Chapter Text
“Let me get this straight,” though the situation Josie Saltzman is being presented with is anything but, “you… sorry, your PR team wants me to date Hope Mikaelson?”
“Pretend to date, honey,” her dad, Alaric, clarifies, as if that distinction makes this whole situation more acceptable somehow.
Josie just stares at him, trying (and failing) to let what has been discussed in the last 10 minutes sink in. When he had asked her to join him for lunch earlier that day, she had been excited, thinking they would finally get to spend some much-needed quality time together. Josie deflates, now fully realizing that this isn’t lunch with her dad…
This is lunch with Alaric Saltzman, CEO of SBS Industries.
“But you hate the Mikaelsons.” Her entire family does. The Saltzman-Mikaelson feud is… infamous, to say the least. It spans continents and generations, and it’s filled with scandals, sabotage, corporate espionage and God (or, more likely, the devil) knows what else.
“Precisely. Which is why the company— why I need your help.” Alaric places a hand on her shoulder, gently squeezing it. “Look, I know it’s a lot to ask, but the board believes that announcing the merger between SBS Industries and TriCorp while there is still so much bad blood between our families would be… disastrous. We need to show the public, and thus our shareholders, that we can successfully work together.”
“I still don’t understand how this has anything to do with me dating Hope Mikaelson.”
“Pretending to date,” he emphasizes again, as if the alternative is out of the question. “Our PR team put together a very compelling presentation. If you want, I could get them to run you through it and—”
“No, thanks,” just thinking of what could be in that presentation makes Josie shudder. Her privacy feels oddly violated. “I’m good,” though a sense of unease starts to build in the pit of her stomach as soon as those two words leave her mouth.
(She is not good.)
Alaric studies her for a second. “Well,” he sighs, “they explain it much better than I do, but the gist of it is: You and Hope dating would lay the groundwork for our families to slowly start mending the fences in an organic and, more importantly, public way. It’s all about public perception… and it’s certainly more believable than Klaus Mikaelson suddenly getting over a decades-old grudge.”
Wow.
Just wow.
Her dad might be a ruthless businessman, but Josie has never seen him cross this particular line. He has never involved his daughters in any of his dealings. In fact, he makes it a point to keep his corporate and family life separate.
Josie never thought she would see Alaric Saltzman, the businessman, and Alaric Saltzman, the father, exist in the same space but now…
Now he wants Josie to very publicly date Klaus Mikaelson’s daughter of all people?
For the good of his company?
Sellout.
In that moment, Josie hates… no, she strongly dislikes her father. What he is asking her to do goes against her very nature, and he knows it.
She has worked really hard to stay out of the public eye, despite the attention that her last name inspires. The spotlight has always made her feel dizzy and she wants no part of it.
(Lizzie Saltzman, on the other hand, thrives in the spotlight.
Josie’s sister had not hesitated to storm through the doors her last name had opened for her. It had been Lizzie’s natural talent and cunningness, however, that had allowed these opportunities to flourish into a successful acting career…
… to no one’s surprise —she did always have a flair for the dramatic.
Lizzie would probably have been their dad’s first choice for whatever this was if it weren’t for the fact that she was already in a committed —and very public— relationship. Josie would insist, knowing her sister would probably enjoy this whole charade, but she has a pretty accurate idea of how that particular conversation with Alaric would go:
“But Lizzie—”
“Is dating MG.”
“But, dad, polyamorous relationships are—”
“Josie, this has to be approved by our board of directors.”
“…”
“Twenty old white men?”
“Yes.”
“Ugh. You should really consider diversifying your board, dad. It’s been proven that—”
“That’s not what is up for discussion right now, honey.”
“…”
“Fine.”)
Alaric is looking at her with pleading eyes, which makes Josie hat— dislike her father even more.
Because he knows (he knows) that Josie has a hard time saying “no”, especially when it comes to helping those she loves.
But maybe…
“What does Hope Mikaelson think about all this?” Josie grasps at this last bit of, well, hope like a lifeline.
“Oh, maybe I should have led with that. She has already agreed to do it.”
Damn you, Hope Mikaelson.
“Okay,” let the record show that she is not happy with this, “I’ll do it.”
And, just like that, Josie Saltzman has gotten herself a new girlfriend.
*
A ridiculously hot new girlfriend.
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
Shit.
When Josie is feeling anxious, she researches (and researches and researches). Facts are like a soothing balm to her overdriven brain.
Except, in this case, facts happen to be Instagram pictures of Hope Mikaelson.
(Hope Mikaelson laughing with her head thrown back, joy shining through the screen.
Hope Mikaelson staring directly into the camera, auburn hair framing her face like the masterpiece it is.
Hope Mikaelson in the cover of a magazine; commanding, immaculate, unattainable.
Hope Mikaelson.)
So, instead of calming Josie’s brain down, her traitorous research only serves to send her heart into overdrive along with it.
It only gets worse when her eyes land on Hope’s follower count.
3.2 million followers
Blood starts pounding in her ears and she has the sudden urge to throw her phone across the room, an intense need to get all this away from her.
To get herself away from all of this.
A small sob escapes her. She doesn’t know if she can do this.
But then her dad’s pleading eyes flash across Josie’s mind and an awful guilt takes a hold of her, and she knows there is no backing out.
She has to do this.
Drained, she lies down on her bed, fully intending to call it a day even though it’s only 7:30 PM.
Her phone, however, seems to have a different idea because it buzzes as soon as Josie closes her eyes. It’s an e-mail notification from a Dana Lilien and the subject reads “Initial PR Meeting.”
Ugh. Not now Dana.
(Maybe if she ignores it long enough it will self-destruct?)
Sighing, she unlocks her phone.
Hi Josie,
I hope this e-mail finds you well!
(It doesn’t.)
My name is Dana Lilien and I am part of the PR team that will be handling your relationship with Hope. The team and I are really excited to make Hosie happen!
We were hoping to have an initial meeting with both you and Hope this Wednesday at 10 AM. Please confirm your availability and do let us know if there is another time that would suit you better.
Looking forward to working with you!
Best regards,
Dana Lilien
Public Relations Specialist
SBS Industries
Josie lets her head fall back to her pillow and just stares at the ceiling.
What has she gotten herself into?