The CEO's Pretend Lover

Eleven: "But we ain't dating"

Walking into the office that morning, all eyes stared at the duo. It wasn't the first time Jéan and Elizabeth would show up to work together as one was required to be at another's side all the time, but from the news headlines the day before, they were seen in a different light.

Employees of Romano and Romano Corp wondered amongst themselves when the romance started. Even though traces of the headlines and the pictures were taken down, it still spiked interest in the employees.

"I assure you, it must have begun the first year she started working for the CEO."

"Maybe she's trying to rope the CEO in for her selfish desires."

"Who knows, it must have been her plan from the beginning."

Elizabeth could feel the burn but she didn't care. She expected this as she braced herself for this outcome when she woke up this morning.

After Elena informed her of the headline news, she waited for Jéan to come back from wherever she went so they could talk. She couldn't phone her. She saw Jéan's phone on the bed.

Jéan had walked into the room with the bear she won for her at the fair, like she wasn't aware of whatever was the hot topic in New York.

Elizabeth had to inform her if she didn't know. "Do you know what is trending right now?"

"That we're the hot couple in the world?" Jéan shrugged her shoulders and threw the 3-foot bear on the bed. "I saw it, it will be taken care of soon."

Elizabeth was surprised at the nonchalant attitude of her boss. Last time she checked, Jéan hated it when rumors were being spread about her. The only thing she tolerated was news and publications and interviews of her dealings and achievements.

"You're very calm and I'm suspicious."

"Left to me, I'd let the media have their time and talk about our relationship but I know you'd be uncomfortable." Jéan smiled at her. "So I ordered for it to be taken down for personal reasons."

What? Elizabeth thought she heard gibberish. What relationship was Jéan talking about?

"But we're not dating-"

"The world doesn't know that. It's between me and you." The smirk on Jéan's face left Elizabeth more confused. What was up with Jéan? She's been acting all weird since they both woke up.

Jéan took her back home after breakfast and she was left at her front door with the giant bear placed beside her. Jéan had gotten someone to replace her lock quicker than usual without Elizabeth's notice.

She told Elena and Derek what had happened that morning between Jéan and her. She wanted to believe she wasn't over thinking or getting the wrong message.

"She's really taking acting too seriously." Derek laughed at the situation, "I bet you'll get serious within two months."

"Now isn't the time for jokes, Derek." Elizabeth was tired already. She's pretty sure her parents must have seen the news about her and Jéan.

At the rate Jéan is going, she isn't sure her heart rate will be normal anymore. This morning alone was enough to send her into cardiac arrest.

"What you should be worried about is how your work life is going to be from now on." Elena voiced out before their group video call ended.

Elena was right. When she walked in with Jéan that morning, the talk was too loud to be called whispers. She didn't realize that Jéan had stopped in her stride and she bumped into her. Glancing up, Jéan spun so she could address the employees.

'Unless whatever you're chit-chatting about is what would bring more money to this company, I didn't pay you to gossip." Jéan's brows were raised. She looked intimidating and there was silence immediately.

She proceeded, "And I don't want anything that would make Beth feel uncomfortable to roam free. I hope I made myself clear."

Elizabeth's neck snapped so fast. Did she just hear Jéan call her Beth again? In front of the employees?

Jéan was already walking away before she could question her and she hurried after her into her office. It seemed Courtney was already waiting for her and Elizabeth had to hold in her questions. "Oh hi, good morning. Can I get you anything?"

Courtney smiled. "It's okay, I had coffee earlier."

"Then I'll bring your cup of coffee, Jéan."

When Elizabeth left the office, Jéan went to sit right beside Courtney, who was grinning ear to ear. "So, when are you going to tell me how all this happened?"

"Court-"

"Ah ah, don't tell me you don't know. You're lucky I knew about you two before the news or I'd be questioning our friendship." Courtney raised a finger at Jéan, silencing her.

Jéan didn't know if to tell her the truth about the rumored office relationship or if she should just lie to her. After weighing her options, she realized she should let it be just for the authenticity of the story.

Besides, sticking to this story would maybe make her get what she wanted.

"What do you expect? I like women and we've been around each other for so long." Jéan shrugged, "It was expected I'd feel something for her."

At that moment, Elizabeth walked in with the cup of coffee Jéan always had every morning and dropped it in front of her.

"Thank you my love." Jéan smirked, hoping to get a reaction.

Elizabeth flushed deep red, embarrassed that Jéan was acting this way in front of someone and she made her hair fall in front of her face to hide her embarrassment.

"I'd be in my cubicle if you need me." She coughed and excused herself, leaving the friends to talk. Jéan didn't have anything on her schedule that morning, but it didn't mean Elizabeth didn't have duties to do.

"Stop teasing her so much." Courtney laughed as soon as Elizabeth was out the door. She didn't notice the frown on Jéan's face, as the woman didn't get the reaction she wanted.

----------------------------------

After Courtney left, Jéan didn't flirt with Elizabeth in the office and the questions Elizabeth wanted to ask earlier decided to be kept within her.

She only convinced herself that she had to get used to it. She asked Jéan to act. It was her fault. When Elizabeth wanted to go for lunch, Jéan asked her to stay with her in the office because she was worried about her safety.

"You're already in the public eye, going out alone is risky."

So they had lunch in the office with an awkward silence. It wasn't like this before. Elizabeth was a chatterbox everywhere. Why was she suddenly shy in Jéan's presence?

The air was the same until they left the company at the end of the day and Jéan suggested dropping her home. "I only want to make sure you're home safe, can't I do that for my girlfriend?"

As Jéan walked her to the door, Elizabeth couldn't hold it in anymore. She had to let it out or she'd be restless through the night.

"Why have you been doing this all day?"

"Doing what?" Jéan asked with innocent eyes and Elizabeth fought the urge to roll her eyes.

"Teasing me all day, making me shy and all that."

Jéan adjusted her weight onto her other leg with her hands in her pocket. "Hmm, would you like me to whisper it in your ear?"

Leaning forward so her lips were beside the female's ear, she let out in a whisper. "I can't help it, you're fun to mess with."

Letting out a laugh after seeing the look on Elizabeth's face and satisfied that, once again, she could get Elizabeth to react, she waved her goodbye, walked back to her car and drove off.

Elizabeth dashed into her house and collapsed on the chair before her legs would give up on her. She let out a scream and trashed her body around. She knew what was happening, she couldn't define it properly. She just felt like Jéan was out to get her. She heard what Jéan told Courtney in the office, she could only act like she didn't hear.

Jéan likes her?

It's no wonder she's been so forward. Jéan had dated before. She knows how to get what she wants if she sets her mind to it and right now, it seems Jéan wants her.

Elizabeth's heart was in trouble and she knew it.