The low hum of chatter and the clink of silverware filled the air as I fidgeted with my cuff links.

This was it. The Grand Oak Hotel was the place where my career would either take flight or crash and burn.

I glanced at my watch, feeling my heart drumming against my ribs. Where was she?

I had resorted to desperate measures to secure this promotion. Mr. Fernandes, my boss, was a family man, and he often hinted that a stable home life translated to dedication at work.

So, I’d done the unthinkable – hired an actress to play my wife for the hour-long dinner with him.

Just as my anxiety peaked, a vision in an emerald green dress entered the restaurant. It was Autumn, the actress, her fiery red hair cascading down her shoulders.

But she wasn’t alone.

A towheaded boy, clutching a well-worn stuffed dinosaur, trailed behind her.

“Ivan, meet Oliver,” she said with a gentle smile, but her eyes also showed chagrin. “I’m sorry. His dad was supposed to pick him up, but…”

She shrugged. I was surprised, but as I stared at the boy, I knew this could work in my favor.

“Hello, Oliver,” I greeted, offering my hand.

He looked up at me with wide, curious eyes before taking it in his small grasp. “Are you really my new dad?” he asked, stunning all of us.

I felt a pang in my chest, although I couldn’t define why. “Just for tonight, buddy,” I replied, clearing my throat and ruffling his hair.

We settled at our table, and I tried to make small talk, but my nerves got the better of me. Luckily, Oliver managed to break the ice with his childish curiosity.

“What do you do, Ivan?” he asked, his eyes fixed on the menu.

“I work with numbers,” I replied, trying to simplify my job as a financial analyst.

“Like a math teacher?”

“Something like that,” I chuckled, relieved.

My boss arrived, and I introduced Autumn as my wife and Oliver as my son. He gave me a proud, wide smile that I relished.

I wanted to spend the rest of our dinner focused on him, but as the hour progressed, I was drawn to Oliver’s infectious laughter and Autumn’s warm smile.

We shared stories with Mr. Fernandes, and laughed at his jokes, with Oliver adding his own. We even built a makeshift fort out of napkins.

It felt… natural.

For the first time in a long while, I wasn’t just Ivan, the workaholic. I was Ivan, the pretend husband and father, sharing a meal with my family and my boss.

As dessert arrived – a towering chocolate cake – I found myself lost in thought.

This charade was supposed to be a means to an end, a stepping stone to my promotion.

But as I watched Autumn cleaning Oliver’s mouth with the cloth napkin, a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with ambition.

The dinner ended after one hour because Mr. Fernandes had another appointment, but he made me promise to bring Autumn and Oliver to the office party in two weeks.

My eyes widened, but the idea didn’t sound bad at all.

Autumn agreed to act like my wife for the office party, too, but I decided to ask her blatantly if we could see each other before that to get to know one another more.

I felt lighter when she nodded and gave me a flirty smile before walking away.

Oliver waved me goodbye enthusiastically.

***

The following week, I was nervously pacing my apartment, awaiting Autumn and Oliver’s arrival.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I opened it to find Autumn, radiant in a simple sundress, and Oliver clinging to her hand with a mischievous grin on his face.

“Welcome to my humble abode,” I announced, gesturing them inside.

Oliver’s eyes lit up as he took in the spacious living room. “Whoa, it’s like a castle!” he exclaimed, racing towards the plush sofa.

Autumn laughed. “Oliver, please behave,” she chided gently, but there was no real heat in her tone.

We spent the evening playing board games, watching silly cartoons, and indulging in a pizza feast.

I told myself this was so we could play the part of a family better for the longer office party, but I knew I was lying to myself.

I liked spending time with Autumn, and surprisingly, with Oliver, too.

Days later, as we sat on a park bench, watching Oliver chase butterflies, I confessed, “I never thought I’d enjoy spending time with a kid. But Oliver… he’s amazing.”

Autumn smiled, her eyes sparkling in the warm evening. “He’s a handful, but he’s my everything.”

“You’re an amazing mother,” I said, reaching for her hand.

Her fingers linked with mine, sending a jolt of electricity through me. “You’re not so bad yourself, Ivan.”

At that moment, under the soft glow of the moonlight, I knew. I was falling in love with Autumn, and with Oliver, too.

This wasn’t just a charade anymore; it was the beginning of something real.

***

The office party buzzed with energy. Dressed in a sleek suit, I navigated through the crowd, my eyes searching for the familiar flash of Autumn’s red hair.

Autumn arrived in a dazzling silver dress, her hand intertwined with Oliver’s, who was sporting a miniature tuxedo. They were a vision, radiating warmth and joy.

My heart swelled with pride and a sense of belonging I hadn’t known existed.

As we mingled with colleagues, I introduced Autumn as my wife to keep up with my lie. In all honesty, I felt like she was already my partner.

Moreover, I was shocked at how good it felt to tell others Oliver was my son.

The night was going perfectly. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

As I refilled our glasses at the bar, a man’s voice jolted me back to reality. I turned to see a new figure joining us, dressed just as elegantly.

I didn’t know him, but he knew my fake wife.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Autumn,” he sneered, his eyes raking over her with barely concealed disdain. “What are you doing here?”

“Dan, I’m here with my…ugh boyfriend, Ivan,” she replied and looked at me with apologetic eyes. “Dan’s my ex-husband. I didn’t know he was invited.”

Dan’s eyes narrowed at me. He didn’t know me, either. If I had to guess, he worked in another department. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been at this company party.

Suddenly, he smiled. “So, this is your wife, huh? The one you’ve been bragging about?”

I felt other coworkers’ eyes on us.

I shifted, getting close to Autumn. “Actually,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper, “Autumn is my girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” Dan scoffed, his voice rising with every word. “But you’ve been telling others she’s your wife. Honey, is this the man who hired you to play his wife? You know Autumn is an actress, right?”

My blood ran cold because he was doing this on purpose.

“Dan, stop it,” Autumn pleaded.

But her ex-husband was relentless. “It’s okay, Autumn. Let everyone know the truth. How much did he pay you, anyway?”

Silence surrounded us. We had everyone’s confused and undivided attention.

I could feel my heart pounding in my ears, and the sweat dripping down my back. Just as I was about to confess, a small hand tugged on my sleeve.

“Don’t listen to him, Ivan,” Oliver piped up, his voice surprisingly firm for a seven-year-old. “You’re way better than my dad ever was.”

Dan’s mouth dropped open, and tears welled up in Autumn’s eyes as she knelt to hug Oliver close.

Just then, Mr. Fernandes appeared, drawn by the commotion. He took in the scene, his gaze shifting from Dan to me and finally to Autumn and Oliver.

“What’s going on here?” he asked, quirking one eyebrow.

So, I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the inevitable fallout. “I need to explain everything,” I began.

***

The car ride home was filled with relief, joy, and a newfound sense of purpose. I stole small glances at Autumn and Oliver in the rearview mirror, their faces glowing in the dim light.

A few minutes later, we pulled up to Autumn’s modest apartment building, and Oliver broke the silence with his sleepy voice. “Ivan, can you come in for a bit?”

I looked at Autumn, who offered a shy smile and a nod.

Stepping inside, the apartment felt warm and inviting. Oliver was already half asleep, so he gave me a quick hug before heading off to bed.

I lingered around the living room while Autumn finished making sure he was tucked in.

When she returned, I was unsure how to broach the topic that had been weighing on my heart.

Autumn chuckled and took my hand, leading me to her small balcony. The night breeze and the sounds from the street below were more calming than I expected.

“Thank you for tonight,” she started, grinning up. “And for everything.”

“Don’t thank me,” I replied, my gaze locked on hers. “I should be thanking you. I told the truth, and Mr. Fernandes was still impressed because you, Oliver, and I were already acting like a family.”

It was insane, but my boss hadn’t batted an eye.

He even told me we would speak again on Monday about my promotion and gave me a wink before moving away to talk to other people.

With his approval, other coworkers lost interest in our huddle. And Dan… walked away like a punished dog.

Autumn smiled wider and buried her face in my chest. A comfortable silence settled between us, with only a few car honks interrupting it.

“Autumn,” I said, clearing my throat, “I… I need to tell you something.”

She looked up, her eyes searching mine.

“I’ve fallen in love with you,” I confessed, the words tumbling out in a rush. “And with Oliver, too.”

“I love you too, Ivan,” she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

It happened fast, but it was real. It felt natural going to bed after our declarations, and I experienced more in that one night than in all my years.

I knew then why Mr. Fernandes liked family men. We had something to lose and something to fight for.

I would fight and live for Autumn and Oliver for the rest of my days.