Back at EC Games, things had taken an unexpected turn.
Ever since Elena joined the company, she had unintentionally become the center of gossip. It wasn't her fault she was talented… or that the CEO, Ethan, seemed to casually appear around her way more often than necessary.
"Elena, are you dating someone?" her colleague Mia asked during lunch.
"No! Why would you even think that?"
Mia raised a brow. "You know... you're glowing. Like those drama heroines who secretly marry billionaires."
Elena almost choked on her coffee. "W-What?! I'm just—eating more veggies lately."
But it didn't stop there.
Every time Ethan passed by their floor—even when he was clearly going somewhere else—every eye turned to Elena with suspicion and curiosity.
One day, as Elena stood in front of the vending machine, trying to decide between a granola bar or a chocolate one, Ethan walked in. A crowd of employees gasped from their desks.
"Elena," he said coolly, "You forgot your sketchbook in the meeting room."
"O-oh! Thank you, Mr. Ethan!"
She grabbed it quickly, bowing slightly, and tried to leave fast—but bumped straight into Zoya, Ethan's sharp-eyed assistant.
"Elena," Zoya said with a teasing smirk, "Are we perhaps... seeing someone outside of work hours?"
"No!" Elena hissed, dragging her away. "It's not like that. I swear."
But even she could feel it now—the air had shifted. Her name and Ethan's were now often said in the same breath by half the staff.
Even worse? A new female developer had joined recently, and she was very open about her feelings for the CEO.
One afternoon, Elena watched from afar as the new girl boldly handed Ethan a homemade bento.
And Ethan?
He politely smiled… but his eyes wandered toward Elena, who stood frozen near the elevator, her arms crossed and brow twitching.
That night at home, as they were eating dinner with Alex, she couldn't help herself.
"So," Elena said casually, stabbing her broccoli with unnecessary force, "Bento boxes are pretty popular at work, huh?"
Ethan looked up, confused. "What?"
"I mean… someone giving you food like that must feel... special."
Ethan blinked, then smirked. "Are you... jealous?"
Elena scoffed. "Pfft! Jealous? Me? Over a lunchbox? Keep dreaming, Mr. CEO."
Alex, munching on his carrots, suddenly looked up and said, "Lena, if you want to give Daddy food, you can just make it and give it in a big box tomorrow."
Ethan burst out laughing. Elena groaned.
"I'm surrounded by traitors."