THE CEO'S MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

jessica woke the next morning with her head buried under a pillow, groaning at the memory of last night.

"What was I thinking?" she mumbled into the sheets. "Chicken feet? Horror dolls? Another date with a hotter guy?!"

She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling of her tiny studio apartment. The sound of traffic buzzed outside, mingling with the faint smell of fried chicken wafting up from the restaurant below.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from Sophia.

Sophia: How did it go? Did you scare him off?

Jessica groaned louder. "I don't even know! He didn't storm out. He laughed at me. Laughed!"

Jessica: Your plan failed. He's... weird.

A reply came almost instantly.

Sophia: Weird how?

Jessica sat up, fingers flying across the screen.

Jessica: He didn't get mad when I was rude. He actually smiled. I think he liked it.

There was a long pause before Sophia replied.

Sophia: Uh oh.

"Uh oh? What do you mean, 'uh oh'?!" Jessica shouted at her phone.

But before she could demand clarification, her alarm blared, reminding her she had to rush to work. At Go Food. At the company where she was a researcher.

The company whose brand-new CEO she had just mocked, insulted, and abandoned at a hotel lobby.

Of course, she didn't know that. Yet.

The Go Food headquarters buzzed with tension that morning. Employees whispered in corners, straightened their ties, and adjusted their blouses as though preparing for judgment day.

"The new CEO is here," someone whispered near Jessica's desk. "He's in his office right now."

"I heard he studied abroad in the U.S.," another said. "And he's young. Ruthless, too."

Jessica tried to focus on her research reports, but her nerves buzzed. She had stayed out late, drunk too much wine, and now her head pounded. The last thing she needed was a demanding new boss breathing down her neck.

Then the elevator chimed.

All heads turned.

Ethan Maverick stepped out, tall and sharp in a tailored suit, exuding authority with every stride. His assistant, Rian Johnson, followed close behind, holding a stack of files.

Jessica 's pen froze in her hand. Her stomach plummeted.

It was him.

The blind date. The man she'd tried to scare off.

She nearly choked on her own breath, ducking her head behind her monitor. No way. No, no, no way. This is a nightmare.

"Good morning, everyone," Jessica said, his voice calm but commanding. "I'll be meeting each department this week. I expect efficiency."

His gaze swept the room like a searchlight. Jessica shrank lower in her chair, praying he wouldn't notice her.

But his eyes didn't linger. He passed by without a flicker of recognition.

Jessica let out a shaky sigh of relief. Maybe-just maybe-he hadn't recognized her under the harsh office lighting.

But then, as Ethan disappeared into his office, his lips curled into the faintest smirk.

He had recognized her. And he wasn't going to let her off so easily.

Inside his office, Ethan stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back, looking out at the skyline. Rian placed a folder on his desk.

"You really intend to go through with this?" Rian asked carefully.

"Yes," Ethan said without hesitation. "I'm going to marry her."

Rian blinked. "Miss Sophia Wilson?"

Ethan's jaw tightened slightly. "That's who she claims to be. Regardless, she's the one."

Rian frowned. "You've only met her once. And you've already decided to marry?"

"I don't have time to waste," Ethan replied curtly. "My grandfather won't stop arranging blind dates until I settle down. If I marry her, the problem is solved. She's unpredictable, different from the others. She won't bore me."

Rian studied his boss quietly. "You seemed... entertained by her."

A faint smile touched Ethan's lips. "Exactly. She's the first woman who hasn't tried to impress me. In fact, she did the opposite. That alone makes her useful."

"Useful," Rian repeated with a sigh. "Does she know about this plan?"

"She will."

Ethan turned back to the window, eyes glinting with resolve. He had made up his mind. And when Ethan Maverick made a decision, nothing stopped him.

Later that afternoon, Jessica was in the cafeteria with her coworkers, poking at her lunch tray nervously. She kept her head down, praying she wouldn't run into Ethan again.

"Have you seen him up close?" one colleague whispered. "He's so handsome it's scary."

"Handsome? He's terrifying! He doesn't even blink!"

Jessica forced a laugh, though her stomach was still in knots. If anyone found out what she had done last night, she'd be doomed.

"Excuse me."

The cafeteria fell silent.

Jessica froze. That voice. That unmistakable deep, commanding voice.

She looked up slowly, dreading what she'd see.

Ethan stood there, perfectly composed, his gaze locked on her. Around them, coworkers gawked, whispering furiously.

"You," he said simply.

Her chopsticks slipped from her fingers, clattering onto her tray. "M-me?"

"Yes." He didn't break eye contact. "Let's talk."

He walked away, not waiting to see if she followed. The entire cafeteria stared at her in stunned silence.

Heart pounding, legs trembling, Jessica forced herself to stand and follow him out.

They ended up in a quiet corridor. Jessica turned, expression unreadable.

"Miss Sophia Wilson," he said smoothly, though his eyes gleamed with hidden amusement, "I'll be direct. Let's get married."

The world tilted. Jessica's mouth fell open.

"M-married?!" she squeaked.

Ethan's lips curved into the faintest smile. "Yes. You'll be my wife."

Jessica's vision swam. Her plan to scare him off had backfired spectacularly.

And thus began the disaster of her life.