“Well,” said Cambridge. “They’re real in the sense that they’re legal and everything. But no, they’re not real. And usually the stars and celebrities go on dating whoever they were dating before the fake arranged marriage. But the important thing is that the couple is seen together, going out to dinner, walking the dog, that sort of thing. Usually it’s necessary for them to live together.”
“And they just live like roommates?” said Colton, astounded. He had never suspected that this was the case with all the celebrity couples he had heard about. Although, granted, Colton didn’t exactly follow celebrity news that closely. Sometimes he merely happened to glance at a tabloid cover in the grocery store or something like that. But he had to admit that what Cambridge was saying, no matter how strange, had a certain ring of truth to it…it made sense in a way, since almost all the celebrity news he could remember from the last decade was about some famous couple getting married or getting divorced.
“Well, yes,” said Cambridge. “They usually are supposed to be like that, celibate. And most of them are dating other people at the time. But you’d be surprised how often I’ve had to deal with one of these celebrity couples falling in love for real. I guess close proximity and constant contact actually does often make love…”
“Wow,” said Colton, not knowing what to say. After a pause, he said, “So why are you telling me all this?”
“Really? Colton? I never thought you were dumb, but I guess bull riding is more your specialty. I’m telling you all this because this is exactly what we’re going to do for you. We’ve arranged the woman already….your wife.”
“My what?”
“Your wife, Colton. Come on now, think about it. You’re just starting your celebrity career, really. There’s really nothing else you can do to get into the papers except for marrying someone whose career has already taken off…someone whose career is leaps and bounds ahead of yours. You’re going to get all her publicity…and basically for free. I’ve worked out a very good deal with her agent. The whole thing is already set up. All you have to do is sign the marriage license. In these types of cases, we like to say that the marriage ceremony was a special and private affair for only friends and family. That way, we don’t have to go to all the trouble and expense of actually making a fake ceremony. You can imagine how much of a pain that would be, can’t you?”
“I guess so…” said Colton, not saying anything more for the moment. His head was spinning. This all sounded so crazy, so intense, so over-the-top. He knew he couldn’t go on riding bulls forever, but he had thought becoming a celebrity would have been a lot simpler. He thought it was simply about getting the right agent and appearing in some commercials here and there, maybe some sitcom guest appearances, or something like that. He’d never in a million years thought he’d have to ‘fake’ marry someone else. And who knew who Cambridge would have picked? It could have been someone awful, someone nasty…he had heard that celebrities were a nasty bunch, mean and demeaning to the people around them.
What would Katy think when he told her?
Shit, he had forgotten about Katy. She would kill him.
She hadn’t liked seeing those other women around him in the country bar. She sure as hell wouldn’t like another woman being married to him.
But…
Colton couldn’t ride bulls forever. He was always saying that, and it was true. Too damn true.
Colton needed this. He needed to push his career forward. He needed to do whatever it would take.
Katy would understand.
He’d make her understand. He’d explain everything to her.
“I’ll do it,” said Colton.
Cambridge took a big puff of his cigar and leaned back on the park bench and smiled.
24. KATY
I couldn’t believe it.
Colton had just come in and told me he was getting married.
I just couldn’t believe it.
Tears started pouring out of my eyes. They weren’t even welling up. They were simply streaming down across my face, making the little make-up that I was wearing smear terribly.
“How could you?” I said in a soft but terrible sad voice.
“Listen, baby,” said Colton, taking off his cowboy hat and placing it on his knee, revealing the tousled hair that only made him look more rugged, more handsome. It only made me want him more…his looks and little gestures. He was sitting next to me on my couch in my apartment. He put his arm around me, trying to put his hand on my shoulder, but I pulled away from him and kept my back well away from the back of the couch.
It felt like the world was crashing around me.
“Baby, it’s not like that…listen, it’s not like I’m leaving you. I mean, we’ve only known each other for a short time, but we’re in love. I want to be with you. I don’t want to be with anyone else. No one else. You hear me, baby? No one else.”
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t say anything. I was sobbing. The words were all gone. I didn’t have any words to say.
Colton began to explain his meeting with Cambridge Whitehead. Right away, I hated this Cambridge Whitehead man. He sounded absolutely horrible. And anyway, what kind of man could come up with a plan like this…but then again, what kind of man could accept a plan like this? I couldn’t believe that even with Cambridge’s apparently superior powers of persuasion, he would be able to convince Colton…my Colton, of a plan like this. It just sounded so fake, so cold-hearted, so calculating…
Colton continued explaining. He explained and explained, using a calm and soft voice.
By the end of it, I felt a little better. I had to admit, it had sounded terrible at first but Colton kept using phrases like “good for the both of us,” and he kept describing that whatever sort of man Cambridge Whitehead was, he was certainly very good at his job. Cambridge really knew how celebrity careers worked, and knew how to manipulate them and launch them….and also destroy them. Colton was sure that if he didn’t follow through with this plan of Cambridge’s, that Colton’s career would be over.
“And Cambridge wanted me to move to New York City, but I just couldn’t do it. He proposed the plan a week ago or so, but I just couldn’t leave you. I didn’t want to tell you, since I felt like it might sound like I was moving too fast in committing to you…but…”
“You didn’t move because of me?” I said, choking back some tears, and finally managing to speak.
Colton nodded. “That’s right, baby. I did it just for you. I mean, New York City would have been a good move for my career as a celebrity and everything, but I just couldn’t do it.”
I nodded. “I did the same thing,” I said, the tears finally starting to slow down. But my face was still covered with tears. “I was supposed to move to Napa Valley…apparently the wedding planning business is a lot better up there, you know. Apparently people are making a lot more money. But I didn’t want to do it we had just…connected, you know.”
“You mean fallen in love?” said Colton.
“Yeah,” I said.
“Wow,” said Colton. “It makes me so happy to hear you did that for me…although I hate to think the business you lost…but I’m so happy to have you here with me, baby. You have to remember this whole marriage thing is just a sham…and Cambridge says we’re going to get divorced within a month…”
“A month?” I said… It was sounding better and better. I supposed that for a guy like Colton, I could deal with him having a fake marriage for just a month to another woman.”
“Just a month, baby, and then you’re all mine.”
“And it’s all fake?” I said. “You’re not going to kiss her or have sex with her or anything.”
“None of that,” said Colton. “The whole thing is fake. We’ll just have to be seen in public holding hands or something like that.”
“And the wedding?” I said. “When is that going to be?”
“I guess Cambridge said we’re going to act like it already happened, and that it was a private affair. He said
he didn’t want to go to all the trouble of arranging a fake marriage. I suppose it’s not worth it for a month-long fake marriage.”
“But don’t you think it would be better for your career if it were a real marriage ceremony? That way the photographers could get pictures of you in your wedding suit and all that…I suppose you’ll want to wear a western suit with a bolo tie and a cowboy hat and all that.”
“I suppose that might be better yeah,” said Colton. “Why are you asking? It sounds like you’re OK with the plan now?”
“The plan definitely isn’t my favorite,” I said. “I hate the idea of seeing you with another woman, even if it’s fake and all that. But I know you have to think about your career. It’s been hard seeing you recover from your injuries…I know that it hurts you a lot more than you let on…mostly for my benefit. And I just want to see the best for you.”
Colton smiled at me. It was a deep and radiant smile, one that seemed to penetrate me to my soul.
“And if you’re going to go ahead and do the plan,” I continued. “I want to be involved. I want to help as much as possible, as much as I don’t like it. And the way I can help is by giving you a real wedding. After all, I’m a professional. It’s what I’ve been doing for years, designing these weddings. Plus, I know all about celebrity weddings. I don’t like them myself that much personally…just my personal taste. But it’s been part of my job to study up on all the celebrity weddings. Sometimes, for instance, a client will want the same kind of wedding that someone else had…”
“Wow,” said Colton. “You’d really do that for me, baby? Set up the wedding and everything?”
I held my breath for a moment, not saying anything. I felt torn on the decision. I felt a lot of pain in doing it. But I also wanted to help Colton. I wanted only the best for him, and I was willing to make this personal sacrifice for him.
“Yes,” I said. “Of course, baby.”
“That’s great,” said Colton. “Let me call Cambridge right now and let him know.”
I waited and watched as Colton picked up his cell phone to call Cambridge.
“Sounds great,” I heard Colton saying into the line.
He hung up the phone, his face shining with excitement. Cambridge says he didn’t want to do it because of the expense…but he said that if there’s already a wedding planner involved, then it will be much, much better to have a wedding than to not have one.
“Great,” I said, trying to fake the same excitement that I saw Colton showing. Inside, though, I was tearing up…it already felt painful. I didn’t want to think about the actual marriage ceremony…as the wedding planner, I would be obligated to be there. Hell, I might even have to give interviews to the press…I would have to watch Colton walk down the aisle with this woman. “I’m excited for you,” I said. “I really am.” Of course, I was lying. Lying right through my teeth, and I felt bad about it…guilty. “But I have to ask, Colton. Who’s the lucky woman?”
“Some young country singer named Sheila Tucker. Supposedly she’s already very famous, and her agent was looking to set her up with another country singer…but a rodeo star is actually supposedly more exciting for the press…all the action and injuries and all that.”
“Hmm,” I said. “Sheila Tucker, never heard of her.”
“Me neither,” said Colton, shrugging his shoulders.
25. COLTON
Colton was introduced to Sheila through his agent. They met for coffee at an out of the way place. This was just to get to know each other. The photo opportunities and press sightings would happen later. Once the wedding planning was almost complete, they could begin to be photographed together.
Colton hated to admit it, but he was struck by Sheila’s beauty right from the start. She looked very familiar. He felt like he had met her, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.
She was very young. Maybe 22 years old at the most. She had big breasts and a slim waist. She was a little ‘hotter,’ perhaps, than his Katy was. But he hated himself for thinking that…but he reconciled the feelings by telling himself that, after all, he was a man, and he had regular male desires. He couldn’t help himself admiring another woman, he thought to himself. It wasn’t like he was going to cheat on Katy. No, he would never do that. He knew himself too well. And he knew how much he cared for Katy. He couldn’t do anything like that, anything that would seriously hurt Katy.
Colton tried to remain calm and a little distant during the meeting. He needed to be polite though, and offered to pay for their coffees.
“Not necessary,” said Sheila, pulling out a hundred dollar bill. “No offense, Colton, but I make a lot more money than you do.”
“No offense taken,” said Colton.
“Anyway,” said Sheila, sitting down across the table from Colton. “I think this will be good for both our careers. At first, I was pretty hesitant about the idea.”
“Me too,” said Colton.
“But then I heard your name mentioned. That was what had done it for me, really. To be honest with you, I’ve been a fan of yours for the longest time.”
“Even before all the recent publicity?” said Colton, skeptical that she was a real fan. He thought she was either just saying she was a fan to be polite, or perhaps she had seen him in some talk show. There weren’t that many young girls who were true and serious rodeo fanatics.
“No,” said Sheila, emphatically. “I grew up around rodeo. I mean, I’m a true country girl through and through. I’ve been watching rodeo since I was 8 years old. I’ve followed all your rodeos…I stream them on my laptop if I’m abroad for a concert, and can’t watch them on TV.”
“Wow,” said Colton. “I’m actually really impressed. I didn’t think I had any fans.”
“Well I was always a fan,” said Sheila. “So I thought: who better to have a fake marriage with, other than a rodeo star you’ve had a crush forever?”
“A crush, eh?” said Colton, shifting in his seat uncomfortably. He looked down at his beat up cowboy boots.
“Yeah, a crush,” said Sheila, batting her eyes seductively. She seemed to be sticking her chest out a little, arching her back, so that her taut and youthful breasts stuck out quite a bit, looking very attractive.
“I should let you know that I’m already in a relationship,” said Colton, uncomfortably.
Sheila let out a laugh. “Don’t worry, Colton. I’m not trying to steal you away or anything. This is just for the press.
“Right,” said Colton. “Just for the press.” But he wasn’t sure about Sheila’s intentions. But despite his misgivings, everything else sounded good about the arrangement. He and Sheila went over some documents that their agents had typed up. The agents had arranged a whole schedule for them…when and where they were supposed to be sighted. The paparazzi would be tipped off, and would be expecting them at each of these locations, locations that had been carefully hand picked for the maximum effect. And not to mention the wedding…the paparazzi would be there of course, along with the best of the tabloid reporters.
Colton walked away from the meeting feeling good…this would be good for his career. Sheila’s crush on him had made him a little nervous. It wouldn’t have made him nervous if he hadn’t been attracted to her body…and her nice smile, and she seemed like a legitimately interesting person. Colton supposed you had to be an interesting person to be a singer or an artist. But he figured he could just stuff those feelings deep down. If he was careful and kept their relationship professional, then nothing could come between Katy and him.
Colton got onto his trusty Triumph motorcycle and gunned the engine.
As he drove out of the parking lot, keeping the gears low, and letting the engine roar, he caught a glimpse of Sheila getting into a fancy sports car. She looked quite elegant, stepping one leg at a time into her car.
26. KATY
I was incredibly busy planning the wedding for Colton. Because my business was on hold, it had been a long time since I had planned a wedding. Even though
I had been doing it for years, and it was quite natural to me, I had somehow forgotten how much work it was.
I set up a little office in my apartment. My actual office had been closed down. I had let the lease on it slide, and the place that had been my own for many years was no longer mine. I had driven by recently and it seemed like it had been turned into a dentist’s office or something like that.
But there wasn’t much time to think about the tragedy that was my former business, or my friendship with Sara. I knew that I would find another job, something else to do, something else to occupy my mind. Once Colton began getting more and more famous, he would have more and more commitments, and would be able to spend less and less time with me. As of now, Colton was my full time job. I didn’t have any need for other distractions or commitments.
Colton was off meeting his future fake bride. I felt a little anxiety at the thought of them alone, having coffee, and chatting. But I tried to push the feelings aside. After all, I had work that needed to be done. Lots of work.
Fortunately, I still had all my old contacts from my business…caterers, wedding cake bakers, florists…everything. Most of them expressed a lot of regret when I told them I was closing the business…I told them there was a chance I might be opening back up again sometime soon. I hinted at problems with business partners, but was careful not to mention Sara’s name, or to say anything too specific. I knew that with a lawsuit hanging over my head, I had to be careful with who I told and what I told them. Anything I said could later be used in court against me…Sara was bound to bring in witnesses.
I was talking on the phone with one of my favorite florists, trying to get the arrangements just right for Colton’s upcoming wedding, when my phone started beeping at me. There was an incoming call.
“Sorry,” I said. “But can I call you back? I’m getting another call. I think it’s from one of the bakers.”
“No problem,” said Mrs. Bucklebottom, before hanging up.
Wild Ride: A Bad Boy Romance Page 13