by Katie Dowe
“Yes, we are dating.” Janet told the correspondent over the phone. “Where else do you think? We met through our website. Yup, it sounds like a chic-flick.”
That day Janet answered several calls from many publications. Everybody wanted to confirm if Brian was indeed her boyfriend and if they met through High Seas. To stir the pot, Janet declined to comment to 10% of them, while she said there was nothing going on between them to 20% of the ones who called. This created a very confused environment the next day in the media. Where many publications confirmed that Brian Watson was dating Janet Crane, some of them outright denied the assumption. But all of them cited Janet as their source.
This not only created a lot of buzz in the media related to Janet and High Seas, but it also spiked the registration numbers on the service. The plan was finally working.
Amidst all this confusion, Janet and Brian were invited on a morning show where the host asked Janet quite clearly. “Tell me Janet, is Brian your boyfriend?”
To which, Janet held Brian’s hand, looked into his eyes and replied with a smile, “Yes.”
Pictures of Brian and Janet adorned the front pages of all the tabloids and afternoon edition newspapers. High Seas didn’t have to run the success story of its founder on its own website, everybody else was doing it.
Hours later, the media reported Janet and Brian’s romantic story unanimously, the High Seas server crashed due to the high incoming traffic. Members were asked to remain patient for sometime till the servers were fixed. And once they were back on, the new registrations kept coming. At one point, High Seas was registering over 7 members per second.
“Our numbers are going crazy!” Kitty jumped with happiness showing the reports to Janet. Her plan had worked.
Janet could see that her idea was working. The app and website were bustling with activity. Right now Janet wanted to open her office window and scream, “Look now you haters, my company is doing great. Where are you now?” But instead, Janet kept looking at the real time data of member registration. That evening she did not need to drink her coffee.
*****
One morning, Brian woke up and found that the main hall was turned into a photo studio.
“What is going on?” he asked Janet.
“We are going to be on Variety’s cover it seems,” Janet said placing her hand over Brian’s shoulders. Despite her success with all of her businesses in the past, Janet was not approached by Variety for the cover. But this time, they were interested in her. She did not want to question what changed now, and just wanted to bask in the glory of her popularity. After all, it was going to boost her company’s value even more.
“Get ready, we have two more events to attend after this.” Janet said kissing Brian on the cheek. Brian smiled and went to his room to get ready.
Spending time with Brian was changing Janet. She was now always looking for Brian by her side and his absence would make her anxious. It was as if she was actually in a relationship with him. Though she had warned herself to maintain her distance from Brian, it was easier said than done. Everyday she felt closer to Brian and his charm and warmth was melting Janet’s heart.
She decided to discuss this with her trusted friends.
“What the hell is happening to me?” she cried in front of Kitty and Rebecca.
“If you ask me, you are falling for that guy.” Kitty put the obvious thing in the light.
“No shit Sherlock!” Rebecca said. “You can't blame yourself Jan. After all he is a charming devil.”
Both Janet and Kitty stared at Rebecca who tried to laugh it off.
“Hey what can I do if he is so handsome. Besides in the beginning you told us that there will be nothing serious between you two. So why are you judging me now?”
Rebecca was right, Janet had no right to judge her. She herself was falling for this man who was pretending to be her lover for money.
“What am I supposed to do now? Should I break up with him? The numbers are pretty good right now.” Janet wondered.
“Forget about the numbers you idiot!” Kitty replied. “Just think if you will be fine when Brian won't be around you anymore.”
Janet didn’t have to think. She was already missing Brian while she was out with her friends.
“It's bad. I am missing him already.” Janet confessed.
“She is a goner.” Rebecca told Kitty.
“But why are we considering it a bad thing?” Kitty asked. “If both of you really like each other, then what is wrong with falling in love, for real this time?”
Janet and Rebecca liked what Kitty said but still they were a little skeptical. “I don’t know, it doesn’t feel right to me. Besides I don’t know how he feels for me,” Janet said.
“Now that is a problem,” Rebecca deduced.
Kitty held Janet’s shoulders and looked into her eyes. “Listen to me,” she said with determination. “There is nothing wrong with you. What you are feeling is absolutely normal. Brian is a wonderful guy and you are attracted to him. Now all you need to do is find out if he feels the same way about you. Understand?”
Janet quietly nodded looking into Kitty’s eyes.
“Good! Now go back and find out if he feels the same way about you.”
“And how do I do that?”
“Simple!” Kitty told her. “Get him drunk.”
*****
Janet reached home and found Brian waiting for her. He quickly grabbed her hand and took her into the main hall. “Come, I want to show you something.”
Confused, Janet followed Brian until he took her to his laptop and showed her what was on the screen. “Take a look!”
As Janet read the screen, her eyes grew wider and a smile appeared from one ear to another.
“Is this true? You are not fucking with me, are you?” she almost cried.
“This is absolutely true!” Brian confirmed.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Janet started jumping like a little girl.
On the screen, there was a success story of a couple who had found each other through High Seas. They were thanking High Seas and its wonderful model that made them understand each other really well. This was more proof that Janet’s idea was in fact highly successful. But it was all possible due to Brian and his appearance by Janet’s side. Their romantic success story had inspired many people to try High Seas and now the first couple was ready with their own success story. Janet was feeling elated, it was her company’s first real success. In excitement, she hugged Brian tightly, “This is so nice. I am very happy!”
“And I am happy for you!” Brian said while hugging her.
“This, calls for celebration,” Janet said with a wide grin and ran to the liquor cabinet.
Moments later, Janet and Brian were drinking together in the main hall.
“I knew this idea was going to work when I came up with this. But there were so many cynics and haters who ridiculed it. They said this was going to fall flat on its face, and they almost proved themselves right. But then you came along and everything turned the way it was supposed to.” Janet was telling Brian her story.
Drunk on success, Janet forgot Kitty’s advice and downed one too many drinks. Now she was losing her ability to control her speech and thoughts.
“You know Brian, I really like you. I really do. In fact, when I saw that success story, I wanted to pull your hair and kiss you on your beautiful lips.”
Brian almost spilled his drink.
“I think I am falling in love with you, but I don’t know who you really are,” she chuckled at her helplessness. “And the only thing I want right now is for you to love me back.”
In an attempt to get up, Janet almost fell over Brian. She tried to kiss him but her body was not helping her. “I think we have had enough for one day,” Brian said and picked Janet up in his arms.
Carefully, he took her into her bedroom and placed Janet on the bed.
“Don’t go!” Janet murmured trying to hold Brian’s hand. “Stay with me. I
like you.”
With a smile on his face, Brian kept looking at an intoxicated Janet who was about to pass out any moment.
“I am not going anywhere. I will stay by your side.”
“You are such an awesome guy.” Janet praised him. “I really like you.”
“I like you too Janet,” he said.
“Then tell me that you love me.. like I do.” Janet now had her eyes closed.
“I think this is something we should discuss when we both are sober. You go to sleep now, sweetheart.” Brian tucked Janet under her sheets and walked away from the bed.
“I like you Brian. I really do.” Janet repeated as Brian walked out of the room.
Chapter 7
“Bloody hell!” Callum Holdsworth yelled as he accidentally spilled his drink on his coat. “Mate, you owe me another drink.” he said to the barkeep.
“What the hell are you talking about?” the barkeep asked.
“I spilled my drink, so now you have to give me a new one.”
“And why would I do that?” the barkeep asked.
“Because, my name is Callum Holdsworth and I am a reporter who investigates businesses and people. My investigations have shut down more than 20 businesses, and let me tell you a secret…” he then leaned in to whisper into the barkeep’s ears. “Not all of them deserved to be closed down. They only went out of the business because they pissed me off.”
The barkeep looked at Callum’s intimidating face.
The main door of the bar opened and Callum came out flying. He crashed on the road followed by his coat and a notebook.
“Fuck off! You are banned from this place,” the barkeep yelled from inside the bar.
“Piss off you little wanker!” Callum screamed while getting up. “I am going to fuck your business up.”
But there was nobody listening to him and so Callum decided to move on. He bent down to pick up his coat and notepad when he noticed something —
A tabloid front page with Janet and Brian’s picture, “High Seas founder found love using her own dating site.”
“Would you look at that? A dating site owner found love in a British bloke. Isn’t that convenient?” and suddenly, his expression turned grim. “Too bloody convenient.”
Callum laughed while he pocketed that tabloid front page and walked away from the bar.
*****
Janet woke up with jackhammers running over her head.
“Fuck!” she knew she should not have had that much alcohol.
“You okay?” Brian asked sitting down beside her. “Here drink this. It will help,” he handed her a tea that had no milk, no sugar and excessive amount of lemon.
“What is this?” Janet could not take the drink after just one sip.
“It's an age old hangover cure. We use it in England.”
“I can't drink this. It will give me another hangover,” Janet pleaded to get rid of that potion.
“Fine! Suit yourself.” Brian put the drink away. And then Janet remembered something else. Though she was not able to remember exactly what she said to him, she knew that she embarrassed herself when she was drunk.
“Did I say something to you while I was drunk?”
Brian smiled mysteriously, “You don’t remember?”
“Oh shit! I must have made a fool out of myself.” Janet repented holding her aching head.
“Don’t worry, it was nothing embarrassing. Right now you need to get some rest.”
“But I have this massive headache.”
“I will get you some medicine.” Brian walked into the bathroom.
“Where do you keep your headache medicine?” he yelled from inside.
“With the other generic medicines,” she tried not to yell as it increased her headache.
Brian came back but without anything, “Looks like you are out of medicines. I will get some for you. Just try to relax.”
Janet nodded and Brian left the penthouse.
“God!” she cried due to the headache while her phone rang loudly.
“Hello!” she answered irritatingly.
“Is this Janet Crane? Founder of High Seas?” a British voice came from the other end of the phone.
“Yes. Who are you?”
“My name is Callum Holdsworth and I am an investigative journalist. Would it be possible for you to answer some of my questions Miss Crane?”
Janet tried to think what she should say to this man, but Callum took her silence as an agreement.
“For how long have you and Brian Watson been dating?”
“What?”
“When did you come across his profile and is there any proof that you actually met him using your website or app? Because honestly I think your story is bollocks and you just created it to get people’s attention.”
Suddenly, Janet’s headache disappeared and anxiety took her over. This reporter had just spoken the truth.
“Miss Crane? I am still waiting for you to answer.”
Janet did not want to talk to him anymore, “I am quite busy right now and you can make an appointment for an interview later. Goodbye!”
Quickly, she disconnected the phone and her hangover and buzz vanished into thin air.
*****
Kitty was on the phone with Bilal. She was informing him about the latest update between Janet and Brian.
“She said what?” Bilal asked screaming over the phone.
“Exactly what I told you. She really likes him, Bilal. And now I am worried about her.”
“Do you want me to talk to him? I can ask if he is interested in Janet.”
“No, I don’t want you to do that. In fact it would be best if the two of them sort things out themselves.” Kitty made it clear that she did not want anybody else to step in.
“Alright, but do let me know if you need my help.”
“I will!”
“So now your membership numbers are up and Janet and Brian are going steady… where is our holiday that you promised?” Bilal asked reminding Kitty of her promise.
“Not now Bilal. I just told you how tensed Janet is. You know I can't leave her like this.”
“I guess. But remember you owe me a holiday.” Bilal’s voice was smiling.
“I do baby, and I will make it up to you. Wait, somebody is calling me.”
“Alright, I love you!” Bilal said hanging up.
“Love you too.” Kitty answered the other call. “Hello.”
“Hi, is this Miss Kitty? Personal Assistant of Janet Crane.. The founder of High Seas?” Callum’s voice asked so many questions in one go.
“Yes, who is this?”
“My name is Callum Holdsworth and I am an investigative reporter. I have reasons to believe that the romantic story of your owner and her boyfriend is fake.”
Callum’s words froze every drop of blood in Kitty’s body.
“Are you there Miss Kitty?” Callum inquired.
“What are you talking about?” Kitty tried to put on a brave face.
Callum was a seasoned player of this game of poker and so he used his much experience bluff. “Oh come on Miss Kitty, I know what you and Miss Crane were up to. The numbers were low and so your company needed a miracle. And you found it in an Englishman.”
Kitty was now convinced that this man knew everything. But how? She had no clue.
“By the way, if you don’t mind me asking, why did you choose a British guy? You could have gone for something much more exotic like a middle eastern or maybe an Asian. Even Indians are quite popular these days. So why did you decide to get her an English boyfriend? Was that to appeal to the American masses?”
“This is a ridiculous story. Everybody knows Janet met Brian on the High Seas website.”
“Funny because when I talked to Miss Crane earlier she said she used the app to meet Brian Watson, and not the website. Are you sure you have the right information Miss Kitty?”
“How does it matter whether she used the app or the site? Their story is the first succ
ess of High Seas and so I can understand how some reporters like you might try to capitalize on it.” Kitty tried to play the game of bluff with Callum.
“Nice try, child! But if that is true, can you show me the logs of their interactions on the web site, or app — you know whatever they used to meet? I am sure you must have kept those logs safe and sound like the holy grail.”
Kitty knew that no logs were available because there was no interaction. Janet and Brian only created their profiles and did nothing else. But now this reporter was peeling off layer after layers of their planted story.
“I don’t have time to waste with the likes of you, and so I suggest you come to us with substantial proof if you have any. Goodbye!”
Kitty disconnected the phone and rushed out of her house.
*****
Kitty had called Janet at Rebecca’s office.
“I need to talk to you,” Janet seemed in a hurry.
“Is this about that reporter?” Kitty asked.
“He called you too?”
“Yeah! The son of a bitch knows everything,” the conversation was now on the speaker.
“But how is this possible?” Rebecca wondered. “Nobody other than us and Brian know about it. Not even our tech team. Then how can he know?” Rebecca took a brief pause. “Do you guys think Brian told him?”
“No!” Both Kitty and Janet said unanimously. They trusted Brian and knew that he would never do such a thing.
“Great! Then who talked? Because that reporter is telling the truth.”
“It could be possible that he is bluffing,” Kitty said.
“How did he figure out all of this then?” Janet wondered.
“It's really simple actually.” Kitty explained. “You just need a wicked brain to put it all together. Most people believe our story because they want to. But this guy is an asshole and so he must have been looking for an angle. Unfortunately he found one.”
“And what an angle it was,” Rebecca said.
Janet pulled the focus of the group towards the priority. “Right now we need to know what we should do with him?”