My Blind Date is My Boss

“He actually complimented your selfie?” Betty’s eyebrows shot up as she slid a fresh cocktail across the bar to me. Her eyes were gleaming with mischief.

I sighed. Then I leaned my head into my hands. “I know. And I can’t figure it out, Betty. I mean, why would Sebastian, my workaholic, devilish, no-nonsense boss, say anything about my selfie?”

Betty smirked as she propped her chin on her hand. “Because he’s into you, obviously.”

I nearly spat out my drink. “Oh, come on! This is Sebastian James we’re talking about. The man probably has his coffee scheduled down to the second. There’s no way he has time for something as frivolous as… liking his secretary.”

“Oh, Diane!” She laughed while tossing her hair back. “You really are clueless sometimes. Maybe he’s got a soft spot under that serious exterior. And you’re just the one to bring it out. Ever thought of that?”

I shook my head, suppressing a smile. “Betty, Sebastian James is the kind of guy who’s only in love with quarterly reports and the bottom line. He barely knows how to be human… let alone romantic.”

“Maybe,” Betty replied. Then she shrugged her shoulders. “But it’s always the serious ones that surprise you. And trust me. That look he gave you in the meeting? That wasn’t just about a misplaced selfie. There’s something else there.”

I rolled my eyes at her. “I’m telling you, he probably found it unprofessional and just wanted to make a point. That’s all. He’s not into me. End of story.”

Before Betty could push the subject further, my phone buzzed on the bar. The caller ID made me groan. “Oh, not again.”

“Jackson?” she asked with her eyes narrowing.

“Yep,” I muttered, already regretting picking up his call. But I hadn’t even touched the phone before Betty snatched it from my hand.

“Let me handle this.” She pressed the phone to her ear. And without waiting for Jackson to get a word in, she snapped, “Listen here, Jackson. Diane has moved on. Stop bothering her. Or I’ll make sure you’re blocked from every contact list she has. Got it?”

I watched, stunned and a bit amused, as she lowered the phone, hanging up with a decisive tap.

“You didn’t have to do that, you know.”

Betty looked at me, exasperated. “Diane, you should’ve done that ages ago. Jackson is a disaster. He’s stingy, selfish, and he has this weird idea that he can still cling to you even though you’ve broken up. He’s not worth your energy.”

I nodded then sighed. “I just don’t get it. When we were together, he barely had time for me. He’d vanish for days, chasing parties and his latest obsessions. But now? Now he’s clingier than ever.”

Betty glanced around, then leaned closer to me. “I think I know why.”

I frowned. “Oh? And what grand theory do you have this time?”

Betty tilted her head. A small smirk was playing on her lips. “I overheard him at a party a while back. He was talking about how much he wanted to get into my father’s company. Apparently, he thinks being connected to you would help him with that.”

The pieces clicked together in my mind, until I realized what she was implying. My stomach churned at the thought. “So… he’s only been hanging around because he thinks I’m his ticket into a job?”

“Bingo!” Betty clicked her tongue, then crossed her arms. “He’s the type to see everything and everyone as a stepping stone. And it sounds like he’s hoping he can get close to me through you.”

I shook my head. I could taste the disgust at the tip of my tongue. “Of course. I should’ve known. I mean… he’s been so different since the breakup. But to stoop that low?”

“Uh-huh!” Betty took a sip of her drink. “And that’s why you need to get rid of him. For good this time.”

I sighed when I realized how manipulative Jackson was. “Believe me. I want to. But every time I think I’ve gotten rid of him, he finds some excuse to worm his way back in.”

Betty grinned. Subsequently, her eyes lit up mischievously. “I have an idea.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh no. What are you scheming this time?”

She shrugged, feigning innocence. “Simple. You get a new boyfriend. Someone who’ll make it crystal clear to Jackson that you’ve moved on and that he doesn’t have a chance. It’s the only way he’ll back off.”

I laughed as I shook my head. “Betty, it’s not that easy. I don’t exactly have guys lining up at my door… especially with the hours I work.”

She waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, please. We can handle that part. There are plenty of guys who’d be willing to help out for a little while. And if you’re really stuck, I might know a few people who owe me a favor.”

My laughter faded as her words sank in.

A fake boyfriend…

It sounded absurd. But maybe, it could actually work. Jackson would hate it. And with Betty’s help, he might finally get the message.

“What do you say?” Betty asked as she leaned forward. Excitement was written all over her face. “One quick little setup… and boom! Jackson’s out of the picture.”

I hesitated while running through the idea in my head. It was unconventional, sure. But maybe it was time to be a little unconventional. Maybe it was time to finally shake things up. To do something Jackson wouldn’t expect.

A smile tugged at my lips. “Alright, I’m in. But if this goes wrong, I’m holding you fully responsible.”

Betty clinked her glass against mine, grinning wide. “You won’t regret it. Besides, it’ll be fun, I promise. And who knows? Maybe your ‘fake’ boyfriend won’t be so fake after all…”

Before I could process her words, my phone buzzed again. I glanced at the screen. My heart skipped a beat when I read the caller ID.

Mr. James.