Page 33 of Ravaged For You

“A job? You’re joking.”

“I’m being serious.”

Why would Ravaged need me?

“Does this job involve something to do with Axel?” I ask him. “I’ve got a teeny tiny feeling that it does.”

Lucas leans toward me. He smells fantastic. He must have some really expensive aftershave. “You’re very insightful, Maddie. This job I’m offering pays well. Way better than your current job, I must add.”

“What are you getting at?”

“You’ll have to quit working at Focus.”

“Wait, you want me to leave my publicity job to come work for you and Axel? To do what, exactly?”

Lucas blinks. “I thought you might’ve already guessed,” he says.

“I think I’m thinking in the right ballpark, but please enlighten me.”

The pieces of the jigsaw are starting to line up in my mind…

“You gave that presentation to the band, and you looked through the figures and the focus groups, so you know more than anyone how important it is that we change the public perception of Axel, right? We both know it boils down to one thing. One immediate thing he can do to salvage this train crash. He needs a relationship. Right now. With someone that the press and his fans don’t find too threatening or fake. Axel needs a steady girl.”

Oh. Just as I suspected.

This can’t be serious, surely?

This is pure freaking insanity, dreamed of by a band that doesn’t live in the real world.

“You’re not suggesting what I think you’re suggesting…”

“I am,” Lucas replies. “What do you think?”

“What do I think? Did you just call me not threatening?”

Lucas shakes his head. “Are you in or out, Maddie? It would be a shame if you don’t commit, because I think you could be the best candidate for this.”

I take in a long, deep breath, trying to wrap my mind around all this. “Let me get this straight… So, what you’re attempting to ask me is for me to enter some kind of fake relationship with Axel? Purely on the basis of making him appear less of a playboy so that you can sell Ravaged’s next album?”

Lucas nods. “Yes. Obviously, being a publicist, you should understand what I’m asking of you.”

“I’m technically an assistant.”

Lucas sighs. “Right. An assistant. Even better to have a low-status job. People can get behind someone working hard for no recognition. They’ll connect to you. So, do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Of course I understand,” I say, trying my best to ignore that he’s already finding a way to positively spin my job title. “It’s just that I might need a minute here. You’re asking me to pretend to date – in a totally fake way - one of the most famous bachelors on the planet?”

“Yes.”

“Right. Wow. For how long?”

Lucas waves at the air in front of him. “Only until Staying At Her Place comes out, and then we’ll manufacture some kind of… amicable split. Make you all break apart in a way that reflects well for you.”

“Okay,” I sigh. “That’s a lot to take in.”

“Look,” Lucas says quietly. “I know it’s crazy…”

“You got that right.”