“I Needed a Fake Girlfriend for the Office Party,” the CEO Muttered—Then She Slid Me a Note That Said “Pick Me”
Chapter 1
Ethan Carter had negotiated billion-dollar acquisitions without blinking.
He had fired executives who had been with his company for twenty years.
He had stood in front of a room full of investors and calmly explained why their biggest fears were completely unfounded.
But there was one thing Ethan Carter couldn’t handle.
His mother’s questions about his love life.
“Thirty-two,” she reminded him over the phone on Friday morning. “Thirty-two years old.”
Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Mom.”
“You’re the CEO of a company worth billions.”
“I know.”
“You own three apartments.”
“I know.”
“You have a private driver.”
“I know.”
“And yet you can’t bring one woman to the company anniversary party?”
Ethan stared through the glass wall of his office at the city below.
The Carter Group’s headquarters occupied the top twenty floors of the tallest building downtown.
His assistant, Claire, stood outside his office holding a folder.
She could see that he was losing the argument.
“I don’t have time for a relationship.”
“You don’t need a relationship. You need a girlfriend for one evening.”
“That’s not how relationships work.”
“Then fake one.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
“Mom.”
“Your grandmother is going to be there.”
That stopped him.
His grandmother, Margaret Carter, was eighty-two and terrifyingly observant.
She had built the family’s first successful business alongside Ethan’s grandfather.
She could identify a lie before the liar finished speaking.
“If she asks me whether I’m dating someone,” Ethan said, “I’ll tell her the truth.”
“She’ll spend the entire evening trying to introduce you to women.”
Silence.
Ethan knew his mother was right.
Last year’s anniversary party had been unbearable.
His grandmother had introduced him to six women.
One was the daughter of a senator.
Another owned a fashion company.
Another was a lawyer.
By midnight, Ethan had escaped to the parking garage.
His mother continued.
“You bring someone this year, and I promise I’ll stop asking.”
“For how long?”
“A year.”
Ethan laughed bitterly.
“You’re lying.”
“Six months.”
“Three.”
“Fine. Three months.”
He looked at the clock.
“It’s a company party. My employees will be there.”
“Exactly. Bring someone charming.”
“I don’t have someone charming.”
His mother sighed.
“Then find one.”
The call ended.
Ethan remained silent.
Claire entered carefully.
“Everything okay?”
“No.”
She placed the folder on his desk.
“The final guest list for tonight.”
Ethan looked at it.
Then at her.
“Claire.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know anyone who could pretend to be my girlfriend?”
Claire’s eyebrows rose.
“You’re serious?”
“Unfortunately.”
She thought for a moment.
“No.”
Ethan sighed.
“Worth asking.”
Claire turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
“There is one person.”
“Who?”
“Lena Brooks.”
Ethan frowned.
“The junior financial analyst?”
“Yes.”
“She wouldn’t do that.”
“Probably not.”
“Then why mention her?”
Claire smiled.
“Because she’s the only woman in this building who doesn’t seem impressed by you.”
Ethan looked toward the glass walls.
Across the office, Lena sat at her desk, quietly reviewing financial reports.
She wore a simple navy blouse and had her dark hair tied back.
No designer handbag.
No expensive jewelry.
No attempt to attract attention.
Ethan had noticed her before.
She had corrected one of his senior vice presidents during a meeting three weeks ago.
Politely.
Accurately.
Without apologizing.
He remembered thinking she was either incredibly brave or completely unaware of who he was.
Now Claire was suggesting she might be his solution.
Ethan looked at Lena again.
“Absolutely not.”
Claire smiled.
“Of course.”
She left.
Ten minutes later, Ethan walked out of his office.
He crossed the financial department.
Lena looked up.
“Mr. Carter?”
“Can we talk?”
She stood.
“Of course.”
He hesitated.
For perhaps the first time in his professional life, Ethan Carter wasn’t sure how to begin.
“I need a favor.”
Lena waited.
“My mother believes I’m incapable of having a social life.”
Lena blinked.
“Okay.”
“She wants me to bring a girlfriend to tonight’s party.”
Another pause.
“And?”
Ethan lowered his voice.
“I need a fake one.”
Lena stared at him.
Then, unexpectedly, she smiled.
“That’s a strange request.”
“It is.”
“And you came to me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Ethan didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said:
“Because you’re the only person I know who might say no to me.”
Lena’s smile disappeared.
She looked at him for several seconds.
Then she reached for a small notepad.
She wrote something.
Folded the paper.
And slipped it into his hand.
Ethan opened it.
Two words were written in neat handwriting.
Pick me.
He looked up.
Lena was already walking away.
For the first time in years, Ethan Carter had absolutely no idea what to say.
