Emmaline went completely still as Ashton's warm breath coasted past her cheek.
She didn't notice that her shoulders had stiffened until she realized he was waiting for her answer and they relaxed as automatically as they had tightened.
He had asked and not moved an inch before she replied.
Slowly, carefully, Emmaline turned to look at him and relaxed even more when she saw that he had moved back, giving her space.
"Sorry," Gone were his playful smile and sparkling eyes, "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just thought my parents would be even more convinced if I kissed you on the cheek rather than the other way around. They know I don't do anything I don't want to."
For a moment, Emmaline was so dumbstruck that she just blinked at him.
Not only had he asked for consent, respected her space and boundaries and listened for her answer, he had apologized!
Emmaline wondered if she would see hell frozen over if she looked around.
Huh, she thought, not bad for a man. And not bad for a rich kid.
Her second thought was, Damn it, why are all the good men gay or taken!?
"I'm cool with it," She thumped him on the back in a show of goodwill and added softly, "Thanks for asking."
Immediately, the liveliness sprang back into his face and he smacked her back in return with so much strength that she was flung forward with the force of it.
Ouch.
At least he was treating her like a bro. When he wasn't trying to kiss her.
Emmaline allowed her eyes to turn into crescents as she smiled widely, Ashton's lips brushed her cheek and the camera shuttered.
When they had taken what felt like a million shots, Ashton asked in that smooth, casanova way of his, "Can I drive you home?"
Rule number one of being a woman: Never let a stranger drive you home even if he's paying you six million dollars.
Rule number one of pretending to be a gay man: Never let the person you're lying to drive you home.
"It's fine, I can take the bus," Emmaline declined politely but Ashton only tilted his head towards his shiny, expensive car and waited.
"No," Emmaline repeated. No matter how good looking this guy was, she shouldn't let her guard down.
"Please?" And there was something in his tone and his green eyes that was sincere. As if letting him drive her was a favour to him not to her. Emmaline frowned slightly.
"Fine, just to the train station," Emmaline conceded.
***
"You what?!" Camilla Watts cried, her large hazel eyes filled with horror and concern.
"Signed a contract with the heir to the Wright fortune to pretend to be his gay lover," Emmaline said as offhandedly as she could.
Casually, she brushed out her long black hair, trying very hard not to freak her best friend out even more.
After having her hair in a bun under that mousy brown wig for so long, it felt good to let it out and she shook out her dark waves for a moment.
Camilla sputtered in a way that would be unglamorous if it was anyone but her. However, thanks to her glossy strawberry blonde hair and captivating hazel eyes, she still looked effortlessly pretty.
Honestly, it was wasted that she wasn't an actress or a model, but her passion was in writing which is how she and Emmaline had met in a screenwriting class.
"But- But you're not gay!" Camilla protested, then she paused, "YOU'RE NOT EVEN A MAN!"
Pretending to be casual got too much when the truth finally hit Emmaline and she slumped to rest her forehead on the table with a groan.
"I know! I know," She wailed into the wooden table, "But Cams, he offered me six million for this."
Camilla's jaw dropped.
"Six million?" She gasped, "Are you sure?"
"There were six zeros behind the first digit, I counted them when I signed the contract," Emmaline turned to look at Camilla, her head never leaving the solid comfort of the tabletop.
The shock was too much for Camilla and she sat down in the chair next to Emmaline with a thump and a thunderstruck expression.
"Six million, Cams," The disbelief lingered in Emmaline's voice, "Do you know the quality of healthcare that'll get mom? And I won't owe the film and theater academy any more money. He paid one million upfront without even knowing my last name yet."
Camilla buried her face in her hands, "Oh Em, this is so dangerous though! What if you get caught?"
"I won't," Emmaline told her with a fierce determination, sitting up straight and shaking her best friend's shoulders, "I'm going to act my heart out, you know I can do it. And I'm going to take every cent that this rich boy is willing to give me."
Camilla peeked out from over her hands, "You said he paid a million upfront? What about the remaining five?"
"Two more million dollars when I meet his family and successfully convince them that we're madly in love, and the last three when he actually inherits," Emmaline listed off with her fingers, "I know this is crazy but those stupid spoilt brats at the academy keep buying out the producers."
Camilla's face fell and her hazel eyes grew sympathetic, "This audition too?"
Wordlessly and with an air of resignation, Emmaline nodded.
Camilla reached over and gave her a warm hug. No other words were needed for Emmaline to feel comforted.
"Fiona or Priscilla, it has to be one of them," Camilla muttered into Emmaline's shoulder, "Oh, the next time I see one of them, I'll punch them into next week!"
That made Emmaline giggle and then let out a full belly laugh. It felt good, a release that she needed after being so tense and worried.
"You? Please, Cams, I know you couldn't hurt a fly," She chuckled, "But I appreciate the sentiment."
Camilla drew back, her face a picture of determination and she set her slim hands on Emmaline's shoulders.
"Okay, when are you meeting his family?" Her tone was no nonsense and Emmaline knew that her friend meant business when she sounded like that.
"Tomorrow," She sighed.
Camilla paled slightly but stuck to her guns, her fingers tightening on Emmaline, "Alright, in twenty four hours, we're going to make you the most realistic gay man ever!"