Fake Dating My Ex boyfriend's Ruthless Boss.

Chloe froze, her eyes widening as she saw Ethan sitting across the table. Her mouth fell open, disbelief written across her face. Ethan, meanwhile, looked equally surprised—but there was a flicker of displeasure in his expression, like he hadn’t expected this encounter either. “What on earth are you doing here?” Chloe asked, curiosity quickly overtaking her initial shock. She stepped closer to the table, her eyes scanning him as if trying to read his thoughts. Ethan shifted uncomfortably in his chair, a flush rising to his cheeks. “Will you please sit down and stop being dramatic? And… what exactly are you doing here?” he shot back, his irritation barely veiled. Chloe straightened, smoothing her skirt before sliding the chair out and lowering herself into it. “Well, if you must know,” she said, her tone sharp yet playful, “I’m on a blind date.” Ethan blinked, clearly caught off guard. “But… you? This is very unlike you,” he said, disbelief coloring his voice. Chloe leaned back, her lips curling into a teasing grin. “Remember when you told me love was for losers? Yeah… that’s exactly why you look ridiculous right now.” Ethan groaned, rubbing his forehead. He let out a frustrated sigh, clearly caught somewhere between embarrassment and exasperation. “Alright, you got me. But since we’re here, I guess we might as well… work something out,” he suggested cautiously, his tone almost pleading. Chloe raised an eyebrow, suspicion written across her face. “And what exactly do you mean by that?” she asked, leaning back with her arms folded. “Let’s… make this work,” Ethan said boldly, leaning forward. “At least… pretend it works.” Chloe gasped, her hazel eyes widening, her lips parting in horror. “What?!” Chloe exited her car, a small parcel in one hand and a chilled bottle of champagne in the other. She had been trying to reach Rowland all morning, but he hadn’t picked up. Determined to give him a birthday surprise, she decided to stop by his office instead. She walked in confidently, a bright smile plastered on her face. A few of Rowland’s coworkers turned to watch her, their expressions shifting from polite curiosity to open dread—but Chloe was too excited to notice. Just as she approached his office door, the receptionist stepped forward. “Uh… ma’am, you can’t go in. Mr. Rowland has a visitor at the moment,” she said, trying to sound calm and professional. Chloe paused, her smile faltering. “Oh? And who might that be?” she asked, her tone unusually sharp. “That… um… the person is from the Danmari Group,” the receptionist replied nervously. Chloe’s eyes narrowed. “That’s a lie,” she stated firmly. “Rowland doesn’t represent them. I know their attorney, and he doesn’t even work here.” Without waiting for a reply, she pushed past the receptionist and barged into Rowland’s office. What she saw made her heart stop. Her parcel and the bottle of champagne slipped from her hands, crashing to the floor. Rowland sat there, his shirt unbuttoned, a woman draped provocatively across his desk, their lips inches apart. They had clearly been… intimate. “Oh my goodness, Chloe!” Rowland shouted, fumbling to button his shirt. “You weren’t supposed to be here! Why didn’t you call first?” Chloe didn’t even look at him. Her chest felt heavy, her stomach churned, and her eyes burned with unshed tears. She turned and bolted out of the office, ignoring his frantic calls after her. As she rushed toward the elevator, she collided with someone, nearly dropping herself. “Oh, I’m so sorry, I—” she began, then froze when she looked up. “And how many times have I warned you not to be here, Miss McBride?” the man’s voice was sharp, tinged with anger and irritation. “I… I just came to drop something off,” Chloe stammered, still catching her breath. The man scoffed. “You clearly came here to make a scene over a lovers’ quarrel. I’ve told you before—keep your personal drama out of the office.” Chloe’s composure broke. “Mr. Erickson, please! Let me just replace your coffee and pay for your dry cleaning, okay? I just need to leave!” she yelled, her voice trembling with frustration and humiliation. “Seriously?” he asked, incredulous. “Instead of a proper apology, you offer money?” Tears pricked at Chloe’s eyes. “Yes! Just let me leave!” she shouted, desperation in her tone. Ethan’s presence loomed suddenly behind her. “I never liked seeing you come here. Something always goes wrong when you visit that boyfriend of yours. Listen carefully—I don’t want to see you here again,” he warned, his voice stern. “You won’t,” Chloe spat, brushing past him. “You won’t see me in your law firm again!” Ethan let out a quiet, mocking laugh. “He dumped you, didn’t he? Love is always for losers,” he said, amusement dripping from his words. Chloe whirled to glare at him, fire in her eyes. The laughter died on his lips as he realized she wasn’t joking. Around them, coworkers whispered and stared, the office buzzing with tension. Without another word, Chloe stormed out, her heart pounding, her mind reeling. A year had passed. Chloe’s career as an art curator was flourishing. She and Casey had moved into a beautiful new home, and her parents were healthy and happy. But despite all her successes, one thing still eluded her—her love life.