HEART FOR HIRE ✓

Fourteen

"We have a problem," is the first thing I hear when I answer Zion's call.

It's early in the morning, 7am to be exact when my phone starts vibrating. I first hesitate to pick the call because it's Zion calling and considering the heart-to-heart talk I had with Jeanette last night, I didn't think I would be talking to him soon.

But here we are.

"What's the problem?"

"My mother heard about my visit to the company yesterday," his voice sounds panicked. "That's not all. Whoever told her about that also told her about you."

"So?"

"What do you mean by 'so'? She wants to meet you. She thinks that you are my girlfriend."

"Holy crap!" I jump out of bed horrified. "Please tell me it's April fool's day."

"I wish."

"What do we do? You clearly don't want me to meet her."

"I can't do anything. If I can't bring you to see her, she will look for you herself and believe me, she won't be happy."

"But I'm not your girlfriend," I remind him. I'm tempted to tell him that I know I'm not his type.

"Exactly why I need your help." I stay silent. It's these small favours that are completely adding up and making my head rotate. I don't want to do it, I'm gonna say no. He can go and torment another unaware victim. "Please. I will pay, don't worry."

At the mention of money, my knees begin to weaken. I thought it would be easy to say no but how can I do that when he holds the worldly treasure I'm looking for?

"Alright, I'll do it but this is the last favour I'm doing for you. Of course other than my job you pay me for." Zion thanks me profusely from the other side. "So, what do I do?"

"You will meet up with her." My heart begins to race. Do I have to? "You have to do one thing, make her dislike you."

"Why?"

"If she dislikes you, she won't ask me about you anymore and she won't disturb you in the future. Both of us win."

I'm not hard to dislike, this the assignment should be easy. All I have to say is my job, my level of education, my parents' jobs and any rich woman will be running for the hills.
Besides, I'm getting paid for it. Just be me and get paid for it.

"Alright, I'll do it. When do I meet her?"

"Can you have lunch with her? The earlier we get this over with, the better."

If it means adding another sum of dollars to my account, why not?
"I will be there. Send the address."

"That's why I like you. I owe you my life."

He probably didn't think through his last statement before he said it. Otherwise, he wouldn't say that he liked me if he was in his right mind.
Maybe he was saying it as a boss would tell an employee, a reliable employee who is always there whenever the boss calls.

Yeah, that's probably it.

*******

"I'm freaking out," I slam the my wardrobe's door closed. "Why did I agree to this again?"

"Because you are money hungry," Jeanette reminds me. She slept at my apartment after our heart-to-heart talk and right now, she is having the worst time of her life hearing me complaining nonstop.

"Don't rub it in," I glare at her. "I'm no golddigger. I'm a hard-working woman looking to start up a business of her own. So, whatever you call me, don't forget to bow down to me when I'm a rich female boss."

"You read too many novels," she laughs. "You badly wanted to meet mystery man's mother and you have the opportunity now. Why are you whining?"

"Because I didn't think it would actually happen. Can you imagine meeting Mrs. Thompson?"

"Be careful what you wish for my friend," Jeanette disappears to the bathroom, "because wishes do come true after all."

"Jeannn! Now is not the time to be a smartass."

"It's pretty easy, rich women aren't so hard to mess with. Just say some messed up shit, comment when it's not necessary, don't eat like the classy type. She will run for the hills, believe me," Jeanette spits her toothpaste. "Also, you aren't hard to dislike."

"Hey!"

"Also, remember that you promised to treat Alex and I to crispy chicken and it's Friday. Don't you dare forget that."

"Alex doesn't need me to buy him chicken, he is earning half a thousand dollars per video for crying out loud!" I whine

"Yeah, about that. That boy will receive an earful from me, he doesn't know that I notice he has been slacking off."

My eyes widen. "You noticed that too?"

"Of course, I see everything. You shouldn't feel like I'm unapproachable and you should be able to tell me anything. I'm sorry I made you feel like I'm your superior."

"Are you not?" I push her shoulder playfully

"No, I'm your friend. None of the other things matter."

"Stop being so sappy. Now I don't know what to say!"

My phone vibrates with a text from Zion.
[Meeting at Hotel La Grande. Good luck.]
The other details include the reservation name and other stuff.

"Look at you preparing to have lunch at an expensive hotel. I want to be you so badly," Jeanette looks at me, her eyes flashing with an unreadable expression. Envy maybe?

"Do you think I'm weird?" Jeanette raises her eyebrows. "I think I'm more scared of the hotel than the person I'm going to meet at this rate."

"Why?"

"Do you know how terrifying those hotels are? I've not been to any but I've watched movies," I explain as I order an Uber at the same time. "The waiters look intimidating, the waitresses are show-offs, the whole hotel is terrifyingly squeaky clean. I mean, I will literally feel out of place. Oh, have you seen the food they serve? What it gives me stomachache?"

"Mrs. Thompson won't be able to stop herself from disliking you. Don't worry," she pats my shoulder.

That's the goal, ain't it?

Any fancy hotel experience you wanna share?