RED HOPES

Reverie

“I was just coming to meet you, but had to tail the flock back.” Alanis explained his presence with eyes still focused on the road ahead. We stopped near a lesser dense area with only countable people in sight. “Ummm about the video…” hesitation constricted his throat before speaking

“It will be down in less than two hours.” A man in casual shirt and pants spoke, one of Ashley’s PR team member I guessed.

Relief poured into my lungs as I sighed, while guilt bundled in my stomach as my eyes met Ashley’s. She had to face another backlash because of me, well part of it because of me but I considered this miscalculation as my own fault.

“Didn’t know my son was this skilled.” With her casual words, Ashley made both of us choke upon dry air, and any left semblance drifted into thin air.

“Mom!” Alanis’ eyes glowered at an oblivious Ashley, I’ve heard about her big mouth but experiencing this in person hit different. “I don’t know if you have the hots for eachother, none of my business but it’s good to know the chemistry.” If her earlier comment wasn’t enough this one swiped air beneath my heels. Chemistry? Between us? I hid the laugh making it’s way through my throat. She was hilarious. I side eyed Alanis who was as red as me, a cute sight I must admit. I assumed the feelings were mutual.

We sat around the table with Ashley, Alanis and two representatives George and Georgia. Those two reminded me of cool siblings from Chainsaw Man.

Yet people saw the world in heart shaped glasses, trying to dig drama out of people. “I promise it was sudden.” The words came out feeble and hardly audible through my lips as I explained.

“The best option is confirm the rumours.” Georgia suggested finally looking up from the tablet’s screen. Her cat eyes extremely sharp.

“No, we should look for other ways, people would understand.” I shot back totally opposing the idea.

“I’m sorry but pouncing upon each other in front of hundreds of greedy eyes, leering at your privacy?” Her face turned red as irritation dripped out of every word Georgia spoke. The unreasonable part in me shattered to the point where it was unable to find. “They would never understand”

“They would target you, and given your mother’s upcoming film. You do the math!” unlike Georgia, her brother was soft toned.

“Cruel how they wouldn’t care about those shelter homes running out of space but would love to invade ours.” I smirked at the ridiculous mentality people held.

“That’s how it is, but I think we should turn those rumours into reality.” Ashley spoke sipping her black tea.

“No we-”

“Actually yes.” Alanis’ voice slashed my words in between, approving of Ashley’s idea.

“What?” Noticing the dip of my frown he explained.

“Look, I know our views are poles apart and that kiss was just a by-product of bottled up urges. But these people only feed on tea. It’s a perfect opportunity to benefit from. You’ll be their most searched reporter meaning?”
“Negative publicity.” I filled the gaps with sense finally knocking down me, a win-win situation indeed.

“But I won’t force you into this, it’s up to Reverie’s choice.” Alanis spewed the next words like he wasn’t the one giving us the scheming idea earlier.

“I’m fine unless there’s too much invadence in my privacy.” I rolled my eyes back.

“That won’t be happening. We will have everything planned.” Georgia gave a meek smile.

By continuing the argument which was left on a cliff-hanger, we reached to a conclusion that fake dating was a genius option to keep people busy. Two days ago I was a single woman, working my ass off day and night, being a self dependent journalist totally living her life and now I bagged a billionaire boyfriend, who owns a fucking yacht company, and likes to fry people in the court. Things celebs do!!

Just as discussed with Ashley’s PR team I posted my first ever tweet.

‘Even reporters are allowed to kiss on New Year’s;)'
Completely ridiculous was my mood this whole time. In a span of twenty four hours I was a headline with hordes of paparazzi flocking around my house and office.

Good thing, the PR team handled things for us They were indeed reliable, planning things behind the curtains.

One tweet and the internet exploded again and this time I was satisfied. I denied the rumours while the winking emoticon just added possibilities. Great now everything I do needs to be PR team approved. If I knew such consequences I would’ve pushed Alanis in the freezing water. All of this trouble because of his impulsive behaviour.

People punched likes within minutes, while Alanis too retweeted it. And for the first time in three days I slept, thinking how things would change starting tomorrow. I let things flow like they were, things weren’t even in my control since a specific someone collided with me….

A young delivery guy showed himself with a sweet smile, my eyes hooked upon the pastel pink roses wrapped in an aesthetic bouquet. A small tag hung around which seemed to be a message.

“They remind me of your lips

- Your lifeguard!”

I hardly breathed reading the word ‘lifeguard’ there was no way this jerky was giving me flowers!! Peach coloured roses?? Was he out of his mind??

“And here I thought, he was your enemy!” The girl fanned herself before eyeing the flowers which reeked of prosperity and love. It was the cringiest combination I’ve ever imagined, why would he possibly do something like that? Showing up at my apartment, kissing me without any consent and then this? Flowers? And that not so endearing note?

“Classic Mr. Carter!! They do resemble your lips Rev.” The girl brought the bouquet next to my face comparing the  unbelievable resemblance. “Hmm, rizzing you up, isn’t he?”

“First thing, I hate it and second, don’t hangout with our juniors” I rolled my eyes grabbing the bouquet my hands almost throwing it in the bin where it belong yet they stopped before the tip of the roses touched the bin’s surface.  They ended up on my table unscathed. While Kenna left with a playful smile curving her lips, and my fingers punched furiously on my phone’s screen, making the noise as loud as that of asmr videos I watched on YouTube. There was no guessing who I texted to, it was definitely that bastard.

Me- Thanks for the flowers!! P.s. what the hell was that for???

I patiently waited before my phone dinged with the notification.

Jerky- For the nerve-wrecking slide down in my throat that night

His reply almost made my cheeks go crimson red, quickly throwing me back to the prodigious kiss I gave him back which even shocked me. Not with the kiss but upon whom I implanted it. It was my honey dipped revenge against his invadence earlier.
Me- consider it a free treat of new years eve
Jerky- I’m gratified

And no new messages invaded my phone nor did I send any but my mind was filled with cringe worthy ideas to make him regret his flower show today. My brain worked astonishingly on ‘how to make him taste his own medicine ‘ than work for the first time in a while. A malicious glint flashed in my grey eyes as my lips curved upwards.

They don’t mean anything, I was high he wasn’t sober either, our bodies needed a host to reside in and so we did.