“I Needed a Fake Girlfriend for the Office Party,” the CEO Muttered—Then She Slid Me a Note That Said “Pick Me”
Chapter 9
Their relationship wasn’t suddenly perfect.
In fact, being real was harder than pretending.
When they were pretending, every disagreement could be dismissed.
Every awkward moment could be blamed on the act.
Now everything mattered.
Lena worried about favoritism.
Ethan worried about her career.
They agreed that she would transfer to another division where she would no longer report directly to him.
It wasn’t easy.
But it was necessary.
“I don’t want anyone saying you got promoted because of me,” Ethan told her.
“I appreciate that.”
“And I don’t want you thinking you owe me anything.”
“I don’t.”
She smiled.
“You’re finally learning.”
“Learning what?”
“To trust people.”
He smiled.
“That might be your fault.”
“Good.”
Months passed.
Their relationship became quieter.
More normal.
They went to restaurants.
Watched movies.
Argued about what to order.
Lena teased Ethan about his obsession with expensive coffee.
Ethan teased her about reading financial reports before bed.
They learned each other’s habits.
One Saturday, Ethan took Lena to his grandmother’s house.
Margaret opened the door.
She looked at them.
Then smiled.
“Finally.”
Lena laughed.
“You knew?”
“I knew before you did.”
Ethan sighed.
“Everyone knew.”
Margaret hugged Lena.
“I’ve been waiting for this.”
That evening, Margaret showed Lena an old photograph.
It was Ethan as a child.
He was sitting beside his grandfather.
He looked serious even at eight years old.
Lena laughed.
“He hasn’t changed.”
Margaret smiled.
“He did.”
“How?”
“He learned to care about someone besides himself.”
Lena looked toward the kitchen.
Ethan was helping his mother prepare dinner.
She smiled.
Margaret squeezed her hand.
“You did that.”
“No.”
Margaret shook her head.
“He chose to change.”
Lena thought about that.
It was true.
She hadn’t rescued Ethan.
She hadn’t fixed him.
He had simply allowed himself to become someone different.
And so had she.
The girl who had once been afraid to tell him how she felt now sat comfortably among his family.
The CEO who had once believed emotions were distractions now planned his schedule around someone else’s happiness.
Neither had become a different person.
They had simply become more honest versions of themselves.
