After the tour, Kim had Harper and Ivy sit down and brief Ivy about the nature of the collab. Ivy served some home-brewed tea and a little slice of carrot cake while Kim explained that she would be filming Harper while she was at Ivy’s place in order to capture the moment for Harper’s social media.

“Now, girls, hear me out; as I was watching you both interact, I just thought, why don’t you both date?” Kim beamed, looking between Harper and Ivy, spreading her arms wide open as if she had just made the most brilliant suggestion possible

“What?” Harper said, choking on the tea that Ivy had served them. 

On the other hand, Ivy dropped the little fork she had been using to cut into her cake. 

“I-I thought you were commissioning me to paint Harper not to date Harper!” Ivy exclaimed, confused. 

“Yes, of course, but the internet is all about virality, and I can just see the two of you going viral overnight! The sullen, stoic, soft masc. dating the pixie dream cottagecore girl? People would be all over that stuff!” Kim grinned, leaning forward and pushing aside her cup of tea. “And I’m willing to pay more for it” " she said, winking at Ivy.

“B-But I just met her; I don’t…feel that way about her”, Ivy stammered. 

“Same” Harper said, glaring at her manager “Kim, can we step outside for a moment?” She said, pushing back her chair and glaring at Kim. 

Kim lounged back in her chair “Relax, Harper. Look, I get it if you two don’t want to, but it’s not like I’m asking you two to actually fall in love. Just pretend, no one will know the difference” Kim said, beckoning Harper to sit down as she explained herself. 

Harper sat down warily, then looked over at Ivy “I’m sorry, I only came here with the intention of collaborating with the painting. This is all Kim’s idea, so forget what she said; we can just focus on the painting collab.”

Ivy looked back and forth between Harper and Kim, then she ran a hand through her dark locks, sitting back and mulling things over. 

“I’m sorry I…I don’t think I can. It just seems far too deceitful. Besides, I kind of have a situationship and…if we do this…” Ivy said, averting her eyes. 

Harper turns to Kim and kicks her chair. “Now, see what your crazy ideas have done.” 

Kim jumped up and out of her chair but laughed, so used to Harper’s anger outbursts that she was surprised she hadn’t been a target of her rage sooner. She straightened her blazer as she stood casually, her straight brown hair falling over her shoulder as she leaned towards Ivy, putting a hand on the table for support.

“Hey, fine, I’m not pushing anything here, ok? I’m just saying that this would be a great way, to boost the engagement for both of you. And Ivy,” Kim said, turning to her and ignoring Harper’s glare, “ Wouldn’t you want to make a whole lot of money so that your situationship can become an actual relationship? In this day and age, you need money to date; it’ll only be for a few months.

Besides, Harper is pretty good-looking for a skinny white lesbian, so maybe it’ll make your situationship more into you if they think they have-” 

Harper stood up briskly and yanked Kim away from Ivy by the arm. “Shut the fuck up, Kim!” 

Kim stumbled back and sighed, bracing her waist with her hand “I’m only trying to help, I’m the marketing expert here, and I can really see you two being the next internet couple~” Kim exclaimed.

“Can’t you see you’re making her uncomfortable?” Harper snapped, crossing her arms. 

“Fine, I’m sorry, Ivy”, Kim said, raising her hands in surrender. “We can just go with the painting collab, but I can promise you if you accept this new arrangement, I’ll triple this”, Kim said, pulling out her phone and walking over to Ivy. 

Kim placed her phone open to the soft copy of the contract she had prepared to give to Ivy for the collaboration. The payment terms stated that Ivy would be paid $100 per hour for her time spent with Harper. There was also a $1000 fee for the painting Ivy was going to create for Harper as the collaborative item. 

Ivy looked up at Kim as Kim leaned over the back of Ivy’s chair, her face merely inches away from Ivy, which, for some reason, was making Harper’s blood boil even more. 

“You’re going to triple this?” Ivy gasped, already impressed with the initially stated amounts. 

Kim nodded. “Yup, everything, including the commission price of the painting, and I’ll give you an advance for the first two months if overnight you two can bring Harper’s follower count to over 1 million”, Kim grinned, a long elegant creamy white hand coming down to rest on Ivy’s bare mocha shoulder.

Harper’s anger reached its peak. “Kim, we’re leaving now” " she grunted, turning and pulling the door open and storming out. 

Kim sighed and stood up, stretching before picking up her phone. Her almond eyes narrowed as her talent stomped off towards the car. 

“I really don’t think I can agree to this arrangement; Harper doesn’t seem happy with it at all either”, Ivy said softly, looking down at her hands, feeling troubled by how much the situation had caused Harper to become upset.

Kim walked around the table and looked back at Ivy. “Oh, I don’t think Harper would have any problem pretending to date you. I think you both just need a little…push, in the right direction.

 Keep in mind how much more you would earn if you agree to these new terms; however, for now, We’ll be back on Monday with the contract for you to sign” Kim grinned, the wheels of a marketing genius already turning in her head as she waved goodbye and exited the house, getting into the car with Harper and immediately starting to write up the new contract that she had proposed on her phone as Harper drove off.