MY FAT NERD EX-CRUSH IS NOW MY CEO

Untitled Episode

EPISODE 5 — DINNER AND THE BUSINESS TRIP

Saturday evening had finally arrived.

After an exhausting week at the office, Tia suggested that the four of us—Tia, Ava, Ethan, and I—go out for dinner.

I agreed immediately.

I needed a break from work.

More importantly, I needed a break from thinking about Adam.

Ever since he had returned to my life, things had become confusing.

He was my boss.

He was the same Adam I had once rejected in school.

Yet he was no longer the quiet, awkward boy I remembered.

He was confident, successful, serious, and sometimes strangely caring.

I still couldn't understand him.

And I definitely couldn't understand why my heart reacted differently whenever he was near me.

That evening, I wore a simple blue dress.

Tia looked at me and smiled.

"You look pretty."

I laughed.

"It's just dinner."

Ava raised an eyebrow.

"Just dinner?"

"Yes."

"With Ethan?"

I rolled my eyes.

"He's our friend."

Tia laughed.

"Of course he is."

We reached the restaurant around eight.

The place was beautifully decorated with warm lights, elegant tables, and soft music playing in the background.

Ethan was already there.

When he saw us, he stood up.

"You guys are finally here."

Tia smiled.

"Sorry. Someone took forever to get ready."

She pointed at me.

I immediately protested.

"Hey!"

Everyone laughed.

We sat down and ordered our food.

For the first few minutes, everything was normal.

Then Ethan became unusually quiet.

I noticed it immediately.

"Ethan, are you okay?"

He looked at me.

"Yeah."

"You don't look okay."

He sighed.

"Maybe I should tell you guys something."

Ava leaned forward.

"What happened?"

Ethan stared at his glass for a moment.

Then he said quietly,

"My relationship ended."

We all became silent.

Tia's expression softened.

"I'm sorry."

Ethan gave a small smile.

"It's okay."

"What happened?" Ava asked carefully.

Ethan hesitated.

"She cheated on me."

I looked at him in surprise.

Ethan continued.

"I thought she was the person I would spend my life with. I trusted her completely. Then I found out she had been seeing someone else."

He laughed bitterly.

"Funny, isn't it? You can give someone everything and still not be enough for them."

I felt sorry for him.

"That wasn't your fault."

He looked at me.

"Maybe not."

He paused.

"But sometimes you start wondering what's wrong with you."

I shook my head.

"There's nothing wrong with you."

He smiled.

"Thanks, Nora."

For a moment, our eyes met.

Something about the way he looked at me made me uncomfortable.

Not because he had done anything wrong.

But because I remembered how badly I had once wanted him.

Years ago, I had been the girl who followed Ethan around.

I had wanted his attention.

I had wanted him to choose me.

And he never did.

Now, strangely, he was the one sitting across from me talking about heartbreak.

After dinner, music started playing.

Ethan suddenly stood.

He extended his hand toward me.

"Would you dance with me?"

I looked at him.

Then at Tia and Ava.

Tia smiled knowingly.

I sighed.

"Sure."

I placed my hand in his.

We walked toward the small dance floor.

The music was slow.

Ethan placed one hand carefully on my waist.

I felt slightly nervous.

"Relax," he whispered.

"I'm relaxed."

He smiled.

"You're still the same."

"What do you mean?"

"You always get nervous when people look at you."

I laughed softly.

"Maybe."

We continued dancing.

I didn't notice the man sitting at a nearby table.

Adam.

He had been there for several minutes.

And he had seen everything.

His eyes remained fixed on us.

His jaw tightened.

He didn't say anything.

But his expression changed.

He looked angry.

Jealous.

Possessive.

And somehow hurt.

I had no idea.

After a few minutes, I excused myself and went to the washroom.

When I came out, I stopped.

Adam was standing in the hallway.

My heart jumped.

"Sir?"

He didn't answer.

He walked toward me.

"Why are you here?"

Still nothing.

Before I could ask again, he reached for my hand and pulled me slightly aside.

"Sir, what are you doing?"

He looked into my eyes.

There was something intense in his expression.

Something I had never seen before.

Then, before I could understand what was happening, he leaned forward and kissed me.

My entire body froze.

My eyes widened.

For several seconds, I couldn't move.

Then he stepped back.

I stared at him in complete shock.

"Why did you do that?"

Adam said nothing.

He simply looked at me for a moment.

Then he turned around and walked away.

I remained standing there.

My heart was racing.

My hand touched my lips unconsciously.

What had just happened?

Why had Adam kissed me?

And why couldn't I stop thinking about it?

When I returned to the table, Tia immediately noticed my expression.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Ava looked at me suspiciously.

"You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I just... feel a little tired."

Ethan looked at me.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded.

"I'm fine."

But I wasn't.

Not at all.

THE BUSINESS TRIP

Monday morning was unusually busy.

Our company had received an important project.

Everyone was rushing around the office.

Files were being printed.

Phones were ringing.

Employees were moving between departments.

I was reviewing some documents when Adam walked toward my desk.

"Nora."

I looked up.

"Yes, Sir?"

"You're coming with me."

I blinked.

"Where?"

"We have a meeting outside the city."

I stared at him.

"But I haven't packed anything."

"We'll manage."

"Sir, when are we leaving?"

"Now."

I looked at the clock.

"Now?"

He nodded.

I quickly gathered my laptop and documents.

A few minutes later, we got into the car.

To my surprise, Adam drove himself.

For the first half hour, neither of us spoke.

I kept looking out the window.

My mind was still stuck on Saturday night.

Finally, I couldn't resist.

"Sir?"

"Hmm?"

"About Saturday..."

His hands tightened slightly around the steering wheel.

"What about it?"

I hesitated.

"You kissed me."

"I know."

"Why?"

He remained silent.

I looked at him.

"Was it because of Ethan?"

His expression changed.

He didn't answer.

That silence told me more than words could.

I looked away.