Chapter 146

At five in the morning, I dragged myself out of bed for a yoga session, preparing myself mentally for my new job. By six, after a quick shower and dressing, I was about to make breakfast when my phone buzzed. It was a text from Hayden: "[Breakfast's ready. Key's by your door.]"

I blinked, completely surprised. Was he serious? I opened my door, and there was the key. I grabbed it and went to Hayden's place, finding breakfast already prepared. Last night, I hadn't had the willpower to refuse his dinner invitation; the food looked too tempting. I stayed and "helped" him finish.

But this breakfast? Was he attempting to be my personal chef? It was nice having someone take care of me, but it felt odd. I texted him: "[What's this? Looking for a side hustle?]"

Hayden replied: "[Yep, just throw me some cash, whatever feels right.]" He knew how to play along. Knowing that wasn't his intention, I responded: "[You're overstepping. We're just pretending to be a couple, remember?]"

Hayden almost instantly replied: "[The relationship might be fake, but I'm responsible for you while it lasts. Otherwise, as your fake boyfriend, I'll just stress about you.]"

I hadn't asked for his care, so I texted back: "[You're overthinking it. You're just here for the act—nothing more. My life and health are my business. And about the cooking? This is the last time. If you do it again, I won't eat it.]"

I wasn't trying to be cold or ungrateful, but I couldn't become accustomed to his care knowing it wouldn't last. He needed to understand this, so he wouldn't continue investing effort into something unsustainable.

I ate the breakfast—it was amazing and gave me the energy I needed. On my way to work, I worried the company hadn't called to cancel my job; perhaps they'd fire me in person. This dampened my mood, but I went to the office anyway.

"Welcome, Ms. Kay," Ron greeted me warmly, shaking my hand with enthusiastic energy. He didn't seem ready to fire me, so I asked directly, "Mr. Shane, I heard my old employer might have tried to interfere with my hiring. Is that true?"

Ron smiled, unsurprised, and answered, "Yes."

His friendly demeanor continued, piquing my curiosity. "But you don't seem like you're planning to let me go."

"Why would I fire you?" Ron countered. ('Because my former boss pressured you,' I thought, but remained silent.)

Ron's bright smile became more professional. "We take pride in our independence. We don't rely on anyone, and we don't fear anyone either. Our success is our own, and we face challenges head-on. No outside force can bring us down."

His words filled me with renewed determination. "Mr. Shane, I won't let you down."

Ron's smile returned. "No worries. Just do your best. Even if things don't go perfectly, that's fine."

While I appreciated his confidence, his relaxed attitude made me wonder if I was missing something. He then toured me around the company, introducing me to the team and specifically instructing the deputy director and marketing supervisor to work closely with me. New hires usually have to prove themselves, but I felt like a VIP.

Chapter 147