The CEO’s stand-in girlfriend

Hot chocolate

*Ashley*

I wake up feeling like I’ve finally shed the last remnants of the cold that has had me bedridden for days. The sun is shining through my window, casting a cozy autumn glow that beckons me to rise. I stretch and sit up, a sense of clarity washing over me. The dizziness is gone, replaced with a lightness that makes me want to take on the world.

Getting out of bed I realise I am still feeling a bit tired, but mostly I am tired of being in bed, so I take a quick shower and get dressed.

Today is the day. It’s time to talk to Lucas about us… about our relationship and what comes next. I know it won’t be easy, but I feel a sense of determination bubbling within me.

But as I knock on the door to his home office, where he has handled most of his work from while I have been sick, I find Lucas pacing the room, holding up a hand, telling me to stay quiet. He is talking fast, and sounding aggitated… something about legal problems from what I can hear.

I decide this is not the time to talk and make my way to the kitchen. I open the cupboard and decide to make a cup of hot chocolate for Lucas. I know how much he loves it, and how it helps him relax, and he seemed to need that.

As I stir the chocolate in a small saucepan, I feel my level of anxiety rise. I want to have this conversation. I want to lay everything out on the table and see where we stand. But I also know Lucas can be difficult, especially when he’s stressed. I just hope he won’t be after the phone call and the chocolate..

The cocoa bubbles gently, filling the air with a rich chocolate aroma. I pour the steaming liquid into a mug, adding a few marshmallows for good measure. Just as I enters the office, Lucas ends the call with a sigh, his expression tense. He’s wearing that same worried look I’ve come to recognize over the past years as a sign of stress.

“Hey,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “I made you some hot chocolate, just the way you like it.”

He glances at the mug, but his eyes are distant. “Thanks,” he replies, but it lacks the warmth I was hoping for. Instead, he seems distracted, his jaw set tight.

“Everything okay?” I ask gently, sensing the weight of something heavy in the air.

Lucas runs a hand through his hair, a gesture I know means he’s overwhelmed. “It’s just work. Legal issues. It’s complicated,” he mutters, pacing back and forth.

I watch him, my heart sinking a little. This is not the moment I envisioned for our talk. I want to break through to him, to reach the part of him that feels trapped, but right now, he’s lost in his own world.

“I can help if you want,” I offer, stepping a bit closer. “Maybe talking about it will make it easier?”

He stops pacing and looks at me, really looks at me, for the first time in days. “It’s not that simple, Ashley,” he says, frustration creeping into his voice. “This isn’t something you can just fix with a few words. It’s about contracts and obligations… laws… things I can’t just explain.”

“But I’m here for you if you need me,” I say, trying to inject some warmth into my tone. “I want to understand.”

For a moment, he seems to wrestle with the decision to let me in. I can see the conflict in his eyes, the desire to push me away fighting against the need for connection. “It’s just… I can’t let you get involved in this. I don’t want to drag you into my mess.”

I feel a flicker of annoyance. “You don’t have to protect me, Lucas. I’m not some delicate flower. I can handle more than you think.”

He exhales sharply, his shoulders dropping a fraction. “I know you can. But that doesn’t mean I want you to. I don’t want to put that burden on you… this is my mess.”

I take a step closer, the mug of chocolate still warm in my hands. “But I want to help. I care about you, even if you can’t see that right now.”

His eyes soften, and for a brief moment, I see a glimpse of the man he might be able to grow into one day. “I appreciate that, Ashley. I really do. But right now, I just need to focus on this.” He gestures vaguely, indicating the mess of papers and files stacked on his desk.

I nod, feeling the weight of disappointment settle in my chest. “Okay, I get it. You need space.” I pause, feeling the conversation shift. “But can we talk later? About us?”

Lucas's expression hardens again, the protective walls coming back up. “I don’t know, Ashley. I just…” He runs a hand through his hair again, frustration evident. “I’m not sure I’m ready for that conversation today.”

The words sting, but I hold my ground. “I need to know where we stand, how Long you expect to… need me, Lucas. This back-and-forth is exhausting.”

He looks at me, and for a moment, I think he might relent. But then he shakes his head, turning away. “Can I just focus on this for now?”

I nod slowly, my heart sinking. “Sure. I’ll let you work.” I set the mug down on the desk, letting the moment linger in silence as I step back.

As I leave the office, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re on different pages. I want to break through to him, to show him that we can face these challenges together, after all he hired me to help. But right now, he seems determined to fight his battles alone, and I have to respect that, even if it annoys me.

I retreat to the living room, my mind racing with thoughts. As I settle onto the couch, I can only hope that when the time comes, he’ll be ready to talk. And that maybe, just maybe, we can find a way to end this soon, and on good terms, even if I do not really expect to see him again after.