The CEO's Pretend Lover

Four: "Enjoy your date"

"You and Jéan need to go on dates so you can get to know each other better before she meets your parents."

The words of Elena still resonated in Elizabeth's ears, going on a date with her boss seemed so impossible to happen. Jéan is already doing her a big favor, asking her to go on a date seemed like it was too much already.

Walking into Jean's office, she watched as her boss studied the file in her hands with a brow raised. Noticing her personal assistant's presence, Jéan raised her head and looked at her questioningly. She didn't call for her, so why was she standing by the door?

"So, I have something to ask."

"Go on," Jéan's focus went back to the paper she was trying to assimilate before the next meeting.

"Do you know my favorite color?"

Jéan dropped the file and crossed her arms as she relaxed into the chair. "And why should I know that?"

"Do you know my hobbies? My favorite song? My go-to stress reliever?"

"Once again, why do I need to know all that?"

Elizabeth sighed, "Because! You can't meet my parents and make them believe we're dating if you don't know anything about me."

"You don't know anything about me either, I'm not making a big deal out of it." Jéan threw back at the lady whom she saw as crazy. This was meant to be purely business. Why's she trying to make her go this extra mile?

"The more reason why we need to spend time together, dates or not, so that our acting won't be out of place."

Signore Iddio, aiutami! Jéan didn't want to admit she was right in a way, but she didn't want to do that. "Seems like you're getting way ahead of yourself, Elizabeth. Let's not speak of this again. If there is nothing else, you may leave."

Elizabeth was kind of expecting that, but it stung a little bit and she didn't know why. Without a word she only bowed and walked out, heading toward her cubicle right outside the office of Jéan.

"Well, that was a bust," Elizabeth said to herself without realizing the man standing in front of her.

"What was it, if I may ask?"

Elizabeth jumped at the voice, not expecting someone to be standing there. She looked up and saw that it was Jéan's brother, Jules.

Everyone knew who Jules was in the company, his persona was very different from the Romano siblings. He walked around with a smile on his face and without any worries on his shoulder. He owned a popular restaurant, not bothered about inheriting the work of his father, and left the family business for his own passion.

"Good afternoon sir." Elizabeth stood up and bowed slightly. "I'd inform Ms. Jéan of your arrival."

He chuckled, waving his hands like he was brushing off the sudden politeness he got from the female, "Don't worry, I'll find my way inside. She can't fight me."

He walked away, throwing a wave over his shoulder before knocking on the door. He didn't wait for a 'come in' before opening it. "I'm here!"

Jéan was still in deep thought since she told Elizabeth to leave and Jules noticed his sister wasn't her usual self. "What's wrong with your face?"

Jéan looked up and rolled her eyes. This is the second time a family member has been showing up unannounced this week and she's beginning to sense that this week is cursed. "This face is perfect, thanks for asking."

"Nope, you just looked like you s**t your pants. And here I thought you'd be happy to see your beloved brother." Jules took a seat on the sofa in the office and placed a leg on the coffee table.

"We weren't meant to hangout until the weekend, Jules. What are you doing here?"

"Damn, you sound cranky. Who stuck a stick up your ass?"

A knock was heard and Elizabeth walked in with a tray carrying a glass of juice and cookies and set it in front of Jules. "Let me know if you need anything else."

"Thank you. Beautiful and considerate, how hasn't my sister fallen for you yet?"

On hearing that statement, Jéan was in a coughing fit and Elizabeth's cheeks were red. Jules seemed to like what he was seeing so he took a sip of his juice and waited for Jéan to recover so he could tease her more.

"Uhm, I have to go check on something." Elizabeth quickly excused herself and hurried out, leaving the siblings alone.

"What the hell Jules?" Jéan glared at her brother and he laughed.

"Don't look at me like that. You're not as fierce as you appear to be in front of your employees. We're family and I'm your favorite fratello."

Jéan couldn't deny that fact. Jules was practically the only one in the family not involved with Romano and Romano Corp, so it was relieving to talk to someone about something other than business. Because of this, they went out to bars more often and hung out a lot on weekends.

"I'm in a rut. Father wanted me to handle acquisition at Miller's Rest and it turns out Elizabeth is their daughter. She made an offer to pretend to be her lover-"

"Wait wait wait." Jules cut his sister short with a laugh, thinking she was joking, but was surprised when she still had a poker face. "Oh you're serious."

Jéan proceeded to tell her brother everything that had happened this week as he listened with a smirk on his face.

"I don't get why you still find this amusing, Jules." She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the being she called her brother. This wasn't entertaining at all, if at most, it was going to be a handful.

"She's actually right though." Jules shrugged his shoulders. "You're stiff around people who aren't close to you, it would be very easy to tell that you guys aren't dating."

"You don't have any love experience either. How are you actually going to convince them that their daughter is in good hands?" He added, and she pondered on that thought.

"But she's been working for me for two years."

"Professional relationships and casual relationships aren't the same, Jéan. I have a feeling it is going to be more than just meeting her parents." Jules stood up from the sofa. "Go on a date or just sit somewhere and talk about both your interests, it won't hurt."

"Whatever, just get out." She stood up and followed his retreating figure out the door. Elizabeth wasn't seated in her cubicle when Jéan and her brother walked past.

Elizabeth had gone for her lunch break and didn't bother to ask her boss what she was going to eat, since she was with her brother. As the elevator door opened to their floor, she stepped out with other employees that had also gone on their lunch break when she caught sight of Jéan and Jules.

She had thought about apologizing to Jéan about the date suggestion and making her uncomfortable. She stopped in front of Jéan, not paying mind to the brother who had walked past her and towards the elevator.

Like the devil whispered into his ears, he turned around and announced in a loud voice. "Enjoy your date, you two." And entered the elevator like he didn't cause an uproar on the third floor of Romano and Romano Corp.

The sound of gasps was heard. The employees couldn't believe what they heard and immediately, they began to whisper amongst themselves. Who could imagine that their CEO and her personal assistant were dating?

Elizabeth was bright red and had wide eyes with the announcement of Jules and Jéan's expression mirrored hers.

That son of a b***h. Jéan cursed in her head. "Would you get back to work?" Her voice boomed with authority and there was silence once more.

"Did you-"

"Not here, let's talk in my office." Jéan cut her off. Her face appeared cold as she jerked her head in the direction of the office and walked away.

Elizabeth felt that this was what Jéan was trying to avoid when she proposed the idea and she could feel the burn of many eyes that started as Jéan and her walked past straight into the office.

Locking the door, Jéan paced about before heaving a sigh and sat down on the sofa. "After a talk with my brother, I guess it wouldn't hurt to get to know each other for this date thing."

Elizabeth couldn't hold the smile from breaking out on her face and her cheeks hurt. "Should I schedule a time for this ma'am?"

"Just, just come to my place on Saturday. I'd cancel on my brother as a punishment."

Elizabeth giggled, "I'm sorry ma'am, but if we're doing this, we're doing this as real couples would do."

Jéan stared at the woman standing in front of her. It seemed she was enjoying this opportunity anyhow she could and she let out a deep breath. "Fine. And how do normal couples do that?"

"Leave it all to me."