Fake Dating

1 - An opportunity

„Have you lost your mind?!" Marinette Dupain-Cheng exclaimed, staring at her manager in horror. "No way!"

"But why?" a petite brunette acted as being surprised. "That's a perfect opportunity for you."

"It's out of question!"

"Have I ever let you down? Have I ever made a wrong decision? Have I ever...?"

"Stop that, Tikki!" Marinette interrupted. "We both know that you've never let me down. But this... That thing you suggest..." She couldn't even say it aloud.

"What?"

"It's crazy! I can't believe you agreed to that!" The girl cried and shook her head.

"Technically, I haven't agreed to anything yet. But I don't understand why you're against this." Tikki wrung her hands theatrically. "Haven't you seen his pictures? He's really hot!"

"So, maybe you should date him!"

"It's not me who wants to sell albums." The manager replied. "It's not me who's on stage. It's not me who wants to sing for fans..."

"You're punching below the belt..."

"I'm too old for him." Tikki added. "Nobody will believe he's dating a woman at mid-thirties."

"So what?" Marinette shrugged and approached to the window. "It's his problem, not mine..." she whispered looking outside.

"Come on, Marinette... They came to us first. Such an opportunity doesn't happen too often. Besides, let me remind you what I told you a few years ago, when you started your career. Show-business is a cruel world. You can have a talent but never sell a single album. You need to be recognisable. The press must write about you, because that's how it works."

"But I don't want to have a career that way!" Marinette protested.

"What way?" Tikki narrowed her big blue eyes and suddenly became ominous.

"Selling albums by new scandals."

"I'm the last person who would ask you for taking part in anything scandalous! I ask you for one date with a famous guy, who has never shown in public with a girlfriend. You see? Nothing scandalous! No risk that you steal him from anyone... And there are some advantages for his as well. So, a classic win-win situation."

"I don't like it, Tikki..."

"I've said it a thousand times, so I'll repeat for the thousand first time. A talent is not enough, darling. Sometimes you need some luck. Sometimes you have to make your own luck. Just one date, that's all I'm asking for... Well... Maybe a few dates. Before we go on tour. We need people on your concert. Do you want to sing for an empty room?"

"Okay! Fine!" Marinette gave up.

Tikki knew that an empty room was Marinette's biggest fear. The singer loved her fans, especially when she could share her emotions with them - she always expressed in music. An empty room meant that there was no one to share those emotions with.

"Sometimes I think there's no way to stop you when you're determined..." Marinette muttered under her breath.

Somewhere, at the bottom of her heart she felt an anxiety as if she'd just made the worst decision in her life.