The next morning, I'm sitting at my work desk when my phone rings.

"Hello?" I ask distractedly.

"Is this Laila?" A husky, masculine voice asks.

"Who is this?" I frown. It certainly isn't Daves' voice. I mean, Daves' voice is much higher. I don't mean higher like a girl's soprano tone but smoother. This guy's voice is rougher but kind of sexy.

"This is Sam Patterson," he answers. Shit, did I just say that his voice sounded sexy?

I cough and go, "Is there anything wrong, Mr Patterson?"

"I've a favor. Will you help me?"

No. Because you're a rude bastard.

"Considering the fact that I paid for your expensive lunch yesterday, you're asking me to help you now?" I retort a little unpolitely.

I mean, yes, the customer's king but I'm a woman. No respectable man lets a woman pay. Even if a man is poor or unable to afford he, under no circumstances should he push the bill to another girl! He's upsetting the balance of society. Geez.

"I'm sorry about yesterday," Sam Patteron says in a completely unapologetic tone. "I will make it up to you some day but I need your help urgently."

"What do you want?" I ask grudgingly.

"I need you to pretend that you're my girlfriend."

"What?!" I yelp, knocking over one of my photo frames. "You want me to what?" I splutter out.

Did I just hear what I just heard? Is he mental? Has he watched too much of The Mentalist? H

Maybe he went bonkers after yesterday's blind date. Yes, that must be it.

"Can you calm down for a moment?" He sounds weary. "It should be easy for you. I mean, you've seen so many couples come and go."

"That doesn't mean I can act as your girlfriend! I'm a matchmaker, not a damn actor. Go hire Megan Fox to be your girlfriend!" I snap.

"I can't afford Megan Fox," he says wryly.

"This is completely unprofessional, Mr Patterson. I agreed to help you find a girlfriend but not to pose as one," I continue.

"Well," Sam Patteron says sharply. "If yesterday's one had worked out, I would have had a girlfriend, wouldn't I?"

"It isn't my fault!" I protest. "I didn't know she was such a bitch."

"You should have screened all the candidates."

"Oh, you mean, give them a personality test?" I snap. "Stop blaming others when you failed to keep the lady interested."

"Okay, let's just stop." He breathes in deeply. "The thing is, my parents are coming over and I promised them that I will show them my girlfriend but she left me a few weeks back."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I say quietly. I know how heartbreak feels. It's completely nerve-shattering.

"Which is why you need to help me," he continues. "They are going to be here only for a few days. If you are willing to do this for me, I will pay you fifty bucks per hour."

"Wow," I say, surprised in spite of myself. The cash could come in handy but still...."I might be a little busy," I add. "My boyfriend's parents are also coming over so I need to attend to them."

"No worries. You just need to spend a couple of hours with me and we'll be done."

"Okay, right, I will do it," I say. Out of complete kindness.

"Thanks so much, Laila." For the first time, he sounds sincere.

"By the way, I've a second date for you."

"Not another one? Is it another Barbie bitch again? I think Ken would be more suited for her. Unfortunately, my name's Sam, not Ken. "

In spite of myself, I laugh. He does have a sense of humor when he's in a good mood.

"No, I assure you that this new girl's very respectable. She lists painting and reading as her interests."

"Well, we will see."

"See you tomorrow."

I put down the phone and sigh. Posing as Sam's girlfriend and dealing with Daves' parents will be a burden.