When Does the Pretending End?

Cristiano’s Pov

“Cris, Cris are you listening to me?” Jorge says. I look up from the table. “Yeah” I grumble. “What has gotten into you? You haven’t heard a thing I’ve said” Jorge says waving a bunch of papers in his hand. I should be listening but I couldn’t be bothered. This week has tired me out and I haven’t even played a game. Well getting your car destroyed and having dinner with a gorgeous girl and almost having her in my bed. No stop. Don’t think about Lucy.

Ever since Lucy left my house on Tuesday night Nuno has been ignoring me. Apparently I’m a worthless piece of shit for even suggesting Lucy sleep with me. Hey she was willing. I was even looking forward to Jorge arriving for someone to talk to. That lasted about five minutes when he decided to yell at me for the situation on Monday. He still couldn’t believe that the lady had got the wrong car. Actually I think he was more surprised that the papers got the facts correct for once. Thankfully Nuno hadn’t told Jorge about what happened on Tuesday night. Well what didn’t happen. At least Zé will be arriving soon. He could fill me in with what was happening back in Madeira. Máe had gone very quiet the last few days. It was only four texts instead eight and two calls instead of four a day. And she only mentioned that I needed to find the right girl twice.

“Family” I mutter. “What was that” Jorge looked up for his papers. “Nothing. I’m heading up for a shower” I say as I head towards the stairs.

After my shower I was in the middle of getting dressed when my bedroom door opened. “Lucy hi” i sputter not expecting her to be standing looking at me in my boxers. “Don’t hi me” she says and I barely have time to move before a cushion comes flying past my head. “What the hell” I shout at her.” You asshole, you stupid Portuguese hypocrite” she screams still throwing anything on my floor she could find to throw at me. I hurry towards her and grab a pillow out of her hand. “Stop shouting at me” I say grabbing her wrists. “What is wrong?” I ask.

Clearly something had upset her. “All your talk about Tina been on drugs and telling me to forget her, when all along you never told me your brother did drugs” she shouts. Wait what did she say about Hugo. She has no right bringing him up. I stand holding her wrists and watch her shout at me. She looks so hot when she is angry. “Let’s see apart from my best friend been arrested a cocky jackass footballer decided to take advantage of that arrest by trying to get me to sleep with him and never thought to mention his own brother was a druggy” I hear her yell at me. My brother isn’t a druggy. “Are you finished?” I say letting go of her wrists and i walk towards my bed. “Anyone every tell you that you are a selfish jackass” she says and turns towards the door.

Selfish. Did she just call me selfish? Why does everyone think this? I quickly pick up my trousers and a shirt and run after her. “Hey don’t you dare call me selfish” I say and grabbing her hand and turning her. Marcosa appears and begins to growl at me. Seriously does he think I am going to hurt her. “Ok, is sleazily better” she says looking straight at my face. “I’m not a sleaze” i snort. “What do you call a guy who tries to get a girl to sleep with him if he doesn’t press charges against her best friend” Lucy says.

“You did what” a voice speaks. Shit. We have an audience. I look to see Nuno and Jorge. Oh great. Like he needs another reason to give out to me. I looked to the ground as he speaks “Of all the stupid things to do”. “Thank God” the brunette besides me says. “Hey you wanted to” I retort. “Enough” Jorge says as he approached us. “Who is this man? She whispers to me. “My agent” I reply.

“Please have a seat Ms. Smith” Jorge suggests pointing at the couch. Jorge taking control. What’s new. “I heard about your friend I’m sorry about the incident. I’m sure we could work something out that suits us all” he says. Lucy sits facing Jorge and it’s the first time I notice what she was wearing. A plain black suit yet she still looked cute.

“Mr. Mendes I know what you’re thinking and you don’t have to worry. I don’t intend to go to the newspapers about any of this“, I hear Lucy say. “Newspapers” I say sitting up. “Yes Cris. Newspapers. You seem to like appearing in them lately as your Maé would point out if she was here” Jorge snorts at me. Crap I didn’t think about that. I came out good from the whole car incident but if the papers got word of what I had asked Lucy to do. Shit.

“I’ve got a solution for both of you” Nuno says. He finally gets to say his piece I think. “What solution” Jorge questions him. “Well Lucy wants Cris to drop the charges against her friend and Cris wants” “I’m not sleeping with him” Lucy buts in. I couldn’t help but smirk at her. She was so insistent. “Wouldn’t take advantage of you Lucy at all. Plus you could do better” Nuno says. I roll my eyes. Good sensible sweet Nuno. “Get to the point Nuno” Jorge says. “Ok Cris you’re sick of your family’s thoughts about your love life and Lucy needs help”. Why do I feel I’m not going to like this? “So you’ll drop the charges against her friend and she will date you” he whispered the last bit but we both heard him clearly enough” Nuno finishes.

“Hell no” Lucy and I say I unison. Ha finally agree on something for a change. That will not be happening. “Now wait. That isn’t such a bad idea. Both of you get something good from it” Jorge says. “Plus ye would only have to pretend for a while. Your family are planning to spend a lot of time in Manchester Cristiano” Jorge finishes.

Did Nuno and Jorge actual expect this to work? They know my family. “Maé wouldn’t believe we were dating for a second” I say I head to the kitchen. “Think about it Cris, your family will be here for most of November all the time plus over and back before that” Nuno says. “And?” I reply “And, if Lucy was to pretend to be your madly in love girlfriend, your Máe might stop giving you such a hard time” Nuno finishes. “Madly in love yeah right” I hear Lucy mumble and I look at her. She wouldn’t be able to resist me like all the others.

“How would it work?” Lucy asks. I look up shocked as hell that she was even considering it. Wow she really is desperate. “When his family are in town you and Cristiano would pretend to been a couple” Nuno says. “They won’t believe we were a couple” I say. “I’m sure Lucy could act” Nuno smirks at me. “Ha but I don’t think I can be an Oscar winning actress” she says.

“Think of the good publicity Cris” Jorge says walking towards me. “Publicity. No way. That’s not what Nuno suggested. We pretend for his family not for everyone else in the country” Lucy practically screams at Jorge. Nice to know she can get angry with someone other than me. “Just family” Jorge says. “Do we have a deal” he continues. “Your client drops the charges against Tina and I’ll pretend to be his……” Girlfriend” I but in.

“Yes that’s what will happen correct Cristiano” Jorge asks looking for my answer. “Fine, but it won’t work” i grumble. “Well here’s hoping it won’t then” Lucy says to me. Another thing we agree on. My family would love her. And I’ve only spent a few hours in her company. But I know they will. But hey if she was willing to act as my girlfriend I could even mange to like it. Having Lucy at me beck and call.

“See you soon darling” I say as I see she was about to leave. “Just to make it clear I’m only doing this for my friend because I’m a nice person unlike you” She says to me as she gets closer to me. “And just because I’m pretending to be your girlfriend doesn’t mean I’m sleeping with you”. I’ll change her mind cos she wants me. I lean down to her ear “But you really want to”. She turns to face Jorge “Another thing I won’t be doing is wearing his united jersey. I like red but I have taste” Lucy says and swans out of the house.

What did she mean about having taste? “Nice idea Nuno” Jorge says slapping him on the back. “It’s not going to work” I say to them both. “I can’t stand her”. Nuno smirks at me. “You could stand her enough to try to sleep with her though” Jorge says. “The only have to be breathing lately” Nuno mumbles. He’s one to talk.

“I am worried she’ll change her mind though” Jorge says. I was about to reply when Nuno butted in. “Don’t worry Jorge, Lucy wants to help her friend. So she’ll act as his girlfriend. Plus she’s not like the other girls that chase Cris. In fact I’m looking forward to watching him worm is way around her. Cos she’s not going to be a push over”. “I can worm my way around any chick Nuno” I say.

“Cris, make sure you don’t tell her” Jorge says as I make my way upstairs. “Tell her what” Nuno asks. “That he already dropped the charges against Lucy’s friend” Jorge replies.