When my coworker asked me to pretend we were a couple to buy a house, I thought it was just business, a quick deal, easy money. But one small lie turned into something far bigger, and before I knew it, someone I cared about got hurt in a way I could never take back. Time — the one thing you can’t buy, earn back, or pause, no matter how hard you try.
Maybe that’s why I hated it when people wasted mine.
And no one did it better than Caleb. That morning, he showed up at my desk with two cups of coffee, looking far too pleased with himself.
He set one in front of me, flashing a grin that had probably worked on plenty of women before me. “For you,” he said.
“Thanks,” I muttered, already turning back to my computer.
“You could at least drink it with me,” he said. “I could,” I said, typing faster, “but I have work. So I’ll drink it here.”
“You’re gonna miss your whole life sitting behind this desk, you know that?”
“Better than missing a deadline.”
He chuckled under his breath and walked away.
For half a second, I almost felt guilty.
Almost. Then the guilt passed, replaced by my endless to-do list.
I wasn’t cold, just practical. Growing up counting every dollar taught me to work hard so I’d never go back there again.
And Caleb?
I didn’t trust him. Charming, sure, but so are most people in sales when they want something. That night, I met June, my best friend and the only person patient enough for my constant “five more minutes” texts.
“You really think he’s up to something?” June asked.
“I know he is. No one brings someone coffee every morning for free.
He probably wants my clients or my leads. It’s business, not flirting.”
“Nora, are you dumb or pretending to be?
He likes you.
That’s why he’s doing all this.”
“That’s impossible. He just wants to distract me so he can look better.”
“You’re blind. You seriously need to start seeing life outside your spreadsheets.”
I sighed and changed the topic before she could start a TED Talk about my love life.
“Anyway, how are you?
What’s new?”
Her face lit up. “Remember that house I told you about?
The one I grew up in? I found out it’s for sale.
I talked to the owners, and they’re considering selling it to me.
They’re a bit strange, though. Had some unusual conditions at first, but I think I made a good impression.”
“That’s amazing,” I said. “But why that house?
The story doesn’t end here –
it continues on the next page.
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