The Fake Relationship

The media frenzy over Sophie and Ethan's relationship had only grown stronger after they confessed to each other. What began as a business deal, a simple contractual obligation, now filled the headlines, rumors, and constant scrutiny. The world was watching, waiting for them to stumble.

Sophie had always been careful. Her career, built on her reputation for being calm, collected, and in control, was now under threat. Every glance between them, every word uttered between her and Ethan, every touch seemed to be dissected, analyzed, and twisted by the press. They had painted them like some sort of perfect couple—too perfect. There was no room for mistakes.

One particularly exhausting morning saw Sophie sitting in her office, scanning through the latest articles about her relationship with Ethan. She felt her heart sink as she read the headlines: "The love story of Sophie and Ethan is love or PR stunt?" and "Couple who was never meant to be-a love story or a business deal?" The world, it seemed, was questioning every part of her life.

She put the phone down and tried to concentrate on what was before her, but it seemed the world weighed on her from every angle. The phone buzzed once more. It was a text from Ethan.

Ethan: "We need to talk. Can you meet me tonight?"

Her fingers hovered over the screen. What more could they say? They had already admitted how they felt, but the world was making everything complicated. Was it even possible for them to have something real when the world is watching their every move?

Sophie sighed and typed back.

Sophie: "I don't know if it's a good idea. Everything is so public right now. It's hard to keep anything private.

She looked at the message for a moment before hitting send. It wasn't that she didn't want to see him, but the weight of everything was starting to suffocate her. The constant spotlight on their relationship felt like it was going to break them before they even had a chance to understand what they were.

Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a voice message from Ethan.

Ethan's Voice: "I get it. But we need to figure this out, Sophie. I don't want to hide, and I don't want us to get lost in this circus. Please, meet me tonight. We need to talk about what comes next."

Sophie felt a rush of conflicting emotions. Ethan's words hit her right in the chest, and for a moment, she felt her resolve weaken. She knew he was right. They couldn't keep pretending that everything was fine. They had to face what they were becoming—what they could become.

She sent a quick reply: "Okay, tonight. I'll meet you."