"It's everywhere! Just look at Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson. Ben Affleck and J.Lo. Interracial dating is the ultimate publicity goldmine! The agency thinks it's a smart career move."
Elijah gritted his teeth, wanting nothing more than to tell William exactly what he thought of his little scheme.
"But I already have a girlfriend."
William waved his hand, as though brushing away invisible smoke.
"Not anymore! Besides, if you go through with this, you'll get a bonus of one million dollars."
The amount of money immediately made Elijah's ears prick up but his heart overruled his mind. He simply couldn't go through with an atrocity such as this. He couldn't wake each day knowing he had been conned into trampling all over an innocent girl's heart. Besides, he was involved with Franka. Although the road of their relationship appeared to be getting bumpier, he felt like it was only temporary. He loved Franka with every bone in his body and wouldn't trade what he had with her for any sum of money.
William sighed, leaning forward and clasped his hands together as if in prayer.
"Elijah. Let's be sensible. All we ask is ten days, at the least. A month maximum! After the month expires, get rid of her. Look, you don't even have to tell the girl you choose what your true motives are. It's very simple. You're just making a big deal out of nothing," William somberly reasoned.
Elijah gave William a glare that could melt butter. The four stone colored walls suddenly seemed to appear closer together and reminded him of a prison cell than an office. He had to get out. He had enough of William's heartless game and he wasn't about to play any part in it.
Elijah rose quickly, balling his fists together.
"No. My final answer is no! I don't even know why the hell you guys would suggest something as idiotic as this!" Elijah exclaimed, his voice dripping with venom. He briskly began to march to the door when William's voice brought him to a halt. The tainted sweet tone in William's voice made a small shiver skitter down Elijah's back.
"Oh and Elijah? Did I tell you? The agents, including myself, are threatening to revoke over 10 million dollars from your paycheck if you refuse. And that's only the first half of what they've thought of. If I was in your shoes, I would chose wisely. Yes, chose wisely, because right now, fate is in your hands."
Elijah froze. Ten million dollars!? He was planning to buy his Mom a new Tiffany's bracelet for her birthday plus a slew of gifts and surprises for his and Franka's anniversary. He couldn't afford to lose that money. The room was deathly quiet for what seemed like three decades until the sound of a phone dialing shattered the air.
Elijah gulped as he waited for Franka to answer while trying to avoid the gray orbs of William, silently laughing.
*~*~*~*
Twenty year old, Alexis Perez spotted him before he noticed her. One glance and her knees transformed to uncooked Jell-O. Another peek and a zillion angry butterflies slammed their wings against her stomach. It was weird that a complete stranger could make her suddenly feel like a little schoolgirl with a crush. It was something she had never experienced, not even with Paul. Paul was her most recent boyfriend and seemed to be the incarnation of Mr. Perfect himself. She had even considered marrying him, until one night changed her decision forever.
[He looks familiar...but I can't seem to place a name with his face.]
"Excuse me, Miss! Miss! That's enough," the sharp demand of the middle-aged woman cut her thoughts short. Alexis quickly deceased from pouring the coffee into the woman's mug and muttering an apology, headed back to the kitchen to put the coffee away.
"Alex, could you take table six? I've got my hands full!" Lila, a tall blond, pleaded while balancing a plate of blueberry muffins and a cup of hot chocolate. Alexis nodded.
"No problem," she answered, strolling over to the table.
It wasn't abnormal for the coffee house to have more customers than waitresses. Gloria Jean's, Eastside New York's newest hangout was quickly becoming a favorite among the citizens of the city, especially the college ones. A quaint, hole in wall building, Gloria Jean's was separated into two halves. The front half was the kitchen and crammed with mahogany tables and chair sets. In the back were a scattering of booths and a stage against the far wall. Every Saturday night, the coffee house showcased local talent where anyone could perform anything, whether it be poetry or a ballad. On all four walls were pictures and posters of classic movies, such as Casablanca and Gone With The Wind. The owner, Amelia Walters, had an extreme fetish for old movies. All in all, Gloria Jean's was becoming a hot spot of local New Yorkers quicker than you could jump.
Alexis tucked a loose curl behind her ear and put on a friendly smile, stopping a few inches in front of the guy occupying the table. He was sitting by himself, head bent down, clad in a navy blue skull cap and in deep thought. She slid a menu on the table.
"Hi Sir, I'm Alexis and I'll be your waitress today. May I interest you in our house special, Mocha Java Mocha?" she offered.
The guy glanced up at the sound of her voice and Alexis felt every source of oxygen drain out of her body. The well-defined face, the twinkling eyes; it was the same guy she had spotted before. THE guy. He gave her a boyish grin and scanned the menu she had handed him. Alexis knew she must look like a complete freak, gazing wide-eyed at this total stranger like he had just told her the formula for a double helix off the top of his head.
"Is there something on my face?" he questioned without a bit of concern. His intense, ocean colored eyes bore into hers. Alexis shook her head, still unable to control her goofy stare.
"No. It's just I-er..I couldn't help but notice you when you walked in, before. Yeah", she blubbered, feeling more and more embarrassed with each word. Even her caramel colored skin couldn't disguise the growing tomato-colored blush on her cheeks. He smiled. Inwardly, she swooned.
"Did you now? Why didn't you come over and say hi?" he asked, with no trace of sarcasm. Or maybe, she was too enraptured to notice it. Either way, Alexis couldn't deny the fact this incident definitely would go under the 'Most Embarrassing Moment's Hall Of Fame.' She shrugged.
"Umm..I don't know. Was I supposed to?" she questioned jokingly, forcing out a sheepish grin. He laughed.
"No. But I guess I'll take the Chocolate Mint Blast Cappuccino," he answered. Alexis scribbled the order down.
"All right, I'll have that for you in a minute. Is there anything else I can get you?"
He was silent for a minute, words hidden behind a penetrating gaze of steel as he contemplated saying whatever he wanted to say. Alexis shivered; his stare was like sandpaper scraping against her raw skin.
"Yeah...how about a date?"
Alexis's brow rose. She had a feeling she knew where that would lead to and she didn't want to be taken there. Sure, he was beyond good-looking; there wasn't enough letters in the alphabet to accurately form a word to describe his attractiveness! But Alexis wasn't ready to dive into the dating pool, especially after what happened with Paul.
"I just wanted to get to know you better," he quickly explained. He cast her a pleading look, like a child begging their parent to raid the cookie jar before dinner. She laughed.
"How about I just get you your coffee and we'll leave it at that," she compromised. He shook his head.
"Sorry, but I can't take no for an answer. How about we get something to eat together after you're shift is done. We won't even have to call it a date," he reasoned, his eyes sparkling like white snow glistens in the early morning light.
"But it's still a date despite the fact we call it one or not. Besides, we don't even know each other", Alexis pointed out, a genuine smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. This guy would just not give up!
He laughed.
"My name's Elijah, I'm twenty-one, I don't go to college and I don't like rap music. Oh and I've never been to jail and I don't have a criminal record. See, now you know me. Or is that not enough personal information?" he questioned seriously.
"You just don't give up, do you?" Alexis asked laughing. He shrugged.
"I was taught that when you want something, you don't stop until you get it. All I'm asking is for one date. One date and then you never have to see me again, if you want," he half begged.
Alexis sighed, feeling worn out.
"All right Elijah, I'll get your coffee and we'll discuss the possibility of this date when I return," she declared, with a sly smile.
"See, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Elijah teased.
"Ah, I said possibility. Which means there's a possibility you'll be spending Friday night with just you and your TV," Alexis kidded.
She turned around and began striding towards the kitchen. Elijah watched her go a grin spreading onto his lips. He was beginning to like this girl. Suddenly, a nagging voice, buried beneath the blanket of his anticipation broke through.
[What's the only reason why you asked her out? Huh?]
He closed his eyes and groaned. The deal. The stupid deal with William. The date was suddenly looking like something he'd regret than to have good time. She seemed like a genuinely nice person, a person who didn't deserve to have their heart played with by some insensitive asshole. At that thought, the stern voice of William entered his mind.
"Elijah, you must remember these two very important things I'm about to tell you. If you forget, the plan will be absolutely ruined beyond repair. If you remember them, there will be nothing but smooth sailing. The first one is, DON'T let the girl find out why you've been dating her for the duration of the next ten days. The second and probably more important one is this: When playing the game of deception, NEVER let yourself fall in love."
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