Chapter 12 Fake

'Another coveted bachelorette off the market! 'The Conquest of Loraine! I should have known that Danner wouldn't waste any time letting all the tabloids know about our engagement. The headlines vary but are definitely spicy. One assumes Danner has won my heart after chasing me for four years, others claim I'm pregnant, some buzz that I fear for my position in his life and demanded a ring. They are all so far off. If they only knew how Danner kicked me into this engagement that will never end in marriage, they'd edit their stories completely differently. My phone is red hot, acquaintances and relations want to congratulate me personally or have their questions answered. Nobody saw this coming, and understandably so. Just a few days ago I left a ball with two men, after staring lustily at another woman s husband. And then only yesterday I was right on the TV screen in the living room of half the world, flirting with a staffer about which there is already much speculation in social circles. And then, boom, a totally unexpected engagement today. After a wild night, Danner left my house this morning, insisting that from today on he just come to my house whenever he likes. The right of a betrothed, he claimed. Ooohh gosh, I really need to get used to that, I'm wondering what I'm getting myself into now. Obviously, he is stepping up his control on me, he wants to assert his exclusive rights. Do I really need that now? In order not to cause drama, I did not complain, I firmly believe that time often brings solutions, where verbal communication would have caused quarrels. So, I let Danner enjoy his success, he is now the master of the game. This afternoon he's picking me up from work to buy the engagement ring and then we go for an interview with a prominent TV station. Also, something that I would have liked to postpone, but can't avoid. I'm in my office now, and when I take my phone off the charger, it just rings. Alyssa, the bitch! I can't stay untraceable forever, so I'm starting by overcoming this hurdle. "Alyssa", I greet her. I hear a snort on the other end of the line. "Loraine", she greets in the same tone. "You did it again today. Why don't I have the scoop?", she asks faking sadness. "That s just because this PR is not from me, but from the other side", I respond casually. "Just to remind you that this engagement does not cancel our plans, Loraine, it was a lady's agreement, you still have to stick to it". This freaking bully, what else did I expect from her. "Circumstances have changed, I don't know if my fiancé will allow this. We just got engaged," I throw in. But of course, she has an answer ready. "Come on, Loraine, Danner has been around you since you came of age. And besides all that, you're not in love with him, he may be head over heels with you, but you don't reciprocate his feelings. Remember, you've been following for years." As if to remind me of that, this devious suck fly. If she didn't have a special assignment from her Editor in Chief to follow every step of celebrities in my industry, I would have let her 'accidentally trip over my leg long ago. I sometimes wonder if she gets a solid lay regularly, she's always after my ass. "Whatever you think, Danner is now officially my fiancé and I'm supposed to take his feelings into account. I don't want to risk running out of a husband while Mr. Fellogan just gets on with his married wife after the date. I'll have to agree with Danner first," I tell her. She grins briefly, but tauntingly. "Listen, make it up to me. Give me an exclusive interview without my colleagues of other media outlets around. You and Danner together", she fishes. That can be organized, I think. "We're at the television station this afternoon. If you're there too, once we're done, we can answer your questions in private. Are you coming with a recorder or cameraman?", I ask. "This interview will be broadcasted by radio, we'll leave footage for the date night," she laughs ambiguously. Trouble in sight, I'm so sure she'll exploit the engagement and date with Dordrich and turn it into something juicy. I end the conversation just when some workers cheerfully enter my room. "Loraine, we all want to congratulate you on your engagement. Danner is definitely a perfect match, you are equals," the administrator spoke for the rest. "Hmmm, thank you", I reply lukewarm. Out of the corner of my eye I see Kaylah hanging on the door frame, looking at me skeptical with a pen stuck in her mouth. She doesn't trust that whole engagement but hasn't find time to discuss it with me yet. So, she seizes her chance when the workers leave. "Loraine, I'm really not going to congratulate you on your fake ass engagement. Danner must have tricked you into this nonsense. You see nothing in him but a good friend, I haven't even seen you cast a crushing look at him lately, you know, with those real dreamlike eyes. He's just a nice seesaw for you." And she's right too! Perky she walks out of my office, as if she's made a wonderful discovery. Just as she's out, Damian strolls in. "The staff wanted to organize a surprise party for you to celebrate your engagement, but I advised them to stay calm in the backseat and watch this soap play out," he says bored. "You really don't believe I'm falling for it, do you? This engagement is such a blind alley. That Danner isn't exactly as intelligent as I first thought." As much as I want to reprimand him, I know Damian is a smart ass and not easily fooled. Thanks to him we have been able to do some good business, from which he has earned a large commission. His intelligence and hard work have enabled him to move his family from the ghetto to a prestigious residential area. He's actually one of the few in this office who can tell me the truth straight out of the box. His words just make me giggle, I just can't hold it down. "Damian, don't insult my fiancée. He's happy and that's the most important thing. We'll solve the problems when they arise."