Career in Jeopardy

It had been 4 days since the One Direction concert. The 4 days had been full of stress and lack of sleep. Why? Because what I had said at the concert had some negative publicity and my management was kicking up a stint. I was now on my way to London to have a meeting with my management who had sounded some-what hopeful.

The thing that annoyed me most was I couldn’t stop thinking of Harry. His touch, his voice, his green eyes. I shook my head. “Stop being a twit.” I silently scolded.

As I was early for the meeting I decided to park in a closed of car park near the park. It would mean walking 30 minutes or more but I would need to clean my head before the meeting.

I got out of the car when I parked and tugged down my jumper. Thankfully it wasn’t a really cold November morning. I loved the streets of London. Some people said they were hectic and over populated and it was but that’s what I loved about it. I also loved the old streets that held centuries of history. I liked how there were so many characters here. There were people who were still in their party dresses from the night before, there were people who had turned up on trains and red buses to feel what London offers; Museums, shopping, tours, London Eye, Big Ben or even the Shard a building over 1,000 feet tall, there were people who were here for business and work. Some of them with relax expressions others were tight and stressed. So much character in just one city. I stop by a stand that was selling drinks so I got a hot chocolate that was delicious. Unfortunately I made it to the building in no time at all. Don’t get me wrong usually I loved this building. It was the place where I could design clothes with my team but I don’t think my management asked me in so I could work on my next clothing line.
outfit

The building was tall and when I stepped inside warm air conditioner heated me up instantly. I went to the elevator and pressed for the 8th floor. The elevator was dingy and dark and gave me the creeps so I was glad when it stopped on the 8th floor and I was able to get out.

I walked into the glass conference room that had a large square table where about 6 people sat.
“Sorry I’m late.” I said hurriedly as I sat down and slung my bag on the ground.

“That’s fine Ms Foster.” My head of management said briskly. She refused to call me by my first name. Apparently it was un-professional. I looked over at my only friend in the room Stacy but she was avoiding my gaze. Strange.

“So Ms Foster after the things you said at a 1 Direction concert it has caused the fans of the band to uproar and as they have pretty much every single girls heart in the world this affects your channel, your clothing line and your career.”

I gulped. That sounded much more blunt and serious then it did on the phone.

“So what do I do?” I asked worriedly.

“We have planned this seriously Ms Foster as where your career goes our job goes so if it goes through the roof ours go through the roof if it goes down the floor that’s where our job follows.” Her voice was brisk. “We have had an idea to cover your little stunt with a relationship for the press.”

My mouth dropped open. “What?” I barely said. “Who would even agree to date me at all?”

“I have no idea Ms Foster and as I am manager not your friend I don’t have to comment or sympathise.”

I snorted. I looked over at Stacy who was biting her lip to hold in her laugh.

“But to make it big enough to cover up it has to be a big celebrity rather than a low key one. Fortunately the man we’re going to match you up with his management wants him to date someone who is still famous and in the press just someone more low key.”

I could not believe this. She was making me fake date someone because Harry fucking Styles forced a microphone down my throat? If I ever see him again I’ll kill him.

“Can I have a name at least?”

“We don’t think that will be necessary until you meet him as er, you might have had some personal differences with him.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Does he know about me?”

“No.” she replied shortly.

I looked around the table to see if anyone was going to jump up and yell April Fools even if April was 6 months ago. But no-one did. They all looked at as serious as my manager, Sue. I looked over at Stacy who was looking more guilty then serious. What was up with her?

“Ahhh here they are now.” Sue said breaking my thoughts.

I spun around in my chair to see who I would be forced to date, wait when did I even agree to this? To my shock my eyes didn’t lock with a complete stranger but met with Harry’s. As soon as he looked at me he broke into a dimpled grin. I broke out in the world’s longest, deepest jaw drop.

“No fucking way.” I blurted out as Harry and his team walked through. They took the other half of the table. Harry directly opposite me.
Avoiding his gaze I walked over to Sue.“I didn’t agree to this.” I hissed at her.

She turned and looked at me full of exasperation and anger.

“Darcy.” My eyes widened as she said my first name.

“Darcy.” She repeated. “I know it isn’t ideal but this isn’t just your career but it’s all of our jobs as well. If any other major celebrity said that it would blow over but people will remember what you said for a long time and instead of gaining viewers you would probably lose them and instead of more people buying your clothes people will be bringing them back. Do you get my drift? Go and sit back down and we’ll explain it all.” She patted my shoulder gently and I walked away from the middle aged women.
She had never really addressed me this way before. I went and sat back down and I tried to shoot a sneaky look at Harry but he was already looking at me. I blushed as I was caught in the action.

“The reason why this arrangement has been put in place is because the One Direction management wants more juicy stuff on the guys and what better way to do that then to place the man who is the main women attention of the band in a relationship with a girl.”

Man whore. Womanizer.

“For the One Direction management and band it will increase sales in merchandise, albums and tour tickets. The girl will be my client Darcy Foster who needs publicity on something other then what she said recently at a One Direction concert. This will increase the sales on her clothing lines as girls will want to wear something that their celebrity crush girlfriend wears or thinks looks good.” Sue took a deserved breath. “It will hopefully also increase views on her channel and subscribers. The arrangement will go for 10 months. We believe that this is how long it will take for fans and the press to realise it isn’t a fling but a relationship but ending it in 10 months will ensure that people it wasn’t a final thing.”

“I have to fake go out with him for 10 months?” I asked in shock and outrage.

“Try and not sound to enthusiastic love.” Harry said sarcastically.

I glared at him.

“Yes.” Sue replied shortly.

I groaned as I leant back in the office chair.

“Your relationship for the first few weeks are park dates and things like that and they would obviously get tipped off to the paparazzi. After a month or so Ms Foster will get caught leaving Mr Styles apartment. It is in my knowledge that in 3 months the One Direction boys go on tour and Ms Foster you will follow them. They go on a bus tour in the States which you will be on Ms Foster and then you go to Canada, Australia then the 1D boys are scheduled for time off so you will come back to the UK where Ms Foster and Mr Styles stop getting caught in the press as often than not at all and when 10 months are up Mr Style gets caught with another girl.”

I was in pure shock. What the hell had just happened in the past hour?

“Ok.” I said when I finally found my voice. “1st of all why am I the one who has to leave my home, what happens to my channel?”

“You are the one to leave home as the One Direction tour needs to continue but there needs to be a surety when it comes to your relationship and as for your videos you can do Bus Tour videos and things like that.”

“Ok then why does Harry get to be the one to get with a girl and essentially break fake us up?”

Harry snorted. I looked up and saw him grinning. I wish he was closer so I could stomp on his foot again.

“Ms Foster I mean this by no offence but you’re not really one to ‘get with a guy’ as you call it.”

Ouch. She was true though I had never even had a relationship before it’s a bit ironic that my first one will fake.

“Fine then I’ll leave it to the man whore then.” I said with a snarky tone.

“How do you even know if I’m a ‘man whore’?” Harry said in his raspy British tone, speaking up for the time.

Shocked that he even spoke up in the first place I swivelled my chair so I was directly looking at him. He had a smirk as his green eyes looked at me intently, familiar shivers ran through me. Wait, what am I thinking?

“Because your dumb ass name keeps hogging up the radio channels talking about the latest girl you hooked up with.” I explained with a fake smile.

Before he could even try to reply with a probable inappropriate, sarcastic, flirty comment I turned back to Sue.

“So how will these arrangements be made? Like how will I know Harry and I need to go and get caught be the paps?”

“You’ll both get a text from the One Direction management as they will be doing most of the publicity stunts as both managements feel as though that would be best as they are used to doing this sort of thing.” Sue explained.

I nodded. It made sense I guess.

“When will this all start?” I asked.

“2 days from now.”

My mouth dropped open. Great so my personal life is over in 2 days. I know I basically record my life on a video camera but I chose what I upload and I chose when, I’m the one in control.

“Can I go now?” I asked weakly.

“We have explained everything but we will need you both to sign the contract to this arrangement, we’ll need it by tomorrow at latest.” Sue said handing me my contract then she walked over to Harry to give him his.

“Can I fax it to you later?” I asked hopefully, I just wanted to leave so I could breathe.

Sue nodded. “Meeting dismissed.”

I leapt out of my chair and all but ran out.

I heard Harry call out my name but I ignored him and decided against waiting for the elevator and ran down the 10 flights stairs. When I bursted out through the doors the cold November mid-morning relaxed me. I slowly started the walk to my car. How had things resorted to this? I had about five people's jobs or more resting on my shoulders and also my own all because a few things I said at a 1D concert that got caught on camera.

The thing I love to use is now also my mortal enemy.
When I got to my car I felt someone tug at my arm pulling me to face behind me. Thinking it was still a left over drunk from the night before I was I about to yell at him (his hand felt large and firm through my jumper) to bugger off but I was met with 2 green orbs.

“Harry?” I asked confused. What was he doing here?

Notes

Hey Guys

hope you enjoy!

comment, rate and subscribe!

xx kt