These were questions that weighed heavily on Marie's mind, even as she found herself growing more attached to Welder. But for the time being, she decided to focus on the present, on the relationship they were building day by day.
One evening, as they sat together on the couch, Welder turned to her with a serious expression. "Marie, I've been thinking about our next steps—both for us and for the company. Our original agreement was to stay married for a year, to solidify the merger and stabilize things. We're about halfway through that now."
Marie nodded, wondering where he was going with this. "Right."
"But now that things are going well," Welder continued, "I've been wondering… what if we extended our timeline? Not indefinitely, but maybe for another year or so. It would give us more time to figure things out, both personally and professionally."
Marie considered his proposal. On one hand, it made sense—extending their marriage would provide stability for the company and give them more time to see where their relationship was headed. On the other hand, it felt like prolonging the inevitable, delaying a decision that would have to be made eventually.
"I can see the logic in that," Marie said slowly. "But I think we need to be careful. If we're going to extend our marriage, we need to make sure it's for the right reasons—not just to avoid making a difficult decision."
Welder nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I agree. But I also think that if we're going to make this work, we need to give ourselves the time and space to do it right. We've both been so focused on the company, on keeping up appearances, that we haven't really had a chance to explore what a real relationship between us could look like."
He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Marie, I care about you. More than I ever expected to when we started this. And I want to see where this goes. But I also want to make sure we're doing it for the right reasons, not because we're afraid of what happens if we don't."
Marie felt her heart skip a beat at his words. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the genuine concern for both her and their future together. And she realized that she wanted the same thing—to give their relationship a real chance, without the pressure of an impending deadline hanging over their heads.
"I want that too," she admitted, her voice soft. "But let's take it one step at a time. We'll extend our marriage for another year, and during that time, we'll focus on us—on what we want, and what's best for both of us."
Welder smiled, relief evident on his face. "One step at a time," he agreed.
As they sat there, the city lights twinkling outside the window, Marie felt a sense of calm settle over her. For the first time in a long while, she wasn't worried about the future—she was content to take things as they came, to explore this unexpected connection with Welder, and to see where it might lead.
Their journey was far from over, and there were still many challenges ahead. But for now, they had each other, and that was enough.
As the months passed, Marie and Welder grew more comfortable in their evolving relationship. What had once been a cold, businesslike arrangement had turned into something warm and personal, even if neither of them had fully labeled it. Their extended year of marriage seemed to give them the freedom they needed to explore what they could be without the looming pressure of their initial deadline.
One evening, as they prepared dinner together in the apartment's sleek, modern kitchen, Marie noticed how naturally they moved around each other. It was as if they'd been doing this for years, not mere months. Welder was chopping vegetables while Marie stirred a pot of simmering sauce. The easy banter between them, punctuated by laughter, made the once-sterile space feel more like home.
"Remember when you burned that first pasta we tried to make?" Welder teased, his eyes lighting up with amusement.
Marie rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but laugh. "You act like it was all me! You were the one who turned up the heat too high."
Welder shook his head, chuckling as he sliced a red bell pepper. "I was trying to speed things up. It was late."
"You were trying to impress me," Marie countered, leaning against the counter with a smirk. "Admit it."
Welder looked up from his chopping and gave her a playful smile, his dark eyes warm. "Okay, maybe I was. But now I don't have to try anymore. You're stuck with me, remember?"
There was a moment of comfortable silence as they exchanged glances, a deeper meaning lurking behind the playfulness. Marie felt her heart stir, the familiar warmth of attraction she'd been feeling more frequently now. It wasn't just physical—it was emotional, too. Welder had become her partner in more ways than she'd ever anticipated.
As dinner was served and they sat down at the table, the conversation turned to the company. Though they had agreed to keep their personal lives and work separate, it was difficult sometimes. They both cared deeply about their careers and the success of the merger. However, as the company stabilized, so had their lives. The demands had lessened, and they found themselves with more time to focus on each other.
"The board's been impressed with the last quarter's results," Welder said, taking a sip of his wine. "I think we're finally past the worst of it."
Marie nodded. "I've noticed. I think the merger's turned out better than anyone expected. Even the skeptics are coming around."
Welder leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment. "You've been incredible through all of this, Marie. I know we started this whole thing for the company's sake, but I've realized… I wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else."
Marie felt her cheeks warm under his gaze. "I could say the same to you," she said, her voice softer than usual. "We make a good team." For a moment, neither of them spoke, the unspoken tension between them hanging in the air. Welder reached out and took her hand, his thumb brushing lightly against her skin. It was such a simple gesture, but it sent a jolt of electricity through her.
"Do you ever think about what happens after this year is over?" he asked quietly, his eyes searching hers.
Marie swallowed, her heart racing. She had thought about it—more than she cared to admit. The initial idea of their marriage ending had seemed like a relief, a return to normalcy. But now… the thought of leaving Welder, of going back to her old life without him, seemed unimaginable.
"I do," she admitted. "But I don't know what it looks like yet. It's hard to picture what we are outside of this."
Welder nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I've been thinking about it too. I know we've always planned for this to end, but now… I'm not sure I want it to."
Marie's breath caught in her throat. He was voicing something she hadn't even dared to think about. Could they really turn this marriage of convenience into something real, something lasting?
"Welder…" she began, but he cut her off gently.
"I know it's complicated. We've built everything on this foundation of a deal—a business arrangement. But it doesn't feel like that anymore, does it? At least, not to me."
Marie looked down at their hands, still intertwined, and nodded slowly. "It doesn't feel like a deal anymore to me either," she whispered. "But we have to be sure, Welder. We can't jump into this just because it feels good right now. What if it all falls apart later?"
Welder squeezed her hand. "That's a risk with any relationship, isn't it? We've taken risks before, and we've come out stronger. Why should this be any different?" Marie couldn't argue with that. They had already faced so many challenges together—professionally and personally. And through it all, they had come to rely on each other in ways neither of them had expected.
But could they really make this work? Could they turn their fake marriage into something real, something lasting?
"I'm scared," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've never done anything like this before. I've never… felt this way before."
Welder reached out and gently cupped her cheek, his touch soft and reassuring. "I'm scared too, Marie. But I think that's a good thing. It means this matters."
She looked up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. His brown eyes were full of sincerity, of hope. And in that moment, she realized that she didn't want to lose him—not now, not ever.
"I think it matters too," she whispered.
Welder smiled, his thumb brushing against her cheek as he leaned in closer. "So let's take another step. One at a time, like we said."
Without thinking, Marie closed the distance between them, her lips meeting his in a kiss that felt like a release of everything they had been holding back. It wasn't just a kiss—it was a promise, a declaration that they were willing to take that next step together, no matter the risks.
When they finally pulled apart, Marie rested her forehead against his, her heart racing in the quiet aftermath of their kiss.
"I guess we're doing this," she said softly, a hint of a smile on her lips. Welder chuckled, his breath warm against her skin. "Yeah, I guess we are."