### **A Decision Made**
That night, Evelyn lay in bed, her mind consumed by Ethan's unexpected proposal.
*If I accept his contractual girlfriend proposal, what will he think of me? Of my character?* she wondered.
But then, she shook off the thought. *It doesn't matter what he thinks. Right now, I need money urgently. Even if he hadn't made this request, I would have asked him for financial help.*
Knowing that accepting his offer would resolve her financial struggles with ease, she finally made up her mind. *Yes, I need to agree to this.*
With her decision settled, she drifted off to sleep.
---
### **The Next Morning: Anxious Anticipation**
Ethan arrived at the office earlier than usual, eager to hear Evelyn's answer. He couldn't focus on anything else.
Unable to wait any longer, he called Ivy.
"Ivy, has Evelyn come to the office today?"
"Yes, sir," Ivy confirmed. "Shall I send her to your room?"
"No need, I'll call her myself. Thanks."
Hanging up, Ethan sat back, deep in thought. *How do I call her?* he mused.
Just then, as if reading his mind, Evelyn knocked on his door.
"Yes, come in," Ethan said, sitting up straight.
Evelyn entered, holding some documents. "Sir, please check these files and sign them."
She hesitated for a brief moment, then added, "And… I accept your contractual girlfriend proposal. Please don't misunderstand me."
Ethan raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Just like you requested this for important reasons, I'm accepting it for mine," Evelyn continued. "I need money urgently. Even if you hadn't made this proposal, I would have asked to borrow money from you. So, thank you for offering. I'm satisfied to help you in this way."
Ethan was momentarily speechless but soon responded, "Thank you so much, Evelyn."
"You may go back to your place now," he added. "I'll call you once I've prepared the contract. Please wait a moment."
Ethan then reached for his checkbook, carefully filling out a cheque for ₹5 lakhs before signing it and handing it to Evelyn.
Evelyn glanced at the amount, then immediately returned it to him.
"Sir, I only need ₹2 lakhs. I already have the remaining balance, so kindly change the amount."
"It's not a problem—just take it," Ethan said.
But Evelyn shook her head firmly and handed the cheque back again.
"Sir, please rewrite it for ₹2 lakhs."
Ethan sighed, then tore up the original cheque. He wrote a new one for the exact amount Evelyn requested and handed it to her.
Evelyn took the cheque and smiled gratefully. "Thank you so much, sir. You don't know how much this money means to me. It's going to be incredibly useful."
"Okay, sir, I'll go back to my place now. Once the contract is ready, call me, and I'll sign it."
With that, Evelyn exited the room, leaving Ethan in stunned silence.
He hadn't expected her response to be so composed—nor had he anticipated feeling this much relief.
---
### **An Unconventional Agreement**
Ethan sat in his office, deep in thought. *I really don't understand what kind of girl Evelyn is.*
He had offered ₹5 lakhs, yet she had refused and asked for only ₹2 lakhs. *Most people would have just taken the extra money. But she's different,* he mused.
Regardless, his problem was now resolved, and that was what mattered.
Carefully, he drafted the contract and then called Evelyn to his office.
Moments later, Evelyn knocked and entered his room.
Ethan handed her the contract. "Evelyn, please read this carefully. If you need any corrections or additions, let me know, and I'll revise it before you sign."
Without hesitation, Evelyn took the contract, signed it without even reading, and handed it back to him.
"I need money, sir. That's the only reason I accepted this proposal," she said matter-of-factly. "You gave me exactly what I wanted. Now, it's my turn to help you. And besides, I trust you completely."
Ethan was momentarily stunned by her attitude.
"Alright, sir, I'll head back to my place," she added before leaving his office.
Ethan sat back, still surprised at how easily she had agreed. *She didn't even read the contract. Just what kind of person is she?*
---
### **Getting to Know Each Other**
The next day at the office, Ethan called Evelyn once again.
"Please come to my room," he said over the intercom.
Evelyn arrived moments later, knocking on the door.
"Yes, come in," Ethan called.
Evelyn stepped inside, waiting for him to speak.
"Evelyn, we need to know more about each other," he explained. "At any time, my parents or friends might want to meet you. We have to be prepared to answer their questions convincingly."
Evelyn nodded. "Alright, sir."
They spent time sharing details about their lives, ensuring they could convincingly pretend to be a couple.
---
### **Ivy's Suspicion**
Meanwhile, Ivy had been observing Evelyn and Ethan closely. Something felt off—she had noticed their hushed conversations, sudden meetings, and the odd tension between them.
One afternoon, Ivy approached Evelyn with a sly smirk.
"So, what's going on between you and Ethan sir?" she asked sarcastically.
Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Don't overthink it, Ivy. There's nothing between us."
Ivy raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced, but let the matter drop.
---
### **Doubts in the Night**
That night, Evelyn lay awake, her thoughts swirling in her mind.
*Was my decision right or wrong?* she questioned herself.
She knew Ethan might perceive her as someone who would do anything for money, but she dismissed the thought. *Does it really matter what he thinks of me?* she mused. *I don't need to prove my decisions to anyone.*
With that, she convinced herself that she had done the right thing and slowly drifted off to sleep.
---
At the same time, Ethan sat in his room, lost in his own thoughts.
*Was this the right decision?* he pondered. *I made this choice too quickly—without proper analysis.*
Had he unintentionally dragged Evelyn into his personal problems? Had he put her in an uncomfortable situation?
Yet, in another light, he had helped her by fulfilling her urgent financial need.
*What's done is done—I won't dwell on the past. I need to focus on executing the plan successfully.*
Determined to move forward, Ethan let out a deep breath, convincing himself to stay committed to the arrangement.
With that, he finally closed his eyes and fell asleep.
---
Endless Love continues...