26. （FAKE）r
VERENA
26
The luxurious sheets tangled around me as I rolled over, stretching out across Jae’s bed. It felt strange being here, especially after the mess we’d gotten ourselves into. I could hear noises from the kitchen—clattering and what sounded like a frustrated mutter. Curiosity piqued, I slipped out of bed, padding softly towards the source of the commotion.
Leaning against the doorway, I took in the sight of Jae attempting to make breakfast. Pancake batter was splattered everywhere, and he was fumbling with a spatula, looking incredibly out of his element. His bare chest glistened with a light sheen of sweat, muscles flexing as he moved. The sight was almost too much to handle, especially after everything that had happened yesterday.
“You don’t know how to cook,” I stated, amused at the sight.
Jae glanced up, his dark eyes locking onto mine with a mix of frustration and something else—something hotter, more intense. “I’m trying, okay? Auntie says I need to make more effort for you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’d rather poke an eye out than be forced to cook. It’s a waste of your precious time.”
He rolled his eyes, turning back to the skillet and attempting to flip a pancake. It landed half on, half off the skillet, looking more like a mess than a meal.
“How’d you sleep?” he asked, his eyes trailing over me as I stretched, my silk nightgown riding up slightly.
“Fine,” I replied, enjoying the way his gaze lingered on me. “You?”
“Not great,” he admitted, his eyes snapping back up to meet mine. “I want to add a clause to the contract.”
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What clause?”
“You need different pajamas.”
I looked down at my nightgown, arching a brow. “What’s wrong with this?”
He cleared his throat, his eyes flicking away and then back to mine, filled with a heat that was impossible to ignore. “Pants. You need pants and a long sleeve shirt.”
I snorted, unable to hide my amusement. “Whatever.”
But as I walked closer, passing by him to get a glass of water, I felt his hand gently brush against my arm. I turned to face him, noticing the way his eyes darkened, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.
“Please,” he said, the word filled with a desperate edge. “Change clothes.”
I enjoyed the power I seemed to have over him. “Since when are you so…?”
He swallowed hard, his eyes locked onto mine. “So what?”
I leaned in slightly, my voice a teasing whisper. “Distracted.”
His jaw clenched, and I saw a muscle twitch in his neck. “You have no idea.”
I stepped even closer, our bodies nearly touching. “I think I have some idea.”
Jae let out a frustrated groan, running a hand through his hair. “I can’t concentrate when you wear that.”
I smirked, feeling a thrill at his admission. “Maybe you just need more practice.”
He inhaled sharply, his eyes following every movement I made. “Verena…”
Before he could say more, Auntie came down the stairs, her face lighting up as she saw us. “Aww, you’re cooking, Jae!”
Jae forced a smile, stepping back slightly. “Just trying to be helpful.”
Auntie beamed, patting his shoulder. “Such a good boy.”
I stifled a laugh as Jae’s jaw tightened. The smell of burning pancakes filled the air, and I quickly moved to open a window.
“Maybe I should take over before you set off the smoke alarm,” I teased, pushing him gently aside.
“Be my guest,” he muttered, stepping back and crossing his arms. “Just don’t burn the place down.”
As I salvaged what I could from the pancake disaster, Auntie sat at the table, clearly pleased with the domestic scene. “It’s so nice to see you two working together.”
“Yeah, teamwork makes the dream work,” I quipped, placing a somewhat edible-looking pancake on a plate.
Jae watched me, a small smile tugging at his lips despite his earlier frustration. “I think it’s safe to say cooking isn’t my strong suit.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “You think?”
Auntie clapped her hands, her eyes twinkling. “You should ask Jennifer to teach you, that way the two of you can bond.”
“It’s gonna take a lot more than cooking lessons,” I muttered.
Auntie either ignored me or didn’t hear me, because she changed the subject. “This reminds me of when you two came to visit me that summer you were in college. Always bickering but inseparable.”
Jae and I exchanged a glance, and for a moment, it felt almost normal. Almost like the old days before things got complicated.
Auntie sighed contentedly. “I’m so proud of you two. Seeing you in love like this is everything I ever hoped for.”
Jae’s eyes met mine, and there was a flicker of something—maybe guilt, maybe something else. “Yeah,” he said softly. “In love.”
I turned away, focusing on flipping another pancake. The lines between what was real and what was pretend were blurring dangerously.
“So,” I said, trying to lighten the mood. “What’s on the agenda for today?”
Auntie perked up. “Shopping! I want to buy Verena some cute new outfits. Jae, you’re coming with us.”
Jae’s eyes widened. “Today?”
“Yes, today!” Auntie insisted. “No time like the present.”
I shot Jae a look. “Guess we’re going shopping.”
He sighed, resigning himself to the plan. “Fine. But I’m not trying on anything ridiculous.”
Auntie patted his arm. “Don’t worry, dear. You’ll look dashing in whatever we find.”
Just as we were about to finish cooking breakfast, the doorbell rang. Jae opened it to reveal his new assistant, Mina, standing there with a stack of documents. She was dressed to the nines in a short dress that screamed “look at me.”
“Oh yay, Mina’s here,” I said sarcastically, and as if summoned, our rescue cat, also named Mina, came bolting from whatever depths of hell she was hiding in and ran into the kitchen.
The assistant, Mina, stepped inside, her eyes widening as she took in the chaotic scene. “Good morning, Jae,” she purred, her gaze lingering on him before flicking to me. “I brought those urgent documents you needed.”
Auntie, ever the gracious host, ushered her in. “Come in, dear. Have some breakfast.”
The cat Mina, seizing the moment, leaped onto the kitchen counter, her tail flicking dangerously close to the pancake batter. Jae sneezed violently, the sound startling everyone.
“Mina!” Jae barked, both at the cat and the assistant, though only one of them seemed to notice. The cat stared back defiantly, while Assistant Mina looked confused.
“Did I come at a bad time?” she asked, her voice full of false sweetness. Her gaze lingered on him, clearly appreciating the view. Jae needed to put a freaking shirt on.
Jae’s face was a blend of frustration and irritation, but he maintained his polite demeanor. “I didn’t know you were coming by. You could have emailed these documents. I don’t normally allow house visits from employees.”
“I just wanted to drop these off,” she said, holding up the documents as if they were the Holy Grail. “But it seems I’m intruding on family time.”
Auntie clapped her hands. “Nonsense! We have plenty of food and you’re welcome to join us.”
The assistant’s eyes flicked to our cat. “I didn’t know you have a cat, Jae.”
“I don’t,” Jae said flatly, sneezing again. “I’m allergic to cats.”
I chimed in, a mischievous grin on my face. “He hates cats. But I couldn’t help it; I had to rescue this sweet baby.”
Jae grumbled, “She’s the devil.”
I shot him a mock glare. “Don’t talk about Mina that way.”
The assistant looked confused, glancing between us. “The cat’s name is Mina, too?”
“Yep,” I said cheerfully. “It’s a common name in our household.”
Assistant Mina’s smile faltered slightly. “Oh…okay.”
The cat Mina, clearly enjoying the attention, started knocking over utensils, creating even more of a mess. Jae sneezed again, louder this time, causing the cat to leap gracefully.
I struggled to maintain composure as the assistant flirted subtly with Jae, who was oblivious to the dynamics at play.
“Jae, you have a lovely home,” Assistant Mina said, her eyes lingering on him a little too long.
“Thanks,” Jae replied, rubbing his nose. “Just trying to make it cozy for Verena.”
I bit my lip, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. “Yes, very cozy.”
Auntie beamed. “Isn’t it wonderful to see a couple so in love?”
Assistant Mina’s smile tightened. “Yes, quite.”
Before the tension could escalate further, Jae’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression turning serious. “Excuse me,” he said, stepping aside to take the call.
Cat Mina took this opportunity to knock over the stack of papers, sending them flying across the floor. Jae’s sneezes echoed from the hallway as he tried to manage the phone call and his allergies simultaneously.
I moved to gather the scattered documents, but Assistant Mina was quicker, her dress riding up as she bent over. “I’ll get these,” she offered, giving Jae a clear view of her…assets.
I shot a glare at her, my irritation mounting. “No need, I’ve got it.”
She straightened up, handing me the papers with a saccharine smile. “Of course. Just trying to help.”
The door closed behind Jae as he finished his call, his expression grim. “I’m sorry,” he said, looking at me and Auntie. “I have to deal with an emergency at work. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Auntie nodded, understanding. “Of course, dear. Do what you need to do.”
Assistant Mina shot me a smug look. “Looks like we’ll be busy today. I’ll try not to keep him out too late.”
I forced a smile. “Work comes first.”
The door closed behind her, and I sighed, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. This fake engagement was becoming more complicated by the minute, and I had no idea how we were going to keep up the charade.
Auntie looked at me with a concerned expression. “Are you alright, dear?”
I nodded, trying to muster up some enthusiasm. “Yeah, just hard giving up my old job.”
Auntie patted my hand. “Don’t worry. Everything will work out.”
Just then, cat Mina decided to leap from the counter to the table, landing directly in front of Auntie. She giggled and scratched her behind the ears. “Such a mischievous little thing.”
I shook my head, smiling despite myself. “She certainly keeps things interesting.”
As Auntie continued to fawn over the cat, I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of emotions swirling within me. On one hand, I cherished Auntie like family and was grateful for the opportunity to spend more time with her.
But on the other hand, the reality of our situation loomed over me like a dark cloud. Jae’s demanding job, Auntie’s high expectations, and our own unresolved feelings felt like a precarious balancing act. One wrong step could send everything crashing down, and the pressure was mounting.
Part of me was relieved to be away from the constant grind of work, grateful for the chance to take a step back and breathe. But another part of me felt conflicted, knowing that things weren’t running as smoothly without me. I had always been an integral part of the company, and it was hard to just cut that off cold turkey. I cared deeply about the business and the people in it, and that care was what had made me good at my job.
Yet here I was, caught between my responsibilities and my love for Auntie. It was a delicate balance, and I was determined to navigate it as best as I could. I just hoped that, in the process, I wouldn’t lose myself or the things that mattered most to me.