Chapter one - The Memo Mix Up
Maya Torres's Monday morning began with the usual: a lukewarm coffee, a jammed printer, and the faint dread of another week under Mr. Caldwell's relentless watch. She tucked a stray curl behind her ear, balanced her laptop bag on one shoulder, and made a silent promise to herself that this week, at least, she wouldn't embarrass herself in front of Daniel Reid.
Daniel, of course, was already at his desk when she arrived—immaculate suit, tie knotted with surgical precision, eyes glued to his screen. He had the kind of presence that filled a room without trying: quiet, focused, a little intimidating. Maya's crush on him was the worst-kept secret in the marketing department, though she prayed he hadn't noticed.
She was halfway through opening her email when a ping from the company-wide HR memo caught her attention.
Subject: Staff Relationship Updates – Congratulations!
Maya frowned. Relationship updates? She clicked, skimming the familiar HR jargon until her eyes froze on a line that made her nearly spit out her coffee.
"We're pleased to announce that Marketing Associate Maya Torres and Senior Analyst Daniel Reid are officially in a relationship. Please join us in congratulating the happy couple!"
Her coffee mug clattered against the desk. "Oh my God."
Across the open-plan office, Daniel's head shot up. Their eyes met, both wide, both horrified.
Maya's heart did a full Olympic routine in her chest. She darted to his desk, lowering her voice.
"Did you see—?"
"Yes." His tone was clipped, but his usually steady hands were clutching the mouse like it had personally betrayed him. "This is… a mistake."
"No kidding!" Maya hissed, glancing around. Already, Clara from HR was peeking over the cubicle wall with a grin like a cat at feeding time. Two interns whispered behind their screens, and someone near the copy machine actually clapped.
Maya groaned. This cannot be happening.
By noon, the rumor had gone viral—at least within the walls of Caldwell & Co. Someone had started a Slack thread with the headline "Power Couple Alert". Clara had stopped by Maya's desk three times with winks and questions about "date spots." Worst of all, Mr. Caldwell himself emerged from his corner office, clapping Daniel on the shoulder.
"Reid, Torres," he boomed. "Finally decided to make it official, eh? That's good. Stability, commitment—it matters in this firm. Especially when considering leadership potential."
Maya's throat went dry. Leadership potential? She'd been quietly gunning for the Senior Marketing Specialist role opening next quarter. Was Caldwell seriously implying that a relationship—fake or not—boosted her chances?
Daniel managed a polite nod. "Yes, sir."
Maya blinked at him. Yes, sir?
When Caldwell retreated, leaving a trail of awkward congratulations behind, Maya pulled Daniel into the nearest conference room. She shut the door, pressing her back against it like she could keep the chaos out.
"Okay," she said, voice sharp with panic. "What was that? Why didn't you correct him?"
Daniel exhaled slowly, tugging at his cufflink. Up close, Maya could see the faint shadow of stubble on his jaw, the tired crease between his brows. He looked more human than the untouchable professional she usually admired from afar.
"Because," he said carefully, "Caldwell clearly thinks it's a good thing. And unless you enjoy career suicide, I suggest we don't contradict him. Not yet."
Maya blinked. "You're suggesting we… go along with it?"
He met her gaze, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. "Just for a while. Until it dies down."
Her brain stuttered. Fake dating? With Daniel Reid? The idea was ridiculous. Dangerous. Potentially heart-exploding.
But as she thought about Clara's sly smiles, the interns' whispers, and Caldwell's heavy emphasis on "stability," she realized he wasn't entirely wrong. If they denied it now, it would look messy—unprofessional. And if going along with the charade could help her career…
Maya rubbed her temples. "This is insane."
"Probably," Daniel admitted. Then, softer, "But maybe necessary."
For a long moment, the room was silent except for the faint hum of the air conditioning. Maya could feel her pulse in her ears. She looked at him—really looked. His usual composure was still there, but beneath it, a hint of something else. Weariness? Vulnerability?
"All right," she said finally, surprising herself. "But if we're doing this, we need rules."
The corner of his mouth quirked, almost like a smile. "Rules?"
"Yes. No… no actual feelings involved. Just appearances. We'll hold hands if we have to, maybe post a photo or two. But that's it."
His gaze lingered on her a second too long, and her cheeks burned.
"Understood," he said smoothly. "Strictly professional."
Maya nodded, ignoring the flutter in her chest. Professional. Right. Except there was nothing professional about how her stomach flipped when he held the door open for her afterward, or how her mind kept replaying that almost-smile.
The memo might have been a mistake, but as Maya returned to her desk and caught Daniel's eyes across the office, she realized something dan
gerous:
For the first time, she wasn't sure she wanted it corrected.