Chapter one
1191 Words
Claire had always dreaded the thought of blind dates. The idea of being set up by her parents on a date with a complete stranger someone who may or may not have anything in common with her was enough to make her want to cancel before she even showed up. But she didn’t. She never did. Her parents had this way of guilt-tripping her into going through with it, convinced that it would somehow lead to a fairy-tale romance. Claire knew better.
Tonight was no different. A posh restaurant in the city, the kind of place with crisp white tablecloths and an intimidatingly expensive wine list. Her parents had insisted she meet the man they’d chosen for her, claiming he was a perfect match. He was wealthy, successful, well-mannered, everything a girl could want, according to them. But Claire had learned long ago that there was more to a relationship than the right resume.
As she entered the restaurant, the host led her to a secluded corner table where she was supposed to meet him. She hadn’t even been seated when she felt a familiar voice cut through the air.
“Claire?”
Her heart froze. She turned, barely able to suppress her surprise.
Alex Carter, her former boss stood in front of her, his sharp suit, icy blue eyes, and perfectly combed hair unmistakable. The last person she expected to see here. The last person she ever thought she would see again. Not after the way they left things.
“What are you doing here?” she blurted out before she could stop herself.
He smiled faintly, a touch of amusement in his eyes. “Looks like we’re both in the same predicament.”
Claire’s confusion deepened. “What do you mean?”
Alex gestured toward the table, where an empty chair awaited her. “This. A blind date. My parents insisted I meet someone tonight, too.”
Claire glanced at the table, then back at Alex. She had to admit, she hadn’t expected this twist. But the reality of it hit her almost immediately, the very man she’d tried to avoid after their fallout at work was sitting across from her now. And worse her parents had set them up.
“Your parents?” Claire asked, incredulous.
Alex gave a wry chuckle. “Yeah, apparently they think I’m too focused on work and need to... broaden my horizons. It’s the same old speech every time. You know how it is.”
Claire nodded, still processing the shock of seeing him here. This was the last person she wanted to be stuck with. Their working relationship had ended on bad terms, and it wasn’t like she hadn’t tried to put that behind her. But seeing him again stirred up all the unresolved frustrations she’d buried.
“So, what now?” she asked, trying to sound indifferent.
“Well, I don’t know about you,” Alex said, his voice smooth, “but I’m not about to let my parents think I couldn’t make it through one dinner with a stranger. Are you?”
She shot him a glare. “You’re a lawyer. Surely you could talk your way out of this.”
“I’ve tried,” he replied dryly. “But my mom’s persistent, and she’s friends with half the city’s matchmaking community. I don’t have a choice.”
Claire blinked. She hadn’t expected that from him. Alex Carter, the man who made billion dollar deals look like child’s play was now just as stuck as she was. And she had to admit, it was strangely comforting. She wasn’t the only one who didn’t belong here.
“Well,” she said, settling into her seat, “I guess we’re both in this mess now.”
“I guess so.” Alex’s eyes twinkled with a mix of amusement and something else—something that made Claire’s stomach flutter, even though she didn’t want it to.
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation settling in. The restaurant buzzed around them, the clinking of silverware and soft conversations creating an almost surreal atmosphere. Claire had come here expecting an awkward night, but she hadn’t expected to be facing down the very person she had spent months avoiding.
It wasn’t long before their waiter arrived to take their drink orders, and the rest of the evening unfolded in an unexpected way. They both made polite conversation, pretending to care about the things they had no interest in work, mutual acquaintances, the weather. The usual filler. But every now and then, Claire caught Alex looking at her in a way that sent an unfamiliar shiver down her spine. It wasn’t the same as their previous professional interactions. This was something different.
She hated how easily it affected her.
The main course was halfway through when Alex’s voice interrupted her thoughts.
“I’m not doing this for them,” he said, his eyes catching hers with a serious expression. “You know that, right?”
Claire tilted her head, unsure of where this conversation was heading. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not pretending for the sake of a blind date or whatever this is supposed to be.” He paused, as if choosing his words carefully. “I’m doing it because I know exactly how this feels.”
Claire’s brow furrowed. “How what feels?”
“Being pushed into a situation you don’t want to be in. Having someone else make decisions for you. It’s frustrating, isn’t it?”
She didn’t know how to respond to that. He was right, she’d been pushed into this by her parents. But somehow hearing him say it out loud made her feel... less alone in it.
“Well,” Claire said after a moment, “I guess we’re both stuck with it now, aren’t we?”
Alex nodded, but there was a strange glint in his eyes. “Yeah, but I think we can make it work. You don’t have to pretend too much.”
Claire blinked. “What do you mean?”
“Maybe we should pretend to be a couple,” Alex suggested, his voice low, as if weighing the possibility.
Claire’s eyes widened. “What? You want us to pretend to be—?”
“Just for tonight,” Alex interjected, his grin returning. “It’ll make things less awkward for both of us. And let’s face it, we’re both experts at pretending, aren’t we?”
Claire hesitated. She had no interest in playing along with any more of her parents' schemes. But the idea of Alex making the offer of him suggesting it—was disorienting. And as much as she hated it, the thought of pretending with him... didn’t seem so terrible.
“Fine,” she said, her voice almost a whisper. “But just for tonight. This is purely for show.”
Alex raised an eyebrow. “Of course. Just for show.”
They both knew it was an arrangement neither of them had chosen, but for different reasons, they were both going to go along with it. For the night, at least.
- Writer
