My Fake Girlfriend - Chapter #1 - Free To Read

"Athena, we need two salmon steaks." The head chef said and I gave him a thumbs up. I quickly did my thing. I'm a chef in a really famous fine dining restaurant called Skye. It's a  fine dining restaurant.

I always wanted to be a chef and now I'm 25 years old getting my dream job. My dad is a  chef too and he has his own restaurant in New York. My family are all in New York while I'm alone in LA. Why? I want to have my own experience without leeching to my dad. I don't want him to help me. I don't want people to hire me because of my dad. My two brothers came here to LA every  month to check on me because my parents worried too much.

They always call every 3 days, just to check on me. I'm glad that I have a family who supports me in everything I do. My dad taught me all the basic things and I'm grateful for it. My mom is a  designer, she used to hope that I would be like her but she supports me one hundred percent. As for my brothers, the eldest Jayson is an architect and my second brother, Jackson, is a  doctor.

"Athena, 3 carbonara and another salmon steak!" The head chef said. Order kept coming and there's no stopping.

"One Lobster mac and cheese."

"Two Lasagna."

"One Mushroom soup."

"Three Fish and Chips."

I bet I cooked all the food on the menu tonight. I'm not complaining at all. I love my job but  I just need 5 minutes to breathe.

"Athena, come on!" I passed the plate and he gave me a nod. There are 5 professional chefs here and we all worked well as a team. Order kept coming and suddenly I was stopped by Minnie. She's our manager and she gestured to me to stop everything.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Please follow me." She said in a serious tone. I gulped nervously because I'm pretty sure I didn't make any mistakes.

"But...can it wait?" I asked.

"It's the boss' order."

"Boss?" I asked.

"Yes, our boss." Minnie gestured to me to follow her fast. She led me out from the kitchen to the  floor.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"I don't know. Please keep up the pace..." I followed her and she brought me to a small meeting room. She knocked on the door and gestured for me to go in. I opened the door and my eyes widened.

"Anderson?" I looked at him in disbelief.

"Hello Athena." He smirked as he got up from his seat.

"What are you doing here, Ares?" I asked.

Ares Anderson is my highschool friend. We're friends, nothing more. He's the most popular guy at school. He's a playboy and he always changes his girls like he changes his clothes. Now that 's all grown up, girls are leeching to him for his money. He's still popular until now, he's all over the magazine and all over the celebrity news.

"Athena, how are you?" He asked as he pulled me into a hug. I looked at him suspiciously.

"Sit down, please." He said.

"You're my boss?" I asked and he nodded. "Okay, that kinda makes sense."

"You like your job?"

"Of course, or else I won't work here." I stated the obvious.

"Because you're fired." He said and my jaw dropped. I looked at him confused because I'm  sure that I didn't do anything wrong.

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked.

"From now on, I want you to be my fake girlfriend." He said like it's nothing.

"Excuse me?" I looked at him in disbelief.

"My fake girlfriend." He repeated and I looked at him coldly.

"I heard it, I'm not deaf."

"Agree to it then.." He said proudly like I'm going to agree to it that easy.

"No." I said and Ares' face was priceless. He didn't see it coming. I bet he never got any  before.

"No?"

"No, I'm not doing your stupid plan. Why would I be your fake girlfriend? You can pick others , they will do it in a heartbeat." I said and he sighed.

"That's the point, Athena. I don't like those girls, I want you to be my fake girlfriend. I know you can keep  a secret and I already checked your background. You have a clean and good background to begin with. Your father-"

"You're looking into my background?" I cut him and I wanted to smack the shit out of him.

"Of course, I need a likable girlfriend to bring home to my family."

"What if I can't keep a secret and why me?"

"You can, I know you're capable of this." He smirked and I rolled my eyes.

"No."

"You have to, I already fired you," he said matter of factly.

"That's not fair, Ares! You can't just fire me and expect me to.. agree with you!"

"You have to."

"No. I'll just look for another job."

"You can't. I bought a place for your new restaurant. Just take it as my payment for you to be my  girlfriend." My jaw dropped again and I sat down because I can't believe what’s happening.

"No, I don't need your money or that restaurant."

"It won't be hard, I promise. All you need to do is stand beside me and treat me like I'm your boyfriend . I'll pay you too and give you this restaurant for free." He said and I looked at him .

"No."

"How about I already told your dad that you have a new restaurant that you bought on your own?" He smiled.

"You did not!"

"Call him.." He said and I sighed.

"How long do you need me for?"

"6 months." He said as he sat down in front of me.

"That restaurant is mine by then?"

"Yes. It's all yours."

"Will there be a contract for something?" I asked. He took out a file from a bag behind him. He gave it to me.

"What is this?"

"Contract and some regulations for this…relationship." He pointed at the both of us. I opened it  and I saw that he already wrote my name and that we will be dating for 6 months. I turned the pages  and saw that there are rules too.

He doesn't want to make this relationship public. He wants me to join him in everything family related . He wants me to not contact him for personal matters. He doesn't want me to tell anyone. He doesn't want me to have a boyfriend during the whole period that we're dating. There will be some skinship involved so I have to be ready.

"Any questions?" He asked.

"You're basically just using me as your trophy?" I asked.

"Yes, something like that." I scoffed.

"We won't be a couple in public, you don't need to worry." He said.

"Okay."

"So I sign this here?" I asked and he nodded. I signed the contract without thinking twice. I don't know  what's in my head a few seconds ago but I hope I don't regret it.

"Good girl." He smiled. I gave the file to him and he signed it too. I got up but he stopped me.

"I'll text you about the restaurant."

"You don't even have my number." I looked at him, raising my eyebrows.

"Give it to me then."

"No."

"That's what I thought. I'll text you tonight, girlfriend." He smirked and I left the room.