SEVEN

~~~

Xander and Cara manage to get past the paparazzi as they walk into his company, and Cara manages to ignore the stares of his employees as they walk into the elevator.

"What did you mean by you will need me?" Cara asks him the 100th time and Xander ignores for the same amount of time. He presses the button going up, the elevator closes, protecting Cara from the stares.

"Hello, you know it will be a lot easier if you just answer my questions."

Cara waves her hands near his face, which irritates him enough to bring a response out of him.

"Why do you always have to talk?" Xander speaks in frustration.

Cara drops her hands in defeat, "Fine, I'll stop talking." She folds her arms, pouting like a kid that had her candy taken from her.

The elevator dings, following its opening and it reveals a very busy room with people running around. It's like a big conference room, with a wide and long table with chairs and the number of chairs equals the number of computers.

Cara comes out of the elevator, following behind Xander as she stares at the madhouse in awe. Just a few steps in, their movement is blocked by an average height man with blonde hair. "Good thing you are here." Andre lets out a breath of relief, "Let's get away from the ruckus of media clipping." He says as he leads them into another room. Cara follows the two into a much quiet room.

She also notices a girl seated in her own cubicle, who stands up when she sees Xander. "Sir, you are welcome." She says with a bright smile on her face. Xander simply nods acknowledging her presence but didn't stop to look at her. "C-coffee?" She offers as they were all about to work into another room.

Xander and Andre ignore the offer as they walk inside. Cara turns to the girl, who she believes to be Xander's secretary, with a smile on her face, just to be friendly. Cara can only imagine how hard it will be to be working for the ass but she is met by a scowl.

Cara just rolls her eyes as she walks into a well-spaced room. Even though Cara doesn't care what people think of her, she can't help but wonder why she is being hated on by every employee in this building.

Well, fuck them.

She scans the room as the men continue their conversation. The room is simple, white walls and white couches placed around a glass table, with notes in the middle, then a platform where a leather chair and wooden desk is placed. There is also a small bookshelf near the wooden desk with lots of old books, then the chocolate-coloured blinds which allow for adequate lighting.

Boring, and it is definitely Xander's office.

"And that's what the team and I came up with." Andre finishes off. Cara turns to the men, noticing that they have finished talking.

"That can work." Xander nods in acceptance of the plan, while Cara stands watching them like an alien.

Why was she even forced to be here?

"Forgive my manners, I am Andre." Andre steps down from the platform to meet Cara at the couch area, which his hands stretched forth. "And you must be the crazy girl."

Normal people will find those words insulting but Cara sees it as a compliment. "I am Cara." She shakes his surprisingly soft hands. She tilted her head towards Xander's direction with a fake smile on her lips, "And thanks for the description."

"You are welcome." He mirrors her smile.

"You can go ahead and prep her for the interview." Xander waves them off, which Cara would have found rude but she is more concerned about "THE INTERVIEW".

~~~

"Is she ready?" Xander asks as Andre and Cara get back into his office. Cara is ready, she has crammed answers to possible questions faster than she ever did in high school, not that she took high school seriously. She was forced into a flowery knee-length sundress and ankle boots.

She looked at herself in the mirror and she wanted to puke.

"I am," Cara announces, which makes Xander turn to her. He feeds his eyes on her look, from head to toe in a not so subtle way.

Cara melts at his gaze, the man is really intimidating.

"Good." He picks up his jacket from his leather chair, stepping down from the platform to where the two are. Cara rolls her eyes, he could least say she looked good or something, be a gentleman for once.

"Nice job Andre, she looks less like a criminal." He says as he walks out of the room.

Oh no, he did not just say that.

At the rate the A-hole is going, Cara is mentally planning his murder and how she will get away with it. Probably push him down the long stairs of his house, amputate every part of his body, then burn him in his fireplace and then get rid of his remains. She has to make sure Jon is not going around when she carries out this task.

"What he means to say is that you look beautiful." Andre smiles as he walks towards the door, holding it open for her.

"What a gentleman," Cara says loudly, so Xander who's outside the door could hear.

"The reporter is ready for a juicy exclusive story." Andre gestures to the woman seating the conference room which was a madhouse minutes ago, now as silent as a grave.

"Let's do this, boyfriend." Cara wiggles her eyebrows as she takes his arm into her just to piss Xander off.

~~

"Can we start?" The interviewer, who introduced herself has Loren to the seated duo starts off.

"Yeah," They both affirm. She gestures to her cameraman to start rolling which was Cara's cue to get into character as the loving girlfriend, which isn't going to be hard for Cara because she was born for the spotlight.

"I am Loren Mendes and I am here with Alexander Black and his..." The interviewer spots not sure of the word to address Cara with.

"His girlfriend," Cara saves her, as she says with a smile. She turns to Xander taking his hand into his.

"Girlfriend, Cara Green." She finishes, "I must say, you guys look good together." She complements the fake couple.

"Thanks." Cara blushes, staring at Xander with heart eyes.

"But you guys have to help us understand what is going on. Yesterday was chaotic in the media scene, words like baby mama, dead beat, one-night stand, cheater was thrown and now we are using the word couple. Explain this to us." She gestures at the pair.

Cara and Xander look at each other, one will think they rehearsed the way they begin to laugh at the same time, at some non-existent inside joke.

Cara is kind of impressed by Xander's acting; well, it mustn't be anything new to him. He must have to pretend every day since he is under the microscope of the media.

"Let me in on the joke guys." Loren urges the cute couple.

"Yesterday's drama was a dare, this asshole," Cara playfully nudges Xander who gives a cheeky grin. "Believes I am too shy, so he pushed me to do that but I feel bad at how it escalated."

"Babe, you shouldn't. You were amazing, I was in shook. You can pass off for an actress because you killed it, it could be your introduction into the acting world." Xander smiles, as he interlaces their fingers into each other.

Wow, he really is good.

"You guys are killing me with your cuteness." Loren teases. "But was quite an expensive dare, heard you lost some contracts."

"And also a thousand dollars in dare to her," He winks at Cara.

"Guilty." Cara giggles.

"Contracts go and come, plus it was fun to get people worked up. You should see my publicist and manager, felt like they were going to fire me." Xander jokes as the room burst into laughter.

"So you are not pregnant," Loren asks Cara.

"Oh, I am and we couldn't be happier," Cara says smiling at Xander. "We have known for a week now and Xander has been so supportive and annoying." Cara rolls her eyes dramatically, Loren lets out a laugh.

"He wouldn't let me do anything." This is Cara's cue to send Xander's heart eyes and she did.

"Awww," Loren gushes. "What about Liza? We just found out last week that you guys have broken up and now she's claiming you cheated."

"That's Liza's truth. Liza and I had officially called it quits a month ago and I was totally single when I met the love of my life." Xander winks as Cara half cover her face pretending to be shy.

"You guys are so cute. Now, stop reminds me that I am single." Loren pouts. "Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to sit with us."

"It's our pleasure." Cara gives a wide grin.

"Before we go, can our new couple give us a kiss?" Loren says. Cara heads snaps towards Xander's direction.

A kiss? She didn't plan for a kiss.