Billionaire's Fake Girlfriend

"How am I supposed to pay for all this before the month is out?" There she is, Charlotte, a freelance photographer in Seattle, staring at her unpaid bills with a deep frown on her face. She grabs her laptop and begins to search for online job contracts.

She sighed heavily as there wasn't any progress. "Perhaps I would have to do it the good old-fashioned way, look for a bar or coffee shop that needs help, at least that would cover the rent and utility bills," she thought.

Charlotte got up motivated and took a bath. Then she dressed up hastily in black track pants and a singlet to match the weather that morning, then proceeded to go job hunting. At least she knows where to start, as she has certain connections to cafeteria managers.

Upon her arrival at a certain cafeteria, she orders a coffee while waiting for her friend Matt to arrive as he was the manager of that cafeteria.

"What's wrong?" Charlotte asked the barista, as she handed Charlotte her debit card without a printout,

"Your card declined." He replied" " How is that possible? It must have been the wrong card. Fudge!"

She exclaims slightly, and she places her fingers on her forehead. "And I didn't bring cash. What was I thinking? Is it okay if I wait for Matt? he my friend?"

"Sure" she said. The barista responds to her as she continues to sort out pending orders from customers.

A few seconds later, a solid, firm but calm voice came from behind.

"Seems like you need that coffee now." She turned swiftly to look at the face of such an alluring voice and there he was in all his glory, the CEO of NORTH Enterprise, Eric Northman himself, standing just behind her.

She stands for a moment and admires him as she recognizes him immediately.

"I know you." She says as she lifts a brow in at him and smiles "Everyone knows me" He says with a cocky tone as he signals the barista for his regular order,

"Hi I'm Charlotte. I'm a freelance photographer and a fan of your tech.

" She says excitedly, as she stretches her hands out for a handshake, she has a sense of nervousness coming over her like he would just ignore her, but then he takes off his glasses and shakes her hand.

"Photographer huh, why not the model?", This time he spoke in a flirty tone.

" what? Me? Model I don't think so. She said as she shied away from the topic." "If you ask me, you're as good as any."

He said confidently, as his eyes were fixed on hers, Eric: But that's a story for another day. There is your coffee. Enjoy.

He hands the hot cup of coffee to her after handing the barista a hundred-dollar note without taking his change.

The barista smiles excitedly as she thanks him for his generosity.

As he walked away, she could still smell the strength of his perfume, and she continuously watched as he stepped out the front door in his workout clothes and into his. Lost in thought, the barista calls her out three times.

"Hello, hello" she called out to Charlotte. Charlotte: oh hi "Matt is in now. He will see you. Oh and, by the way, thanks for making him drop such a huge tip".

"Oh, thanks, happy to help." She walks into Matt's office with thoughts of meeting an actual famous CEO in such an informal way.

Then she thinks to herself "The world really is a small place".

The next day at North Enterprises, tension arises between Eric and his PR manager Dan in a heated argument.

" What do you mean?" He says as he spoke to his PR manager in a harsh tone, "Well, this could go well if you look at the bigger picture."

Apparently, Eric is facing the tabloids about his sexual orientation.

"It's been 6 months. The question has always been

"How can a successful CEO not have a relationship status or is there something we should know?"

Every single tabloid asks nothing but this." The manager tries to convince him that it was an actual problem.

"Maybe people should get a job and mind their own business."

He responds in a vexed tone, sitting back in his chair,

"Maybe that could have been until this was published yesterday at 6 pm by the Daily Times."

"What the hell is this?" He demands angrily as he picks up the article, "It was bad enough that they accused you of having a dating problem.

Now they are getting outrageous ideas." "The CEO of North Enterprises is allegedly homosexual" "Could this be why he hasn't been seen with a woman in months? "What is the billionaire Eric Northman hiding from the public? These are the headlines in the most recent tabloids about him. Honestly, no one saw this coming.

"Tell me the journalist wrote this crap and he or she will be out of a job before I have my lunch."

He asks, fisting his hands into a ball like he is about to hit someone,

" It's a load of crap, but everyone is entitled to an opinion.

I could give you the journalist's name, and then what? You go all Northman mode and block list the person before the day is out".

" That's a nice way to put it, more like the person would regret the day he or she ever put my name in their filthy mouths!"

He replied with his deep tone and his fist still clenched. "I could let you do that after all you're the boss, but if you let me, part of my job is damage control, so all I ask is that you let me do my job."

Dan asked him as he pushed himself closer to him, "Why do I have a feeling that letting you do your job means something I would not like?

He replies with skepticism written all over Eric's face, but Dan still proceeds, "How about shutting them up, huh, once and for all with just a single act?

Eric looked up at him in curiosity and asked , crossing his legs over, "how? "

Dan replies to his question with a soft smile on his face as he continues, "Get a girlfriend.

" He looks at him in annoyance at his suggestion. "A girlfriend? Is that really a solution or are you just doing matchmaking?" "Trust me, it will work".

Eric pulled up his chair ready to listen to his pitch.

"As you already know, most relationships between celebrities are sometimes arranged for a PR stunt like that of Mc Sheen and Dorothy Freeway just to promote the movie they acted in together. Now I'm not telling you to have an actual girlfriend. You can find someone to play the role for the tabloids. Also, it doesn't have to be long term. All they need is a show-off and that would put to rest these headlines and there is no better place than the annual luncheon this weekend.

As Dan narrates his plans to Eric, he exhales in hopes that he has convinced him of the idea.

"That could work, but the question is how does this happen? I don't have a hot secretary to play a girlfriend's role".

Eric replies humorously as he picks up a document and sorts through it, waiting for his reply.

"Just get a girl (he sighs) and for a man of your caliber, you can get one before lunchtime." Eric stands up and straightens his suit, then clears his throat in response,

"Okay, I buy into your idea, make the preparations and get back to me today. I'm going for coffee."

He said, walking away from the office with his phone and wallet, " I still don't know why you insist on getting your coffee from the cafeteria 600 blocks away from here."

Dan avoided eye contact, pretending to be busy on his phone. Eric ignores him, walking away from his office.

As he drove down to the coffee shop, he had numerous thoughts about the strategy.

He never really thought he would ever have to explain himself to the public, especially not about his private life, but then leaving the audience with the question of his sexual orientation.

No way now that it caught his attention, not that he has anything against gay people, more than anything.

He hated being misunderstood and figured out by people who had no business in his life.

He arrived at the coffee shop, everyone had their heads turning with the way he walked, his eloquence, his aura, the sharp look on his face dared walk up to him for questions and images.

Then Charlotte spotted him, she began to tremble as thoughts of him filled her head, and she filled with a naivety she never thought she had. "You work here now?"

He asked, staring into her eyes. Charlotte, confused about what to say, stutters a little.

"Emm good day Mr Northman, emmm well.... Yeah, I do now. Do you remember me?" Her eyes gleam in surprise, and she scratches the back of her hair nervously and pouts her lips.

" The freelance photographer, buying coffee and waiting on his friend Matt. " His reply was swift and precise.

She was impressed with what he remembers, then presses her lips together. "Wow, that's surprising. I used to think celebrities forgot everyone they come in contact with the minute they leave because they are so occupied with stuff. "

"No, we remember, we just don't care." As he spoke, he spoke with a certain audacity that only wealth can bring.

She tilts her head at him and tries to hold down any clumsiness.

"Why are you working here now? Freelancing doesn't pay as much?"

"Nah it does or at least used to, but I used up all my savings on an investment that went south, so that left me broke. It is kind of a long story and also dumb (she laughs lightly)and now I can't seem to get a decent contract, which leaves me with so many unpaid bills that need to be paid before the month, so this is temporary till all those bills can be paid.

Eric sighed as a thought came into his head. He looks at her extensively.

She could be the perfect fit and definitely has good looks.

" So what can I get you? " She asked and she sorted out orders,

"Double shots of espresso, but I think I have something else to order, something more personal."

Charlotte pauses and instantly becomes curious, different thoughts running through her head,

"What could he possibly need from a ordinary girl like me, " she thinks to herself, eager to hear the next words come out of his lips.

"Would you be my girlfriend?"