Pucked At First Sight

Chapter 1

Jasmine

“I’m telling you, it was nothing!” Destiny’s voice cracks slightly. 

“Well, that’s not what everyone else is saying. So, what exactly did happen?” I reply. I’m ready for some long-winded explanation. Destiny’s always the type to spin wild tales about her male escorts. Sometimes, I wonder if it’s for her as much as it’s for anyone else. 

“All I did was say hi, that I’m a fan, and that he’s cuter in person than in his photos. That’s it. He gave me a hug, posed for a picture, and I was on my way.”

“So the photo in the Morning Star was just him going in for a hug? It almost looks like you guys were about to do more than that.”

“Trust me, sis, it’s not like that! Yes, he’s cute, but I would never cheat. Especially not out in public! You know me better than that!”

I pause for a little while. Destiny isn’t really the type to lie to my face. Yes, she’s a gossipy flirt who all the boys chase after, but she’s also loyal. I know she wouldn’t want to do something like that to her husband. 

I glance at the paper on my desk. The headline reads, West Spotted with New Girl. He and Destiny look like they’re just about to make out or just finished swapping spit. Their faces are close and his hands are almost wrapped around her butt. 

“You’re right. The boys always couldn’t keep their hands off you. It’s still high school all over again.” I sigh. I know she’s telling the truth, but this photo seems like a bit more than just some gentle flirting.

“You’re still on that? It’s been so long since high school. I can’t even remember half the guys’ names I went out with!” Destiny replied. 

“You don’t remember Dante? How he dated me for three weeks just so he could get closer to you? You don’t remember how I had him over one time and he ‘accidentally’ bumped into you just outside the bathroom?”

“Yes, of course, I remember that. But it’s not like I dated him after that or anything. He was a total creep, and I told you to dump his ass.”

“I remember you guys getting a little handsy at a dance after we broke up.” As I speak, memories keep flooding back into my head. 

“Oh my God, you’re such a child! Nothing happened, and you always want to make it seem like something is way more than it is! I called you because I need some advice, and now you’re just throwing stuff in my face from fifteen years ago!”

Her words sting a little bit. I guess I have some unresolved resentment toward my sister. But she’s always the prettiest, always gets the most attention, and always has the easiest life. I have to work for everything I have, while it’s always handed to her. 

Like with this tabloid story about her and Cameron West. A superstar hockey player gets caught with his arms around her waist, and they were just flirting? A guy like West probably wouldn’t even look my way if I was shouting at him. 

But still, she’s in a bind. What kind of sister would I be if I just left her hanging? 

“Okay, I’ll do some digging and see what the buzz is in the PR circuit. But, there’s always a chance this could just blow over. Assuming you and Cameron aren’t spotted in a compromising position again,” I remark blithely. 

“As if. It was a chance meeting. It’s not like we run in the same circles or anything. I didn’t even give him my number.” 

“I know. It’s all just tabloid fodder. I’ll dig around and let you know what’s going on. For the time being, just try to keep a low profile. Others will start looking for you, so you need to be careful.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep out of sight. I need to mend my marriage right now more than anything. He still doesn’t really believe me.” Destiny sighs. 

If I were him, I would be pretty suspicious, too. He definitely married up, and I don’t think he has the confidence to take her at her word. 

I hang up the phone and look again at the photo. It’s always so hard to tell what’s going on from a still image. With the right angle and lens, a talented pro can make anyone look like they’re doing anything. 

Suddenly, the phone rings again. Did she forget to tell me something? 

“Hello?” I answer. 

“I need to see you. My office, right now.” My boss is never one to mince words. He hangs up immediately, and I hear the dial tone. 

“On my way,” I mutter under my breath. No time to even wait for a response, huh?

I step into David’s office, unsure about why he called me in. He and I haven’t been on the best terms. It always seems like he has it out for me, giving me the worst assignments possible. I always just keep my head down, waiting and hoping for a good opportunity. 

“Have you seen this?” David tosses The Morning Star toward me. I catch it and see Destiny’s photo with Cameron. 

“Um, yeah, I have. I was actually just talking with my sister about it.”

“And what did she say? Are they seeing each other?”

“No! No, nothing like that. She says it was an innocent meeting and that Cameron was just a little handsy, that’s all.”

“How would you like to land a real account?” David asks.

My heart stops for a second. Today started off like any other, but it sounds like it could become a game-changer. 

“What do you mean?” I try to keep my cool, but my nerves are shot. This could literally make or break my career here. 

“Well, I got a call from the owner of the Manchester Nighthawks. It seems like this little photo is causing quite the controversy. Cameron West canoodling with a married woman.”

“They know she’s married?” I ask. 

“They know everything they need to know. What they don’t know is that you’re her sister and that you work for me. I can use this incident to take our firm to the next level. Sit down.” He motions for me to sit as he returns to his chair. 

“I’m going to be honest with you, Jasmine. I’m not sure you’re ready for the big leagues, but when an opportunity like this falls in my lap, I’m not going to ignore it.”

As I sit, I’m a bit taken aback by his comments. Maybe he would think better of me if he didn’t keep giving me crap assignments. My last client was a bakery getting sued for not wanting to make a bachelorette party cake. Not exactly hard-hitting PR material. 

Nonetheless, I’m curious where he’s going with it. If the Nighthawks are our client, where do I fit in with this?

“Here’s what I’m thinking. He was spotted with your sister, and now everyone is wondering who she is and why they were together. But we may have a unique perspective.” He pauses for a second, trying to find the right words. 

“What if you were engaged to Cameron West?”

My jaw drops, and my heart sinks. What the hell is he talking about? “I’m a little confused?” I ask. 

“Look, the team owner is tired of West’s shenanigans off the ice, and he wants him to be more of a polished, upstanding citizen type. So, if he were getting married, that would make him a bit more respectable in the public’s eyes.”

“But why me? I’ve never even met him?”

“Because of your sister. She wasn’t flirting or making out with him or whatever. Instead, he was just hanging out with his sister-in-law. Nothing wrong with that. Then, we can put you and him front and center. Everyone will forget the tabloid and focus on your new budding relationship.”

The logistics of this plan seem a bit flawed in my mind, but like David said, I shouldn’t waste a golden opportunity when it falls in my lap. 

“So, what does that mean exactly? Like what’s the next move?” I ask. 

“Well, assuming that you’re into the idea, and you should be if you want to move up in this firm, then we’ll schedule a meeting with the Nighthawks tomorrow. We can fill everyone in and work out the kinks of the plan.”

“Um, okay. I guess that’s the plan then. What time tomorrow?” 

“I’ll call the owner right now. I want to get ahead of this, so first thing in the morning. We have to strike while the iron’s hot before the tabloids move onto the next story of the week.”

I stand up and try to shake David’s hand. “You’re dismissed,” he remarks as he picks up the phone. 

“Okay, uh, well, thank you. I’m excited about this opportunity,” I reply. He nods his head and starts dialing. 

As I walk out of his office, my mind is racing. 

This whole thing just turned out to be a win-win. Not only do I get the biggest account the firm has ever seen, but now I’ll be the one getting all the attention from the tabloids. Yes, Destiny will get out of the spotlight and save her marriage, but I know she’ll be madly jealous about the whole thing. 

I also think about Tom, my ex. When we broke up six months ago, I secretly swore that I would make him regret losing me. Now, I have to imagine his face when he sees Cameron West wrapped around me in public. 

For once, Destiny’s flirtatious nature actually benefited other people around her. It’s always made our relationship catty and somewhat petty, but part of me is glad that she caught Cameron’s eye. 

Now, I just have to figure out how I can play along with this. If it were Destiny, she would play the part like a pro. But I’ve never pretended to be in love with someone before. 

Am I getting in over my head?