“I Needed a Fake Girlfriend for the Office Party,” the CEO Muttered—Then She Slid Me a Note That Said “Pick Me”
Chapter 4
Monday morning was different.
Everyone at Carter Group knew about Ethan’s new girlfriend.
The photographs from the party had appeared online.
Employees whispered.
Lena received more attention than she wanted.
By nine o’clock, three coworkers had asked her how long she and Ethan had been dating.
She gave the same answer.
“A while.”
Then Ethan called her.
“Come to my office.”
Lena entered.
He was standing beside the window.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve been getting questions.”
“I can handle it.”
“I know.”
He turned.
“I want to make something clear.”
Lena waited.
“If this becomes uncomfortable, we end it.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
“No pressure.”
“I understand.”
“And if anyone at work treats you differently because of me, tell me.”
She smiled.
“You’re worried about me?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
Ethan hesitated.
“Because you’re important.”
The words landed harder than he intended.
Lena looked away.
“Thank you.”
He cleared his throat.
“There’s another problem.”
“What?”
“My grandmother wants to have dinner with us Friday.”
Lena groaned.
“She doesn’t waste time.”
“No.”
“Fine.”
Ethan smiled.
“Fine.”
But Friday dinner wasn’t the only thing waiting for them.
At noon, Ethan received an email from the board.
His former girlfriend, Vanessa Hall, had returned to the city.
She was the daughter of one of the company’s largest investors.
And she wanted to meet him.
Ethan didn’t care.
Until Vanessa arrived at the office that afternoon.
She walked directly into his executive suite.
“I heard you’re dating someone.”
Ethan looked up.
“Yes.”
“A junior employee?”
“Yes.”
Vanessa smiled coldly.
“Interesting.”
“What do you want?”
“To congratulate you.”
“I doubt that.”
She leaned against his desk.
“Your relationship won’t last.”
Ethan’s expression hardened.
“You don’t know anything about it.”
“I know you.”
She smiled.
“And I know you’ll get bored.”
Lena happened to be walking past the office when she heard Vanessa’s voice.
She stopped.
Then continued walking.
She didn’t want to listen.
But Vanessa’s next words stopped her.
“You’ve always needed someone impressive beside you.”
Ethan replied:
“I don’t need anyone to impress you.”
Lena walked away.
That evening, Ethan found her unusually quiet.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Lena.”
She looked at him.
“Your ex visited.”
Ethan sighed.
“You heard.”
“Yes.”
“She doesn’t matter.”
Lena looked down.
“I know.”
But she didn’t sound convinced.
“Why does it bother you?”
“Because she’s right about one thing.”
“What?”
“She knows you.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“You don’t think you know me?”
“I don’t know what this is.”
He stared at her.
“The arrangement.”
“Yes.”
He wanted to tell her that it had stopped being an arrangement.
But he wasn’t ready.
Neither was she.
Instead, he said:
“You don’t have to compete with anyone.”
Lena looked at him.
“I wasn’t.”
“Good.”
Silence.
Then she smiled faintly.
“Friday?”
“Friday.”
She nodded.
But as Lena walked away, Ethan realized something terrifying.
He wasn’t afraid of losing his fake girlfriend.
He was afraid of losing Lena.
