The Pretend Fiancé

Bella laughed as the waiter smirked.

“I already did, sir.”

Harvey chuckled. “Then you’re good. Carry on.”

Bella burst out in more laughter. She was seeing a different side of him, one that wasn’t so stuffy and controlled. It was refreshing.

With that, he squeezed white cream from the tube and started rubbing it down the length of her arms, along her shoulders and back, around her waist and to her stomach. She shivered under his hands, “I can do that,” she stammered, “thanks.” He seemed to be staring at her legs. She wanted to throw a towel over them, self-conscious that they were so pale.

When the photographers and PR team suddenly surrounded her, she knew it was time for the fake proposal pictures. She wasn’t sure exactly how they were doing it, but obviously, they didn’t tell her so they could get her genuine surprised expression.

“Should Harvey start professing his love for me?” Bella asked.

“No,” said the photographer. “We’re just doing pictures. No video.”

“Well, it’d help me get in the mood.”

Harvey stared into her eyes. “Trust me when I say I can get you in the mood.”

She blushed. “What I meant was…if you need me to act surprised, then we need to act this thing out so I can get into character.”

He flashed his perfect movie star smile, all gleaming white teeth. “Okay, we can do that.”

“So let’s start from the top.”

“Lights, Camera, Action!” one of the photographers said in a teasing manner.

Bella smirked.

“I’ve got something special for you,” he said, and took her hand, helping her to her feet.

She looked at him quizzically, and he dropped to one knee, pulling out a black velvet box.

Bella knew it was fake. Totally staged. Yet still, she gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in astonishment, just as if it were real, a true romantic gesture taking her by surprise. He flipped the box open, revealing a huge square-cut diamond set in a platinum band studded all around with tiny round diamonds. It gleamed and sparkled in the pitiless sunlight, and she gazed at it, transfixed.

Tears welled up in her eyes. “It’s beautiful.”

“Will you pretend marry me?” he asked with a huge smile.

“Why yes! I’d love to have a fake fiancé. I hear it’s all the rage with playboy billionaires who need to get out of trouble.”

He laughed. “See? That’s the kind of spirit and attitude I need from my fake adoring fiancée. Why hire an actress when I have you?”

She couldn’t wipe the smile from her face. The wind blew through her hair as they laughed and joked some more.

“Okay, lovebirds,” the photographer said. “Let’s continue this charade.”

They were just posing, after all, but photos of her reaction, of their embrace would be everywhere. So she nodded her head vigorously and he surged to his feet and kissed her before slipping the massive diamond on her finger. The ring was so heavy, and she laughed and kissed him again.

“Let’s break out the champagne,” Harvey roared as everyone laughed. He grabbed the bottle from the ice bucket and held it up in victory. “Let’s celebrate!”

The cork popped, and Bella was handed a glass. Smiling, Harvey poured champagne for everyone. He was so charming, bigger than life.

“To my beautiful, loving, and enduring fake future wife for putting up with me.”

“To Bella,” the photographer yelled. “She’s going to need it!”

Harvey laughed. “To Bella.”