The Fake Girlfriend

Epilogue

Wow... Before I start, I cannot believe I am here. So many years later, finishing up this story the way fifteen-year-old me imagined it. I hope I make you readers proud. Thank you for loving Nick and Rayne's story. Finally- some closure.

My hands shook slightly as Nick and I walked down the long marbled hallway. This whole building was still just as intimidating as it had been when I first arrived a year and a half ago. The only difference is I had a man who cared for me, recognized the nervousness in my steps and placed a reassuring hand on the small of my back.

I had been a different person when I arrived in Scarlett's office for the first time. Broke in more ways than money and completely confused about what was being propositioned to me. All I knew is I loved fashion, I loved writing, and I loved my strange roommate and our Vampire Diaries marathons.

I didn't know what it was like to loved like this. Loved despite my flaws, mistakes, and self-destructive tendencies. 

"Nick, Rayne," Scarlett purred, pushing a pair of feminine glasses down her nose in surprise at us as we entered her Chanel-scented office. "to what do I owe this pleasure?"

We sat down in the velvet chairs in front of her desk. I was- deep down- completely scared of Scarlett and what she could do to me, that I remained completely rigid. I let Nick do the talking. 

"We want to end the contract," he said. He said it with so much professional demand that I thought Scarlett would completely eat him alive. 

I shifted uncomfortably.

She raised a perfectly constructed eyebrow. "And why is that?"

Nick glanced at me and smiled. "We want to pursue a real relationship. One that isn't bound contracts and lawyers- but promises. We want a fresh start."

Scarlett drug her eyes to me and asked, "What about you, Rayne? What do you think?"

I breathed. "I love Nick," I explained, more confident than I ever had been. "I want to be with him without any contractual obligations- even if it means me getting some legal backlash... I don't care. I can handle it. I don't want to receive anymore payments for being with him."

Scarlett stared at us, almost as if she was waiting for us to announce that this was a prank. I bristled nervously under her gaze, but Nick remained calm, cool and confident. 

A few beats passed between us.

Then, she did something completely confusing and so un-Scarlett-like. 

She smiled. 

A genuine, authentic, red-lipped smile. 

What the hell?

Her hands came together and slowly started clapping.

"I'm confused," I announced. 

She chuckled. "This was my plan all along... I'll be honest," she pursed her lips. "at times I didn't think it would work."

Nick frowned. "What plan?"

She placed her chin in her palm and rested her eyes on Nick. "You were lonely, Nick," she said. "you were hung up on Anna and it was effecting everyone in the family. I had to find a way to get your mind on her. I had been looking through models and actresses for months trying to find someone who I genuinely thought you would be interested in."

She waved her hand at us and continued, "You see, I never once wanted Rayne to be acting. If I wanted someone good at being in a fake relationship, I would have hired an actress. No offense, Rayne."

I grimaced. "None taken."

"So, when I ran into Rayne at the grocery store, something stuck with me about her. I thought she would be absolutely perfect for you," Scarlett explained. "I knew it would be a bit harder to get you on board with the idea, but I knew once you met her... " She shook her head and smiled. "The goal the whole time was for an authentic relationship to blossom. You both just needed a bit of encouragement."

My jaw dropped.

Nick scoffed. "So you played matchmaker with me?"

She nodded. "I'm your publicist, honey, we take care of everything."

My mind was spinning... This whole time Nick and I were just playing right into the hands of Scarlett... She could have broke us off when we actually broke up, but she encouraged more appearances, more time together, more interaction that forced me to regret my decision every day because I continued to fall in love with him. "This is crazy," I said out loud, voicing my spinning thoughts. I let out a laugh. This was absolutely insane.

"So," she continued on, putting her professional voice back into its place. "to answer your question, I will break the contract with no legal repercussions."

I sighed. 

"If-" she glanced at me. "you decide to get married you sign a prenup for the love of God."

I laughed. "Deal."

Nick was still confused and shaking his head in complete disbelief, but he agreed anyways, "Deal."

Scarlett held up her finger. "Can I get that in writing from both of you?"

THE. END.