CHAPTER 1 — THE DISASTER MEETING
Lila Vance strongly believed there were two types of workdays: the bad ones, and the ones bad enough to destroy the entire week. Unfortunately, today belonged to a brand-new category—professionally trained disaster.
Her inbox screamed with seventeen new messages, all from her micromanaging boss, each ending with a cheerful emoji that felt personally offensive.
“LILA, let’s redo the entire project. Deadline stays the same. Thanks! 😊”
“Thanks,” Lila muttered darkly. “Thanks for ruining my life, maybe?”
After three hours of stress-eating crackers and questioning her life choices, she made a bold decision: she was going to HR to request three days off. A mini escape. A chance to breathe somewhere that didn’t involve fluorescent lights slowly killing her soul.
That was how she ended up standing in front of HR’s office clutching a stack of documents and silently praying for deliverance.
“Lila!” the HR lady beamed. “You’re here to sign the application for the trial program, right?”
Lila blinked. “The… what?”
“The internal bonding program! Our new ‘Couple Experience’ pilot project.”
Lila froze. “I—sorry—what??”
“Oh, don’t worry! It’s cute,” HR continued, far too cheerfully. “Two employees get paired up for a fake relationship simulation. Attend events together, take photos, join workshops… great for team bonding!”
Lila stared. She wanted to scream absolutely not, but HR had the uncanny ability to make or break careers with a single sentence. Lila was not brave enough for that risk.
“Oh. Um. I think there’s been a misunderstanding—”
“Here, just sign this form,” HR insisted, sliding a sheet of paper across the table.
Lila glanced at it.
It looked suspiciously like the sick-leave request form.
She exhaled with relief.
“Okay… so I just sign and go?”
“Exactly!”
Lila signed with the elegance of someone finally being released from suffering.
The pen had barely left the paper when a familiar voice behind her said:
“What did she just sign?”
Lila froze.
No.
No no no no no.
She knew that voice anywhere.
She turned—and there he was.
Evan Gray.
Her least favorite coworker. The infuriatingly competent, annoyingly handsome, jawline-blessed man who constantly outperformed everyone without even trying. Every time he walked by, half the office swooned.
Lila, however, fantasized about hurling a stapler at his head.
HR clapped her hands. “Perfect timing, Evan! You two are matched!”
“Matched,” Evan repeated tonelessly. “For what?”
“For the Couple Experience pilot!”
Lila choked on her own breath. “EXCUSE ME—what did I just—?”
“You just signed the contract,” HR said brightly.
“For a fake dating partnership. With Evan.”
Evan dragged a hand down his face. “I didn’t sign up for this.”
“You did,” HR corrected. “Last month. You were hyped up on espresso and said—and I quote—‘Sure, why not, could be entertaining.’”
Lila glared at him. “THIS is your fault?!”
Evan shot back, “How is any of this my fault? You’re the one who signs documents without reading!”
“I thought it was my sick-leave form!”
“Well, congratulations,” Evan said dryly. “Now you’re sick—in the romantic sense.”
Lila stared at him as rage, disbelief, and panic fought for dominance inside her soul.
“This cannot be happening.”
“Oh, it’s happening,” HR chimed in. “You two will be participating as a fake couple for six weeks. Weekly interactions. Mandatory appearances. Chemistry tracking.”
“CHEMISTRY WHAT?!” both of them yelled.
“Chemistry tracking,” HR repeated calmly, as though this were perfectly normal. “Emotional engagement, comfort level, personal bonding… It’s all part of the study.”
Lila pressed both hands to her forehead.
“This is the worst day of my life.”
Evan crossed his arms. “Trust me, sunshine, I’m not thrilled either.”
“Don’t call me sunshine,” Lila hissed.
“What? I think it fits. You’re… bright. Loud. Occasionally blinding.”
HR giggled. “Aww, look at that banter already! Rom-com energy!”
Both spun toward her with identical looks of horror.
“No romance,” Lila said firmly. “NONE. I refuse.”
Evan smirked. “Relax. Rule number four says ‘no falling in love.’ We’ll be fine.”
“I’m more than fine,” Lila snapped. “I’m perfectly capable of not falling in love with you.”
“Thanks,” Evan replied, offended. “I guess?”
“Good,” she said.
“Good,” he echoed.
They glared at each other.
HR clapped again. “Great! Your first pretend-date is tomorrow evening!”
“WHAT—”
“It’s required,” HR continued. “Read your contract.”
Evan lifted the paper. “Clause One—participants must attend five external events together for realistic bonding opportunities.”
Lila groaned. “I hate everything.”
Evan tucked the form into his pocket. “Well. Looks like you’re stuck with me.”
“And you’re stuck with me,” she shot back.
He smiled, one of those annoyingly confident, I-know-I’m-pretty smiles.
“At least one of us is lucky.”
Lila opened her mouth, absolutely ready to destroy him with words—
but stopped herself.
“That’s it,” she said dramatically. “Universe, if you’re listening, please rewind the last five minutes so I don’t sign that cursed paper.”
Evan shrugged. “Too late. We’re contractually obligated soulmates now.”
“Don’t EVER say that again.”
He started walking away. “See you tomorrow, sunshine.”
Lila called after him, “I’M NOT YOUR SUNSHINE!”
HR looked delighted. “This is going to be adorable.”
Lila slumped into the nearest chair.
She had come here for a simple vacation request.
Instead, she walked out with a fake boyfriend.
And the worst part?
A tiny, treacherous part of her brain whispered:
This might actually be interesting.
