Neville blinked. "I... yes, of course. Did you need me to arrange a hovercar? Are we visiting a client, or—"

"No. I mean, let’s go out."

Grayson held Neville’s gaze, watching as confusion bloomed across his secretary’s face.

"You and me."

The silence stretched between them, thick and charged.

Neville’s lips parted, closed, then parted again. His head tilted to one side like a confused puppy. Grayson had to physically restrain himself from reaching across the desk to—

No. Focus.

"Mr. Maxwell," Neville said slowly, "I’m not sure I understand."

He looked so utterly bewildered, those ocean-blue eyes wide behind his glasses.

He really looked adorable like this.

"Let me clarify." Grayson cleared his throat and straightened in his chair. He adopted what Gloria had once disparagingly called his "briefing room voice." "I’m proposing that we engage in a mutually beneficial arrangement called Fake Dating."

The words hung in the air between them.

Neville’s expression changed rapidly—surprise, confusion, something that looked almost like hurt. Then, finally, stopped with a blank look on his face.

"Fake dating, is it?" Neville repeated. His voice had gone flat, stripped of its earlier warmth.

Grayson nodded, "Yes," ignoring the way Neville’s reaction made his stomach twist.

"I see." Neville’s hands, folded in his lap, had gone white-knuckled. "And may I ask the reason for this... arrangement?"

Grayson sighed, running a hand through his black hair.

He had prepared for this conversation to happen since he blurted that out earlier. But the reality of it was proving more uncomfortable to say than expected.

"My mother is a bit of a romanticist. My sister went through several relationships before settling down, so she expects the same or more from me. The fact that I’ve never been in a relationship is..." He searched for the right word. "Incomprehensible and a huge concern for her."

✦ ✦ ✦

Neville remained silent, his expression unreadable.

"She’s been arranging blind dates for me for years," Grayson continued. "Now that she knows I have an omega secretary—and a single one at that—she’s convinced herself that we’re perfect for each other."

Why not just tell her you’re waiting for someone? Neville thought bitterly. Tell her about that long-lost childhood friend/destined omega who was supposed to sweep you off your feet in the original plotline.

"So," Grayson went on, oblivious to Neville’s internal turmoil, "since I have no plans to date anyone in the foreseeable future, you’re the perfect cover. Since she already likes you, if she believes we’re together, she’ll stop the matchmaking attempts."

So, you’re not even considering me as a future option, Neville realized, the thought driving into his chest like a knife. I’m just... convenient.

He forced himself to breathe, to keep his expression neutral.

This was fine. This was expected.

"Let me make sure I understand correctly." Neville’s voice came out steadier than he felt. "You told your mother that we’re already in a relationship?"

Grayson had the gall to look slightly uncomfortable. "A secret relationship, yes. It seemed the most efficient solution."

Efficient. Really now?

Never mind that he had just unilaterally decided his romantic status without consulting him. He was outright ordering him to just go along with this arrangement without thinking he would ever decline.

"I see." Neville swallowed the bitterness rising in his throat. "And this is why I’m expected to go shopping with her tomorrow? To maintain this lie?"

"That’s a part of it." Grayson moved from his chair. "She was already planning to take you shopping before I told her. But yes, she’ll likely expect you to... act accordingly."

Silence stretched between them as Neville considered his options.

On one hand, a part of him was outraged.

Grayson had made this decision without asking, had simply assumed that Neville would go along with whatever scheme suited him best. It was presumptuous, arrogant, and exactly the kind of high-handed behavior that made alphas insufferable.

On the other hand...

[Host, this is actually a golden opportunity! (☆▽☆)] Shelly’s voice whispered excitedly in his mind. [Fake dating is a classic trope! You’ll have so many chances to raise his favorability!]

Neville ignored Shelly.

Shelly wasn’t wrong.

Being in a fake relationship with Grayson would give him legitimate reasons to spend more time with him. He could build the kind of emotional connection that had been impossible while maintaining strict professional boundaries.

Then, when Elliot eventually returned...

He could gracefully step aside and just monitor Grayson to prevent him from destroying the world until he reached 100% favorability.

It would hurt. It was already hurting, actually. But pain was a small price to pay for his goal.

Neville didn’t know why he was thinking like that, but it felt like it was the only option he had at that time.

"It’s fine with me," Neville finally said. "But there’s a problem you may not have considered."

Grayson raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I’m a ’recessive’ omega. My pheromones would be barely detectable, and I look..." Neville gestured vaguely at himself. "...unimpressive. You’re an extreme dominant alpha. People will take one look at us and know the relationship is fake."

The words came out more bitter than he had intended. But then he saw Grayson’s expression change.

"You don’t need to worry about that." Grayson’s voice somehow became sharper than before. "Just do what you need to do."

Neville’s face went blank, and he mechanically said, "I understand."

✦ ✦ ✦

Grayson frowned.

He had expected relief, maybe even enthusiasm. Instead, Neville looked like he had just been handed a death sentence.

"The shopping trip tomorrow," Neville continued with a flat tone. "Should I continue addressing Mrs. Maxwell formally? Given that our relationship is supposed to be a secret?"

"She’ll expect some familiarity. Just call her Auntie."

"No, sir." The words were polite, but there was ice beneath them. "Since our relationship is fake, I think it’s best to maintain appropriate boundaries when we’re not in the presence of third parties. I’ll continue to address her as Mrs. Maxwell unless the situation requires otherwise."

Grayson’s frown deepened.