Part 3Catfishing the CEO: My Accidental Romance with the Wrong Sister

Having connections made things easy, and I quickly integrated into the company.

At first, I was on edge for a few days.

But later, exactly as I expected, as a lowly intern, I only had to complete tasks assigned by my mentor. The highest-ranking boss I usually saw was the department manager.

Forget the CEO, I didn't even see the General Manager.

I relaxed.

However, surviving in an industry leader company was no walk in the park. In just a few days, the workload was staggering.

Proposals were constantly rejected, the department head was reprimanded, and the work atmosphere was incredibly tense.

While eating in the cafeteria, my lunch buddy gossiped with me in a low voice.

"Do you know why things have been so rough lately?"

He was an intern who joined in the same batch as me.

"Why?"

I was genuinely curious.

"Because..."

My lunch buddy looked around and lowered his voice to a whisper.

"The CEO went through a breakup."

My spoon clattered onto my plate. I offered a dry chuckle: "Really?"

"I heard it was an online relationship too, and she got scammed."

I looked down and drank my soup, hiding my expression.

"Where did you hear that?"

"The CEO had her special assistant investigate an account. Word travels fast; everyone knows."

My lunch buddy looked incredibly puzzled: "With her wealth, she could have any man she wants. I can't believe she'd actually online date.

"And getting scammed on top of that? If the guy knew who she was, he'd probably regret it so much his intestines would turn green."

My intestines are already turning green!

I blamed my own carelessness when looking for contact info. I didn't find Sarah, but ended up bothering this absolute titan instead.

I asked cautiously: "Did the special assistant mention what the CEO plans to do if she finds the guy?"

"Call the police, obviously. That craft-selling guy must have milked a lot of money out of the CEO. With the cumulative amount, he's probably looking at serious jail time."

Absolute nonsense!

When I first approached Elena, my motives were indeed impure. I put on the persona of someone selling crafts and harassed her every day asking if she wanted to buy some.

It just so happened a friend's family made handcrafted items.

Who knew she would actually buy them, and insist on paying ten times the price?

Aside from that, I returned all the other money she gave me when we broke up.

I told her I had found a new girlfriend who was very possessive and wouldn't let me spend other women's money.

Even though the Sterling family is rich, I was genuinely terrified that Sarah's cheapskate tendencies would flare up and she'd sue me to get the money back, causing unnecessary trouble.

Anyway, as long as my goal of breaking Sarah's heart was achieved, that was enough.

Good thing I had already deleted that account. Elena shouldn't be able to trace it.

As long as I can just survive these three months...

"Leo, go deliver this file to the CEO's office."

I took the file from the senior colleague in my department, wanting to cry without tears.

Why is there another hurdle?!

Taking the elevator to the top floor, I secretly hyped myself up.

It's just delivering a file, what's the big deal?

Just keep playing mute.

Trembling with fear, I reached the top floor, only to find the main office empty.

Elena wasn't there.

A secretary in the CEO's office asked which department I was from.

Since she wasn't there, I didn't need to play mute. I answered obediently, the secretary made a note, and that was it.

After a few times, I felt completely at ease.

Once again, I took a file to the top floor. I had just greeted the staff in the secretary's office when a familiar voice came from the inner office.

"Let him in."

Me: "..."

My heart leaped into my throat again. Looking like a man marching to his execution, I walked into the office and handed the file across the desk.

Elena reached out a slender hand to take it, then lowered her eyes and began flipping through it, staying silent for a long time.

As the minutes ticked by, I calmed down slightly. I emboldened myself to look up, only to lock eyes perfectly with Elena's raised phoenix eyes. I quickly looked back down.

After a suffocating silence, Elena finally spoke: "How are things at the company lately?"

I had just spoken to the people in the secretary's office outside; I couldn't play mute now!

I squeezed my vocal cords and replied in a small voice: "Pretty good."

I glanced up at her and added the proper title: "Ms. Sterling."

"Good?"

Elena didn't seem to notice anything amiss, letting out a cold laugh: "Having you deliver files shows they clearly know the relationship between you and me. You call that good?"

What relationship?

Don't talk nonsense!

I was so panicked I forgot to squeeze my voice. "What relationship do we have..."

Before I could finish, seeing her inexplicable expression, I realized she was talking about her connection to my brother.

"Hehe."

I caught on. "I didn't tell them anything..."

I finally managed to be a nepotism hire, yet I felt so guilty about it. I wished no one knew.

But it turned out they had me deliver the files because they knew I was a connection hire, using me as a meat shield against her anger.

Elena frowned slightly, studied me for a long moment, and said: "Call your manager up here."

I felt like I'd been granted amnesty and fled at top speed.

I don't know what Elena said to the manager, but no one ever asked me to deliver files to the top floor again.

Another hurdle passed!