C9 Nine

Nicole Vargas

"You better explain to me why I suddenly became your girlfriend. Do I need to remind you what had happened earlier this morning?"

The moment we were alone I started firing questions at Ethan. I was so confused and lost when he opened his mouth in front of Mrs. Athena and I suddenly became his loving girlfriend. We were already five minutes in the car and he didn't even bother to answer me. Jerk.

Ethan drove silently through the busy streets of New York. He ignored all my questions and glares. How can someone be immune to my glares. My glares were deadly.

"Want something to eat?" He asked as if I hadn't just asked a question. He looked at me amusingly. "Anger suits you, princess."

At this point I was about to burst out in anger. I hated when someone thought that I was cute when I was actually silently planning their death. Ethan from years ago was way easier to figure out, than current Ethan. But still, I love and hate him at the same time. And why is he acting like this? Or is he like this? "Why didn't you tell her that you are with Veronika huh? She's girlfriend material, isn't she?"

Ethan looked at me and frowned. His expression was unreadable. "Veronika? Girlfriend? Seriously, you believe in the rumors?"

I almost wanted to bang my head on the window. This morning he was praising the Russian Model and now he's telling me they're not dating. What kind of mind games is he playing with me?

"Rumors? You told me!" I yelled, throwing my hands in the air. "Damn it, Ethan! Quit being so confusing and tell me why you had to tell Mrs. Athena such a lie!"

"Those were your assumptions, princess. I never confirmed that Veronika was my girlfriend. And the reason why I told Rose you're my girlfriend? Rose is getting old and she wants to see me settle down with someone who brings the good out in me. You know the crap that old people want for you. Well, she's not exactly fond by Veronika. As you may know, Veronika doesn't really care about the people around her. She's really full of herself. Rose never bothered to hide her distaste about Veronika." Ethan told me, his eyes still fixed on the road. I waited for him to continue, but he just stopped there.

Great, what should I do with that information? I rummaged through my purse to find my lip gloss. When I found it I turned my attention back to Ethan.

"That did not answer my question, Mr. Gray," I muttered, applying lip gloss on my lips. The way his last name sound, was so sexy. Oh god, did I just say that Ethan's last name sounds sexy coming out of my mouth? I think I should wash my mouth with soap when I arrive home. This is not good. Why do I get thoughts like this?

"Rose is sick okay and I'm trying to fulfill her last wish. And that's me having a girlfriend."

I turned my head back to Ethan. My eyes widen and my mouth wide open. "You're not serious."

Ethan scoffed. "Why would I joke about sickness, Miss Vargas?"

The way he pronounced my last name send shivers down my spine. It just rolled so perfectly out of his mouth. What the hell am I thinking? I shook my head so I could come back to my senses. "You could hire someone to pretend to be your girlfriend. Now every time we're going to meet Mrs. Athena I need to act like I'm madly in love with you." And I don't want to act like your goddamn girlfriend because in the end, I'm the one that's going to end up hurting.

"I hope you're good in acting." he casually replied. "And why would I hire someone to be my girlfriend? I mean you are here to fulfill that job, aren't you? There's no going back now, Nicole. What do you want Rose to think of me? That I'm jumping from one girl to another? Nah-ah, not happening."

I rolled my eyes and cursed inwardly. "I graduated in Fashion Design, not Drama."

"Your whole life is drama, Nicole." Ethan chuckled, glancing over at me. I send him a glare and he chuckled softly. Now that I took a better look at him. Ethan looks quite handsome, but like isn't he always. He wore his work attire, of course, his black Armani suit. His signature smirk that's always present on his face, making all the girls bow down like peasants. Well, except for me. The only thing I want to do is wipe it off his face, like how I want to wipe off the eyebrows of all the girls who annoy the hell out of me.

"Ugh Shut up!" I leaned back in the seat and put my feet up on the dashboard. Ethan saw it but didn't say anything. Great, because even if he would I wouldn't even care. Because I'm a princess, and princesses get what they want. My stomach suddenly made a loud whale sound. I looked over at Ethan, but he didn't seem to notice. Damn, I forgot that I haven't had breakfast this morning. I was hungry and didn't Ethan mention something about food earlier? I was so mad at him that I totally forgot to answer that question."You have mentioned something about getting food earlier, my answer is yes."

It was silent for a second before Ethan burst out laughing. His laugh was so contagious that I started to laugh too. He shook his head and murmured, "You're really something else, Nicole."

Moments later we arrived at Buvette, a French restaurant. I stepped out of the car and Ethan waited for me on the other side. He extended his hand to me which made me raise my eyebrows in confusion. Since when did he became so friendly? "We should practice being in love, Nicole," he said snapping me out of my thoughts.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot that I was his 'girlfriend '. Why did I even agree to do this? I rolled my eyes and placed my hand in his. His hand was big with callus spots here and there, while mine were small and soft. The moment our hands touched, I could feel sparks igniting in my stomach.

Oh no, this is not good. My stomach tickled as he intertwined our fingers. The ticklish feeling in my stomach. I knew exactly what it means, it was the so-called butterflies in your stomach.

We were just holding hands, and I already get these feelings. I don't think I can do this. But it's too late now. And I'm already screwed.

Oh god, help me!