CHAPTER 1:
The sting of betrayal still lingered, a dull ache in Eliza's chest a year after discovering Dwayne's infidelity. The messages – the desperate pleas to "Kate," the admissions of unhappiness – played on a loop in her mind. Their breakup had been explosive, a messy tangle of accusations and hurt feelings. Now, she was starting over, a fresh job as a secretary at a prestigious company her only focus.
The first day jitters were intense. She overslept, rushing out the door, a whirlwind of apologies to her mother and frantic self-recriminations. In her haste, she collided with a man exiting a sleek sports car.
"Watch it!" he snapped, his voice sharp and impatient.
Eliza, flustered and already late, retorted defensively, "Excuse me, you're the one who wasn't looking!"
Their brief, angry exchange ended as abruptly as it began. He stormed off, leaving Eliza to continue her frantic dash to work.
Later, at the office, after a somewhat shaky introduction, her new boss summoned her. The man who'd cut her off in the parking lot was Liam Smith, CEO of Hayas Group Corp, and he was surprisingly calm, almost amused.
"Ms…De Guzman, was it? Small world, isn't it?" he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "You're my new secretary."
Eliza's stomach plummeted. The memory of their earlier encounter flooded back, the sharp words and mutual annoyance. She mumbled an apology, fearing instant dismissal.
Liam interrupted, "Don't worry, I'm not prone to firing people on their first day. However, I have a proposition."
He paused, leaning back in his chair, his gaze intense. "I need a girlfriend…a temporary one. Three months. In exchange, I'll forget our little encounter this morning, and you keep your job."
Eliza stared, speechless. "A…rented girlfriend?" she finally managed.
"Precisely," Liam said, his expression unreadable. "I'll pay you handsomely. Consider it a mutually beneficial arrangement."
Eliza's mind raced. The desperation for financial stability clashed with her pride, her wariness of this unusual offer. She needed time to think, to weigh the risks and rewards.
"I need some time to consider this," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Liam nodded. "Take your time. Let me know when you've decided."
The weight of Liam's proposal hung heavy in the air, a bizarre twist in the already complicated tapestry of Eliza's life. She left his office, a storm of conflicting emotions brewing within her. One thing was certain: this was going to be anything but a typical first day.