By Monday, the office gossip had hit critical mass.
Whispers followed Aria everywhere she went.
People paused fake-casually by her desk, pretending to need the stapler or ask about Q3 reports.
Even Mr. Lawson gave her a weirdly long look during the morning briefing.
And worst of all?
Gwen was smug.
"So," Gwen drawled, leaning against Aria's desk with a knowing grin. "When were you planning to tell me you're shacking up with the enemy?"
Aria sighed. "For the hundredth time, we are not a thing."
"Uh huh. That's why you left the networking dinner together and haven't made eye contact since."
"I — it's complicated, okay?"
"Complicated as in 'I want to stab him and kiss him at the same time'?"
Aria groaned, dropping her head onto her keyboard. "You're the worst."
"I live for this," Gwen chirped. "Oh, and heads up — Jason from finance is taking bets on how long before one of you throws a drink in the other's face."
Aria lifted her head. "Tell him I said two weeks."
They both burst out laughing.
But before she could fully bask in the absurdity of her life, her phone buzzed with a message from Ethan.
Ethan: Conference room. Now.
Her stomach did a weird flip.
Because even though she was determined to act cool, a tiny, reckless part of her missed him.
She stormed down the hall, threw open the conference room door — and nearly collided with him.
"Jeez, Lane. Eager much?"
"Cut the crap. What's so important?"
He leaned against the table, grin fading a little. "Listen. I need you to hear me out before you throw something."
"That's a great opener," she deadpanned.
Ethan ran a hand through his hair — a rare, vulnerable gesture.
"I got a tip this morning," he said quietly. "Someone's leaking company data. Lawson's on the warpath. And guess whose name came up?"
Aria blinked. "Yours?"
"No. Yours."
Silence.
"I—what? That's insane."
"I know," Ethan said. "Which is why I'm telling you. Someone's trying to screw you over. Hard."
A chill ran through her.
She wasn't Lawson's favorite, sure, but no way she'd risk her career for anything.
"I didn't leak anything," she snapped. "You believe me, right?"
Without hesitation, Ethan nodded. "Course I do."
It shouldn't have meant as much as it did.
But it did.
"Okay," she muttered. "So what do we do?"
He smirked. "We go on a date."
She blinked. "Did you hit your head?"
"Hear me out. Everyone thinks we're a thing already. We can use it. If someone's spying on you, they'll follow you tonight. We fake a date, see who shows up."
Aria stared at him. "You just want an excuse to take me out."
He grinned. "Guilty. But also — it might work."
And damn it, it might.
"Fine," she sighed. "But it's strictly business. And you're paying."
"Deal."
"And if you get handsy, I'm stabbing you with a fork."
Ethan chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it."
As she left the room, heart hammering, Aria realized something terrifying.
She might actually be looking forward to it....