The Partnership Proposal

Chapter 1: The Wake-Up Call

The harsh glow of the office lights seemed to brighten in rhythm with Guilliana’s steady typing. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, almost mechanically, as she tried to finish the proposal she had been working on for days. Her mind was sharp, focused, but somewhere deep inside, she couldn’t shake the thought that something was about to change.

She paused and glanced around the office—her office—organized, filled with the personal touches she had accumulated over the years. It was small but hers, and in her world, it was a symbol of all the hard work she had put into climbing the corporate ladder.

Her phone buzzed on the desk, and she picked it up immediately. It was a message from her best friend, Sophia.

Sophia (Text): "So, how’s everything going? You almost done with that proposal?"

Guilliana smiled lightly, replying as she leaned back in her chair, stretching her tired arms.

Guilliana (Text): "Almost. Just one more round of edits. Hopefully, I can wrap up tonight, and then focus on the meeting prep for the promotion next week."

She hit send, then put her phone down, her mind wandering. She had been so focused on her work, but now, there was an undeniable feeling gnawing at her—a feeling that maybe, just maybe, the promotion wasn’t as guaranteed as she thought.

Her gaze shifted to the city outside her window—the traffic moving like a river of lights, the sky turning dark as the evening approached. Guilliana had always prided herself on her ambition, but lately, her confidence had started to wane.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. The door to her office creaked open, and Lucas, one of her colleagues from marketing, poked his head inside.

Lucas: (with a half-smile) “Guilliana, do you have a minute?”

Guilliana: (glancing up) “Yeah, sure, come in. What’s up?”

Lucas stepped inside and sat across from her. There was an unease in his eyes, something he didn’t normally display. Guilliana had known Lucas for years. He was always upbeat, always cracking jokes to lighten the mood, so his serious expression worried her.

Lucas: (hesitantly) “Have you seen the latest memo from the CEO?”

Guilliana: (frowning) “Memo? No, I haven’t seen anything. What’s going on?”

Lucas: (glancing around before speaking in a low voice) “Well, there’s a new policy. The CEO just sent out an announcement that the company will be prioritizing married employees for promotions from now on.”

Guilliana: (shocked) “What? Are you serious? Since when did marital status become a factor in promotions?”

Lucas: (nodding slowly) “Yeah, it’s a huge shift. Apparently, they believe married employees are more ‘stable’ and bring a sense of ‘family values’ to the table. So, if you're married, your chances for promotion go way up.”

Guilliana stared at him, her mind racing. Stable? Family values? She was one of the top performers in her department, yet now, she was being told her single status was going to cost her everything she had worked for.

Guilliana: (angrily) “That’s ridiculous! How can they just change the rules like that? My work should speak for itself, not my relationship status!”

Lucas: (sighing) “I know, right? It’s crazy. But I heard it straight from Claire in HR. They’re serious about it. It’s like if you’re not married, you're automatically disqualified from getting the promotion you’ve been working for.”

Guilliana’s head spun. She had been working herself to the bone, pouring her energy into every project, constantly striving to outdo herself. And now, it was all for nothing? Because she wasn’t married?

Guilliana: (shaking her head) “This is unfair. After everything I’ve done... they’re just going to throw it all away because I’m not married?”

Lucas: (nodding) “It sucks, but that’s the reality now. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. You might want to talk to your manager about it.”

Guilliana barely heard him as she stared blankly at her desk. How could this be happening? Her mind kept replaying the same question over and over. She had earned this promotion. She deserved it. Yet, all of that could be tossed aside because of something as trivial as marital status.

Lucas stood up, sensing her frustration.

Lucas: (softly) “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it worse. I just thought you should know.”

Guilliana: (forcing a smile) “Thanks for letting me know, Lucas. I’ll figure it out.”

As he left, Guilliana slumped in her chair, her mind racing. She had worked tirelessly to climb the corporate ladder. This promotion was supposed to be her reward. But now, her future was uncertain. What could she do?

---

That evening, Guilliana sat alone in her apartment, her dinner untouched. The television was on, but she wasn’t paying attention. Her mind was consumed by the idea that everything she had worked for could be slipping away because of her single status. She was angry, frustrated, and unsure of what to do next.

Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Sophia.

Sophia (Text): "So, what’s the deal? Still in the running for the promotion?"

Guilliana let out a bitter laugh before typing her response.

Guilliana (Text): "Well, not anymore. The CEO’s new policy is making married employees the priority for promotions. I don’t stand a chance now."

Sophia’s reply was immediate.

Sophia (Text): "What?! That’s insane! I can’t believe they’re doing this! What are you going to do?"

Guilliana stared at the message, feeling a lump form in her throat. She had no idea what to do. She couldn’t just give up. She had worked too hard. But now, her hard work seemed to mean nothing.

Guilliana (Text): "I don’t know... but I think I have an idea. It’s crazy, but it might just work."

Sophia’s reply was immediate again.

Sophia (Text): "Now you have me curious. What’s your idea?"

Guilliana hesitated. Was she really about to propose something so ridiculous?

Guilliana (Text): "What if I hired a fake husband? I mean, someone to pretend to be my husband during office events, you know? Just to make it look like I’m married so I can still be considered for the promotion."

There was a long pause before Sophia replied.

Sophia (Text): "Wait... What? Are you serious? That’s insane... but also, it could work. I mean, it's crazy enough to be genius. You might actually pull it off."

Guilliana’s stomach churned. Was she really considering this? Was this what it had come to? The more she thought about it, the more it seemed like the only solution. She could hire someone to pretend to be her husband for a few corporate events, make it look like she was “stable,” and hope it would be enough to get the promotion she had earned.

Guilliana (Text): "I know it sounds crazy, but I don’t know what else to do. If I don’t do this, I’ll lose everything I’ve worked for."

Sophia’s reply was filled with both disbelief and support.

Sophia (Text): "Well, if you’re doing this, you better get the best ‘husband’ you can find. Let me know if you need help finding someone. I’m in this with you."

Guilliana smiled faintly. It wasn’t the ideal solution, but it might just be her only option. She would figure it out. She had to.

Guilliana: (whispering to herself) “Here goes nothing.”

---

The next morning, Guilliana woke up with a newfound sense of determination. She had spent the entire night researching fake husband agencies. The idea seemed absurd, but she was willing to try anything at this point.

As she sat at her desk, she opened a new tab and typed “husband for hire” into the search bar. Dozens of results popped up. She quickly narrowed it down to a company called Rent-a-Husband. It sounded cheesy, but it was her best shot.

She clicked on the link.

Guilliana: (taking a deep breath) “This is it.”