, thank you,"

"Fine, miss, do as you wish,"

He said reluctantly and sat back down, she quickly ordered a cab and picked up her stuff while she waited, he didn't say a word to her while she waited and just waved when she told him she was off.

All the way home, her head was spinning, she couldn't think properly if only she didn't have feelings for him already, it would have been an easy task but she knew it might end in a disaster if she got too close to Lucas. When she got home, she was surprised to find Jord in the kitchen making an early dinner, he had been humming to himself when she had walked in and he hadn't and still didn't look like the heartbroken Jordan that had knocked on her door last night.

"Why are you looking at me like that young lady? You are giving me the creeps with that look,"

He warned while busying himself with making their dinner.

"I am just surprised, I have never seen you go through a breakup before and I didn't know what to expect but this wasn't what I was expecting."

"You expect me to be all dirty and teary and cussing?"

He asked with a weird laugh.

"Well, kind of cuz that what normal people do."

"Tish! I never said I am normal though,"

He responded.

"I am just glad you are okay now, Jord."

She replied getting up to hug him close, she was indeed happy he is fine, and then she remembered her own problem.

"Jord, I have a little bit of an issue and I will like your honest advice on how to go about it."

She disclosed, moving back to sit down.

"Okay, girly, I am all ears, he responded turning off the stove and giving her his full attention, she hesitated a little before letting it all out.

"Lucas ask me to be his girlfriend!"