Walking into Dirty Laundry the next day, took a massive amount of caffeine. Talia wore her typical uniform of pencil skirt, camisole, suit jacket and flats. It was not sexy, and it didn't draw attention to her. That was how she became the Gossip Queen. Unfortunately, as she walked past her colleagues talking stopped until she reached her desk.

Talia booted up her computer while looking at her missed messages.

"Psst."

Without looking up, Talia said, "What Mel?"

"So, is it true?"

"Is what true?"

"You know damn well what I am talking about. Zee Jaxon? Are you two a thing? Was the Gwyn and Gina thing a set up?"

Talia took a deep breath, so she didn't scream at her work bestie. "You know me better than that."

"Well, heads up. Catherine is on the warpath about this. Vanessa may have been putting ideas in her head."

"What about?"

Mel leaned closer. "I overheard her saying it was awfully convenient you were at the same restaurant as Gwyn and Gina that night. She told Catherine that it was probably a stunt you and Zee put together to either promote his movie or pump up your floundering career. No one is that lucky."

She glared at Mel. "It was strictly a coincidence. As for Zee, I don't know why he messed around with that morning anchor like that."

"Don't kill the messenger but Catherine wants proof."

"What kind of proof?"

Mel shrugged and swiped candy out of the candy bowl on her desk.

"Why does anyone think I'm remotely even Zee Jaxon's type?"

"They don't. If you ask me, I think that walk of shame was payment for that publicity stunt." Vanessa Dean stood next to the desk.

"No one asked you, Vanessa." Talia spat.

Before the vengeful bitch could say anything else, Catherine's voice carried over the floor of reporters. "Talia! My office now!"

"Good luck, Talia." Vanessa walked away with a confident swagger.

"Ignore her. Tell Catherine whatever you need to convince her it wasn't a set up." Mel patted her back then moved to her desk.

Talia grabbed her notepad. She walked tentatively over to Catherine's office.

"You wanted to see me."

"Shut the door and sit down."

Closing the door, Talia sat in a chair across from Catherine.

Catherine shuffled papers into a folder. "How do you know him?"

"We grew up together. He is my brother's best friend."

"Not then. Now. How do you know him now?"

"I don't know what you mean, Catherine. I've hated Zee Jaxon my entire life."

"So that was hate we see in that picture of you shoving your panties in your purse?"

"Uhm.."

"Or is that hate we see in the picture of you too acting more than friendly at that party?"

"Catherine, you don't understand. It wasn't what you think."

"Oh really? You have one chance Talia to explain to me or you are done. Our reputations are everything in this business. If I can't trust you to be honest in the stories you produce, then I don't need you here."

"We are a gossip magazine."

"We report on celebrity gossip we can prove. We don't fabricate things out of nowhere." She took a deep breath. "One chance."

Talia's blood ran cold. She could tell the truth but that wouldn't allow her to keep her job. What she did next was out of desperation.

"We've fallen in love."

***

"Yes?" The tinny voice squeaked out of the speaker.

"I've come to see Zee Jaxon please."

Three beats of silence passed. "Who may I ask is calling?"

"Lia"

Silence again. Talia looked out her windshield at the iron gates in front of her. The sound of metal on metal drew her attention to the gates opening.

The small sedan wound up the driveway to the large home. It was a surprisingly old-fashioned home. She'd never been there during the day. It had a homey feel to it. She could see raising a family there.

Talia shook that thought out of her head. Parking the car, she grabbed her purse to walk to the front door. Before she could knock, the door swung open. Zeke was leaning against the doorframe with a smug look on his face.

This was going to be painful.

"Hello Zeke." She used his childhood nickname.

"Lia?"

Talia cleared her throat. "Can we talk?"

Zeke nodded. Talia followed him through his home. She vaguely remembered it from the party but like the outside it appeared to be different during the day.

They walked into a large living room. "Please sit. Would you like something to drink?"

"No thank you."

He nodded again and poured something out of a blender on the side bar. The greenish liquid looked like it had lumps in it. Talia's stomach roiled watching it slosh into the glass.

Zeke's deep laughter drew her attention. "I wish you could see your face, Lia."

"That looks disgusting."

"It's not that bad. You get used to it." He took a sip and grimaced. "Well, maybe not this one."

A laugh escaped. He smiled at her. Talia's stomach dropped.

"Do you think we can pull off being in love?"

Zeke choked. Talia jumped up and started pounding him on the back. "Breath, Zeke. In and Out. In and Out."

He batted her away once he could breath normally. "What the hell are you saying?"

"I'm saying we need to be convincing that we are in love. Can we do it?"

He smirked. "I am an actor, Talia. I'm pretty sure I could. Could you?"

"If I have to, I can do anything."

"I have no doubt, Lia. Why the change of heart?"

"I gave your idea some thought and came to the conclusion that it could work."

"Bull shit. What happened?"

Talia blushed. "Dirty Laundry was going to fire me. They weren't going to believe the truth. So I told my boss we are in love."

"Ahhh....So now you need me huh?"

Talia sat back in the chair and crossed her arms. "Stop pretending like you aren't going to do this. You were the one to propose it first. Can we be convincing? My reputation is in tatters thanks to some lies."

"How does it feel?"

"How does what feel?"

"How does it feel to be the gossip for once?"

"It sucks."

"Yeah it does." He said without humor.

"Zeke, you picked a career where you know that gossip is a part of your life. You know being in the spotlight that people talk about you and want to know more about you. That has never been my life. No one notices me. That's what has made me good at my job."

Zeke stared at her. "I've always noticed you Lia."

"Ok, Zeke. Are we going to do this or not?"

An unreadable emotion crossed his face. The moment it was there it was gone just as fast. "What's the story? What did you tell Catherine?"

"You know my boss?"

"Of course. So how did we fall in love?"

"After I broke the story of Gwyn and Gina, I felt bad. I came over to apologize for the story and we got to talking. Then one thing led to another we started to date in secret. Until we slipped the night of your party. Now, we are ready for people to know about our love."

He pursed his lips. "Not bad. But, why would I give a known gossip writer, who ruined my engagement the time of day?"

"She knows we grew up together. That you are best friends with Rex."

Talia watched him pace. Sipping and grimacing the green sludge. "Alright. When are you moving in?"

"What?"

"This will only work if you move in. We have to be convincing. We will need to be seen at parties and premiers. Living together after close to six months of seeing each other makes sense. You living with another man doesn't."

"I hadn't considered that." Another thought occurred to her and she felt the blood rush to her feet. "OH God! What are we going to tell our mothers?"

He shrugged. "The truth. We are in love and moving in together."

"That is not the truth. Also, Rex may kick your ass with that story."

Zeke swaggered over to where she was sitting. He leaned his face only inches from hers. "Everyone needs to believe it. I can deal with Rex. Can you convince yourself enough to believe it, Lia?"

Involuntarily she licked her lips. His eyes traced the movement. "I don't know." She breathed out.

"Well, come back whenyou've decided." Zeke walked out of the room leaving her slumped in the chair.