Chapter 4: Fake Dates and Real Jealousy

But that wasn’t my biggest headache. What really stressed me out were my mom’s relentless calls.

“Your cousin’s getting married this week. If you come home without bringing a boyfriend, don’t bother coming back. I’m sick of being embarrassed!”

Before I could respond, she hung up.

Staring at the dark phone screen, I sighed.

My cousin, five years younger than me, was about to get married. No wonder my mom was so worked up.

I heard her fiancé’s family was loaded.

My aunt and my mom never got along. She probably bragged about it nonstop, which explained the spike in my mom’s calls lately.

If I show up solo, my mom will probably have a meltdown.

But where was I supposed to find a boyfriend on such short notice?

As I fretted, someone walked past.

“Dylan Foster!” I called out.

He flinched and turned slowly.

“Secretary Autumn, what’s up?”

Wasn’t he the perfect candidate? Tall, decent-looking… honest enough. With a little polish, he could totally fool people.

Dylan looked uncomfortable under my stare.

“What is it?”

He was Eli’s driver. Whenever we went out, I usually rode with him. During those waits, our conversations had gone from polite small talk to gossiping about the boss behind his back.

He was the only one who believed there was nothing between me and Eli, because the stuff I said about Eli was so foul it could never be aired on TV.

I dragged him into a break room. After I reluctantly handed over three hundred bucks, Dylan finally agreed to pretend to be my boyfriend.

We left the room laughing, only to run right into Eli.

His sharp gaze flicked between us.

“What were you two doing in there?”

Dylan tried to hide behind me, as if we’d actually done something.

But even if we had, what business was it of his?

“What right do you have to question us during lunch break? Our personal business doesn’t need to be reported to you, Mr. Whitaker.”

Eli actually laughed in disbelief.

“Oh, so this is how a married woman acts?” His voice was sharp, almost mocking.

Dylan jumped in, “Secretary Autumn, if you have a husband, why do you need me to pretend to be your boyfriend?”

I rubbed my temples. This was getting more complicated by the second.

Under Eli’s questioning, Dylan spilled my whole plan.

To put Dylan at ease, I explained the whole thing. It was just a misunderstanding.

My phone had broken recently. Since I couldn’t afford a new one, I used my best friend’s old phone. I never paid attention to the contacts saved on it.

That day, my best friend’s husband, for some reason, called me first thing in the morning, begging me to like his post on Facebook—he was one like away from winning a free crockpot. I couldn’t believe the things people do.

That evening, I arranged to meet Dylan to get him some decent clothes. But the person who showed up was Eli.

“Where’s Dylan?”

“I sent him to pick someone up.”

“So what are you doing here?”

Eli looked a little awkward, mumbling, “Actually, I could do it too—play the part.”

“What? If there’s nothing else, I’m heading out.”

I turned to leave. Who wants to see their boss after hours? I’d rather go home and binge Netflix.

He stopped me. Asked if I wanted to grab dinner.

Of course, I refused.

He gritted his teeth and said he’d count it as overtime pay.

That did the trick.

Eli took me to a fancy steakhouse.

The place was all exposed brick and Edison bulbs, the kind of restaurant where the waiter describes the beef’s family tree. “Autumn, I really don’t think having Dylan pretend to be your boyfriend is a good idea.”

I stuffed a huge piece of steak in my mouth—so tender!

“What makes you say that?”

“You two aren’t actors, and you barely know each other. Your mom will definitely notice something’s off.”

I nodded in agreement.

“You’ve got a point.”

“Actually, I think…”

“I’ll just tell Dylan to talk less and act cold and aloof.”

I was surprised Eli was actually being helpful.

“Huh, what were you about to say?”

Eli took a deep breath. “Nothing. Just eat.”

He downed half a glass of wine in one go. Is that how rich people drink wine these days? Guess I’ll never know.

Too bad I didn’t dare touch any, since drinking always gets me in trouble.