Thursday at Rivera Corp felt heavier than usual. Maybe it was the storm from last night still lingering in my mind, or maybe it was the memory of Ethan sitting too close in the apartment, the intensity of his gaze lingering like a shadow.
I was going over reports at my desk when I noticed Mark, the intern from before, hovering nearby. He smiled at me, a little too casually, and asked, "Ms. Mendoza, do you want me to help you with that?"
I shook my head politely. "Thanks, but I've got it."
Mark chuckled, leaning a bit closer. "You're always so focused. I wish I had that kind of… dedication."
I froze, my pulse quickening. Ethan was walking toward us at that moment, and I felt the familiar tension settle like a weight on my chest.
He stopped beside me, eyes narrowing slightly—not glaring, but alert. "Everything okay here?" His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge.
"Yes… fine," I said quickly, trying to sound casual.
Mark smiled, oblivious to Ethan's tension. "Just chatting with Lara. Nothing serious."
Ethan's jaw tightened slightly, and I felt my stomach twist. "Right," he said softly, almost to himself. Then, without another word, he walked away, heading to his office.
I sighed, trying to steady my nerves. He wasn't mad at me. He was… jealous. I had seen it before, subtle but unmistakable. And now, I couldn't deny it—something in me… liked it.
During lunch, Ethan barely spoke, his focus on his food but his eyes constantly scanning the room. I wanted to approach him, apologize, explain that Mark was harmless—but the words stuck in my throat.
Later, Sophie texted me: "Ethan seems off. Did something happen at work? Or is he… jealous?"
I groaned. Jealousy. Dangerous. Complicated. Something about knowing he cared—or even wanted to care—made my heart both ache and flutter.
That evening, at the apartment, I waited until he arrived before speaking. "Ethan… about today…"
He leaned against the counter, arms crossed, expression neutral. "Yes?"
"I… Mark was just… nothing. I didn't mean anything by it," I said quickly, heart racing.
His eyes softened, but there was still a hint of intensity in them. "I know. I trust you, Lara. It's just… seeing you with him, it reminded me that… I care more than I should. More than the contract allows."
I froze. "You… care?" I whispered, my heart skipping.
He nodded slowly. "Yes. But I don't want to complicate things… yet. We have rules, Lara. One year. Boundaries. But… I won't lie. It hurts seeing someone else near you, even if they're harmless."
My cheeks burned. "Ethan…"
He stepped closer, gently placing a hand on my shoulder. "I just… needed you to know. Even if we pretend, my feelings… are real. I'll try to control them. But I can't lie about them either."
Contract marriage. Rules. Boundaries. Yet somehow… jealousy was making everything feel more real.
And for the first time, I wondered if I even wanted the contract to keep us apart.