That was not a hallucination.
"But you said, you would never ask me to be your girlfriend, right?"
Asher leaned back in his chair and loosened his tie.
"An acceptable response could be "What?" You know."
Rose shrugged. She wasn't going to think in conventional ways. She was a witch. Why try to make herself normal and human?
"So, yes, why?"
Asher sighed.
"I'm asking for a fake girlfriend. So, I can get some people off my back."
Rose raised her eyebrows. She tried raising one like she saw in a drama. But she felt that only actors did that very well. She wasn't going to be defeated by this. She will keep practicing.
"Then, you will have so many people willing to do this job. I don't think I'm suitable."
Yes, she, a witch, a normal human in training, couldn't risk identity exposure by taking this job.
"You can see that there are no good people around me. At least those who I can trust. And you have so many plus points."
Really?
"What?"
"Like, you are my bodyguard. You can protect me in close proximity."
He had a point. But that didn't convince her.
"And, you and me, we are from different worlds. There would be no conflicts later."
Yeah, she understood his point. Because when she saw fake dating in dramas, it always ended in true dating.
She didn't want to date anyone.
Definitely not her boss.
Who gave her salary!
"That seems right. But still, I feel like it involves much more than what you say."
Asher picked up his trump card.
"I'll pay you a million for a public appearance."
Is it wrong to say that Rose was shamefully moved?
She needed money to buy an apartment. And the real estate was so costly.
"Okay, I agree. But there should be some ground rules."
Asher gestured for her to keep talking.
"First one. No touching."
"Wait wait wait. You realize, we should walk hand in hand in public, if we want to convince people we are dating."
Rose hesitated. She didn't like touching people.
But she was nudged by a cartoon Million and she became firm.
"Okay, then no intimate gestures."
Ashed nodded.
"Yes, I don't want that too. We should just be like friends who show that we are dating. Nothing more than that."
"Second, I'll change my identity. I don't want people to know that I'm your assistant."
Asher looked puzzled.
"How will you change your identity?" He then realized, "Are you going to use magic to change your appearance?"
Why did he seem so excited?
"No."
"No?"
"No!"
"Oh!"
Rose rolled her eyes. Why did he wilt on hearing this?
"Okay, you should know that there's something called makeup. I can just wear glasses and style my hair differently. I'm sure no one would recognize me."
She had a point.
"Okay, I agree."
Rose nodded.
"Yes, I will write my backstory and how we met. Memorise that. I will quiz you."
There was some kind of enjoyment when she saw how Asher rounded his eyes in surprise. That's right. How the tables have turned. He had homework instead of her for once, haha. Life isn't fair, right?
"Okay!"
Rose felt accomplished.
So, what else was there?
"Yes, you tell your mom. I don't want her to accuse me later."
Asher nodded.
"So, yes, it's settled. I'll tell you when we have to go act. Yes, we need some code words for when to act and when to stop."
Rose thought and thought.
She gasped after she thought of it.
"Almond milk is a code word to start acting. And Almond Tea is to stop. What do you say?"
Asher felt fine. Maybe after using the words and seeing their bad results, he could tell his choice.
Lost in their thoughts, they arrived at the same point and shook their hands after a successful negotiation.
Now, Rose spent the whole afternoon coming up with a believable backstory.
She sent the text document to Asher after reaching home and waited for his reaction.
Asher had freshly showered and then he saw this unread message. He opened the document and started reading.
Asher Walden and Ivy Briar met when Asher was studying abroad. Ivy, a poor girl, worked part-time in a computer Cafe and Asher met her when he had a game match there.
They had an on-and-off relationship for a while. Ivy broke up with Asher when she learned that he was a rich heir.
Ivy likes Water Lily flowers. She enjoys eating sweet food.
Dislikes: Horror movies, Spoiled heirs
Asher met Ivy again on his recent business trip and finally rekindled their relationship.
Asher read this and scowled. Was he the bad guy in this relationship?
Asher: why would you make me look bad?
Rose laughed.
Rose: otherwise, no one would believe it, boss. Can someone believe that a super rich handsome guy like you would pine over a girl if she hadn't rejected you?
Asher didn't know if that was true. But he accepted.
Rose: I did research. Most guys are like this in your circle. It is believable, trust me.
And by research, she had consulted the system. The system told her many stories and real-life examples. She got a faint version of that for Asher.
"Yes, host. A story should have ups and downs. Like if you make a girlfriend appear out of thin air, there will be no credibility. And to make a relationship strong, there should be history. Like you pull, she runs away, she comes back, he hates her. Like that."
Rose took notes. She was going to use this.
The system knew so much. So awesome.
"Also, host, considering everything I know, I feel like there is a ninety percent chance, you guys will fall in love."
"Haha, no. Trust me."
The system kept calm. There were no main characters so the system kept quiet for a long time.
"Yes, I have to read fake dating books so I can answer questions if anyone asks me."
On the other side!
"Mom, I'm dating."
Asher's mom fainted.