He stood up abruptly, pulling her up with him thanks to the handcuffs, and pinned her against the wall. His grip on her wrist tightened.
Ni-ki leaned in closer, his voice a cold whisper. "You're playing with fire, angel. Don't think for a second tha...
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IT WAS LATE, AND EVERYONE WAS TIRED. Rhaine leaned against the wall in the staff room, watching as the last of the customers filtered out of the restaurant. The chaos of the day still lingered in the air, but the crowd had finally quieted down.
Ni-ki stood nearby, arms crossed. "So, do I get a thank you or what?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he watched her.
"Thanks for showing up, I guess. But I don't see how any of this was supposed to help with your publicity. It felt superficial and you obviously don't belong in a kitchen," she replied, not wanting to give him too much satisfaction.
Ni-ki smirked, clearly unfazed. "Well, the paparazzi seemed to love it, so I'd say it worked out. I didn't see you complaining when I was basically running the kitchen," he teased.
Rhaine scoffed. "You just wanted to show off. It wasn't about helping."
"Maybe. But you can't deny I did a good job," he shot back, leaning closer, his tone teasing but with an edge of seriousness.
Just then, Mr. Jin peeked into the staff room, a satisfied smile on his face. "You two did great today! The buzz around the restaurant is incredible." He stepped inside, clapping his hands together. "And you both worked really well together. I won't have to watch over you so cautiously anymore."
Rhaine exchanged a glance with Ni-ki, unsure how to respond. As she stood there, she reflected on the amusement park hangout. For a brief moment, she thought their relationship might have slightly changed... but it was the same old bickering.
Mr. Jin continued, excitement evident in his voice. "Now that you've shown you can handle things together, I think it's time you start incorporating each other into your daily lives more. It'll make everything perfect!"
Rhaine raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Incorporate each other? You mean, like hanging out outside of work?"
"Exactly!" Mr. Jin replied, beaming. "The more you get to know each other, the easier it'll be to keep up the charade. Think of it as practice."
Ni-ki shrugged, still leaning against the counter. "I guess I could tolerate hanging out with her if I have to."
"How generous of you."
Mr. Jin laughed, clearly enjoying their banter. "You two will figure it out. Small steps, right?"
Ni-ki leaned in slightly. "So, what's the first step? A coffee date?"
Rhaine shook her head. "You wish."
"I think that's a great idea, Mr. Nishimura," Mr. Jin prompted. As Mr. Jin clapped them on the shoulders before leaving, Rhaine felt a strange mix of anticipation and dread.
After a few moments, Ni-ki pushed himself off the counter and straightened up. "Ima head home too."
"Are you leaving already?" Rhaine asked, her surprise evident. "You're not going to linger to taunt me like usual?"
"Yeah, I've got stuff to do. Like not be in a middle-class kitchen," he replied, waving it off as he turned to leave. "Don't want to overstay my welcome all the time, right?"
"Right." She had been getting used to his presence, even if it often came with annoyance.
"See you later, angel," he called over his shoulder as he stepped out of the staff room.
Rhaine stepped out of the staff room to find Garam standing there, hands on her hips. "It's all just an act?" she exclaimed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Rhaine quickly pressed her hand over Garam's mouth, glancing around to ensure no customer was eavesdropping. She tugged her best friend into the staff room, lowering her voice. She then pulls her inside the staff room.
Rhaine leaned against the wall, her heart racing as she looked at Garam. "Okay, listen. I can explain the whole thing, but you have to promise not to tell anyone."
Garam crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "Alright, but you're going to have to fill me in. What's this deal with that old man... and Nishimura Riki? I thought you hated the guy? Girl, you went viral on Twitter for flaming him once!"
"I know this is crazy, but you have to listen to me."
"Listening," Garam hurried.
Rhaine took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the secret on her shoulders. "So, the old man is Mr. Jin, his main publicist. He wants us to act like a couple to improve Ni-ki's public image. He thinks it'll help him with his future as the CEO of Nishimura Corporations. He said that if I do this, he'll land me a spot in McGill and pay for everything. I just need to keep up the act until before the next school year. It's not supposed to be real."
Garam's eyes widened. "And you're okay with that? Pretending to be in a relationship with him? That guy is a playboy and ass! What if feelings get involved?"
"It's not like that! I don't like him, and I don't plan to," Rhaine insisted, shaking her head. "This is purely business for me. If I keep things on track, I get the scholarship, and then I'm free."
"But what if it doesn't work out? What if people find out?" Garam pressed. "And what about the paparazzi? They're already all over you two!"
"That's why I need you to keep quiet. If anyone finds out it's fake, it'll ruin everything for both of us. I can't risk that, especially not with McGill on the line."
Garam studied her for a moment before finally relenting. "Fine, I won't say anything. But you have to promise me you'll be careful. I don't want to see you get hurt in all this."
Rhaine nodded. "I promise, girl. I'll handle it."
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
Rhaine trudged into her bedroom, fatigue weighing heavily on her shoulders. The events of the day swirled in her mind, leaving her drained. She flopped onto her bed, burying her face in her pillow for a moment of solace.
As she turned to her side, her phone buzzed insistently beside her. Curious, she picked it up and blinked in surprise at the numerous notifications. Rhaine opened her social media app, and her eyes widened at the barrage of headlines flooding her feed.
"Nishimura Riki Spotted Helping Girlfriend's Family Restaurant!"
"The Mystery Couple: Nishimura Riki and His New Love Interest!"
"Nishimura Riki's Relationship: From Rivals to Lovers?"
Each headline seemed to scream at her. Some people praised Ni-ki for stepping up and helping a "sweet couple in love," while others speculated about their past, referring to their previous animosity.
Just then, her phone buzzed again, pulling her from her thoughts. Rhaine glanced at the screen, and her eyebrows shot up. @niki_kikiki had followed her on Instagram.
Curiosity piqued, she clicked on his profile. As she scrolled through his posts, she noticed something that made her eyes widen—she was the only person he followed now.
She couldn't help but chuckle to herself, "He really likes going on headlines, huh?" She knew that he knew that netizens would talk about this.
She stared at the screen for a moment, contemplating her next move. After a brief hesitation, she decided to follow him back. With a quick tap, she confirmed the action, feeling a mix of reluctance and curiosity.
"Now I'm part of his little fan club," she rolled her eyes. But a part of her was intrigued. Would he actually post something about their supposed relationship?
