By the third week of their so-called "relationship," the weight of it all was hitting Sophie. What had seemed to begin as a simple arrangement ended up being a whirlwind of media scrutiny, appearances in public, and more hours spent pretending to love Ethan Pierce than she actually cared to remember. Every appearance in public left Sophie conscious of the eyes of the world upon them, their every smile, every touch scrutinized. The cameras never stopped. The tabloids, social media, and news outlets ate up every moment of their fake romance. They had become the new power couple.
It didn't help that Ethan, as much as he was playing his role, was undeniably charming. He had a way of making everything look effortless. Their public appearances were carefully choreographed—always holding hands, always smiling, always looking at each other as though they couldn't imagine life without the other.
The reality, however, was far from this staged image.
It is a thing Sophie had known to understand only when it became clear that the more she stayed around with Ethan, the more she liked him. But not romantically-not then at least-but in the sense of questioning her feelings for him. Ethan wasn't that arrogant, distanced person she thought he would be. He was, in all his flaws, vulnerable, human. He was not without his moments of genuine sincerity, cutting through the bluster he wore like armor, but there was always that subtext of control, mastery over the situation, which made Sophie feel uneasy.
It was a quiet Wednesday afternoon, following a night spent at a gala event the previous evening, when Sophie found herself on the phone with her boss. She had been up for a major promotion at work, and everything was riding on her ability to close a deal with a difficult client. The timing was crucial, and Sophie was juggling the pressure of her career alongside the stress of keeping up appearances for Ethan's sake. She could feel the exhaustion in her bones, the constant need to pretend taking a toll on her. She could not back out now, after everything they had built.
"Sophie, you are doing great," her boss, Richard, assured her. "The deal is near signing and the client excited about Sophie's leadership over this project. But, just so you know, we still need you to keep on keeping on. That is, to continue on with your. extracurricular activities." He paused for a moment as if rephrasing what he just said. "I mean the media attention. That is working magic for your profile."
The weight of his words hit Sophie hard. Her boss was referring to the ongoing media blitz surrounding her relationship with Ethan. It wasn't just a distraction. It was part of her career now, and there was no escaping it.
"I understand, Richard. I'll keep it up," Sophie said, her voice thick with the strain of it all.
The moment she had the chance to hang up, she settled back in her chair, gazing up at the ceiling, pondering what she should do. The pretend relationship had begun as a favor for Ethan. It had, however, turned into an all-important tool in her set of arms, something by which she could rise the corporate ladder. But, the question was if she could balance it out. Would her heart and mind stay well, or would the very deceptions she had so skilfully constructed begin to eat into her?