Page 4 of Fake It For Love (Faux Love)
2
RYAN
This was so weird. I couldn’t believe I was sitting in an escort agency. The jokes would be endless if anyone knew. Ryan Jones couldn’t get a date and had to pay a woman to go out with him. It was just a little embarrassing. But it was also so much better than dealing with the actual dating process. No one would know my date was hired.
“Mr. Jones?”
I looked up to see a beautiful, older woman walking my way. More like sashaying my way.
“Yes.” I got to my feet.
“My name is Della Fontenot,” she said. “Please come on back.”
I followed behind her and tried not to look. She was wearing a tight, short, leopard-print skirt. It was a bold choice. She ushered me into her office and gestured for me to have a seat. “It’s nice to meet you in person,” she said.
“You too,” I said nervously. Despite my success and subsequent wealth, I was still the same awkward guy from a long time ago.
“Don’t be nervous,” she said. “This is a very normal thing to do. We provide a service. I can assure you we are all very discreet. Nothing is revealed unless you want it to be revealed.”
“What about the women?” I asked.
“What about them?”
“Are they—” I paused to try and think of a tactful way to put my question. “Are they, uh, popular?”
“Popular?” she questioned.
“Do they do a lot of these dates?” I asked. “Is there a good chance someone I run into will know the woman?”
Her face lit up. “In this particular situation, your date is a new recruit. You are going to be her first client.”
That was a relief. “Good. There is something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“What is it?” she asked.
“My plans have changed,” I said. “Will this woman be available for more than just one date?”
She smiled. “How many dates did you have in mind?”
“Not necessarily dates,” I said. “I need someone who can play my girlfriend for a couple weeks. Three weeks tops.”
“I see,” she said with a smile.
“I’m sure that will cost a lot,” I said. “I’m okay with that. Is that unheard of? I read online that you have provided a variety of services including some long-term arrangements. I don’t know if three weeks is a long time by your standards, but if it’s possible, I would like to arrange for that. I wouldn’t need the woman twenty-four-seven or anything like that. Just a few engagements and maybe some public sightings.”
“Relax,” she said. “Your request is not unheard of. Oddly enough, it seems to be becoming more common these days.”
“So, is it possible?”
“I will talk with your escort,” she said. “She will have the ultimate decision.”
I nodded. “Okay, thank you.”
“Would you like to see the woman who has agreed to be your date?” she asked.
I waved a hand. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care what she looks like. My main goal is to have someone I can get along with. I’m not great at faking it. People have told me I’m very transparent. When I’m pissed, it shows. If I don’t like someone, it shows. I’ve worked really hard on that and I think I’ve gotten better, but it’s too much of a risk in this particular situation. I need someone I can at least appear to like. We don’t need to be best friends. Tolerate, I guess is the word. I need to be able to tolerate this person.”
“As you know, you filled out a questionnaire at the beginning of this process,” she said. “You answered questions about yourself and what you did and didn’t like.”
