The next morning, Sophia was still fuming, replaying the events of the gala in her head. She sat at her desk at Synergy Brands Inc. tapping her pen furiously against her notebook. The headline about her and Ethan had spread like wildfire overnight. Her inbox was flooded with emails, and her phone buzzed every few minutes with text messages from colleagues and friends who all wanted to know the same thing: **"Are you and Ethan really together?"**
Her door swung open without warning, and Ethan sauntered in, his usual smirk plastered across his annoyingly handsome face. He didn't even bother to knock. Typical.
"Morning, sweetheart," he teased, dropping into the chair opposite her.
Sophia shot him a deadly glare. "Don't call me that."
"Oh, come on," Ethan said, leaning back casually. "It's already all over the news. People love a good romance, and now they're even more interested in us."
"I'm trying to do damage control," Sophia snapped. "You, on the other hand, seem to think this is some kind of game."
"It's not a game. It's an opportunity," Ethan replied, his tone suddenly serious. "Think about it—everyone's talking about us. They think we're this power couple, right? You're trying to close that deal with **Greyson Global**? Imagine how much leverage you'll have now that they think you're connected to me."
Sophia raised an eyebrow. "Connected to you? You're literally a walking scandal."
"Exactly," he said, flashing that grin she hated so much. "And people love a comeback story. You can play the part of the good girl who tames the bad boy. Trust me, this is going to work in your favor."
Sophia leaned back in her chair, eyeing him skeptically. "So, what exactly are you proposing?"
"A deal," Ethan said, leaning forward, his eyes glinting with mischief. "We pretend to date—just long enough for you to secure your deal, and for me to clean up my reputation a bit. You get your business, I get the press off my back."
Sophia stared at him, feeling the weight of what he was suggesting. The idea was insane. But the truth was, Ethan wasn't entirely wrong. The buzz around them was impossible to ignore, and if people believed they were a couple, it could work in her favor. But there was no way she was going into this without some ground rules.
"Fine," she said slowly, much to her own surprise. "But if we're doing this, we're doing it on my terms."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Do tell."
Sophia took a deep breath, folding her arms. "First of all, no kissing. Absolutely no public displays of affection."
Ethan chuckled. "A fake relationship with no PDA? That's going to be a tough sell, sweetheart."
She shot him a pointed look. "Rule number one, Ethan. No kissing."
"Alright, alright," he said, holding up his hands. "No kissing. What else?"
"Number two," Sophia continued, "we only go out in public when necessary. No random dates, no hanging out for the sake of the media. Strictly professional outings only."
"Got it. Business only," Ethan said, still smirking.
"And number three," Sophia added, narrowing her eyes, "you will not—under any circumstances—call me 'sweetheart' or any other ridiculous pet names in public or private."
Ethan let out a low whistle. "You're really laying down the law here. Alright, no pet names. Anything else, Your Highness?"
Sophia tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Yes, actually. You're going to stop interrupting me at work. I'm still trying to run a company, and I don't need you barging in like this."
Ethan gave her a mock salute. "I'll schedule an appointment next time. Anything else?"
Sophia paused, then added, "You're paying for everything."
He blinked in surprise. "Wait, what?"
"You heard me," Sophia said, her lips curving into a small, triumphant smile. "You're the one who dragged me into this mess. The least you can do is cover the costs."
Ethan leaned back in his chair, a half-smile playing on his lips. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"
"I'm just making sure we're clear," she said, shrugging. "If I'm going to play along with your crazy idea, I'm going to get something out of it."
Ethan chuckled again, shaking his head. "You're something else, Sophia Bennett. But alright, you've got yourself a deal."
They sat in silence for a moment, both realizing how ridiculous this entire situation had become. Sophia could hardly believe she was agreeing to this, and yet here she was, outlining the terms of their fake relationship like it was some kind of business contract. She couldn't help but feel a little satisfied with how she'd turned the tables on Ethan.
But Ethan, of course, had the last word. "One more thing," he said, standing up and leaning over her desk slightly. "If we're going to sell this, we'll need to start making appearances. You up for a lunch date tomorrow?"
Sophia narrowed her eyes. "Business lunch. Strictly business."
Ethan winked. "Sure thing. I'll pick you up at noon. Don't be late, sweetheart."
Before she could yell at him, he was already out the door, leaving Sophia wondering just what she had gotten herself into.