Zephany fumbled with her bag, stepping into the bustling lobby of Air Media. The hum of ringing phones and the chatter of colleagues filled the air. She adjusted her blazer nervously, feeling the weight of the day ahead.
Before she could make it to her desk, a voice called out.
"Zephany!"
She spun around, startled. Faren Davidson, her boss, approached her with an unusually bright smile. Normally, the man barely acknowledged anyone, let alone greeted them like this.
"Good morning, Mr. Davidson," she said, trying to mask her confusion.
"Morning? It’s more than that!" Faren beamed, holding out a steaming cup of coffee. "Here, have some coffee. You deserve it."
Zephany blinked. Coffee? From him?
Was this a prank? Had someone dared him to be nice? Still, the rich aroma was tempting.
"Thank you," she murmured, carefully accepting the cup.
"Congratulations, Zephany! You really pulled it off."
She blinked again. "Pulled what off?"
"Come on now," Faren laughed. "The Varen Enterprises deal! You closed it!"
The words hit her like a freight train. "What?"
"The partnership!" Faren clapped her on the shoulder. "Cassius Varen himself confirmed it this morning. It’s a huge win for us. I always knew you’d pull through!"
Cassius Varen.
That weirdo actually kept his word.
"That’s... that’s great," she stammered.
"Great? It’s fantastic!" Faren grinned. "This could be a game changer for Air Media."
Zephany forced a smile, but inside, her thoughts were a mess.
Why is Cassius really doing this?
"Now go enjoy that coffee," Faren said with a friendly nudge. "And don’t think I’m letting you take it easy. Big things are ahead for you."
"Y-Yes, sir."
As Faren walked away, Zephany stood frozen, clutching the cup like it held the answers she needed.
"Varen Enterprises," she whispered under her breath. "This is going to be a long year."
She took a sip, savoring the bitterness.
Might as well enjoy the perks while they last.
—
Zephany finally reached her desk, the coffee cup still warm in her hands. She set her bag down and sank into her chair, the weight of Faren’s words still lingering.
The Varen Enterprises deal.
Cassius Varen actually followed through.
She took a hesitant sip, letting the bitter warmth soothe her nerves. Her gaze flicked to her computer screen, but focusing was impossible. Just as she tried to gather her thoughts, an excited voice pierced the air.
"Zeph!"
Zephany jolted slightly. Before she could respond, Pia came bounding over, grinning from ear to ear. She held two cups of coffee, one of which she extended dramatically.
"Congrats! You made it! I’m so happy for you." Pia’s eyes sparkled. "Here, my congratulatory gift!"
Zephany opened her mouth to thank her, but Pia’s gaze dropped to the coffee on the desk.
"Ow!" Pia gasped, her brow furrowing. "Wait a minute. You already have coffee?"
Zephany stiffened. "Uh..."
Awkwardly, she fiddled with the cup, trying to find the right words. "Mr. Davidson gave it to me."
Pia blinked, then broke into a wide grin. "No way! Faren Davidson? That Faren Davidson? The ’grumpiest man in the office’ Davidson?"
"Shh!" Zephany hissed, shooting her a panicked glance. "Be careful! Someone might hear you."
But Pia only giggled, lowering her voice — though not by much. "Relax, I’m just stating the obvious. But wow, Zeph! You finally managed to get on his good side. I’m so proud!"
Zephany shook her head, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "It’s not like that. He’s just... in a good mood today."
"Sure," Pia teased. "Next thing you know, he’ll be sending you flowers."
Zephany flushed. "Pia, stop!"
With a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, Pia plopped into the chair beside her, leaning in conspiratorially. "Okay, fine. But seriously, tell me — how did you manage to close a deal with Varen Enterprises?"
The question made Zephany’s stomach twist.
She should’ve seen that coming.
Pia, ever curious and sharp, had clearly been thinking about it since the moment she heard the news. And why wouldn’t she? Varen Enterprises was one of the country’s leading companies, its elusive owner Cassius Varen the subject of countless speculations. No one ever managed to snag a partnership with him.
Except her.
Zephany bit her lip. She couldn’t possibly tell Pia the truth — that she’d been roped into a contract marriage with a complete stranger, orchestrated by Cassius Varen himself for his amusement. That was far too humiliating.
Instead, she forced a small laugh. "I guess I just got lucky."
"Lucky?" Pia arched a brow.
"Yeah. They were looking for a media partnership for advertising their business. I just happened to be there, and Mr. Varen’s secretary, Sophia Sparkle, recognized me. So... I got the deal."
Pia narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Are you sure?"
"Yes!" Zephany quickly nodded. "I mean, how else would I have gotten it? You know I don’t have that kind of confidence. If I did, I’d probably be a successful journalist by now." Her voice dropped slightly. "And I wouldn’t still be the office pushover."
She gestured subtly toward the office floor, where a few colleagues shot occasional glances her way. Whispers were inevitable. Even with the big achievement, she knew people wouldn’t forget how she’d spent years struggling to write a noteworthy article. They always had something to say.
"You know how they treat me," Zephany mumbled. "It’s not like one deal is going to change that."
Pia’s expression softened, guilt flickering in her eyes. "You work so hard. You don’t deserve how they treat you."
"I guess it’s just the way it is," Zephany muttered, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup.
"But it shouldn’t be," Pia said firmly. "I’m sorry, Zeph. I should’ve stood up for you more."
"You don’t have to apologize," Zephany reassured her. "Just having you by my side has always been enough."
But Pia wasn’t convinced. With a determined look, she pulled Zephany into a tight hug. "Well, from now on, I’m doubling down. No one’s going to mess with you."
Zephany froze for a moment before relaxing into the hug. She sighed softly, grateful for Pia’s unwavering support.
At least she managed to convince Pia. If her friend had pressed further, she wouldn’t have known how to explain the truth.
A contract marriage.
No one could ever know.