Jessica swirling her wine glass dramatically, trying to look like the kind of woman who didn't care about anything. Sophia had told her to be obnoxious, to say something outrageous, and the words tumbled out before she could stop them.

"So," she said, leaning forward with a mischievous grin, "do you believe in past lives?"

The man across from her didn't flinch. "No."

"Well, I do." She tapped her finger against the table. "In my past life, I was probably a queen. Or maybe a tiger. Definitely not someone who wastes time on blind dates."

The corner of his mouth twitched, but not into a smile. He set his glass down with quiet precision. "Fascinating."

She panicked. He wasn't reacting the way she wanted. Instead of disgust, he looked... amused? Or worse, interested.

So she doubled down.

"I should warn you," she said brightly, "I snore. Loudly. And I kick in my sleep. Once I even knocked my cousin off the bed."

The man's brows arched. Still no sign of irritation.

"Also," she added quickly, "I collect horror movie dolls. Chucky, Annabelle, all the classics. They sit around my bed and watch me while I sleep."

A beat of silence passed. Then, to her shock, he chuckled. A low, warm sound that did dangerous things to her chest.

"You're... not like what I expected," he said.

Jessica blinked. This was not the plan. He was supposed to bolt, not laugh.

She gulped the rest of her wine in frustration.

Dinner arrived-an artful arrangement of steak and truffle sauce. Jessica eyed it nervously. This was not fried chicken. This was not food you ate with your fingers.

She picked up the silverware awkwardly, then decided to commit to her sabotage. She cut into the steak with exaggerated force, nearly sending it flying off the plate.

"Mmm," she said loudly, chewing with her mouth open. "So good. Almost as good as my favorite chicken feet place. Have you tried it? Sticky, spicy, chewy. You'd love it."

For the first time, the man's calm demeanor cracked. His brow furrowed.

"Chicken feet," he repeated slowly.

"Yes! With extra chili powder. Makes your lips swell." She puckered her lips in demonstration, nearly choking on a laugh.

The waiter passed by, startled by her volume. Jessica waved cheerfully. "Another bottle of wine, please! The expensive one. This guy's paying, right?"

The man's expression darkened-finally! Maybe she was succeeding.

"Do you always drink this much?" he asked.

"Only when I'm nervous," she blurted, then froze. That was too honest. She quickly recovered. "I mean-only when I'm with boring men. Like you."

Silence fell. Her heart thumped painfully. She might have gone too far.

But then, instead of storming out, he leaned back in his chair, studying her with unreadable eyes.

"You're... interesting," he murmured.

"Interesting?" she echoed weakly.

"Different from every woman I've met."

Her stomach flipped. This was all wrong. He was supposed to hate her. Not-whatever this was.

Jessica stuffed another too-large bite of steak into her mouth to avoid answering.

After dinner, they walked through the hotel lobby, marble floors gleaming under golden light. Jessica's heels wobbled dangerously with every step, and she clutched her clutch like a lifeline.

"Miss Sophia," the man said suddenly, his tone sharper now. "Why did you agree to this blind date?"

Her heart seized. For a split second, she forgot she was pretending. She thought of her tiny apartment above the restaurant, of overdue bills, of her life built on hard work and small dreams.

Then she forced a laugh. "Why else? My father insisted, of course. He wants me married off before I turn into an old maid."

The man's gaze flickered, as though testing her words. She avoided his eyes.

At the entrance, his driver pulled up in a sleek black car. The man gestured politely. "Allow me to take you home."

Jessica's panic flared. If he drove her home, he'd see she wasn't Sophia Wilson. He'd see the fried chicken restaurant, her parents, the truth.

"Oh no!" she said quickly. "I-I actually have another date. With someone else. A hotter guy. Much richer, too."

For the first time all evening, the man's mask cracked fully. His eyes narrowed, sharp with something like annoyance.

"Another date," he repeated flatly.

"Yes," Jessica said, nodding furiously. "So you see, this was fun, but... bye!"

She spun on her heel, nearly tripping, and fled into the night, heart pounding like a drum.

Behind her, Ethan Maverick-the man she didn't realize was her company's new president-watched her go, his lips curving into the faintest, most dangerous of smiles.

jessica woke the next morning with her head buried under a pillow, groaning at the memory of last night.

"What was I thinking?" she mumbled into the sheets. "Chicken feet? Horror dolls? Another date with a hotter guy?!"

She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling of her tiny studio apartment. The sound of traffic buzzed outside, mingling with the faint smell of fried chicken wafting up from the restaurant below.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from Sophia.

Sophia: How did it go? Did you scare him off?

Jessica groaned louder. "I don't even know! He didn't storm out. He laughed at me. Laughed!"

Jessica: Your plan failed. He's... weird.

A reply came almost instantly.

Sophia: Weird how?

Jessica sat up, fingers flying across the screen.

Jessica: He didn't get mad when I was rude. He actually smiled. I think he liked it.

There was a long pause before Sophia replied.

Sophia: Uh oh.

"Uh oh? What do you mean, 'uh oh'?!" Jessica shouted at her phone.

But before she could demand clarification, her alarm blared, reminding her she had to rush to work. At Go Food. At the company where she was a researcher.

The company whose brand-new CEO she had just mocked, insulted, and abandoned at a hotel lobby.

Of course, she didn't know that. Yet.

The Go Food headquarters buzzed with tension that morning. Employees whispered in corners, straightened their ties, and adjusted their blouses as though preparing for judgment day.

"The new CEO is here," someone whispered near Jessica's desk. "He's in his office right now."

"I heard he studied abroad in the U.S.," another said. "And he's young. Ruthless, too."

Jessica tried to focus on her research reports, but her nerves buzzed. She had stayed out late, drunk too much wine, and now her head pounded. The last thing she needed was a demanding new boss breathing down her neck.

Then the elevator chimed.

All heads turned.

Ethan Maverick stepped out, tall and sharp in a tailored suit, exuding authority with every stride. His assistant, Rian Johnson, followed close behind, holding a stack of files.

Jessica 's pen froze in her hand. Her stomach plummeted.

It was him.

The blind date. The man she'd tried to scare off.

She nearly choked on her own breath, ducking her head behind her monitor. No way. No, no, no way. This is a nightmare.

"Good morning, everyone," Jessica said, his voice calm but commanding. "I'll be meeting each department this week. I expect efficiency."

His gaze swept the room like a searchlight. Jessica shrank lower in her chair, praying he wouldn't notice her.

But his eyes didn't linger. He passed by without a flicker of recognition.

Jessica let out a shaky sigh of relief. Maybe-just maybe-he hadn't recognized her under the harsh office lighting.

But then, as Ethan disappeared into his office, his lips curled into the faintest smirk.

He had recognized her. And he wasn't going to let her off so easily.

Inside his office, Ethan stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back, looking out at the skyline. Rian placed a folder on his desk.

"You really intend to go through with this?" Rian asked carefully.

"Yes," Ethan said without hesitation. "I'm going to marry her."

Rian blinked. "Miss Sophia Wilson?"

Ethan's jaw tightened slightly. "That's who she claims to be. Regardless, she's the one."

Rian frowned. "You've only met her once. And you've already decided to marry?"

"I don't have time to waste," Ethan replied curtly. "My grandfather won't stop arranging blind dates until I settle down. If I marry her, the problem is solved. She's unpredictable, different from the others. She won't bore me."

Rian studied his boss quietly. "You seemed... entertained by her."

A faint smile touched Ethan's lips. "Exactly. She's the first woman who hasn't tried to impress me. In fact, she did the opposite. That alone makes her useful."

"Useful," Rian repeated with a sigh. "Does she know about this plan?"

"She will."

Ethan turned back to the window, eyes glinting with resolve. He had made up his mind. And when Ethan Maverick made a decision, nothing stopped him.

Later that afternoon, Jessica was in the cafeteria with her coworkers, poking at her lunch tray nervously. She kept her head down, praying she wouldn't run into Ethan again.

"Have you seen him up close?" one colleague whispered. "He's so handsome it's scary."

"Handsome? He's terrifying! He doesn't even blink!"

Jessica forced a laugh, though her stomach was still in knots. If anyone found out what she had done last night, she'd be doomed.

"Excuse me."

The cafeteria fell silent.

Jessica froze. That voice. That unmistakable deep, commanding voice.

She looked up slowly, dreading what she'd see.

Ethan stood there, perfectly composed, his gaze locked on her. Around them, coworkers gawked, whispering furiously.

"You," he said simply.

Her chopsticks slipped from her fingers, clattering onto her tray. "M-me?"

"Yes." He didn't break eye contact. "Let's talk."

He walked away, not waiting to see if she followed. The entire cafeteria stared at her in stunned silence.

Heart pounding, legs trembling, Jessica forced herself to stand and follow him out.

They ended up in a quiet corridor. Jessica turned, expression unreadable.

"Miss Sophia Wilson," he said smoothly, though his eyes gleamed with hidden amusement, "I'll be direct. Let's get married."

The world tilted. Jessica's mouth fell open.

"M-married?!" she squeaked.

Ethan's lips curved into the faintest smile. "Yes. You'll be my wife."

Jessica's vision swam. Her plan to scare him off had backfired spectacularly.

And thus began the disaster of her life.

Jessica's brain is completely short-circuited. Married? He said married. To her. The same girl who had pretended to be her best friend, the same girl who had made a fool of herself babbling about horror dolls and chicken feet.

She forced a laugh, waving her hands. "M-marriage? Oh, that's... that's hilarious! You're joking, right? Because who proposes after one date? Nobody does that!"

Ethan Maverick expression didn't shift an inch. His jawline looked carved from stone, his eyes sharp as blades. "I'm not joking."

Her laughter died in her throat. She stared at him, wide-eyed, while he continued with deadly seriousness.

"My grandfather is relentless. He's been forcing blind dates on me for years. You are different. You don't simper, you don't flatter, and you don't bore me. That's why you're perfect."

Perfect? Jessica felt her knees weaken. This was not part of the plan.

"Mr. Ethan, I think you're making a mistake-"

"I don't make mistakes," he cut her off smoothly. "And I don't waste time. I'll have my assistant prepare the necessary paperwork."

Paperwork. Of course, the man saw marriage as a contract to be signed, like a business deal.

Jessica gaped at him. "You're insane."

"Efficient," he corrected calmly.

She pressed her palms against her face, suppressing a groan. How was she supposed to get out of this without ruining her life-or revealing her real identity?

The moment Ha-ri escaped the office corridor, she sprinted to the bathroom, locking herself into a stall before dialing Sophia's number with trembling fingers.

Her best friend picked up cheerfully. "So? Crisis averted?"

"Crisis?!" Jessica screeched, her voice echoing in the tiled room. "He asked me to marry him!"

There was a stunned silence, followed by a shriek so loud Jessica yanked the phone away from her ear.

"What?! You're kidding!"

"I'm not! He's serious! He said I'm perfect and he'll have his assistant draft paperwork. Paperwork Sophia! Who even does that?!"

Sophia groaned. "Oh my god, Jessica. This is worse than I imagined. My father will kill me if he finds out. And if Ethan discovers you're not me-"

"He'll fire me. Or sue me. Or both!" Ha-ri moaned, clutching her head.

They sat in silence for a beat, the weight of the disaster sinking in.

Finally, Sophia muttered, "You have to reject him."

"I already tried! He doesn't listen!"

"Then we'll come up with a plan. Just stall him for now. Whatever you do, don't sign anything!"

Jessica slumped against the stall wall, muttering, "Easy for you to say..."

That evening, Ethan Maverick visited his grandfather, Chairman Maverick, in the sprawling family mansion. The elder Maverick was a man of imposing presence despite his age, with a booming laugh that filled the grand hall.

"You've finally chosen someone?" the chairman said, his eyes sparkling with delight.

"Yes," Ethan answered simply.

"Tell me about her."

"She's unlike anyone else. Bold. Unpredictable."

The chairman chuckled. "Sounds like she already has you hooked."

Ethan frowned faintly. "Hooked? No. I'm simply making the most efficient decision. She won't waste my time."

Chairman Maverick clapped his hands together. "Excellent! Arrange a family dinner immediately. I must meet this young lady who finally captured my grandson's attention."

For the first time, a flicker of unease crossed Ethan's face. He had no idea just how complicated this was about to become.

The next day at work, Jessica tried her best to avoid Ethan, ducking behind filing cabinets and faking errands to other floors. But it was impossible to escape forever.

Just before lunch, Rian appeared at her desk, his expression unreadable. "Miss Jessica Robert. The president requests your presence."

Her coworkers' heads whipped around in unison, eyes wide with shock and curiosity.

Jessica's heart pounded. She stood shakily, following Rian to the CEO's office.

Inside, Jessica sat behind his massive desk, reviewing documents as though the fate of nations rested on his pen strokes. He looked up when she entered, his gaze pinning her in place.

"I've spoken with my grandfather," he said evenly. "He wishes to meet you. Tonight."

Jessica's jaw dropped. "T-tonight?!"

"Yes. I'll pick you up at seven."

Her stomach plummeted. Meeting the chairman was a death sentence. If the lie unraveled, her career-and her family's fried chicken shop-would go up in flames.

She plastered on a shaky smile. "Mr. Ethan, don't you think we're... rushing things?"

Ethan's lips curved in a faint, dangerous smile. "On the contrary. I hate wasting time."

Jessica wanted to scream.

And so, against her will, the stage was set for disaster number two: dinner with the chairman.