At the crack of dawn, around five in the morning, I rolled out of bed and into a yoga session, aiming to kickstart my day with a burst of energy for the new job ahead., By six, after freshening up and changing, I was about to whip up some breakfast when my phone buzzed with a message from Ernest.,

"Breakfast's on the table. Left the keys at your door.

", Puzzled, I stared at the message for a few minutes before opening my door to indeed find the keys. Curiosity piqued, I entered Ernest's room to discover breakfast waiting for me., Despite my initial reluctance, I couldn't deny the allure of his cooking and ended up 'helping' him out last night., What was this morning's breakfast about, though? Was he auditioning for the role of my live-in chef, free of charge?, As much as waking up to a ready-made meal was delightful, I couldn't shake off a sense of guilt for enjoying this unearned privilege., So, I texted back:

"What's the deal? Mr. Collins, aiming for a side gig?

", Ernest, ever the smooth talker, replied,

"Ah, just toss a few coins to your witcher, Ms. Hudson.

", I knew he wasn't serious, but after a brief moment of contemplation, I texted him:

"Ernest, you've crossed the line. We agreed on a faux romance, remember?

", Ernest:

"True, but as your faux beau, I still feel responsible for your well-being. Otherwise, I would have to allocate energy to take care of you.

", His offer was unsolicited, so I made my stance clear:

"You're overthinking this. You signed up for a role, not a caretaker position. And let's make it clear, this culinary act of yours is a one-off. Don't expect me to partake in the future.

", It wasn't about being ungrateful; it was about setting boundaries, especially when I couldn't reciprocate his affections., Still, I enjoyed the breakfast, and it really did fuel my morning., On my way to work, however, a nagging thought crossed my mind. The firm hadn't called to rescind my offer, which likely meant they were waiting to do it in person. This thought dampened my spirits, but I pressed on to the office.,

"Welcome, Director Hudson,

" greeted Grant, the first to meet me, his handshake warm and enthusiastic. His demeanor hardly suggested I was about to be fired., Curiously, I confronted the issue head-on.

"Mr. Smith, I've heard my previous employer has been meddling with my hire. Is there any truth to that?

", Grant's smile didn't waver; he didn't seem taken aback. Instead, he was surprisingly forthright.

"Yes, there's been some interference.

", His friendly facade puzzled me.

"And yet, you seem uninterested in letting me go.

",

"Why would I?

" Grant countered., I couldn't help but wonder if it was due to external pressures I hadn't voiced., Grant's smile then transitioned to a more professional one.

"Here at StarQuest Enterprises, we stand on our own merits. We don't bow to pressure or fear competition. Our strength is in our performance, and we face any challenge head-on.

", His words were few but powerful, igniting a sense of valor within me.

"Mr. Smith, I won't let you down.

",

"There's no pressure. Make bold moves. Even if you fall short, it's all part of the process,

" Grant reassured me, his smile returning., Though understanding the value of nurturing talent, Grant's words left me slightly confused about my standing., As he acquainted me with the company, and particularly the marketing department, ensuring their cooperation, I couldn't shake off the feeling of receiving royal treatment, far from the trials typically faced by the new join., Search the website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.