Brad's gift

Jade

Just then, my office door opened, and Conan walked in, carrying lunch with him. He set the food on my desk and took a seat, his expression warm and friendly. I slid the phone below my desk as I smiled at him.

"Hey, Jade," he greeted. "I thought I'd bring you some lunch today."

I appreciated his thoughtfulness but couldn't ignore the tension between us. "Thank you, Conan."

We delved into a discussion about the upcoming ball. Conan seemed genuinely excited about it.

I listened to him talk about the event, trying to keep up appearances as the devoted fake couple.

Later that evening, as I returned home, I found a package waiting for me at my doorstep. I cautiously picked it up and brought it inside. The package was elegantly wrapped, and when I opened it, I found a necklace with a note from Brad. It read, "A present for you to wear to the ball."

I frowned as I gazed at the necklace. The thought of wearing something gifted by Brad made me uncomfortable, especially considering his persi