MOBSTER FOR RENT (published by Bookware)

PROLOGUE

Sara Park needs a boyfriend. And she needs to have one PRONTO!

‘That stupid Jeanie!!!’ she thought, as she marched out of the conference room. She will definitely deal with her good-for-nothing bestfriend later.

The moment she sets foot at the work area, everybody paused and stared at her teasingly.

“Miss Park, we heard it!” one of her officemates called out in a sing-song voice. She just gave them a lopsided smile.

“We are looking forward to meeting him!” they added.

Argh!

Sara entered her office and slammed the door shut. She paced back and forth while holding her forehead in frustration. She then looked at the calendar by her desk and groaned. It’s already January.

Ottokae?!! Sara slumped on her swivel chair and stared at nothing in particular. How the freaking hell will she find a boyfriend in a month?!

“OTTOKAE!!!” she half-screamed in annoyance while messing her hair. Jeanie entered her office with her hands on her waist, looking very pleased with herself.

“THANK YOU for ruining my life”, Sara sarcastically said as Jeanie took a seat. At their conference meeting, her mischievous bestfriend announced that Sara will bring her boyfriend at their Annual Company Acquaintance Party which will be held on February.

“What’s eating you?” Jeanie inspected her nails and totally ignored her. It took Sara’s entire willpower not to morph into a giant green monster and swallow her bestfriend whole.

“Have you forgotten? I don’t have a boyfriend!!! Now the entire office is looking forward to meet my non-existent boyfriend!”

“Oh come on. I was obviously just joking back there. But I was surprised that you didn’t deny it”, Jeanie reasoned out and stared at her.

“Well… I… I…”

“You want to show Adrian that someone is interested in you”, Jeanie raised her eyebrows knowingly. Adrian Lee - her heartbreak. Sara became silent as recollection of events last December came crashing to her consciousness. Adrian is their officemate and is the Lead Technical Specialist. She likes him but he only sees her as one of the boys. Sara and Adrian are good friends and would often be mistaken as a couple but Adrian will always vehemently deny it, just as he did during their Christmas Party where he said, “Sara and I are impossible. We’re just drinking buddies!”

“Hire a gigolo”, Jeanie’s voice slashed through her wandering brain.

“WHAT?!”

“I said, hire a gigolo. Or rent an escort. Pay him to act as your boyfriend during the party”, Jeanie gave her a cheeky smile, placed the women’s magazine on her table and pointed at a small ad. Sara stared at it.

Boyfriend for Rent, minimum of one month. With free one-day trial period.

 

Jeanie quickly ran for her life as Sara was about to throw the nearest desk ornament at her.