The CEO’s stand-in girlfriend

A bad morning

*Ashley*

I wake up feeling a flicker of energy I dis not expect, considering how sick I Was yesterday. The sun streams through the curtains, warming my face, and I stretch out beneath the blankets, feeling lighter than I have in a while. Maybe I’m already on the mend. I swing my legs over the side of the bed and stand up, testing my balance. I am a bit dizzy, but it feels good to be upright again.

I make my way to the kitchen, the familiar sounds of the apartment greeting me like an old friend. The smell of coffee lingers in the air, and I smile, the thought of a steaming cup warming me from the inside out. I pull out the eggs and some bread, determined to make breakfast as usual. It feels right… normal… and I am sure Lucas will appriciate it.

As I c***k the eggs into the pan, I can’t help but hum softly to myself, the rhythm of the cooking soothing my soul. I flip the toast and watch it brown, the satisfaction of a simple meal bringing me a sense of accomplishment. I pour the coffee, letting the rich aroma fill my senses, and I plate our breakfast just as Lucas walks in.

He pauses, his expression unreadable as his eyes flicker from the plates to me. I can’t tell if he’s surprised or annoyed with me for being up. I’m about to greet him and explain that I am much better, but he strides over to the table and slams something down in front of me. I glance down to see my notebook lying there, pages slightly askew.

“Stop doing these unnecessary things,” he says, his voice low and sharp. It cuts through the warmth of the morning, and I look up at him, confusion swirling in my chest. He seems cold, like he’s wrestling with something inside of him, and it feels like he’s angry… not at me, but more at himself.

“What are you talking about?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, but I feel my heart racing.

He crosses his arms, his jaw clenched. “I don’t care what you want in a man, Ashley. It’s pointless.”

I blink, taken aback. “That wasn’t meant for you,” I say, my voice quiet but firm. “It was just… my thoughts.”

“Sure… That’s why you left it where I would be sure to see it, right?” Lucas shakes his head, frustration etched across his features. “You’ll never be Helene,” he states, his tone harsh, but underneath, I sense a vulnerability that catches me off guard.

Heat rushes to my cheeks at the mention of his ex. I want to retort that I never wanted to be her, that she’s not the standard I’m striving for, but before I can voice it, a sudden coughing fit takes over. I double over, the tickle in my throat turning into a storm of irritation.

“Go to bed,” Lucas orders, his voice softening, a hint of concern breaking through his cold exterior. “You’re still too sick to be up. I’ll get you a cup of tea.”

I nod, still coughing, and he watches me with an intensity that unnerves me. I can see the conflict in his eyes, how he’s torn between wanting to care and pushing me away. I shuffle back to my room, my mind racing. How can he shift like that? Just last night, he was stirring soup for me, looking softer, almost tender. Now he’s back to being this hard-edged guy who feels like a stranger again.

As I crawl back under the covers, I can’t shake the disorientation swirling in my mind. Why does he feel the need to put up these walls? I want to understand, but it’s like trying to catch smoke with my bare hands.

To be honest, I am starting to look forward to ending this relationship soon. The contract doesn’t have an end day, but it was never meant to be forever. I find myself once again thinking that we need to sit down and have a talk about how to end this.

I close my eyes, hoping that when I wake up, things will make sense. But as I drift off, all I can think about is the way Lucas’s expression shifted from caring to cold, and I wonder if I’ll ever really know who he is beneath that tough exterior.

The tea will be nice, I tell myself, but deep down, I crave more than just warmth in a cup. Part of me want to break through to him, to show him that there’s more to life than just being a bulldozer, that he doesn’t have to carry everything alone. But for now, I let sleep wash over me, letting the world fade into a blur as I hope for clarity when I wake.