Shane Boose was not just any singer; he was a household name. With his golden voice and good looks, he had millions of fans around the world. But with fame came pressure. Every move he made was scrutinized. Recently, his popularity had begun to dip. His manager, Ryan, was worried.

"Shane, we need to do something to bring back your fans," Ryan said one afternoon in their cozy office filled with posters and accolades.

Shane sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "What do you suggest? I can’t just sing new songs forever. "

Ryan tapped a finger on his chin. "What if we create some buzz about your personal life? People love romantic stories. A staged relationship might do the trick. "

Shane raised an eyebrow. "A staged relationship? Who would I pretend to date? "

Ryan smiled knowingly. "How about Scarlet? She already works for you as your assistant, and you two have history. It could work. "

Shane felt a knot in his stomach. Scarlet Johnson had been his best friend since childhood, but over the years, they had clashed more than they had gotten along. She was smart, fierce, and never backed down from a debate. This would be a complicated arrangement, but it made sense; she knew him better than anyone else.

"I don’t know, Ryan," Shane said hesitantly. "What if she says no? "

"Just give it a shot. You never know until you ask," Ryan replied, his confidence unshaken.

As the days passed, Shane found it hard to shake the idea from his mind. Couple of nights later after a concert, he caught Scarlet alone in the lounge, typing away on her laptop. She had on her usual jeans and a t-shirt, her curly hair tied back messily. He admired her determination, but the thought of asking her for such an unusual favor made his stomach churn.

"Scarlet," he began, his voice shaking slightly.

She looked up, her blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. "What’s up, Shane? "

He took a deep breath, deciding to dive right in. "I need to talk to you about something. It’s kind of important. "

Scarlet closed her laptop and gave him her full attention. "Okay, I’m listening. "

Shane hesitated. This was more challenging than he expected. "So, you know how my image is struggling a bit? " he started. "Well, Ryan suggested that I stage a relationship to boost my popularity. "

Scarlet raised an eyebrow. "And? "

"Here’s the thing," he continued, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks. "He wants me to be in this staged relationship with you. "

Silence filled the room as Scarlet processed his words. “Me? Why would I do that? ”

“Because you know me well,” he said quickly. “And we have history. Plus, it would be only for show. No real feelings involved. ”

Scarlet crossed her arms, looking skeptical. “Shane, it's not that simple. What if people actually believed it? What if it messed up your reputation or mine? ”

“I know, I know,” Shane replied, running a hand through his hair. “But I promise, we can set boundaries. It would help me a lot. Please? ”