CHAPTER TWO : The Pretend Boyfriend Plot
1115 Words
An average-height man stood before Lyra. His skin was dark—almost like melted chocolate—and his dark brown eyes flicked up as he pushed curly hair from his face. In his hand, he held a file.
“Good morning, I’m sorry for barging in. I’m looking for Miss Williams. I was told to give this to her,” he said.
Lyra raised her hand slightly. “That’s me.”
He stepped forward and placed the file gently on her desk. “Mr. George said to give this to you. It contains important information about the next client. You're to draft the documents according to the description and send them for review by four today.”
His tone was calm, but firm.
“Thank you. I’ll do that,” Lyra replied, already flipping the file open.
He turned to leave, but paused mid-step and pivoted back. “Miss Williams… I was wondering if—maybe—you’d be free on—”
“I don’t have free days, Mr…” she trailed off, squinting slightly, “I don’t think I caught your name?”
He let out a soft chuckle. “Luke. My name’s Luke. And… I know you're busy. I admire that. I really do. But maybe—not a whole day—just lunch? I’d really like to get to know you better, if you’d allow it.”
He smiled, confident on the outside, but Lyra could hear the flutter of nerves in his voice. Could someone be confident and nervous at the same time? Maybe. The world had seen stranger combinations.
“Okay,” she said, a sly grin tugging at her lips. “How about tomorrow at lunch?”
“Thank you,” he said, his smile lighting up his face before he turned and left.
He actually has a beautiful smile, Lyra thought. But his eyes aren’t as beautiful.
“Oh my goodness, Miss Williams, please tell me you’re not going to ghost him,” Quinn squealed, practically skipping over. She dropped into a seat beside Lyra’s desk, her eyes sparkling. “He is soooo beautiful. Did you see how his hair fell into his face? He looked like an actual angel!”
Lyra laughed. “Quinn, I’ve never seen you this energetic while doing drafts.”
Quinn feigned offense. “I’m just saying, you two would look so good together.”
“Miss Quinn,” Emma chimed in from across the room, “You do this every time someone asks Miss Williams out. You're more excited than she is.”
Eric didn’t even look up. “He’s not that handsome, though.”
“Jealous, are we?” Damien grinned from his corner.
Eric gave a small shrug. “Just stating facts.”
“Anyway,” Quinn interrupted, flipping her hair dramatically, “Miss Williams, if you need help choosing what to wear tomorrow, call me.”
Lyra raised a brow. “Is there something wrong with how I dress?”
“Well… you always wear dark colors,” Emma said gently.
“And big clothes,” Eric added. “They suit you, but…”
“They hide all your curves, you know?” Quinn finished, flashing a mischievous smirk.
“Well, Miss Williams,” Damien said, glancing up with a small smile, “I think your sense of fashion suits you perfectly.”
Lyra gave a mock bow. “Thank you very much, Mr. Damien. I appreciate your refined taste.”
She clapped her hands lightly. “Alright, everyone, back to work. These documents won’t write themselves.”
By lunchtime the next day, Lyra was spiraling. She didn’t want to go on the lunch date. But she had agreed to it—and worse, she had suggested the time. She racked her brain for a way out.
“Good morning, Miss Williams!” Quinn chirped, sliding into her seat.
Lyra turned, already plotting. “Morning, Quinn. Can I ask you a favor?”
“Of course!”
“I don’t want to go on that lunch date with Luke anymore,” she began cautiously. “But I also don’t want to just ghost him. So I was thinking—”
“You want me to go instead?” Quinn gasped. “Miss Williams, that’s not fair. He’ll be excited and waiting for you! It’s just one lunch. What’s the worst that could happen? You always say don’t judge a book by its cover—but he doesn’t even look like a bad person.”
“I really don’t want to go,” Lyra insisted. “Just say you’ll go for me, please.”
“Tell you what,” Quinn said, narrowing her eyes. “You go on this one lunch, and I’ll handle the C & S Estate contract.”
Lyra’s eyes widened. “You what?! Quinn, those people are wolves. They want 90% of our housing sales!”
“I’m serious,” Quinn said with a shrug. “Your call, boss. Lunch is almost here.”
Before Lyra could answer, Damien walked in.
“Good morning, Miss Williams. Quinn.”
“Morning!” both women chorused.
The room grew tense again. Quinn was clearly waiting for an answer, and Lyra was at her limit.
Then Damien, still staring at his screen, said, “Miss Williams… I have a suggestion.”
Lyra blinked. “Yes?”
“If you’d be comfortable with it… you could tell him I’m your boyfriend.”
Lyra nearly fell off her chair. “What?!”
“I’m sorry if it’s inappropriate. I just wanted to help.”
“No! I mean—it’s not inappropriate,” she said quickly, cheeks flushing. “It just… surprised me.”
Quinn, already delighted, lit up like Christmas. “Actually, that’s a great idea. And it might stop all the other guys from asking you out too. Plus, you and Damien? You’d make such a hot couple.”
Damien gave a small nod. “If it helps you, I’m okay with it.”
And Lyra, to her own surprise, found the idea oddly comforting.
Later that afternoon, in the cafeteria, Damien approached Luke with a calm expression.
“Luke,” he said, “I came to apologize on behalf of Miss Williams.”
Luke looked up from his tray. “What’s the matter? Is she sick? Or… is this about the lunch?”
Damien took a breath. “She won’t be coming. And I also want to ask that you don’t make further advances.”
Luke narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
“Because… she’s my girlfriend.”
There was a beat of silence, then Luke burst out laughing. “That’s a lie.”
Damien didn’t flinch.
- Writer
