NINETEEN: DATING PLANS

KIMBERLY




The ride back to the McGillivary's mansion was quiet. Liam kept staring at his phone, while Aiden kept driving as slowly as possible. I didn't know much about the McGillivarys or anything about Miss McGillivary but from the reaction of these guys, she might be a pain in the ass. I wondered why even her son seem so agitated by the news of her arrival. I would be glad if my mother traveled and was coming back home, even though we were not the best of friends.

Liam quickly left the car when we arrived at the mansion, not bothering to get the door for me. I smiled and nodded as he strode towards the front door. I should have known that we are out of public eyes and his gentility has ended. Aiden waited for me to get out of the car, and he led me towards the front door where Liam had long disappeared. We went up the stairs and through the complicated maze of the house. I wouldn't say I liked the atmosphere, but I followed obediently.


Liam was already seated on the couch in the huge study tugging at his tie when Aiden and I went in. I wondered if his mother was that bad. Aiden gestured me to a seat across from Liam and I went and sat quietly. Whatever it was, I hope I was not going to be involved. Liam took a deep breath and Aiden took a seat beside me. Liam finally remembered I was there and looked up at me, I stared back, and he closed his eyes temporarily and rubbed his temple.

"My mother is coming here tomorrow," he paused, opened his eyes, and looked at me.

I didn't know if he expected me to say anything, but I kept quiet, I didn't know what to say anyway. They have given me this information before, I wanted to know why I should be scared of the woman and why Liam seemed so restless knowing that his mother was coming back the next day, maybe because of how sudden it was.

"And she would want to see you," he said and looked at me again. I still stared back not knowing if I should say anything or not. He finally got rid of his tie and flung it away from him. "You need to change."

"I don't understand," I said.

"Kim, you have to change everything about you, your name, your hair, dresses, just to fit in," Aiden explained.

"Why? What's wrong with me? What's wrong with being me?"

"Everything..."

"Nothing is wrong with being you," Aiden cut Liam off, eyed him, and turned to face me. "Listen, Kim...I don't know how to explain this but, to be Liam's girlfriend, you need to look the part. Mrs. McGillivary is a very strict woman and won't tolerate..."

"I think I get where you are going. I have to change who I am because the original me is not good enough for him?" I waved towards Liam, avoiding his gaze and avoiding calling his name.

Aiden looked trapped but he nodded. Liam looked indifferent, he seemed to be indifferent about how I felt. To him, I should just be okay with changing me just to fit into his status. He was more concerned about the arrival of his mother. I was aghast for a while and then I found my voice.

"I'm not doing it."

"Why?" Liam asked shooting me a look and sitting up.

"I can't just do it. I am not sophisticated enough, I can't act it, I can't even pretend, I would be nervous and I stutter a lot."

"You should have thought of all this when you were lying to the camera," Liam said.

"Liam, this is not the time for this, we have a day to save," Aiden cautioned.

Liam glared at Aiden for a while, then relaxed back and folded his arms across his chest. Aiden turned to me again and smiled.

"Please, Kim, this is part of your contract, you need to learn to fit in here. You are going to be seen with Liam a lot and you need to create a convincing story. I watched you when you were talking to the press about your relationship with Liam, you seemed confident, you looked so bold that no one would have guessed it was a lie. I just want you to bring out that confidence."

Everything I agreed to here was because of Aiden. I wished it was him I was doing this with, instead of this arrogant man sitting in front of me. I sneaked a surreptitious look at him, he was on his phone now, doing something else.

"So, let's say I agree to this, where am I going to start from?"

"I have contacts," Liam said without looking up from his phone." I stared at him and Aiden nudged him. He raised his face looked at me and looked back at Aiden. "What?"

"This is time to concentrate, Liam, stop chatting with those girls, they won't help you now."

Liam tossed his phone to his side and crossed his legs this time. He looked straight at me. "I said I have contacts, I know people that deal in clothes, shoes, bags, people that could transform her in hours."

"Another thing Kim, you won't answer Kim for now, you will have to change your name," Aiden said.

I slowly relaxed on the chair. I have given up at this point. "So, what name am I supposed to answer?"

"We are going to search for a name that would suit you. I will look up some Italian names, some of their rich businessmen and we would be good...one more thing, " Aiden said and paused, looking from me to Liam. Even Liam seemed confused and his brows furrowed. "You will have to move in with Liam."

"What?!" Liam and I chorused, staring at Aiden with wide eyes.

"There's no way that is going to happen, my parents won't allow me to stay in a man's house," I said.

"Liam is not going to bite you and his room is large enough for the both of you."

"Aiden, how could that happen? You know how much I love my privacy and orderliness"

Was he suggesting I was clumsy? Who was he to judge me without knowing me? Aiden seemed to read my mind because he started to salvage the situation. I think he does that a lot, covering Liam's messes. I even hated thinking of his name.

"Liam, I'm sure Kim is a careful person. This is just temporary until your mother leaves again. I doubt she would stay a week here. If you just play your parts well, we shall have nothing to worry about."

"So, shall we proceed in getting you transformed?" Liam asked focusing on me.

I glared at him, my knuckles tightening around the chain handle of my purse, I was sure my knuckles must have gone white.