"Eggs, bacon, and pancakes, enjoy." Kyle smiled at the cute waitress in her black knee length skirt and crisp white blouse as she threw a smile over her shoulder and went to help another table. The very fitting black skirt left nothing to the imagination as it hugged all her curves.
Yup, she'd be an easy lay, he thought as he smiled back with his signature slight smirk. She had slipped him her number as she had served both him and Max, his best friend, their breakfast.
"Dude, just get a room already." Max rolled his eyes at the typical behavior of Kyle. Even though both were sought after bachelors, Max liked to think he was the more sensible of the two.
"So, who are you bringing to my parent's week long trip. They've only invited their closest friends and a plus one." Steering the conversation back to the more pressing topic at hand, Kyle cut his bacon into small pieces before mixing it into his eggs and adding ketchup.
"I don't know. I don't think there's one girl I want to spend a week with. Besides, I'm not the one who needs to introduce a girlfriend for my father to consider me in inheriting the family business."
"Yeah, I don't know what I'm going to do about that." Kyle sighed. "You and I both know I don't have a girlfriend. And what kind of conditions are those? I mean why does it matter if I have a girlfriend or not?" Shaking his head he speared his fork into his pancakes and took another bite.
"You know," Max began, "it's probably because it's the only thing they haven't seen of you. I'm pretty sure your parents know you have everything else under control but not relationships."
"They're overrated. My father should know better. All of these girls expect so much and think the guy will change because of her but you and I both know we ain't. Who'd wanna be shackled to just one chick when there's so many fish in the pond?" With arms outstretched he thought he had made his point.
Chuckling Max shook his head at his friend. "There's absolutely nothing wrong with having a girlfriend. Mark my words man, one day there'll be a girl you didn't know existed that you'll fall in love with. You won't know what happened but it'll hit you like a freight train...however...in the meantime there's this new thing where you can hire a girlfriend for as long as you need. They're very professional and it's the new rave."
Giving the "hired girlfriend" some thought he glanced at his watch and flagged down a waitress to pay for their breakfast before heading to work.
----
The Buxton Buzz headquarters was insanely busy. Ella looked down from one side of her office window at the streets below her and watched as the people passed her. It was her fondness of just watching others and being close to invisible that had pushed her to start her own magazine company. Years ago she had never dreamed of such success but now she couldn't have been any prouder.
No one, except a select few, in the building knew who she truly was as it was just easier for her to blend in and get lost in the throng of people. At least that way she knew what everyone thought about her.
"You look like hell." Smiling, Ella looked up from the papers strewn in front of her.
"Don't I always? Besides isn't it the new 'it' thing because Jenny J was spotted looking like hell?"
Emily, her best friend, gave her a sarcastic look. "You're funny. Jenny is pregnant and has a little kid. You're not."
"Work?" Ella shrugged her shoulders and said weakly. She knew work wasn't a good excuse but it was just as hard as being pregnant, at least in her mind she thought so.
"Ella, when was the last time you said eff it all and just went out and had a little fun? You're 26. Your birthday is in a few days. Take a vacation, go somewhere, I don't know, do something other than lounge in your office."
Raising one eyebrow she stared at Emily with amusement.
"I know my birthday is coming. Thank you for reminding me how old I'll be. But, I'll be doing what I always do. Buy myself a gift, order take out, and eat ice cream while watching movies. I don't have to worry about dressing up or makeup or anything."
"Aww sweetie,"Emily began as she unceremoniously plopped herself on the couch in the office, "there's nothing to be ashamed of if you're alone. Did Adam break up with you? I won't lie, I kinda heard you talking on the phone about Adam and sniffling."
"Em do you hear yourself? For God's sake your my best friend-"
"I'm you're only friend." Emily interjected, making Ella roll her eyes.
"-As I was saying, don't you think I would have told you if I had a boyfriend?"
"Yes, but you know with Jackson and everything I've been so busy we haven't had time to sit and talk. So you know, I thought Adam was a new boyfriend."
"Numbnut Adam is the dog I had rescued. He had to be put down last Thursday." Emily turned beat red with embarrassment from not knowing that.
"Oh."
"Mhm, and you were saying?"
"Go out? Take a break," her friend pleaded, "do something else. Be brazen and wild for once. Hell, have a one night stand to refresh or something. Lord, knows little Ella needs a nice, big-." The blaring of the phone saved her from having to hear the rest of the sentence.
Holding a finger up she tried shushing her giggling friend. "Buxton Buzz, this is Ella....mhm...yes....mhm...ok, my secretary will give you a call."
Putting the phone down she turned to find Emily gone. Sighing she leaned back in her chair and pondered over the conversation she had just had.
Buxton Buzz wasn't just an ordinary magazine. When she and Emily had started it they wanted to go national, hell, maybe even global. It catered to all sorts of readers and was the most reliable in putting out quick and accurate info. Anyone who wanted to be included in an issue had to pay a hefty price.
Staring at the framed first issue that brought them fame and gained them popularity she couldn't help but smile. Emily took the role of spotlight and oversaw half the company but Ella took care of everything else. She made sure everything was running smoothly and every one of their workers satisfied.
Maybe her best friend was right and not just crazy. She hadn't taken a day off in years or traveled anywhere if it wasn't for work.
"Janet!" She shouted from her seat while organizing her papers. Her secretary came running into the room with a frantic and worried expression on her face.
"Yes?" Nervously, Janet bit her nails.
"Close the door and sit down please. I would prefer anyone passing by not hear us."
Pacing, she thought about how to phrase her words.
"This isn't about you know, my umm..hookup with Ryan in sports in the copy room, is it? Because I swear I won't do it again or at least I'll not get caught. Miss Riverton this job means the world to me. And I'll do anything, absolutely anything to keep my job."
Ella gave her secretary a confused look. She really didn't need that extra tid bit of her indescretions.
"What? Janet, no. I'm not firing you." Janet visibly relaxed. "As for your umm indescretions please refrain from doing so at work...especially since the cameras are really good at zooming in."
"Oh thank God! So then what do you need me to do?" Knowing she wasn't going to get fired, she sat up a little straighter.
"Can you reschedule all my events and meetings for the next three days?"
"Of course, but if you don't mind me asking is everything okay?"
Quickly nodding her head she didn't want to raise any worry or suspicion.
"Yeah, it's just I'm going to be away for a little bit. Hold all my calls for the rest of the day. If anyone asks just tell them I'm meeting important clients. If there's any true emergency you have my private number and any other questions just ask Emily . Thank you."
After Janet left, Ella picked up her purse and threw in some important papers she'd look over sometime while taking a break. Everything else she planned on just ignoring and for once in her life try not worrying about work or the company or anything.
With her shades on and purse and phone in hand she exited her office and stood in the elevator before walking through the double doors to exit the building.
----
Kyle stood across the street of the Buxton Buzz headquarters waiting to spot his "girlfriend". The agency had said she would be wearing a white blouse and black pencil skirt. The only person he saw was a female that stepped out of the building with sun glasses covering her eyes and her hair in a side ponytail.
Glancing at his watch he noticed how she was right on time. Punctual, that's a good trait. Signaling to his driver to drive up the street and open the door, Kyle strode to where she was standing.
"You must be my girlfriend. Come on, it's a long drive and I want to get some food before leaving." Without even giving her a chance to reply Kyle dragged her with him into the car and had the driver begin driving.