The doorbell's chime cut through the silence of Nicholas's luxurious living room, shattering the peaceful room, shattering the peaceful moment of quiet contemplation he'd been enjoying over a glass of his finest red. "Come in," he muttered, already knowing the identity of the visitor.
His best friend Jude strode into the room, hands casual and deep in the pockets of his pants. "Hey, Nick," Jude greeted, his tone teasing. "So, what's got you calling me over in person? This must be big, huh?"
Jude's weight settled into the plush cushion next to Nicholas, the air between them thick with the tension of the secret Nicholas had so carefully guarded. "So, what's got you so worked up?" Jude asked, a glimmer of curiosity dancing in his eyes.
Nicholas leaned forward, locking his gaze with his friend's. "I told my mother I have a girlfriend," he confessed, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Jude threw his head back in laughter, his whole body shaking with mirth. "A girlfriend? Seriously, Nick? That's the best you could come up with?" He wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes. "So, what sort of magic spell are you going to cast to make this mysterious lady appear, huh? Because, unless you've got some serious wizardry up your sleeve, I think you're in deep trouble."
Nicholas groaned, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Listen, Jude. You know my mom."
"She was trying to set me up with Eleanor again," Nicholas fumed, swirling the wine in his glass. "You know, the uptight, stuck-up, two-faced... excuse my French, but let's be honest, she's a bitch. I can't stand her. So, I panicked. I told my mom I already had a girlfriend. And she bought it."
Jude's laughter subsided, and he regarded his friend with a thoughtful expression. "Okay, okay. So you lied to avoid being stuck with Ms. Stuck-up."
"But seriously, Nick, what are you going to do now? Your mom is gonna want to meet this imaginary girlfriend of yours," Jude pointed out, his tone skeptical.
"You can't keep up this charade forever, you know. Sooner or later, the truth's gonna come out."
Nicholas gave a wry smile, setting down his wine glass and leaning forward. "Don't worry, Jude. I've got it all figured out. It's called the "Miranda Plan."
"The 'Miranda Plan', huh?" Jude echoed, his brows arching in curiosity. "Sounds like something straight out of a spy novel. Tell me more. Because, so far, all I'm hearing is that you've dug yourself into a very deep hole."
Nicholas's smirk widened, his confidence obvious in his posture. "Well, here's how it goes. I'm going to hire someone to be my fake girlfriend. Miranda."
"This Miranda," Nicholas continued, warming to his explanation, "is going to be perfect. She'll be classy, sophisticated, beautiful, but not as stuck-up as Eleanor. My mom will love her. She'll believe it's a real relationship, and I'll be off the hook for a few months. Long enough for me to regain my 'bachelor status' as far as my mom is concerned."
Jude shook his head, a rueful smile playing across his features. "So, you're going to hire an actress, basically"
"An actress who, what, goes to family dinners? Attends business events with you? Sticks around just long enough to make your mom think you're smitten?" Jude summarized, a laugh escaping his lips. "And where, pray tell, are you going to find this perfect woman?"
Nicholas spread his hands, a self-assured gleam in his eye. "That's the beauty of it, Jude. With my connections and the money I'm willing to pay, I can find anyone. And I mean anyone."
"So," Jude said, his tone wry as he leaned back into the couch, "what's your plan for when Miranda inevitably wants to break up with you and run off with her Hollywood actor boyfriend or whatever? Won't your mom be suspicious then?"
Nicholas shrugged, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Oh, she'll be gone well before then. One month, max. And I'll make sure there's a solid reason for the breakup. One that won't raise any suspicions."
"Like what?" Jude challenged, brows arched skeptically. "A transfer to the Tokyo branch of your company? A sudden family crisis in Italy? A tragic accident involving a clown and a unicycle?"
Nicholas snorted, rolling his eyes. "As much as I like the last one, I was thinking something more... plausible. Like, Miranda discovering she's got a terminal illness and needs to move to another country for treatment. That way, she can 'die' before my mom even has a chance to visit her."
"I have to admit, Nick, that's diabolical," Jude said, a grudging smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"But seriously, do you really think you can pull this off? Because if you're found out, your mom's going to kill you. And I'm not sure if I'm willing to be an accessory to your deceit."
Nicholas held up a hand, his expression placating. "Look, Jude, I know it's a risk. But I can't live under my mother's thumb forever."
"You know, Nick," Jude began, fixing his friend with a knowing stare, "I've got a better idea. Why not ask Ava? This whole charade wouldn't be too difficult for her, seeing as she's already in love with you."
Nicholas's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his jaw dropping slightly. "What the hell are you talking about?" he asked, his voice a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. "Ava is not in love with me.
"Of course you wouldn't notice," Jude said, letting out a chuckle that was tinged with pity. "But believe me, it's pretty obvious to the rest of us. She's got it bad, man."
Nicholas rolled his eyes at his friend's assertion, taking a swig of wine. "Even if that were true, it doesn't matter," he argued. "My mom doesn't like Ava
"Your mom doesn't like anyone!" Jude burst out laughing, slapping his knee in amusement. "Come on, Nick. You have to see the humor in that, right? No matter who you choose, your mom's going to find something wrong with them."
Nicholas shook his head, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips. "She's impossible," he admitted with a sigh, setting down his wine glass.