(Arata)
Miranda stepped closer and placed her hands on my shoulders before gently squeezing.
"Oh! Dear, you will see and understand. Are you comfortable with his offer?"
I nodded my head.
"Let's get your training started. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I want you to succeed." Seemed like they had tried this before but failed.
I wondered what his criteria were.
We settled down and Miranda began briefing me about the company, my duties and my new bossy boss.
The rest of the day passed in learning about my new responsibilities, getting acquainted with new faces and signing the secret contract where he had listed every detail of what he wished for me to carry out. It was a tad exhilarating but I was determined to make this work.
Luckily, I didn't have to meet Karsten until it was time to leave. Super tired I turned off my laptop and stood up. Stretching my arms I picked up my bag and file, ready to leave.
Shutting my office door I headed to Mr Karsten's office and pressed the blue rose. With his permission, I entered.
He was still hunched over some paperwork with his brows scrunched together in concentration. I cleared my throat to grab his attention and his pitch-black peepers lifted to meet mine.
Blank, his face was blank, an unpainted canvas. The man was a robot.
I asked. "Sir! I am leaving for the day. Do you need anything before I go?"
"No, be on time tomorrow and make my coffee when you arrive." With one final look at me, he returned to his work, ignoring my presence.
Sighing I said.
"Good evening, Sir!"
"Evening!" His unenthusiastic reply came. Would it kill him to properly meet and greet someone?
Shaking my head I left his office and headed to Miranda's office. She was on the phone so I waited for her to end the phone call and divert her attention towards me.
With a pleasant smile, she asked. "Heading home?"
"Yes." I adjusted the strap of my bag.
"Do you have a mode of transport? The company would like to offer you a car if you don't." The wheels of my mind turned, she couldn't make such a decision on her own. It had to be Karsten.
"I have already pre-booked my car, it will be here in a day or two. I am not sure what I will do with two cars," I politely refused. Her genuine smile didn't falter.
"Oh! In that case, I will inform." She didn't emphasise whom and I didn't press. I already knew.
"Good evening, Miranda, I will see you tomorrow."
"Good evening, Arata," she pleasantly replied.
See that's how normal people greeted each other.
I hailed a cab from downstairs and headed home. Stella was waiting for me with a home-cooked meal.
Entering the apartment, I was greeted by the mouth-watering aroma of risotto. Stella made some mean risotto and I loved her cooking.
"I am home," I announced, dropping everything on the sofa and slumping on it, my back screaming. Taking off the fake glasses, I threw them on the table; they were a pain to wear.
Stella emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron and spatula in her right hand while her left rested on her waist. She had changed into jeans and a low-cut crop top. It meant she was going to FaceTime her boyfriend later.
She announced with a wink.
"Welcome back! Are you ready to take your mouth to heaven?"
"I am," I said, taking a deep whiff of the swirling smell erupting from the open kitchen.
"Freshen up then and spill everything that happened." I nodded and tiredly left the comfort of the sofa to head inside.
I stared in the mirror. The black hair felt so unreal to me, I didn't like this colour on myself but it did make me look more like Baba. Slowly I took off the wig and hung it inside the cupboard.
Taking a hot bath I put on my comfy woollen pajamas with tiny rainbows printed.
I blow-dried my strawberry hair before heading out. Stella had arranged the table for the two of us. Red wine had been poured into flutes. Picking one up I swirled the Pinot noir and took a small sip, letting my throat be coated in its textures and my senses to be relaxed.
"Sit. Eat. Spill," she instructed filling my plate with the creamy goodness she had created.
I slouched myself near her, accepted the plate and began from the start.
Stella listened with her eyes widening at times and sometimes narrowing. Her mouth would open like a fish out of water, and then her lips would flatten while her head would shake. Stella wore all of her emotions on her face.
"Oh! My, Ara do you think you are ready for this?" She was flabbergasted at the girlfriend situation.
I placed another biteful into my mouth and answered.
"I have to forget Andy and this is the best option. He chose me regardless of who I was and what I looked like. He may not be boyfriend material, nor am I looking for a relationship so soon, but this will be a perfect distraction for me. I don't wish to spiral into depression."
Stella scratched her chin, still seeming thoughtful.
"I don't want you to get hurt, Arata. That sewer rat already did you dirty."
I laughed at the words she had used for Andy.
"That's exactly what won't happen. I only have to pretend to be his girlfriend. There aren't going to be any feelings involved or physical interaction. I got this. I can casually sleep with whomever I want."
"Yes, you need to do that. One night stand, that's what you need. Remember that guy I showed you last night?" she asked, snatching her glass from the table.
"Mhm!"
"He does a lucky draw sometimes from amongst his female fans. One lucky winner gets to meet him. I am sure if he likes them, they have sex too. You should sign up whenever he does, maybe this time it will be your number." She winked over the rim of her glass.
A thrill went through me. My parents would be horrified if they knew I entertained such an idea. But never having experienced something like that made it seem more thrilling and I decided to do it.
As if my parents could somehow feel what I was planning, my phone began to ring. Grabbing it from the bag I saw it was Baba trying to FaceTime me.
The updates will be a bit slow because I am shifting from one country to another so my schedule is very tough and hectic these days. I apologise in advance and hopefully, updates will be back to normal by March. Thanku for understanding, I love you guys.