"Hunter and I are not dating!" I practically yell out

Nicole quickly stands up from her desk.

"Why not?! 'Enemies to lovers'! It's a foolproof plan!" She exclaims

I give the woman an appalled facial expression.

"We do not like each other!" I say as if it is not obvious enough

Nicole scoffs.

"That video of you two at the mall shows otherwise" she says

I groan out with annoyance at the words that leave her mouth.

Ugh! Not her too!

I have had no peace this week!

Every time I leave my apartment complex I am instantly swarmed with paparazzi.

Yesterday I went out around two in the morning to go to the recording studio and I was barely able to do that without being swarmed.

How did they even find the location of my recording studio?!

"The video is clearly biased" I stress

Nicole reaches over to her laptop where she quickly types something. This only takes a few seconds before she turns said screen to face me.

On her laptop screen is a photo of Hunter and I holding hands, Hunter focused on something behind the camera and my hand somewhat shielding my eyes.

Nicole clicks the 'next' button on said laptop.

A photo of my nails digging into Hunter's flannel covered bicep comes into frame. One of my hands are completely shielding my eyes while the other is attached to the actress. Hunter appears to be more annoyed in this photo.

Nicole clicks the 'next ' button one last time.

This photo is similar to the last one, the only difference being that Hunter is obviously pushing one of the photographers out of the way.

'McKenna King and Delaney Carson dating?!'

'Is Delaney Carson McKenna's new conquest?'

'Frenemies or bed buddies?'

'Delaney Carson is gay?!'

'Delaney Carson and McKenna King's feud over?!'

These are just a few of the words plastered on the photos.

"Those photos are taken out of context!" I stress to her

Nicole rolls her eyes as she turns her computer screen back around to face her.

"It doesn't matter, the photos have been out for a week now and paparazzi are still hanging outside the building"

I cross my arms in front of my stomach.

"What do you want me to do about that? They think that I am lying!" I throw my arms up with frustration

Nicole goes to answer my question only to be interrupted by her phone.

She does not waste a second, quickly picking up said phone.

The woman is silent as she listens to the person on the other side.

This silence lasts for five seconds maximum.

"Send him back, we'll meet him at the room" she says before hanging up

I furrow my eyebrows at the woman.

"Who is 'him'?" I ask

The woman smirks at my question as she makes her way towards her office door.

"A really good friend of yours" she opens said door

I follow her out of said office.

My shock is unimaginable as my eyes land on this 'him'.

"Wesley?" I question

The blonde haired boy gives me a guilty smile.

"Hi Delaney" he gives me a singular wave

I go to ask him why he is here only to be interrupted by Nicole.

"Wesley Williams? Nicole Hansen of 'Nicole Hansen Entertainment'," she holds out her hand

Wesley, noticing that she wants him to shake her hand, shakes her hand.

"It's wonderful to meet you, I'm sure you've met my talent Delaney Carson," she continues

I glance between the two of them with curiosity.

Why does it feel like she is trying to make a deal with him?

"I'd appreciate it if you stepped into this room, you as well Delaney" she smiles as she leads us in

I can already tell that this is not going to go well.

-

"Let's cut to the chase,"

"We could use all of this attention on Delaney's relationship with Hunter to reveal that you two are actually dating! None of them will see it coming!" Nicole smiles as if she just came up with the best idea in the whole entire world

I just stare at the older woman.

I am too shocked to say anything anymore.

"We are just friends Nicole!" I eventually stress

She rolls her eyes at my answer.

"You two don't have to actually date, you just have to make the public think that you're dating. It'll bring more attention to the movie, not to mention that it'll bring you more album sales and followers!" Nicole lists off

I bring one of my hands up to rest on my forehead.

At this point she is not even listening to me!

I suddenly feel Wesley's hand on my wrist.

This action causes me to look up at him, his blue eyes giving me a pleading expression.

Why does he need this ridiculous deal so bad?

"I'll give you two a minute to discuss" Nicole says as she makes her way out of the glass room

I wait until the door closes behind said woman to speak.

"What are you hiding from me?" I question

The blonde haired boy sighs as he turns his rolling chair to face me.

"I haven't told anyone this because it's not my place to," he starts off

His eyes lock with mine. This is the first time I have seen him heartbroken.

"My mom is currently going through chemotherapy and it's not cheap, it's more expensive than my grandmother and I expected" he reveals

I cross one of my legs over the other as I sit up straighter in my chair.

"I do not understand why we have to pretend to date to solve your financial problems" I state

Wesley nods.

"Nicole offered me three hundred thousand dollars if I say 'yes' to this" he informs me

I quickly furrow my eyebrows at this information.

"When did she offer you three hundred thousand dollars?"

An uncomfortable expression settles itself on Wesley's face at this question.

"Yesterday"

Unbelievable!

"Have you two come to an agreement?" Nicole asks as she enters the room again

I tense my jaw with anger, wanting to seem professional in front our guest.

Wesley silently gives me a pleading look.

I sigh at this.

"We have decided to go along with this publicity stunt" I cannot help but call it what it is

Wesley smiles gratefully at me.

"Amazing!" She says

I am surprised when she plops a vanilla colored envelope down in front of me.

"What is that?" Wesley asks

I open said envelope my eyes immediately landing on the words 'contract agreement'.

She wants us to sign a contract?!

"A contract to solidify this agreement. We wouldn't want someone going off and publicly breaking up with the other person without acknowledging me about it" I hear the bitterness in her tone

I glare up at the older woman, realizing that she is talking about my relationship with Sean.

Wesley, not noticing this, grabs the pen and signs his signature on the line.

I accept the pen after he is done, signing my name next to his.

"Great!" Nicole says, slamming the envelope closed before I can read it further

"I'll get all of this finalized, meanwhile I need you two to go out and be seen together in public" she smiles

"Delaney's bodyguard will take you wherever."

-

"Can I?" Wesley asks

I glance at him only to realize that he wants me to hold his hand.

I grab ahold of his outstretched hand as my bodyguard opens the door to the management corporation.

Wesley and I are immediately blinded by the paparazzi flashes.

My bodyguard tries his best to shield us from said flashes but his priority is making sure we do not get trampled.

"Delaney are you dating Wesley Williams or McKenna King?!"

"Delaney Carson entered the building alone but left with a new beau!"

"Wesley Williams and Delaney Carson seen exiting the building hand in hand!"

"Delaney Carson moved on from McKenna King in a matter of days?!"

"Delaney Carson must seriously love her costars! First McKenna now Wesley?! I wonder who'll be next!"

"How long have you and Wesley been dating?!"

"Is this a publicity stunt?! Was your outing with McKenna one as well?!"

My bodyguard opens the door which I thank him for.

Wesley helps me climb into the backseat of the black SUV, following suit when I am completely inside of said vehicle.

I hear a bunch of the paparazzi yell my name out as the door closes.

It is relatively silent in the vehicle, the only noise being from the rowdy paparazzi outside of it.

I assume that Wesley figures out I am unhappy.

"What's wrong Delaney?" He asks in a soft tone

I turn away from the heavily tinted window to face the blonde haired boy.

It takes me a moment but I eventually figure out that he genuinely wants to know.

"Its just...the next time I got into a public relationship I hoped that it would be with someone that I actually had strong feelings for" I reveal with hesitance

I do not want him to feel bad.

None of this is his fault. I just need to put my foot down with Nicole.

I just hope that she does not try to sue me for it, again.