The first day of an internship is always memorable, either because everything goes perfectly or because everything goes terribly wrong. For Alisa Martin, things were already going wrong before she even stepped into the Dax Corp building. First the bus broke down, then the taxi took the wrong route, and to top it all off, her heel got stuck in a grate on the sidewalk right in front of the entrance. Running late and with her hair looking like a bird’s nest after battling the wind, Alisa dashed across the lobby toward the elevator, which was just about to close.
“Wait, hold it! ” she shouted as she sprinted. At the last second, she squeezed through the doors, but her momentum was so strong she crashed right into a tall man in a dark suit who was distracted on his phone. “Oh!
” she exclaimed as she bumped into him. She had stepped hard on his foot. “Ouch! ” he grunted, still in shock.
“It wasn’t intentional,” Alisa raised her hands, “but if it makes you feel any better, my foot hurts too. ”
Before he could respond, his phone, which had flown out of his hand from the impact, hit the elevator floor with a loud thud. She picked it up, praying it was still intact. He snatched it back, gave her a sharp glare, and said coldly, “Fantastic.
Now my phone has also taken a solo flight. ”
Alisa let out a nervous laugh. “At least it survived, right? Modern phones are pretty tough.
”
He pressed a side button, and the screen flickered, cracked. Alisa held her breath. “Well, I guess your phone now has a unique design. Custom made by impact.
”
The man let out a deep sigh and rubbed his temples, trying to stay calm. The elevator kept going up when suddenly it jolted and came to an abrupt stop. The lights flickered, then complete silence. “Uh, is this part of the decor?
” Alisa asked. The man ignored the joke and pressed the emergency button. “The elevator stopped,” he said, clearly trying to stay composed. “Yeah, I noticed.
My first day and I’m already stuck in an elevator with a stranger. This has to be divine punishment for spilling coffee on my resume,” she rambled. The man gave her a suspicious look. “How does someone spill coffee on their own resume?
”
“Oh, it was an accident. But luckily HR only read half of it before the ink smudged. ” She grinned. “What about you?
How did you end up here? ”
He raised an eyebrow. “I took the elevator. ”
She sighed.
“Wow, really? I never would have guessed. ”
The man looked up at the ceiling as if asking the heavens for patience. “I work here.
”
“Oh, so you must know the emergency exit protocol. What do we do now? Shout for help? Send smoke signals?
”
“We wait,” he replied dryly. “That’s boring. Well, we’re in an elevator, not a comedy show. ” Her eyes widened.
“Speaking of which, do you like stand-up comedy? ”
The man looked at her as if she had just asked if he was an alien. “No. ”
“Oh, that’s a shame.
I love it. There’s this comedian who jokes about corporate meetings. He says bosses always say ‘let’s handle this over email’ but no one ever responds. Have you ever ignored emails?
”
“You talk a lot. ”
“I talk a lot when I’m nervous,” Alisa admitted, frowning. “My brain sort of switches to AM radio mode and starts broadcasting every thought I have. ”
“That’s a problem.
”
“I’d say it’s an unrecognized talent. ”
The intercom crackled, and a receptionist’s voice echoed through the speaker. “Folks, we had a small malfunction. The elevator should be back up in about five minutes.
”
“Great,” the man leaned against the wall, impatient. Alisa sighed dramatically. “Five minutes is enough time to reflect on life. Tell me something, have you ever done anything really embarrassing?
”
“Why would I tell you that? ”
“Because we’re stuck here, and according to the unofficial elevator code, when two people get trapped together they have to share embarrassing secrets. ”
“I’ve never heard of that code. ”
“Of course not, because I just made it up.
But the rule still stands. ”
He stared at her, unable to believe he was having this conversation. “All right, I’ll play along. ” He crossed his arms.
“When I was a kid, I fell into a hotel pool because I wanted to see if it was possible to walk on water. ”
Alisa broke into a big smile. “My god, did you think you were Jesus? ”
“I thought I had read something about water’s surface tension and wanted to test it.
”
“That’s incredible. Wrong, but incredible. ”
The elevator gave a slight jolt before continuing its ascent. Alisa clapped excitedly.
“We’re free! ”
The man shook his head, looking relieved to be rid of her. When the doors opened on the 20th floor, he stepped out first, and Alisa followed right behind, adjusting her hair as if nothing had happened. At the reception desk, a smiling assistant greeted her.
“You must be the new intern. Mr. Fischer wants to speak with you before you start. ”
Alisa froze.
“Mr. Fischer? ”
The assistant pointed toward a glass office. And there he was.
The man from the elevator. The CEO of the company. Ethan Fischer. Alisa held her breath.
Oh well, now I’m definitely getting fired. The assistant smiled. “You can go in. He’s expecting you.
”
Expecting me to fire me, Alisa thought. She forced a smile and stepped inside. Ethan was seated behind a spotless desk, looking very different from the annoyed man in the elevator. He looked up at her.
“Oh, you again. ”
Alisa gave a nervous smile. “The walking disaster in person. ”
Ethan gestured for her to sit.
“Alisa Martin, right? ”
“Yes, sir. But if you need to pretend I never existed for the sake of your sanity, I completely understand. ”
He ignored the comment.
“You’ve been approved for an internship in the project analysis department. That means handling reports, presentations, and meetings. ”
Alisa nodded, hoping he wouldn’t bring up the elevator incident. “I was told you’re proactive,” he continued.
“They said that? Is that good news? ”
“It depends. If proactive means you’ll spill less coffee than the office average, then yes.
”
She blushed. “I solemnly swear to spill coffee no more than twice a week. ”
Ethan didn’t laugh. “You’ll be working under Melissa, the department manager.
” He looked directly at her. “And try not to start a fire. ”
“That’s happened before? ”
“No, but with you, one can never be too sure.
”
She opened her mouth to protest but quickly realized she had no defense. “Fair enough. ”
He gestured toward the door, ending the meeting. “You can go.
And please try not to step on anyone on your way out. ”
Alisa hurried out of the office. She hadn’t been fired on her first day. That was already a victory.
As soon as she arrived at the project analysis department, she realized she was already a bit of an office celebrity. The whispers were loud enough to hear. “It’s her, the intern who almost killed the CEO. ”
“I heard she threw his phone out the window.
”
“That’s an exaggeration. It was just on the floor. ”
Melissa, the department manager, walked over. “Welcome, Alisa.
”
Alisa smiled politely. “Thank you, I’m really excited to start. ”
Melissa nodded but seemed hesitant. “I hope so.
Just a heads up, our department is very structured. People here are extremely organized. ”
Alisa smiled. “Oh, of course.
I’m super organized too. ”
At that exact moment, her bag slipped from her shoulder and knocked over a stack of documents from a colleague’s desk. Paper scattered everywhere. The silence was deafening.
“Oh,” Alisa mumbled. “That was a test. ”
Melissa sighed. “I’ll show you to your desk.
” She handed Alisa a folder. “Here are some reports you need to organize and review. It’s simple. Just put the documents in order, check the spreadsheets, and enter everything into the system.
”
“Sounds easy,” Alisa grinned. “Great. We need it done in three hours. ”
Melissa walked away, leaving Alisa to her first task.
She opened the folder and found dozens of pages filled with charts and complex tables. Five minutes later, she realized she definitely could not do this. The charts looked like ancient mystical rooms, and the tables had more numbers than a rocket’s instruction manual. But Alisa wasn’t going to give up.
She had a brilliant idea. She grabbed some colorful sticky notes and started labeling spreadsheets with funny names to help her remember what each one was about. “The depression spreadsheet, because the numbers just keep dropping. ”
“The sadness chart, because it looks like a downward spiral.
”
“The bankruptcy tables, self-explanatory. ”
Alisa was so focused she didn’t even notice when Melissa walked back in. “How’s it going? ”
Alisa jumped in surprise and, in the process, knocked over her cup of coffee right onto the documents.
Melissa’s eyes widened. “Alisa! ”
“I can explain! ” Alisa grabbed napkins frantically, but it was too late.
The tables were completely smudged. The whole office went silent. “Reprint everything and redo the notes,” Melissa said, rubbing her temples. “So I still have a job?
”
“For now. ”
After an entire afternoon fixing the disaster, Alisa finally finished her work. As she got up to deliver the documents to Melissa, she heard murmurs. “The CEO is coming.
”
Ethan Fischer walked into the department like a king inspecting his kingdom. Everyone straightened up. Alisa tried to look professional, but her nerves got the best of her, and she dropped the stack of documents right at Ethan’s feet. He looked at the papers, then at her.
She gave him an awkward smile. “Oh, hi again. ”
Ethan took a deep breath. “Do you have something against documents?
”
She quickly crouched down to pick them up. “No, I love documents. They’re so rectangular. ”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Rectangular? ”
“Yes, and printed. Very nice. ”
He grabbed a report and flipped through it.
“These numbers… why is this chart labeled ‘the sadness chart’? ”
The office fell into absolute silence. Alisa felt her soul leave her body.
“I… I can explain. ”
Ethan slowly closed the report. “This better be a really good explanation.
”
“Numbers can be so cold,” she blurted out, “so I gave them personality. Now they’re charts with feelings. ”
“Personality? ”
“Yes!
Look, the sadness chart shows a huge drop in performance, so the name makes total sense. And the bankruptcy table, a tragedy. We need to feel the impact of these numbers to truly understand their story. ”
Ethan blinked.
“You just described financial reports like a soap opera. ”
“With the right soundtrack, it would be even better. ”
Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Change the names.
Now. ”
She nodded so fast she looked like a trained penguin. “Right away, sir. ”
He gave the room one last look before walking out, muttering something about how the company kept attracting chaos geniuses.
As soon as the door closed, the office erupted in whispers. “Oh my god, you survived. ”
“I thought he was going to fire you on the spot. ”
“Seriously, who labels a corporate report ‘the sadness chart’?
”
Alisa collapsed into her chair. “Well, at least he didn’t throw a stapler at me. I’d call that a win. ”
Because of the spreadsheet chaos, Alisa had to stay late organizing the documents.
Looking around, she realized the office was nearly empty. Only a few lights were still on. She was exhausted. Okay, Alisa, just finish this and go home.
But there was one problem. She couldn’t focus anymore. Her eyes started to get heavy. Then she had a brilliant idea.
I need a boost. Something to help me stay awake. Music. Alisa put on her headphones, opened her maximum energy playlist, and hit play.
The moment the beat started, she couldn’t resist. Without realizing it, she began moving her shoulders to the rhythm. Then her arms. Then her legs.
Within minutes, Alisa was dancing alone in the middle of the office, spinning around the desk, clapping to the beat, and pretending her stapler was a microphone. She did a dramatic spin and, caught up in the moment, slid across her swivel chair like a rock star in the middle of a concert. That’s when she heard a noise. A quiet cough.
Alisa froze, still holding the stapler as a microphone. She slowly turned around. There he was. Ethan Fischer, standing at the door, looking at her with an unreadable expression.
For a moment, time seemed to stop. Alisa felt like her soul was leaving her body and catching the first flight to another planet. Maybe if I pretend to be a statue, he’ll just walk away. But Ethan didn’t walk away.
He crossed his arms and tilted his head. “Well, that was unexpected. ”
She dropped the stapler. “I can explain.
”
“I’d love to hear this. ”
“Well, you know, studies show that dancing improves productivity. ”
“What studies? ”
“Oh, lots of them.
Respected scientific research, published by experts in productive dancing. ”
Ethan couldn’t hold back a smile. “You just made that up. ”
“Yes, but it sounds convincing, doesn’t it?
”
He shook his head, still trying not to laugh. “Tell me something, Martin. Is this part of Dax Corp’s corporate culture? ”
“Oh, absolutely.
It’s a secret tradition. All employees dance alone when no one’s watching. ”
Ethan let out a short, quiet laugh. But Alisa noticed.
He laughed, and it was real. She felt a small sense of pride about that. Ethan sighed and checked his watch. “Just finish that report.
”
She gave a playful salute. “Yes, sir. ”
He started to leave but paused before closing the door. “Oh, and Alisa?
”
She looked at him. “That spin in the chair was impressive. ”
Then he walked out. She stood there blinking.
Did her CEO just compliment her office dance moves? The next morning, Alisa walked into the office trying to keep a low profile. It was hard to act normal after what had happened the night before. Every time she closed her eyes, the memory flashed back.
Spinning in her chair, holding a stapler as a microphone, and Ethan Fischer standing at the door watching it all. She sat down and started organizing the day’s files. Then Melissa showed up with a slightly suspicious smile. “Do you have plans for tonight?
”
Alisa found the question odd. “Me? Plans? ”
Melissa nodded.
“The CEO needs someone to join him for dinner with a potential investor. ”
Alisa blinked. “And why me? ”
“Because the investor asked to meet someone from the project analysis department, and you were the only one available.
”
A chill ran down her spine. “Wait, wait. This Ethan you’re talking about. He’s about six feet tall, has an intimidating stare, and an incredible talent for catching people dancing at the wrong time?
”
Melissa stared at her. “That’s the one. ”
“I can’t go. I have a commitment.
”
“What commitment? ”
“I have to feed my fish. ”
“You don’t have a fish. ”
“Not yet, but I could.
”
Melissa sighed. “You don’t have a choice. You’ll be there at 8. ”
Alisa spent the rest of the day trying to come up with an excuse, but when the clock hit 7:30, she knew she was out of options.
She arrived at the restaurant precisely at 8:00, only to realize it was one of those expensive places where a single dish cost as much as her rent. Ethan was already seated at a table in the corner. When he saw her, he simply raised an eyebrow. She walked over and sat down.
“Before you say anything, I just want to make it clear that I’m here under duress. ”
“Good to know. I’ll have the waiter write that down. ”
She picked up the menu and glanced at the prices.
“My god, there’s a dish here that costs more than my refrigerator. ”
“If you want, you can order it. ”
“I’d rather keep my fridge. At least it doesn’t disappear after five minutes.
”
“Do you always talk this much when you’re nervous? ” Ethan asked. “Yes. And when I’m excited, and when I’m bored, and when I’m…
well, basically always. ”
“I noticed. ”
The waiter arrived and took their orders. Alisa tried to look professional, but she couldn’t ignore how ridiculously at ease Ethan seemed in this place, while she was still figuring out how to hold the silverware properly.
The investor hadn’t arrived yet, leaving just the two of them stuck at an unexpected dinner. “Have you come up with any new nicknames for the reports? ” Ethan asked. “I’m controlling myself.
But I do have a chart saved in my drafts called ‘the roller coaster of despair. ‘”
He shook his head, but for the first time, he actually seemed to be enjoying the conversation. The dinner continued with a surprisingly light atmosphere. Ethan seemed less rigid than usual.
But as always, something had to go wrong. When the main course arrived, the food looked delicious. But after the first bite, something was off. Ethan cleared his throat and raised a hand to his neck.
“Are you okay? ” Alisa asked. He nodded, but his eyes were starting to water. “Ethan, you’re turning red.
”
“It’s under control. ”
“Are you allergic to something? ”
He hesitated before answering. “Shrimp.
”
A passing waiter nearly dropped his tray when he heard that. “But sir, your dish contains shrimp. ”
Alisa’s eyes widened. “You ordered something you’re allergic to?
”
“I didn’t notice. ”
“You didn’t notice? How does someone who’s allergic not realize they’re ordering exactly what they can’t eat? ”
“I was distracted.
”
“You could have died from distraction! ”
The waiter quickly stepped in. “We can bring you an antihistamine, sir. ”
Alisa stood up.
“No need. I have one in my bag. ”
Ethan looked at her skeptically. “You carry allergy medication with you?
”
“I like to be prepared. Or just accident prone. ” She pulled out the medicine and handed it to him. “Here.
Take this before I have to call an ambulance and end up in the headlines as ‘inexperienced intern kills CEO in fancy restaurant. ‘”
Ethan took the pill, and after a few minutes, the redness started to fade. The investor finally arrived, but the dinner had already been a complete disaster. As they left the restaurant, Ethan sighed.
“Well, that was an interesting dinner. ”
“Yes. I learned a lot. ”
“Like what?
”
“That you don’t pay enough attention to your food orders, and that I’m an excellent rescuer of reckless CEOs. ”
He gave a faint smile. “I’ll make a note of that in my next report. ”
She laughed.
“Please list it as ‘food catastrophe prevention plan. ‘”
“Good night, Alisa. ”
“Good night, boss. ”
She turned and walked away, but she felt like something had changed.
The next morning, Alisa arrived at the office feeling more confident than she had in previous days. Despite the occasional disaster, she was still employed. And for some unknown reason, Ethan Fischer didn’t seem to want to throw her out the window. Maybe he was even starting to see her differently.
Her plan for a calm, mistake-free day started falling apart the moment Melissa appeared beside her with a serious expression. “You’re going to be working directly with the CEO this week. ”
Alisa blinked a few times, waiting for Melissa to burst out laughing. But her boss didn’t seem the least bit amused.
“What do you mean? ”
“He wants you to review some reports from the technology department and put together a summary for him. ”
“Me? But I’m just an intern.
”
“He specifically asked for you. ”
Alisa’s stomach did a flip. With no other choice, she grabbed her materials and headed to the executive floor. When she walked into Ethan’s office, she found him sitting behind a massive glass desk.
He looked up as she entered. “Are you here ready to do serious work, or for another comedy scene? ”
Alisa pressed her lips together and set the folder on his desk. “I’ll focus to avoid any blunders.
”
“That must take a monumental effort. ”
She sat down and began reviewing the documents. To her surprise, the work was actually interesting. He wanted her to summarize several proposals for a new expansion project, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
For a while, everything went relatively smoothly. But then, as if the universe simply wouldn’t allow her a moment of peace, her pen slipped and fell to the floor. She bent down to pick it up and hit her head on the edge of the desk. Ethan glanced at her.
“Are you okay? ”
“Perfectly. Just testing my forehead’s durability. ”
After a few hours of work, Ethan finally closed one of the files.
“What did you think of the reports? ”
Alisa flipped through her notes. “The development team’s proposal looks interesting, but there are some gaps in the budget. They’re estimating a cost lower than what would realistically be needed.
”
He nodded. “And the other proposal? ”
“The innovation team has a solid concept, but their timeline is unrealistic. They’re expecting a delivery no one could meet without doubling the team.
”
Ethan studied her notes for a moment. “You did a good job. ”
Alisa’s eyes widened. “What?
A good job? Was that a compliment? ”
“Don’t get used to it. ”
She laughed.
“I’ll remember it forever. ”
The rest of the day went surprisingly well. However, there was a problem. The entire office had started noticing that Ethan was paying more attention to her than usual.
Gossip started spreading through the halls. During a coffee break, Alisa noticed her colleagues whispering while looking in her direction. “Did you see he called her in again? ”
“No way.
Ethan never takes an interest in anyone like this. ”
“Do you think something’s going on? ”
Alisa nearly spilled her coffee. During a department meeting, someone jokingly suggested placing bets on how long it would take for Ethan and Alisa to get involved.
Her reaction was immediate. “Wait, what? ”
Melissa tried to hide her smile. “Don’t worry, it’s just a joke.
”
“This is turning into a reality show. ”
“Well, no one has ever seen the CEO act like this before. ”
Alisa buried her face in her hands. “He’s just testing me to see if I can do the job properly.
”
“Sure, of course,” Melissa said, not looking convinced. The rumors kept spreading. And to make things worse, Alisa started noticing that Ethan seemed more relaxed around her during meetings. If she made a mistake, he wasn’t as strict with her as he was with others.
That only fueled the gossip even more. One afternoon, while reviewing a file, Alisa noticed Ethan watching her with a thoughtful expression. “What? ”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Nothing. I’m just wondering how someone so chaotic can be so efficient at the same time. ”
She smiled. “It’s a rare gift.
”
He closed one of the reports and leaned back. “I have to admit, you’ve brought a little energy to the office. ”
“Are you saying I’m a hurricane? ”
“Yes, but a hurricane that somehow organizes files in the middle of the destruction.
”
She laughed. “I’ll take that as a compliment. ”
It seemed like an ordinary exchange, but for the office staff used to Ethan’s serious and reserved demeanor, it was practically a live performance. Every conversation between the two was analyzed with the same excitement as a championship game.
But nothing could have prepared Alisa for the level of speculation that took over the company after that week. Just her presence on the executive floor was enough to make employees exchange suspicious glances. She tried to ignore it, but some conversations were impossible to tune out. “I heard the CEO is getting married.
”
Alisa nearly choked on her coffee. “What? ”
“Oh, you didn’t know? Apparently it’s an arranged marriage.
A contract between wealthy families or something like that. ”
Alisa crossed her arms. “That sounds like something out of a soap opera. ”
“But it makes sense.
Ethan is very private. He’s never been seen in a public relationship. ”
Alisa stayed quiet. It wasn’t any of her business, of course.
But for some reason, the thought made her uneasy. The rest of the day dragged on. Her productivity plummeted, and every time she tried to focus on reports, her mind wandered back to Ethan’s supposed mysterious fiancée. By the end of the day, she decided there was only one way to get answers.
She knocked on the CEO’s office door and walked in. Ethan was focused on a report. “Something wrong? ”
Alisa took a deep breath.
“Are you engaged? ”
Ethan stopped writing. There was a long silence before he slowly set his pen down and leaned back in his chair. “What makes you think that?
”
“The whole office is talking about it. ”
He sighed. “Office gossip spreads faster than emails. ”
“So it’s not true?
”
Ethan hesitated a second longer than she would have liked. “Depends on how you look at it. ”
Alisa frowned. “That’s a very sophisticated way of saying maybe.
”
He gave a slight smile, as if he found the whole thing amusing. “And if it were true, would that change anything for you? ”
She blinked, caught off guard by the question. “No.
It’s just… ”
She didn’t know how to finish the sentence. Ethan watched her reaction for a moment, then went back to his report as if the conversation was over. “I think you already have your answer.
”
Alisa left the office, not entirely sure what she was feeling. If it was true, why wouldn’t he just say so? And why did the thought of him being engaged bother her so much? The next day, the rumors only intensified.
Some said the fiancée was a socialite from an influential family. Others insisted she was a mysterious businesswoman from abroad. Alisa tried to ignore it, but her brain wouldn’t let her. And before she realized it, she found herself giving Ethan relationship advice.
It started innocently enough. “If you really are engaged, you should plan something romantic to surprise her. ”
Ethan, who had been reviewing a contract, stopped mid-sentence. “Excuse me?
”
“I’m serious. You don’t seem like the type to worry about these things, but women like unexpected gestures. ”
“Is that a proven fact, or just another one of your spontaneous theories? ”
“Common sense.
A special dinner. Something well thought out with a personal touch. ”
Ethan was silent for a moment. “A dinner, then.
”
“Yes, but not just any dinner. It has to show that you really care. ”
Ethan rested his chin on his hand and studied her thoughtfully. “All right.
I’ll plan a dinner. ”
Alisa felt a tightness in her chest but forced a smile. “That’s great. ”
The next day, she overheard a group of employees talking about a dinner Ethan had supposedly planned for that evening.
Her stomach sank. After all, she was the one who had suggested it. That was it. The company’s CEO was going out for a romantic dinner with his mysterious fiancée, and it was all her fault.
And then, without thinking, she decided she had to see it for herself. She took a taxi and discreetly headed to the restaurant they had mentioned. When she arrived, she found a reserved table with an elaborate dinner setup waiting. But something was off.
The table was empty. And then she felt someone approaching from behind. “Alisa. ”
She turned around and found Ethan standing there, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief.
“What are you doing here? ”
She opened her mouth, but no reasonable answer came to mind. “I… I heard about the dinner.
And I decided to follow. I just wanted to make sure everything was fine. ”
He raised an eyebrow. “All right.
Then tell me. Where is my fiancée? ”
Alisa blinked. “I should be asking you that.
”
Ethan let out a sigh, grabbed a napkin, and placed it on the empty table. “There is no fiancée. ”
She froze. “What?
”
He gestured toward the empty table. “This was the special dinner you suggested. ”
Alisa felt her face burn. “You were messing with me this whole time?
”
“I wanted to see how far you’d go with this story. ”
“I can’t believe this. ”
He picked up the menu and looked at her. “Since you’re here, we might as well have a real dinner.
”
She hesitated but then realized that deep down, she felt relieved. He wasn’t engaged. He had just wanted to tease her. And for some reason, that thought made her smile.
Alisa was still trying to process the revelation that the engagement story had been nothing more than one of Ethan’s jokes. “So this was all just a test? ”
Ethan flipped through the menu calmly. “Not exactly a test.
But I was curious to see what you’d do if you thought I was actually engaged. ”
“And what did you learn? ”
He looked at her for a moment before answering. “That you don’t handle curiosity very well.
”
Alisa huffed and picked up the menu, trying to focus on the food. But her heart was still racing. Not because he had fooled her, but because for some reason, she felt incredibly relieved to know he wasn’t engaged to anyone. “Since I’m already here, I might as well enjoy it.
But just so you know, I’m still mad at you. ”
Ethan gave a small smirk. “Fair enough. ”
Dinner started off calmly with conversations about work.
Alisa noticed that when Ethan wasn’t acting like the intimidating CEO, he could actually be good company. “Tell me something,” she said, cutting a piece of her meal. “Why does no one seem to know anything about your personal life? You keep this air of mystery that drives people crazy with curiosity.
”
He set his silverware down. “Because the less people know about you, the less they have to speculate about. ”
“Well, it worked. But it also created an insane amount of rumors.
People always like to make up stories when they don’t have answers. ” She smiled. “I guess that’s why they love gossiping about us so much. ”
Ethan studied her for a moment.
“And what do you think about that story? ”
“What story? ”
“The one they’re creating about us. ”
She swallowed hard.
“Well, it’s just… just a story, right? ”
He nodded slowly, his eyes still locked on hers. “If you say so.
”
A brief silence filled the air. Alisa felt the need to change the subject before the dinner took a turn she wasn’t prepared to handle. “So, do you have any hobbies? Anything you do outside of work?
”
Ethan thought for a moment. “I like to cook. ”
Her eyes widened. “You’re joking.
”
He shook his head. “It’s one of the few times I can focus on something without being interrupted by emails and meetings. ”
Alisa smiled. “I never would have pictured you in a kitchen.
I bet you have a super formal apron and only cook dishes worthy of a five-star restaurant. ”
“I like simple dishes. The important thing is the flavor. ”
“So, does that mean you make gourmet instant noodles?
”
He chuckled softly. “Never tried. But now I’m curious to see if that’s a thing. ”
She laughed genuinely.
“I can teach you. ”
Dinner went on with unexpectedly light conversation. When they finished the meal, Ethan called the waiter to pay, but Alisa stopped him. “I should pay for my part.
”
He raised an eyebrow. “Who dragged you here in the first place? ”
“You did. ”
“Then let me pay.
”
She sighed but didn’t argue. When they left the restaurant, the night was cold, and Alisa crossed her arms, regretting not bringing a jacket. Ethan noticed. Without a word, he took off his own jacket and placed it over her shoulders.
She blinked in surprise. “You don’t have to do this. ”
“You’re shivering. ”
She lowered her head and held onto the jacket, catching his scent on the fabric.
“Thank you. ”
They walked together to the parking lot in silence. When they reached Ethan’s car, he leaned against the door and looked at her. “I have to admit something.
”
“What? ”
“You have a natural talent for making a mess of everything around you. ”
She laughed. “Is that a compliment or a critique?
”
“A bit of both. ”
She looked away, smiling. “And you have a natural talent for leaving me speechless. ”
He opened the car door for her.
The ride back was quiet, but the silence between them didn’t feel awkward. On the contrary, for the first time, they both seemed comfortable just sharing the same space. When Ethan parked in front of her building, Alisa hesitated before getting out. “Thanks for the dinner.
”
He nodded. “It was more interesting than I expected. ”
She smiled. “I hope that’s a compliment.
”
He didn’t reply. Just watched as she stepped out of the car. She handed back the jacket, but before closing the door, she leaned slightly toward him. “Good night, Ethan.
”
He hesitated for a moment before answering. “Good night, Alisa. ”
She shut the door and walked into the building, feeling like something had changed that night. But she wasn’t sure what.
Alisa tried to return to her normal work routine after the unexpected dinner, but something felt different. The looks he gave her when passing by her department were subtle, but they were there. Before, Ethan had only seemed intrigued by her behavior. Now, it felt like he was analyzing something more.
To make matters worse, the office rumors had grown even stronger. Now everyone was talking about the dinner they had found out about. Melissa approached her with a mischievous smile. “So, you and the CEO have been going out together?
”
Alisa nearly dropped her cup. “What? No! ”
Melissa laughed.
“All right, I believe you. But half the office doesn’t. ”
“I went to the restaurant by chance. That’s all.
”
“Sure. And by chance, he was waiting for you with a reserved table. ”
Alisa rolled her eyes. “You’re making this worse.
”
Melissa leaned in, curious. “But really, what actually happened? ”
Alisa sighed. “He tricked me with that engagement rumor.
Said he was going out for a special dinner, and I went to check. ”
Melissa’s eyes widened. “You went after him? ”
“Not like that!
I just wanted to understand what was going on. ”
“So, what happened? ”
“He said there was never any fiancée. ”
Melissa seemed to think for a moment.
“So he just wanted to see what you would do? ”
“Yes. ”
Melissa smirked. “He’s smart.
”
Alisa huffed. “Or he just enjoys driving me crazy. ”
“Or both. ”
Before Alisa could reply, an employee from the executive floor appeared.
“Alisa Martin? Mr. Fischer wants to see you in his office. Now.
”
A chill ran down her spine. She exchanged a glance with Melissa, who raised her eyebrows, clearly excited about the situation unfolding. Alisa took a deep breath and headed for the elevator, mentally preparing herself for whatever was coming. When she entered Ethan’s office, she found him at his desk as always.
“Close the door,” he said. She obeyed, then sat down across from him. “Did something happen? ”
He laced his fingers together and stared at her for a moment before speaking.
“I have a proposal for you. ”
“That doesn’t sound scary at all. ”
He ignored the comment. “I need a date for a corporate event tomorrow night.
”
Alisa blinked, not believing what she just heard. “You’re asking me to be your date? ”
“Yes. ”
“Is this some kind of trap?
”
“You know it’s not. ”
She crossed her arms. “Why me? ”
“Because I need someone who isn’t boring.
”
“Was that a compliment or an insult? ”
“Just an observation. ”
She took a deep breath. “I don’t know if this is a good idea.
The office is already full of rumors. If I show up with you at an event, they’ll have me engaged by the next day. ”
“Does that bother you? ”
She hesitated.
“It bothers me that people jump to the wrong conclusions. ”
Ethan leaned back in his chair. “Then go and prove them wrong. ”
Alisa realized he wasn’t the kind of person who accepted refusals easily.
“Is that an order? ”
“No. But if you say no, I’ll have to take someone from the board. And honestly, I’d rather talk to you than any of them.
”
She was surprised by his honesty. “Did you just admit that you enjoy my company? ”
“I admitted that you’re not boring. ”
She considered it for a moment.
“All right. But on one condition. ”
“What is it? ”
“You can’t leave me alone there.
I don’t want to be thrown into a sea of strangers. ”
He nodded. “Deal. ”
The next day, Alisa spent hours trying to find the perfect outfit for the event.
She wanted to look professional but not overly formal. When she finally arrived at the venue, she found Ethan waiting for her at the entrance. He looked impeccable, but there was something different. He was looking at her in a way she couldn’t quite explain.
“Ready? ” he asked. She took a deep breath. “As I’ll ever be.
”
Together, they walked into the event. The hall was grand, with enormous crystal chandeliers and perfectly arranged tables. Men and women in elegant attire moved about, discussing investments and market strategies as if they were as simple as the weather forecast. Alisa tried to maintain her composure as she followed Ethan, but she felt every pair of eyes on her.
Everyone was trying to figure out who she was and why she was standing next to the CEO of Dax Corp. “Are you all right? ” Ethan asked, lowering his voice. She took a deep breath.
“I feel like someone is about to investigate me and find out I’m just an intern who spills coffee on reports. ”
He suppressed a smile. “You underestimate your ability to stand out. ”
She let out a dry laugh.
“I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or a warning. ”
Before he could respond, an elegant woman approached them. “Ethan, darling. It’s been so long.
”
The woman seemed much closer to Ethan than the other guests. He smiled, though his expression remained professional. “Olivia. Good evening.
”
The woman turned her gaze to Alisa, assessing her with a spark of interest. “And who is this? ”
Ethan kept his expression neutral. “Alisa Martin.
My guest for the evening. ”
Olivia kept smiling but her curiosity had clearly intensified. “A guest? Interesting.
”
Alisa offered a polite smile. “Nice to meet you. ”
“The pleasure is all mine. ” The woman kept her eyes on Alisa for a moment before turning back to Ethan.
“I see your taste for surprises remains unchanged. ”
Ethan didn’t respond. He simply gave a faint smile. As soon as Olivia walked away, Alisa let out a relieved sigh.
“Who was that? ”
“Olivia Weston. An investor. ”
“And what was that about?
It felt like she was scanning me with X-ray vision. ”
“She likes to understand what’s happening around her. ”
“So that means she’s trying to figure out what’s going on between us? ”
Ethan looked at her with a subtle smile.
“And do you think there’s something going on? ”
Alisa opened her mouth, then closed it. She didn’t want to say anything that could be misinterpreted. Before she could come up with an intelligent response, a group of business people approached Ethan to talk.
Alisa took the opportunity to quietly slip away. She needed a moment to breathe. She walked over to the drink table and picked up a juice. As she took a sip, she heard a male voice beside her.
“You’re the woman of the moment. ”
She turned and saw a tall man in a perfectly tailored suit looking at her with an intrigued smile. “Excuse me? ”
“Everyone here is trying to figure out who you are.
”
She gave a polite smile. “There’s not much to figure out. ”
“Hard to believe that when you show up with Ethan Fischer. ”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Do you know him well? ”
“Well enough to know he doesn’t usually bring a date to events. ”
She took another sip of her juice, glancing around as if looking for a distraction. “And who are you?
”
“Apologies. Where are my manners? ” He extended his hand. “Logan Pierce.
I work in the tech sector. ”
She shook his hand. “Alisa Martin. Intern at Dax Corp.
”
“Right. ” He gave a knowing smirk. “Let’s just say I have good sources. ”
Alisa didn’t have time to process that information because in the next instant, Ethan appeared beside them, his expression serious.
“Pierce. ”
“Fisher. ”
The two exchanged a tense look, as if there was a complicated history between them. Alisa immediately felt the shift in the atmosphere.
“You two already know each other? ” she asked. Logan kept his smile. “Let’s just say we’ve worked on opposite sides a few times.
”
Ethan didn’t look away. “And we still do. ”
Alisa felt it was best to stay out of that conversation. Logan picked up a glass of wine from the table and looked at her.
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Alisa. I hope we run into each other again. ” Then, with one last glance at Ethan, he walked away. Alisa remained silent for a moment before turning to Ethan.
“What was that? ”
“Nothing you need to worry about. ”
“You clearly don’t like him. ”
“Logan likes to stir things up.
He always tries to insert himself into other people’s business. ”
“And I’m someone’s business now? ”
He held her gaze for a moment before answering. “You’re my intern.
”
She folded her arms. “That doesn’t answer my question. ”
He let out a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated with himself. “I just don’t like when he gets too close.
”
Alisa wasn’t sure how to interpret that. But before she could press further, a new round of greetings began, pulling her back into the flow of the event. The evening passed in a blur of formal conversations and subtle glances between her and Ethan. He never left her alone for too long, as if he was always keeping an eye on anyone who tried to get too close.
When they finally left, Alisa felt relieved to leave the formal setting behind. In the car, the silence between them felt heavier than usual. She decided to break it. “So, Logan Pierce seems to enjoy provoking you.
”
Ethan kept his eyes on the road. “He likes to test limits. ”
“What exactly was he trying to test with me? ”
Ethan glanced at her for a second before responding.
“That’s something only he can answer. ”
Alisa realized she wouldn’t get anything more out of him that night. She sighed and looked out the window. That night had been more revealing than she expected.
And now, more than ever, she felt like she was caught up in a game she was only beginning to understand. The morning after the event, Alisa woke up with a strange feeling. Something about that night still lingered in her mind. The tension between Ethan and Logan Pierce.
She had never seen Ethan so closed off and protective before. From the moment Logan approached her, Ethan became more alert, more intense. And that made her curious. When she arrived at the office, she noticed that the rumors had only grown stronger.
“So, our dear intern has been promoted to the CEO’s official date? ” one colleague teased. “He’s never taken anyone to an event before,” another added. Melissa whispered beside her.
“Are you sure there’s nothing more going on? ”
Alisa rolled her eyes. “Don’t you all have work to do? ”
“We do, but gossip is more interesting.
”
Shaking her head, she made her way to her desk, determined to ignore the chatter. But her determination didn’t last long. A few minutes after sitting down, a new email notification popped up. Subject: CEO’s Office.
Now. Alisa’s heart skipped a beat. She closed her laptop, grabbed her notebook, and walked up to the executive floor. When she entered Ethan’s office, he was already waiting for her.
“Close the door. ”
She did as he asked but crossed her arms. “This sounds serious. ”
He motioned toward the chair in front of him.
“Sit down. ”
She sat, feeling the tension in the air. “What is it? ”
Ethan leaned back in his chair and watched her for a moment before speaking.
“Logan Pierce called me this morning. ”
Alisa blinked in surprise. “What did he want? ”
“He asked about you.
”
She frowned. “About me? ”
“Yes. He wants to offer you a job at his company.
”
Her eyes widened. “What? ”
“He thinks you have potential. ”
She let out a nervous laugh.
“That doesn’t make sense. I’m just an intern. ”
Ethan narrowed his eyes. “Do you really believe that?
”
She hesitated. “Well, yes. ”
He shook his head. “Alisa, you don’t realize the impact you have.
”
She blushed slightly. “You’re exaggerating. ”
He studied her for a moment before continuing. “Do you plan to accept the offer?
”
Alisa frowned. “Do you want me to? ”
Ethan didn’t answer right away. His gaze remained fixed on her, as if assessing her reaction.
“I want to know what you want. ”
She sighed and leaned back in her chair. “I don’t know. It all happened so fast.
And I don’t trust Logan. ”
Ethan nodded. “Then we’re on the same page. ”
She looked at him carefully.
“Why do I feel like you already knew he was going to do this? ”
He rested his elbows on the table. “Logan never does anything without an ulterior motive. He’s trying to use you to get to me.
”
Alisa swallowed hard. “This sounds more serious than I thought. ”
“Because it is. ”
Silence settled between them.
Finally, Alisa took a deep breath and smiled. “I guess I should get ready for another chapter in this corporate soap opera. ”
Ethan smirked. “You’ve been part of it for a long time.
”
She stood up, still processing their conversation. “Don’t worry, Ethan. I’m not going anywhere. ”
He nodded, and for the first time, he seemed to relax a little.
Alisa left Ethan’s office with her heart racing. What had once been a game of teasing and misunderstandings now felt much more serious. Logan Pierce wasn’t just trying to recruit her. He wanted to use her against Ethan.
And the question that wouldn’t leave her mind was: why? The rest of the day dragged on. Alisa tried to focus on her work, but her thoughts kept drifting back to her conversation with Ethan. He seemed more concerned than she had ever seen him before.
As if, for the first time, something had truly slipped out of his control. It was already late when she realized she was still at the office. Most people had left. Only a few lights remained on.
Then she heard a noise. When she turned around, she saw Ethan standing in the doorway, watching her. “You’re still here,” he said. She smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
“I could ask you the same thing. ”
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “I had some documents to review. But it looks like you also lost track of time.
”
She sighed and leaned back in her chair. “I just needed to clear my head. ”
Ethan was quiet for a moment before walking over and sitting in the chair next to her. “Want to talk?
”
She smiled, surprised by his tone. “Is that an invitation to vent? ”
“Only if you want to. ”
She looked at him for a moment, trying to understand why this man who always seemed so distant now seemed willing to listen.
“It’s about everything. The event. The rumors. Logan.
I don’t even know how I ended up here. ”
Ethan nodded slowly. “The truth is, you were always at the center of it. Even if you didn’t realize it.
”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better. ”
He gave a faint smile. “But it means you’re not as invisible as you think. ”
She took a deep breath and lowered her gaze.
“You were really worried when Logan offered me a job, weren’t you? ”
He hesitated for a second before answering. “Yes. ”
“Why?
”
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table. “Because I know what he’s capable of. ”
She frowned. “You talk like he’s some kind of movie villain.
”
Ethan let out a low chuckle. “He’s not a villain. But he plays to win. And he’s figured something out about you that he can use against me.
”
Alisa blinked. “And what exactly did he figure out? ”
Ethan held her gaze for a long moment before answering. “That you’re important to me.
”
Alisa’s heart skipped a beat. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. Ethan kept his eyes on her, waiting. She felt her face heat up.
“Are you joking? ”
He shook his head. “I’ve never been more serious. ”
The silence settled between them, filled with something Alisa couldn’t quite define.
Finally, Ethan stood up and put his hands in his pockets. “It’s late. I’ll take you home. ”
She hesitated for a second, still trying to process everything that had happened in the past few minutes.
But for some reason, she didn’t want to be alone. “Okay. ”
They walked out of the office together. For the first time, the silence between them didn’t feel uncomfortable.
On the contrary, it felt like something had finally changed. And at least Alisa knew that after that night, nothing would ever be the same again. The silence between Alisa and Ethan that night spoke louder than any conversation. Something had shifted between them.
The problem was: what should she do with this new realization? The following days were strangely normal, which only made the tension between them grow. Ethan didn’t bring up Logan again, nor the event, nor anything he had told her that night in the office. But Alisa noticed the looks.
The moments when he hesitated before leaving her office, as if he was about to say something but changed his mind. Until one day it happened. Alisa was in the middle of her work when she received an email with no subject. “Can you meet me on the rooftop in 10 minutes?
”
She frowned. It wasn’t something she usually received, especially not from Ethan. But for some reason, her heart started beating faster. She tried to act naturally as she left the office and made her way to the rooftop.
When she opened the door, the cold wind hit her face. And then she saw Ethan standing there, his back turned to her, looking out over the city. “You called me? ” she asked, hesitant.
He turned around slowly. For the first time, Alisa noticed that he looked nervous. “Yes. ”
She crossed her arms.
“All right. What’s going on? ”
He took a deep breath and stepped closer. “I’ve spent the last few days trying to find the best way to say this.
”
She frowned. “Say what? ”
And then, before she could react, Ethan reached into his pocket and got down on one knee. Alisa’s heart stopped.
Literally stopped. “Wh-what are you doing? ”
He held a small black box in his hand and opened it to reveal a diamond ring shining in the sunlight. “I’m asking you to marry me, Alisa.
”
Alisa blinked. Then blinked again. “Did you hit your head somewhere? ”
Ethan laughed, but his expression remained serious.
“No. ”
“Is this some kind of joke? ”
“Alisa, look at me. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.
”
She covered her face with her hands for a second before looking at him again. “Ethan, are you sure about this? ”
He took her hand. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.
”
She felt a wave of emotion wash over her. “But why? ”
He smiled softly. “Because you make me laugh.
Because you challenge me. Because since you walked into my life, everything has been more interesting. ”
She let out a nervous laugh. “That sounds more like a job offer than a marriage proposal.
”
He shook his head, laughing too. “Alisa Martin, will you marry me? ”
She looked at him, still stunned. Then at the ring.
And suddenly, she knew the answer. “Yes. ”
Ethan smiled, slipped the ring onto her finger, and in one quick motion, stood up and pulled her into a kiss that nearly made her knees give out. The office staff, who had quietly gathered to watch from the rooftop’s glass doors, erupted into cheers and applause.
Alisa pulled away from Ethan just enough to look at her co-workers, horrified. “You were watching? ”
Melissa grinned. “Of course.
This is a historic event. ”
Ethan just laughed, keeping Alisa close. “I guess there’s no more doubt about the rumors now. ”
She rolled her eyes but smiled.
“Yes. But at least this time, the rumors are true. ”
The wedding happened a few months later. It was exactly how Alisa never imagined it would be.
Perfect. She had never dreamed of a lavish wedding, but Ethan insisted he wanted something memorable. They found a middle ground. An outdoor ceremony with elegant but simple decor.
White flowers and soft lights created a warm and charming atmosphere. Alisa wore a simple yet stunning dress and felt like her entire life had led her to this moment. As she walked down the aisle toward Ethan, her heart raced more than ever. He was there, waiting for her, with that look that made everything worthwhile.
The vows were heartfelt and, of course, had a touch of humor. When it was Alisa’s turn, she held Ethan’s hand and said, “I promise to love you on good days and bad. I promise to always carry an allergy pill in case you order shrimp without realizing it. ”
Everyone laughed, including Ethan.
He smiled before answering. “And I promise to love you in every moment, even when you decide to reorganize my pen drawer without my permission. ”
The audience burst into laughter. When they finally said the long-awaited “I do” and kissed, Alisa felt as if the entire world disappeared for a moment.
Now they were officially husband and wife. And nothing could be better than that. Or at least, that’s what she thought. A year later, life was completely different.
Alisa and Ethan were married, happy, and balancing work and personal life perfectly. And then came the news that would change everything. Alisa stared at the pregnancy test for a long moment. She blinked.
Took a deep breath. Looked again. The result hadn’t changed. She was pregnant.
Her heart raced. How would she tell Ethan? He would be home from work in just a few minutes. She knew she wouldn’t be able to keep it a secret for long.
So she decided to do it in the most creative way possible. When Ethan arrived home, he found Alisa sitting on the couch with an envelope in her hands. “What’s this? ” he asked, taking off his jacket and sitting beside her.
She smiled and handed him the envelope. “A little surprise. ”
He opened it and pulled out a piece of paper. He read it out loud.
“Congratulations. You’ve been promoted to Daddy. ”
He blinked a few times, trying to process it. Then he looked at her, eyes wide.
“Are you serious? ”
Alisa nodded, biting her lip to hold back her emotions. And then Ethan pulled her into a tight hug. “I can’t believe it.
”
She laughed, feeling tears of joy roll down her face. “I didn’t believe it either until I checked the test three times. ”
He pulled back just enough to hold her face in his hands and kissed her softly. “You just made me the happiest man in the world.
”
Alisa smiled, feeling her heart swell with happiness. “Well, you better get ready. Looks like our life is about to get even crazier. ”
Ethan chuckled.
“And I can’t wait for it. ”
She hugged him again, feeling whole in a way she never imagined possible. And in that moment, she knew for sure. Her chaos had found a home.
And his name was Ethan Fischer.
