Lines Getting Blurry
640 Words
I told myself it was just part of the job.
That was my new favorite lie.
After brunch with Ethan, things didn’t slow down. If anything, they sped up. Suddenly, my schedule was full of “couple duties” — dinners, events, meetings where I just had to sit beside him and smile like I belonged in his world.
And the scary part?
I was starting to get used to it.
That afternoon, Ethan asked me to come with him to his office. Apparently, some important client wanted to “meet the woman who stole his heart.”
Which was funny. Because I hadn’t stolen anything. I was literally on contract.
His office was just as intimidating as before. Big windows, expensive furniture, that same quiet confidence that followed him everywhere.
“Sit,” he said, pointing to the couch.
“You really love giving orders, don’t you?” I replied, sitting anyway.
He ignored me and went through some files on his tablet. “The client will arrive in ten minutes. Her name is Vanessa.”
Something about the way he said her name made my chest tighten.
“Her?” I repeated. “Ex-girlfriend?”
He paused for half a second. “Former business partner.”
That did not make me feel better.
A few minutes later, the door opened and in walked the most perfect woman I had ever seen in my life. Tall, slim, flawless skin, designer dress, confidence dripping from every step.
She smiled at Ethan. “Long time no see.”
Then she looked at me. Slowly. Carefully. Like she was inspecting a product.
“And you must be… the girlfriend.”
I forced a smile. “I guess so.”
Vanessa laughed softly. “Interesting.”
The meeting was awkward. Very awkward.
Vanessa kept sitting closer to Ethan than necessary. Touching his arm. Laughing at his jokes a little too much. And the worst part?
He didn’t stop her.
I sat there, smiling like a fool, pretending I didn’t care.
But I did.
And I hated myself for it.
After she finally left, I stood up immediately. “So. That was… fun.”
Ethan looked at me. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I said too quickly. “Why would anything be wrong?”
“You’re quiet.”
“So?”
He studied me for a moment, then sighed. “Vanessa and I are done. Whatever you think you saw, it doesn’t matter.”
I crossed my arms. “Why should I care?”
He didn’t answer right away.
“That’s what I thought,” I added, annoyed. “It’s just business, right? Fake relationship, remember?”
He stepped closer. Too close.
“Yes,” he said quietly. “That’s what it is.”
But his eyes didn’t match his words.
The silence between us felt heavy. Different. Not awkward. Not empty.
Charged.
I looked away first.
“I’m going home.”
“I’ll have the driver take you.”
“I can find my way.”
He didn’t argue.
In the car, I stared out the window, replaying everything in my head. Vanessa. The way she looked at him. The way he didn’t push her away.
Why did it bother me?
This was supposed to be simple. Money for pretending. Nothing emotional. Nothing real.
So why did my chest feel tight?
When I got to my room, I flopped onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.
This was dangerous.
Not because of Ethan.
But because of me.
Somewhere between holding his hand and sitting beside him in fancy restaurants, I had started forgetting one important thing:
This wasn’t my life.
This wasn’t my man.
And this definitely wasn’t my heart to lose.
But deep down, I already knew.
The lines were getting blurry.
And I was the one crossing them.
- Writer
