I Love You, the Contract Says So

In a busy city, two coworkers, Marah and Gerard, worked at the same marketing company. Marah was smart and serious, while Gerard was creative and always joking around. Despite their talents, they didn’t get along. Marah thought Gerard was too lazy, and Gerard thought Marah was too uptight. They argued over the smallest things, and no one at the office could understand how they ever worked together.

One day, their boss, Mr. Cortez, called them into his office. He looked excited.

“I have great news!” Mr. Cortez said. “A big client wants to work with us. But, there’s a catch.”

“What kind of catch?” Marah asked, already feeling a little worried.

“They want a company that understands family, love, and connections,” Mr. Cortez explained. “They need to see that we can tell stories about real relationships.”

Gerard raised his eyebrow. “What’s that got to do with us?”

Mr. Cortez smiled. “Well, they saw you two at the last meeting. And they think you’re a couple.”

Marah’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Us? A couple?”

Gerard laughed loudly. “You’ve got to be kidding. I can’t even sit next to her without wanting to argue.”

“I can’t even stand his jokes,” Marah replied, shaking her head.

Mr. Cortez stayed calm. “Listen, I know it sounds strange, but they believe it. And, if you two pretend to be a couple for a week, we’ll land the deal. And that means a big bonus for everyone.”

Marah and Gerard looked at each other, both surprised and uncomfortable.

“I’ll do it if he agrees to follow my schedule,” Marah said after a long pause.

Gerard shrugged. “I’ll do it if she stops being so serious.”

Mr. Cortez nodded. “Deal. It’s just for a week. Act like a couple. It’ll be fine.”

The next few days were awkward. Marah and Gerard had to pretend to hold hands during meetings and smile at each other in front of clients. It felt fake, and both of them hated it.

During lunch on the third day, Gerard tried to lighten the mood. “So, do you like coffee or is that just for show?”

Marah rolled her eyes. “I like coffee. But not your jokes.”

“You know,” Gerard continued, “this pretending thing isn’t as bad as I thought. You don’t totally ruin everything.”

Marah smiled slightly. “I don’t think you’re completely useless either.”

They both laughed a little, and for the first time, the tension between them seemed to lift.

That night, they went to a fancy dinner with the client. The whole event was a bit much, but it was necessary for the act.

As they entered the restaurant, Marah tripped on her heels, and Gerard quickly reached out to catch her. Their eyes met, and for a moment, something changed. Gerard wasn’t making a joke. He was smiling at her with kindness.

“You okay?” he asked softly.

Marah felt her heart race. “Yeah, just a little clumsy.”

Later, during the meal, Gerard told a joke. For once, Marah didn’t roll her eyes. Instead, she found herself laughing.

“Okay, I’ll admit it,” she said, wiping away a tear from laughing. “That was funny.”

Gerard grinned. “I knew I could make you laugh.”

After dinner, they went for a walk by the river. The evening air was cool, and the city lights reflected off the water. They kept talking as they strolled, sharing stories about their childhoods.

“I used to hate walking,” Gerard said. “But now, I think it’s nice. Calm.”

“I grew up on a farm,” Marah said, “so I’ve always liked quiet places. My family has a big garden.”

Gerard nodded. “That sounds nice. My mom used to take me to the park, but she never liked the quiet. She always wanted to talk.”

“That’s the way moms are,” Marah said with a soft smile.

They continued walking, and with each step, the act felt less fake. They were starting to feel like they knew each other in a way they hadn’t before.

The next few days, things slowly started changing. They didn’t argue as much. Instead of fighting over small things, they started to help each other. Gerard started bringing Marah coffee in the morning.

“I thought you hated coffee,” Marah said when he handed her a cup.

“I don’t. I just didn’t like your choice of brand,” he joked.

“You know, that’s actually a nice thing to do,” Marah said, feeling surprised.

Gerard shrugged. “I’m a nice guy. Sometimes.”

During one meeting, Marah noticed how easily Gerard worked with the clients. He had a way of making everything sound exciting and new. Marah had always admired his creativity, but seeing it up close was different.

“You’re good at this,” she said quietly.

“I know,” Gerard replied, grinning. “You just don’t always notice.”

“I notice more than you think,” she replied, giving him a small smile.

The last night of the week, they had another dinner with the client to celebrate the deal being secured. It was a success, and everyone in the office was thrilled.

“That was great!” Mr. Cortez said as they walked out of the building. “You two really pulled it off.”

The office staff cheered and clapped. Marah and Gerard exchanged a look, and this time, it wasn’t one of annoyance. It was something more.

As they left the office, Gerard turned to her. “You know, pretending to be in love with you wasn’t as bad as I thought.”

Marah smiled. “Yeah, you’re not as annoying as I thought either.”

“Do you think there’s something real here?” Gerard asked, his voice suddenly softer.

Marah thought for a moment. “Maybe.”

Gerard laughed. “Maybe? That’s all I get?”

“I’m not going to make big promises,” she said with a grin. “But I’m willing to see where it goes.”

From that night on, they stopped pretending. The more time they spent together, the more they realized they didn’t just have a business partnership—they had something more.

The arguments became less frequent, and the smiles became more frequent. Gerard wasn’t just the funny guy anymore. He was someone she could rely on. Marah wasn’t just the serious one anymore. She was someone he could trust.

One afternoon, while they were working late, Gerard handed her a hamburger. “Hamburger with hotdogs and chicken nuggets,” he said. “Just like you like it.”

“You remember?” Marah asked in surprise.

“Of course I do,” Gerard said with a grin. “I pay attention.”

“You can be a good boyfriend,” Marah teased.

“I try my best,” Gerard winked and laughed.

As the weeks passed, they started to take real trips together. Gerard took her to the park again, where they sat on the swings and talked about their lives. It felt easy. Comfortable.

One evening, Gerard turned to Marah and said, “I love you.”

Marah smiled, her heart skipping a beat. “I love you too,” she whispered.

And that was the moment they both realized that love had come to them in the most unexpected way. They started out pretending to be a couple for work. But in the end, it wasn’t pretend at all. It was real.