The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting a glow on the office space. Despite a fever that had her feeling under the weather, Emily pushed through and arrived at work for an important meeting. The previous day's rain and exhaustion had finally caught up with her weakened body. A glimmer of relief came when she found no online articles mentioning a woman being Oliver's girlfriend at the gala.
Emily lost in the methodical task of tidying her boss's desk, barely registered the click of the door as Oliver entered. A shiver ran down her spine, a symptom of the fever clinging to her, but she plastered on a smile, the ever-present mask she wore – professional.
“Good morning, Mr. Sterling”
Oliver, acknowledging her with a nod, sank into his chair, hanging his suit jacket
Oliver sat hunched over his desk, his brow furrowed as he reviewed a document. The quiet hum of the office was abruptly shattered by the click of the door opening."Right on time, Ms. Collins," he began, “I need a few documents from last year's report"Oliver looked up, expecting to see Emily. Instead, he was met with the stoic face of his grandmother's secretary—Mr. Owen. "Mr. Owen? What are you doing here"The secretary bowed at him for a second before holding up the brown paper bag. "OI was told to bring you your lunch, Mr. Oliver''Oliver's brows shot up. "Lunch? Where’s Emily?""Madam Calliope and Odessa have invited Ms. Emily to join them for lunch."“What?!” he exclaimed in annoyance. “I knew they would do this” A jolt of unexpected concern bubbled up to him and a prickle of unease settled in his stomach. His jaw clenched. He knew his mom and grandmother could be too excited and overly welcoming, and the thought of Emily being swept up without any warning left him feeling ann
Outside the tall building of Sterling Corporation, Emily exited the car, her smile polite as one of Madam Calliope's bodyguards opened the door for her. Bidding farewell to the two women, she received a gentle pat on the hand."You're such a lovely young woman, Emily," Madam Calliope gushed. "Are you sure you're alright, dear? You felt a bit warm earlier.""Thank you, Madam Calliope, I'm fine, just a little under the weather earlier but the delicious lunch definitely helped."Despite the warmth of their company, she felt drained due to her slight fever. Secretly, she longed for the familiar comfort of her apartment.“Take care, dear. See you again soon” Madam Odessa said, followed by a chilling sentence that made her freeze in her place. "See you at the reuni
She remained silent, her gaze flitting around the room trying to avoid Oliver’s intense stare. To break the awkward air between them, she gestured towards the plastic bag on the coffee table.“What is this, Sir?”"Medicines for fever. You need to take one," he instructed, “then I'll drive you home afterward."Emily's jaw dropped. How did he know she had a fever when he clearly had no idea she was having a hard time this morning?"I'm fine, Sir," she said. However, the fatigue etched on her face betrayed her words."Don't lie to me, Ms. Collins," Oliver countered, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Bryson visited earlier."Surprise fl
Oliver breezed into his office, whistling a cheerful tune. A steaming cup of coffee warmed his hand as he tossed his briefcase onto the plush chair and hung his suit jacket on the back of his swivel chair. Reaching for his daily schedule on the right side of his desk felt like muscle memory, but his hand hovered, then landed with a soft thud on an empty space. A frown creased his brow as he noticed his computer was still off. Unease prickled his skin. Emily never left her desk bare. He called out, "Ms. Collins?" Silence answered him, broken only by the gentle hum of the air conditioner. Realization dawned. "Right, I told her to take a day off," he muttered, disappointment tingling in his voice as he slumped back into his chair.
Oliver practically collapsed onto the plush couch in his living room, tossing a brown paper bag onto the kitchen island. The doorman had just delivered his dinner – the result of a quick call to his chef friend. Cooking wasn't exactly in Oliver's repertoire, and on busy days like this, Emily would take the initiative to arrange meals. The soft glow of the penthouse lights bathed his exhausted form in a warm sheen. A glance at the clock made him wince – 9:00 PM already. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, fatigue etched on his face. Then, his eyes fell on the crumpled note still clutched in his hand. It was from the brown paper bag. A handwritten message from his chef friend: Made you a Grilled Filet Mignon and Truffle Pasta today, bro. You might be surprised since I heard Ms. Collins wasn't in today. But she called me to prepare dinne
A grin spread across Oliver's face. "But this new movie is actually pretty interesting! I can't seem to tear myself away..." "Don't play coy with me, Mr. Sterling," Emily countered, "That's Interstellar on the screen you've seen for umpteenth time, and let's be honest, you probably haven't understood a word of it all night. Plus, I know there's that expensive whiskey keeping you company." Oliver burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the penthouse. "Alright, alright, you win" He reached for the remote and flicked off the TV with a sigh. He rose from the couch, leaving the untouched glass of whiskey behind, and headed for his bedroom. The phone remained pressed to his ear, his other hand shoved in his sweatpants pocket. "Hear that?" he said, a playful note in h
Emily hurried through the glass doors of the tall building, her arms laden with a brown paper bag and a steaming coffee cup balanced precariously on top. Juggling the two, she spotted Bella, her coworker, heading towards the reception desk. "Em!" Bella called out, a friendly smile spreading across her face. Emily offered a quick wave in response before continuing her mad dash towards the president's private elevator. She pressed the button for the top floor with a practiced ease, her heart hammering against her ribs. A quick glance down revealed her reflection in the mirrored doors - a sea of dark green pencil skirt and a floral brown blouse that seemed perpetually wrinkled despite her efforts with the iron. Her black tights did little to combat the morning chill, and her black pumps clicked a staccato beat against the polished marble floor. She adjusted her
“So we decided to use a more efficient product……” The voice of the presenter echoed in the boardroom. Oliver, who sat at the head of the table, his gaze fixed on the report spread out before him. But the columns of figures and charts swam before his eyes, mere blurs in his vision. His mind was a million miles away, consumed by a looming problem that had nothing to do with the business report or project. His hand tapped out a restless rhythm against the folder. The click-clack of his Montblanc pen was the only sound breaking the tense silence. This was very unusual. But today, his inattentiveness was nowhere to be seen. Beside him is Emily who gave her boss a worried glance. "Sir?" she
As they walked, the trees thinned, revealing a breathtaking sight in the distance – a crystal-clear lake shimmering under the sun. Emily gasped, her surprise pulling her hand away from Oliver's instinctively. Without a word, she broke into a run towards the water's edge.Oliver chuckled, watching her go. He quickened his pace to catch up. "Wait, Emily!"Reaching the shore, Emily stood mesmerized. The gentle breeze ruffled her hair as she gazed at the calm surface of the lake, reflecting the blue sky like a giant mirror.Oliver joined her side, his features softening. "This place brings back a lot of memories,"Emily turned to him. "Memories?""This was my childhood haven. I used to spend hours he
It has been four days since Emily stayed with the Sterling family. And she would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it. The family made sure that she visited every nook and crook of their estates and even the town. It almost feels like the day was gone too fast.She quietly watched as maids, helpers, and other organizers busied themselves preparing for the party tonight. It was just morning, but the mansion was already a hive of activity. She had been here for four days now, and tonight’s party was the highlight of the week.Despite her initial reservations, Emily had to admit she enjoyed staying with Oliver’s family. They were warm and welcoming, and she found herself feeling at home. She couldn’t ignore the irony—she was supposed to be fake dating Oliver, yet she found herself genuinely liking the experience.
Soon after that day, Emily found herself staring at the horses, their powerful forms and glossy coats gleaming in the sunlight. The Sterling family had planned a horseback riding excursion and that includes her. The air was filled with cheerful chatter and laughter."This is going to be amazing!" chirped a young girl, barely taller than Emily's knees, bouncing on the balls of her feet."I know, right?" A group of teenagers nearby chimed in. "Finally, something fun to do besides listening to Uncle George's snoring!" they joke, erupting in a fit of giggles.An older woman with silver streaks in her hair chuckled good-naturedly. "Don't be so mean to your uncle, dear. He just enjoys his afternoon naps."The
When Emily woke up, she was momentarily disoriented, unsure of where she was. Then the events of the previous day came rushing back. Right, she was in Oliver's family mansion pretending to be his girlfriend. The unfamiliar room around her slowly came into focus, and she sighed, feeling warm and comfortable under the heavy blankets.Snuggling closer, she enjoyed the warmth and the comforting scent surrounding her. It was a mix of something clean and distinctly masculine. But then she felt an arm around her waist, pulling her closer, and her eyes snapped open in surprise. She found herself face-to-face with a sleeping Oliver.Her breath caught in her throat as she quickly sat upright, careful not to wake him. Oliver continued to sleep soundly, his arm falling away from her as she moved.“Shit” she mumbled.Emily took a moment to steady her racing heart, her eyes drifting back to Oliver. He looked incredibly handsome in the soft morning light. His sharp jawline was relaxed in sleep, his
After the bonfire, Emily and Oliver made their way back to their room and changed into their sleeping attire. The warmth of the fire still lingered in their bones, but the reality of their situation quickly settled in as they closed the door behind them. They stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, neither quite sure how to proceed.Oliver cleared his throat and offered, "I can take the couch, Ms. Collins. You should take the bed."Emily shook her head, her sense of duty as his secretary kicking in but also noticing that he easily switched the way he called her. "No, Oliver—I mean Sir, you're the one who should take the bed. I’m fine with the couch.""Ms. Collins, I insist. You've been through a lot today, and you deserve to be comfortable.""No, really. It's just a couch. I’ll be fine." Before Oliver could move to the couch, Emily grabbed a pillow and made a dash for it. "Emily, wait!" Oliver called out, reaching for her hand. As he did, Emily accidentally slipped on a piece of
After spending some time in Oliver's room, Emily finally decided to venture downstairs. The house was quiet, the afternoon sun casting warm light through the large windows. After lunch, she and Oliver hadn’t spoken much; he had been called away by his father. She had changed into a simple skirt and a cozy sweater, hoping to feel more comfortable among Oliver's family.She frowned when she didn't see anyone. As she walked through the hallway, she ran into one of Oliver's cousins, a bubbly young woman. Her eyes lit up when she saw Emily. "Emily hey! We're having a bonfire outside. You should join us!"Emily hesitated, unsure if she should intrude on the family gathering. "I don't know. Maybe I should just—"Before she could finish, the woman grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door. "Nonsense! You’re practically family now. Come on, it’ll be fun!"Reluctantly, Emily allowed herself to be dragged outside. The cool evening air greeted her as they stepped onto the lawn. She saw a l
Deciding it was time for some socialization, Emily descended the stairs, only to be met with a surprise. The living room was a sea of unfamiliar faces mingling with a few she recognized from previous gatherings. Her gaze instinctively darted around the room, searching for Oliver, but he was nowhere to be found.The sudden silence as she reached the bottom step made Emily acutely aware of all eyes turning towards her. Oliver's mother, Odessa materialized beside her in an instant."You finally come down!" Emily managed a shaky nod, forcing a smile. "I'm sorry, I fell asleep before I knew it""No worries, dear. Jet lag is the worst," Odessa added, before gently ushering her towards the assembled relatives. "Everyone, this is Emily! I want you to meet some of our family who couldn't make it last year. And this is our big family!"Emily scanned the faces, searching for those around her age and Oliver's. A group of children played near a window, their laughter echoing through the room."Hi
As the car rolled down the long driveway, Emily's grip on her bag tightened. Her gaze darted out the window, taking in every detail of the place that felt both familiar and utterly foreign. She couldn't help but admire the grand estate, especially the mansion. The house stood tall with large windows, its exterior constructed from light-colored stone, giving it a stately and classic appearance. The front yard was expansive, stretching out into a well-manicured lawn dotted with flower beds bursting with color. At the far end of the property, a glimpse of the family’s large land came into view, hinting at the vastness of the estate.The car finally came to a halt in front of the grand entrance. Oliver announced, "We're here. Are you ready?" His voice startled Emily from her nervous reverie.She took a deep breath. It's not like she can run back to the city and forget everything that happened. So she forced out, “Um…yeah.”She followed Oliver out of the car. He slipped his phone into his
The black car purred softly to a stop in front of Emily's apartment building. Oliver glanced at his watch, then out the window. Moments later, the door of the building swung shut and Emily emerged. She wore a simple sundress that accentuated her fair and pale skin, her hair pulled back in a loose bun. Large tortoiseshell glasses perched on her nose. However, the two large bags slung over her shoulders – one a backpack, the other a hefty duffel – detracted from the effortless grace she usually carried.Oliver stepped out, his gaze landing on the bags. "Good morning, Ms. Collins," Emily returned with her professional smile, "Hi, Sir. Good morning," she replied, hoisting the bags a little higher on her shoulder. The effort caused her to wobble slightly."Emily, did you pack all of this yourself?" he asked, gesturing to the bags with a raised eyebrow."Yes, I did. I wanted to make sure we had everything we might need for the trip. Oliver was touched by her thoughtfulness. He could tell