Elena proudly placed the neatly packed bento on Ethan's office table.
"No poison, I promise," she joked, placing a cute napkin beside it.
Ethan raised a brow. "You even folded a rabbit napkin. Should I be touched or terrified?"
"Touched. Terrified comes after dessert," she smirked and turned to leave.
But just as she reached the door, Ethan said, "Wait."
She turned back. "Hmm?"
He stood up, looking a little too serious for lunch break talk. "You've been doing a lot… not just for Alex, but for me too. I just wanted to say... thanks."
Elena blinked. "Is this... appreciation? From the icy CEO?"
Ethan rolled his eyes. "I can take it back."
"No! I like it. You're welcome, Daddy Ethan."
He choked on air. "Please never say that again."
As she laughed and opened the door, they were interrupted by a loud gasp.
It was Mia… followed by the rest of the design team, holding balloons and a cake.
"Surprise! Happy CEO Appreciation Day!"
Everyone cheered.
Elena froze, stuck between a door and disaster.
Mia's eyes went wide. "Wait… what's Elena doing here with a bento box?!"
Ethan looked at Elena. Elena looked at the cake. The cake looked delicious.
"Just… bringing lunch," Elena said quickly. "I lost a bet. Bento punishment."
Mia narrowed her eyes. "Suspicious. And adorable."
Ethan jumped in. "Get back to work or I'll make it 'Mandatory Overwork Day.'"
Everyone scrambled out.
Later that evening, after the office was quiet and Alex had fallen asleep while watching cartoons, Ethan and Elena sat on the couch, a little closer than usual.
"I think we're getting too good at pretending," Elena said softly.
"Hmm?"
"This whole contract thing. We laugh, we cook… you almost kissed me in the kitchen yesterday."
"That wasn't a kiss. That was a near-miss."
"A near-miss with sparkles."
Ethan chuckled. "Sparkles?"
Elena leaned closer, half teasing. "Yeah. The kind of sparkles that make your heart skip—"
Suddenly, a peck on her cheek.
Elena froze.
He sat back like nothing happened. "Just testing the sparkle theory."
Her face turned red. "The contract didn't mention kisses!"
"Maybe it's time we write a new clause."