At noon, my online boyfriend sent me a mirror selfie from the gym. Eight-pack abs, broad shoulders, a narrow waist—the sexual tension was practically dripping off the screen. [Babe, I had a great workout today.] [Don't you think I deserve a little reward?] I was just about to text back: [I'll reward you with phone sex twice tonight.] But then, my eyes caught the logo printed on the gym wall behind him. Apex Tech. My heart instantly skipped a beat. Because... I worked at Apex Tech. And that gym looked exactly like our private corporate gym... I froze on the spot. No way. Was this a joke? The mature daddy I’d been having phone sex with for the past two years actually worked at the same company as me? I zoomed in on the photo. Bigger, bigger, and bigger. The logo was clear as day. [Apex Tech] It was definitely my office building. Our company gym was strictly VIP, accessible only to internal employees. My online boyfriend was actually my coworker? OMG! [Babe, why the silence?] Another photo of his abs popped up on my screen. He had casually pulled up his gym tank top. His rock-hard chest and the sharp lines of his V-taper were perfectly reflected in the mirror. The testosterone was practically suffocating. The texts kept rolling in. [I know you love this.] [Why aren't you replying to me, huh?] [PayPal Transfer: $50,000] My brain was short-circuiting. I knew my online boyfriend lived in the same city. But I never, in my wildest dreams, expected us to be under the same roof. Talk about a twisted stroke of fate! After quickly drooling over his abs for a second, I decided to probe. "Hey babe, where do you work?" "Is it by any chance Apex Tech?" I typed the words out, then deleted them. Over and over. I didn't know what to say. If I asked, he would definitely ask where I worked. He’d find out I was at Apex Tech, too. And then he would want to meet up. What would I do then? The mere thought of face-to-face interaction with someone I’d been dirty-talking with for two years made me want to curl up and die of embarrassment. Before I could even process this, another text popped up: [Why are you ignoring me? Is my body not doing it for you anymore? Or do you need more shopping money?] Another picture of his abs. [PayPal Transfer: $100,000] [PayPal Transfer: $100,000] To keep him from sensing my panic, I quickly replied: [Just grabbed lunch, sorry! missed your texts.] [The abs... look amazing.] Only then did the text onslaught stop. [Good. Now, where’s my reward?] I didn't dare reply. I stood up from my cubicle and walked over to the elevators, heading straight to the gym on the fifth floor. There were plenty of guys lifting weights, but which one was him? I forced myself to calm down and organize my thoughts. Right now, I needed to figure out three things: First, who the hell is my online boyfriend? Second, is he actually a decent guy in real life? Third, if I do find him, do I confess, keep the online relationship going, or break it off? I mean, sexting a coworker is a HR nightmare. Just thinking about it made my skin crawl. Looking back at our two-year history, we had actually kept our privacy top-notch. We never traded face pics. Even during our FaceTime sessions, we never showed our faces, only our bodies. My boyfriend would only send me photos of his chest and abs whenever I begged for them. Based on that alone, it was almost impossible to identify him. I couldn’t exactly go around the office ripping guys' shirts open to compare their ab patterns with my Snapchat archive.
Back at my desk, I looked at my male coworkers. I shuddered. We battled each other in meetings every single day like mortal enemies. If my online boyfriend turned out to be one of them, I would literally die on the spot. I scrolled through our chat history, desperately looking for clues. And I actually found something. Last month, he was struggling to choose a watch. [I'm out shopping with a friend. Want to buy a watch.] [Which one looks better? Which do you prefer? I'll get you one too.] He had sent a few photos, and I had picked out the Rolex Daytona. To protect my identity, I had politely declined his offer to buy me one. [Whatever you choose is the best,] I had said. He bought it right then and there. So all I had to do was look around the office and see who was wearing that exact Rolex Daytona. I took a few laps around the office, secretly staring at every guy's wrist, but I couldn't find a single match. I messaged my boyfriend: [Are you wearing your new watch today?] He replied instantly with a photo. It showed a man’s dress shirt sleeve rolled up slightly, revealing a strong, tanned forearm. On his wrist, the Rolex gleamed with a cold, low-key luxury. Just the way he rested his hand exuded the quiet confidence of a powerful, mature man. Ah, so he had his sleeves rolled up. No wonder. But why hadn't I spotted him? While I was lost in thought, a message popped up on my work WhatsApp from my boss, Julian Vance: [Chloe, there are some issues with the proposal. Come to my office right now!] When I walked into the corner office, Julian was smiling into his phone, on a call. "Yeah babe, I miss you too. Just come to the office tomorrow to see me." "Oh, by the way, Ethan is coming over tomorrow. You can hitch a ride with him." "Come on, I just don't want you driving all that way by yourself, it's not safe~" "Alright, alright, have it your way. Drive safe. See you tomorrow." "Talk to you later. Kiss kiss~" I awkwardly looked away. Yikes. Major cringe. Who knew our tough CEO, Julian, had such a clingy, lovesick side? Julian hung up, cleared his throat, and offered me a professional smile. "Chloe, the investors looked at the proposal this morning. They're mostly satisfied, but they had a few notes. I’ve marked them here. Make the edits based on their feedback." "Sure, Julian." I turned to leave, but my eyes caught his wrist. He was wearing a Rolex. The exact Daytona model I had picked out! In an instant, it felt like lightning had struck my brain. I froze. Seeing that I hadn't left, Julian looked up. "Yes? Anything else?" His voice snapped me out of my shock. I took a deep breath, trying to act casual. I pointed at his wrist. "Nice watch, Julian." Julian smiled, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners. "Thanks. My girl helped me pick it out. It is nice, isn't it?" Me: "......" Julian grinned. "Why? Do you like it?" I quickly masked my horror, waving my hand dismissively. "Oh, no. Just making conversation." With that, I practically bolted out of his office. A wild, terrifying thought screamed in my head: Julian is my online boyfriend! But if I was his girlfriend... then who the hell was the "babe" he was just sweet-talking on the phone? Was Julian cheating on his girlfriend with me? Holy shit! And why was Julian so different online versus offline? Online, he was this dominant, mature, daddy-type protector. Offline, he was a gossipy, clingy millennial!
I was a complete zombie for the rest of the day. I didn't even reply to my online boyfriend's messages. Somehow, I managed to finish editing the proposal and dragged myself home, feeling absolutely hollow. My phone was buzzing like crazy with notifications from him. [Babe, what are you doing? I miss you.] [It’s been a while since we had phone sex. Tonight?] [Are you there?] [PayPal Transfer: $100,000] [Buy yourself something nice.] [Why are you ignoring me?] [You're acting weird today.] [Still no reply? Did I do something wrong?] ... My hands shook as I typed out a reply. [Are you keeping secrets from me?] He replied within seconds: [I’ve never lied to you about anything.] [Babe, is there some kind of misunderstanding?] [No.] I tried to calm my racing mind. If my online boyfriend really was Julian, my next step was to figure out if he was cheating on his actual girlfriend. And who exactly was the "babe" he was hosting tomorrow. What if I was overreacting? What if it was all a misunderstanding? Another text came in: [Help me pick an outfit.] He sent a photo of several designer suits lined up. [I trust your taste.] I intentionally chose a navy blue Tom Ford suit. It was distinct enough that I’d easily spot it. Deep down, I was desperately hoping. If Julian didn't wear that suit tomorrow, it meant he wasn't my online boyfriend. Then I wouldn't have to worry about whether my digital lover was a cheating scumbag. The next morning, I walked into Julian's office with the updated proposal. Julian was sitting on the leather sofa, sipping tea. And he was wearing the exact navy blue Tom Ford suit I had picked out last night. "Julian, here's the final draft." Julian nodded with a smile. "Thanks, Chloe." "The lead investor is coming this afternoon. Get ready to present." "Will do." I stared at his suit and asked, trying to sound nonchalant: "I’ve never seen you in this suit before, Julian. It looks great on you." Julian smiled. "Really? Just bought it yesterday." My heart sank. That confirmed it. Julian was my online boyfriend. Sitting at my desk, I couldn't focus. I kept staring at his glass-walled office. Julian had said his "babe" was coming today. I wanted to see who she was with my own eyes. If it was what I feared, then this relationship had to end immediately. Half an hour later, a stunning, well-dressed girl walked straight into Julian's office. I grabbed my mug and pretended to go to the breakroom. As I passed his office, their laughter drifted through the cracked door. "I missed you so much! This suit looks incredible on you. Navy blue is definitely your color." Julian’s voice was incredibly tender. "I'm glad you like it. I wore it just for you. Aren't I meeting your parents tonight? I was worried they wouldn't approve of me." "Are you kidding? If I love you, my parents will love you too." Hearing those words felt like a physical blow to my chest. So, the reason he had asked me to choose an outfit was to impress his real girlfriend's parents. What was I, then? A dirty little online secret? A side chick? My stomach churned. I pulled out my phone and typed out a text to my online boyfriend with trembling fingers: [You are a piece of trash. We are done.] I blocked and deleted his contact immediately.
Julian walked out of his office, hand-in-hand with his girlfriend, waving her goodbye. He didn't look sad at all. I felt like the biggest clown on earth. Thinking about all our late-night chats, a wave of bitterness washed over me. My only saving grace was that I had used a burner Snapchat account and never revealed my real name or face. Otherwise, I’d have to resign and flee the country. I took a deep breath. No guy was worth losing my career over. I was a professional. I wasn't going to quit a great job over some online drama. In the afternoon, Julian messaged me. [Chloe, the investor is here. He reviewed the proposal and likes it. Come in and present your pitch.] I put on my best professional face, stood tall, and walked in. "Chloe, this is our lead investor, who also happens to be my best friend, Ethan Cross. Don't be nervous. Just pitch your ideas to him." I completely ignored Julian and looked at the man sitting on the sofa. My eyes locked with Ethan's. Unlike Julian’s warm, approachable vibe, this man exuded pure wealth and power. He had a cold, untouchable aura. He wore a tailored black V-neck suit over a fitted black mock-neck sweater. The sweater clung to his incredibly broad chest, hinting at a powerful build that was teasingly concealed by his jacket. It was enough to make any girl's imagination run wild. His long, pale fingers picked up a glass of water, and he took a slow sip. I was completely intimidated by his presence and swallowed hard. At Julian's prompting, I began my presentation. Once I got into work mode, my confidence returned. I was articulate and poised. By the time I finished, Julian was clapping. "Excellent job, Chloe! Ethan, what do you think?" Both Julian and I looked at Ethan. But Ethan's eyes weren't on the papers—they were locked onto my collarbone. Suddenly, he said, "Miss Miller, that's a beautiful necklace." I looked down. My blouse had a slightly wide neckline, and my crystal pendant necklace was fully visible. Panic seized me. When I bought this necklace, I had sent a close-up photo of it to my online boyfriend. [Look at my new necklace! Isn't it pretty?] The photo had been a close-up of my collarbone and neck. My online boyfriend had replied: [You'd look beautiful wearing anything.] Now that the necklace was on display, would Julian recognize it? I shot a quick glance at Julian, but he didn't seem to notice anything. He was just eagerly waiting for Ethan's feedback. Of course. Julian had a real girlfriend. To him, I was just a fun online distraction. Why would he remember a detail like that? Only a fool like me would treasure every single memory. I awkwardly covered my collarbone with my hand. "Thanks. Just a cheap piece of jewelry." Julian sat down next to Ethan and took a sip of his coffee. "So, what's the verdict?" Julian stared at Ethan, but Ethan kept his eyes on me. After a long pause, he slowly murmured: "It’s perfect." Hearing this, Julian happily slapped Ethan’s shoulder. "Ethan, you're a lifesaver! I knew I could count on you." I let out a quiet sigh of relief. All those sleepless nights working on this proposal had finally paid off. Ethan brushed Julian's hand off his shoulder with a look of mild annoyance, then looked back at me with a faint, rare smile. "Credit goes to Miss Miller. She's incredibly talented." Even though it was our first meeting, I felt an odd sensation. The intensity in Ethan's gaze made my ears burn. Julian looked shocked. "Whoa, hold on. Did the ice king just pay someone a compliment?" "Well, to be fair, Chloe is amazing. Anyone would praise her." "But you? Complimenting a girl? That's a first. Did the sun rise from the west today?" "Oh, wait. I forgot about your girlfriend—actually, ex-girlfriend. She dumped you, didn't she? My bad, big mouth." My ears instantly perked up. Ooh, tea! The legendary billionaire investor, Ethan Cross, got dumped? Who on earth would be dumb enough to dump a guy like him? The next second, Ethan shot a dark, brooding glance in my direction. I quickly looked down, suddenly feeling inexplicably guilty. Ethan looked away, took a sip of his tea, and said coldly to Julian: "Keep talking, and I'll pull my funding." Julian immediately held his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright! My bad. You really can't take a joke, can you?" Trying to calm my racing heart, I quickly excused myself. "Julian, Mr. Cross, if that's all, I'll head back to my desk." I practically fled the room. Back at my desk, Julian sent me another message on WhatsApp. [Chloe, are you free tonight? Mr. Cross still has a few questions about the proposal. He wants to discuss it over dinner. Our treat.] I replied coldly: [Not interested.] [If you go, I'll double your year-end bonus.] Hey, nobody turns down free money. I replied instantly. [Deal. Send me the address.] Locking my phone, I thought about Julian meeting his girlfriend's parents tonight. A pang of sadness hit me, but I shook it off. Well, Chloe, I thought to myself, unlucky in love, lucky in career.
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