Attitude Adjustment (Unfinished)

21 Meeting The Interior Designer

Hayden: I have bad news

Hazel: WHAT???

Hayden: She wants to meet an hour early to plan the bachelor party

Hazel: Seriously? At a bar?

Hayden: Yup

Harry and Edwin invited us out tonight to hang out with Edwin's maid of honor, Val.

She's a famous interior designer and Astrid's cousin. (Hayden's ex, who plays the victim, then call you a cunt two seconds later).

But Val is more dangerous.

Astrid might have damaged Hayden's relationship with his parents, but Val can destroy his entire company.

Hazel: You think it's because she doesn't want to meet again separately? Trying to kill two birds with one stone?

Hayden: I'd rather get it over with too

Hazel: Don't let your hatred for each other stop you from giving your best friends the bachelor parties they deserve. You should meet as many times as needed

Hayden: I told her you'll be with me, by the way

Of course, he did. I have to act like his fake girlfriend. If Astrid has brainwashed her that Hayden is an abusive boyfriend, I have to convince her the opposite.

The problem is that Val...intimidates me.

I've Googled her. The woman dominates the world of interior aesthetics. She's designed multi-million dollar mansions for well-known celebrities. Her portfolio is breathtaking and she's only a couple of years older than me.

I've got no degree. I work at Harry's company, because he was kind enough to hire me with zero experience. And not so long ago, I was living in a metal tent on four wheels.

There's only one thing that can save me. One thing to help me impress this powerful woman.

Shopping.

Yay!

I run to the mall and blow my paycheck on a designer-looking bag, gold jewelry and a new outfit. Val dresses chic, so I choose white loose pants with a V-neck bodysuit and of course, I have to get a blowout to tame the curls.

Two hours later, I burst through the front door, out of breath. "Hayden, I'm here! Let's go, we're running late!"

"Finally." Hayden steps out of his bedroom, annoyed, adjusting the sleeve of his black button-down around his forearm. "What the fuck took you so—"

I hold absolutely still as he sweeps a speechless gaze over me.

"You like it?" I chuckle, unable to stand the silence.

"Y-yeah, you look really pretty..." He's hiding something.

"What's wrong?"

"Did you pay for all this?"

"I had to pay?" I gasp. "I just grabbed everything and took off. Was I not supposed to?"

Shaking his head, Hayden opens his wallet and pulls out a couple of hundred dollars.

My jaw drops when he hands it to me. "Here."

"Huh?"

"Next time, tell me and I'll take care of it."

I slap the butterflies off, my pride too deep to accept the gesture. "Why in the world would you need to take care of my needs?"

"You're meeting her because of me, aren't you?" He keeps the money in the air.