“You’re going to get sick too,” Sophia warned him during one of his visits.
“I have an excellent immune system,” James replied with a small smile. “Besides, someone needs to make sure you eat something.”
He had brought her homemade chicken soup from a local restaurant, and though Sophia protested that she wasn’t hungry, James patiently encouraged her to have at least a few spoonfuls.
“This is really good,” she admitted after taking a small taste.
“It’s from that little place on Fifth Street,” James said. “My mother used to take me there when I was sick as a child.”
It was the first time James had mentioned his family, and Sophia found herself curious despite her illness. “Are your parents still alive?”
James’s expression grew sad. “My mother passed away five years ago. Cancer. My father died when I was in college.”
“I’m sorry,” Sophia said sincerely. “That must have been very difficult.”
“It was. Especially my mother. She was the one person I could always count on, no matter what.” James paused, then added quietly, “She would have liked you.”
The comment surprised Sophia, both because of its intimacy and because James seemed to mean it genuinely.
By the second day, Sophia’s fever had broken, but she was still weak and exhausted. James continued to check on her regularly, even working from home so he wouldn’t have to leave her alone.
“You really don’t have to do this,” Sophia said as he brought her fresh orange juice and toast. “I’m feeling much better.”
“You’re still recovering,” James said firmly. “Dr. Mitchell said you need at least another day of rest.”
“But what about your work? I’m sure you have important meetings.”
“Nothing that can’t be rescheduled or handled over the phone,” James interrupted. “My assistant is perfectly capable of managing things for a few days.”
Sophia studied his face, looking for signs that he was just being polite or fulfilling some obligation. Instead, she saw genuine concern and care.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” she asked quietly.
James seemed surprised by the question. “What do you mean?”
“This is supposed to be a business arrangement,” Sophia said. “You’re not getting anything out of taking care of me like this. There’s no one here to impress, no social expectations to meet.”
James was quiet for a long moment, sitting on the edge of her bed. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer than usual. “Maybe because it’s been a long time since I had someone to take care of,” he said. “And maybe because you’re not just a business arrangement to me anymore, Sophia. You’re a person I’ve come to care about.”
The honesty in his voice made Sophia’s heart skip a beat. She had been so focused on maintaining the boundaries of their agreement that she hadn’t noticed how those boundaries had begun to blur.
“I care about you too,” she admitted quietly.
James smiled, and it was warm and genuine. “Good. That makes this whole arrangement a lot more pleasant for both of us.”
On the third day, Sophia finally felt well enough to get dressed and come downstairs. She found James in his home office, working at his computer, but he immediately stopped what he was doing when he saw her.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, standing up to study her face.
“Much better. Human again, finally.” Sophia smiled. “Thank you, James. For everything. I know taking care of a sick fake wife wasn’t part of our deal.”
“There was nothing fake about it,” James said seriously. “You were sick, you needed help, and I was glad I could provide it.”
Something in his tone made Sophia look at him more carefully. There was an intensity in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before, a warmth that made her suddenly very aware of how close they were standing.
“I should let you get back to work,” she said, though she made no move to leave.
“Actually,” James said, “I was thinking of calling it a day. Would you like to have dinner together? Really together this time, not just me bringing you soup in bed.”
The invitation felt different from their usual polite interactions—more personal, more intimate.
“I’d like that,” Sophia said.
That evening, they ate dinner at the small table in James’s kitchen rather than the formal dining room they had used the few times they had eaten together before. The conversation flowed more easily than it ever had, ranging from books they had read to places they wanted to travel.
“I always wanted to see Ireland,” Sophia said as they finished their meal. “My grandmother was Irish, and she used to tell me stories about the countryside there.”
“It’s beautiful,” James said. “I went there on business a few years ago and extended my trip just to see more of the country. The landscapes are incredible.”
“You’ll have to tell me about it sometime,” Sophia said.
“I’d be happy to,” James replied, and something in his voice suggested he meant more than just telling her about Ireland.
As they cleaned up the dishes together, Sophia found herself thinking about how natural this felt. How easy it was to talk to James, how comfortable she felt in his presence. The loneliness that had consumed her since Tyler’s abandonment seemed to have faded without her even noticing.
“Thank you again,” she said as they finished. “For taking care of me, I mean. It’s been a long time since anyone has done that.”
“What about Tyler?” James asked, then immediately looked like he regretted the question. “I’m sorry, that’s none of my business.”
“It’s okay,” Sophia said, surprising herself. “And to answer your question, Tyler was never very good at taking care of people when they were sick. He usually found reasons to stay away until I was better.”
James frowned. “That’s not very supportive.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Sophia agreed. “I guess I just accepted it as part of who he was. But now, well, now I know what it feels like to have someone actually take care of me.”
“You deserve to be taken care of, Sophia,” James said quietly. “You deserve someone who will be there for you when you need them.”
The sincerity in his voice brought tears to Sophia’s eyes. “So do you,” she said softly.
They stood there for a moment, looking at each other, and Sophia felt something shift between them. The careful politeness of their arrangement was giving way to something deeper, something that felt dangerously close to real affection.
The business trip to Chicago was supposed to be routine. James had to meet with potential investors for a new project, and Sophia would accompany him to a dinner with their wives and a charity luncheon. It was exactly the kind of public appearance their arrangement was designed for. But as they sat together on the plane, Sophia realized how much her feelings about these trips had changed. What had once felt like playing a role now felt natural, comfortable even.
“Tell me about this project you’re pitching,” she said as James reviewed his presentation notes.
“It’s a sustainable energy initiative,” James explained, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. “We want to retrofit older office buildings with solar panels and more efficient heating and cooling systems. It’s good for the environment, and it saves money in the long run.”
Sophia found herself genuinely interested in his work in a way she never had been with Tyler’s job. “That sounds amazing. Is there much interest in that kind of thing?”
“More than you might think,” James said. “Businesses are starting to realize that being environmentally responsible is also financially smart. The challenge is the upfront investment.”
“Hence the investors you’re meeting with,” Sophia said.
“Exactly.” James smiled at her. “You pick things up quickly.”
“I used to work in marketing,” Sophia reminded him. “I understand business presentations.”
“That’s right. What kind of marketing did you do?”
It was a simple question, but it made Sophia realize that despite living together for over a month, they still knew relatively little about each other’s histories. “Consumer products, mostly,” she said. “I worked for a firm that handled everything from household cleaners to luxury cosmetics. It was interesting work, but I left when Tyler and I got engaged. He thought it would be better if I focused on planning the wedding and getting ready for our new life together.”
James frowned. “You gave up your career for him?”
“It seemed like the right thing to do at the time,” Sophia said, though she could hear the doubt in her own voice. “Tyler made enough money to support both of us, and he said he wanted to take care of me.”
“But you enjoyed your work?”
“I loved it,” Sophia admitted. “I was good at it too. I had ideas for campaigns that really worked, and I was being considered for a promotion before I left.”
“Do you miss it?”
The question caught Sophia off guard. She had been so focused on the immediate crisis of Tyler’s abandonment and her new arrangement with James that she hadn’t really thought about her career.
“Yes,” she said slowly. “I think I do miss it.”
“You should consider going back to it,” James said. “Once you’ve figured out what you want to do with your life, I mean. Our arrangement… doesn’t have to control every aspect of your life,” he added gently. “If you want to work, you should work. We can figure out how to balance it with the social obligations.”
The conversation stayed with Sophia throughout the trip. In Chicago, she found herself paying more attention to the business discussions, asking thoughtful questions about James’s projects, and offering insights that seemed to genuinely interest him. At the investor dinner, she was seated next to Margaret Chin, the wife of one of the potential investors. Margaret was a lawyer who had built her own successful practice, and Sophia found their conversation fascinating.
“I love what your husband is proposing,” Margaret said over dessert. “It’s exactly the kind of forward-thinking project we need more of. And you seem to understand the business side of it quite well.”
“Thank you,” Sophia said. “I find it genuinely interesting.”
“Have you ever considered working in the environmental sector?” Margaret asked. “There’s a real need for people who understand both the business and marketing sides of green initiatives.”
After dinner, as they walked back to their hotel, James was unusually quiet. “The meeting went well, don’t you think?” Sophia asked.
“Very well,” James agreed. “I think they’re going to fund the project.”
“That’s wonderful. You should be celebrating.”
James stopped walking and turned to look at her. “I keep thinking about what Margaret Chin said to you about working in environmental marketing.”
“All that?” Sophia said. “She was just being polite.”
“No, she wasn’t,” James said seriously. “She was right. You do understand the business side of things, and you ask the right questions. You’d be good at that kind of work.”
Something in his tone made Sophia study his face more carefully. “Is that a problem?”
“The opposite,” James said. “I was impressed by how engaged you were tonight. And I was thinking… well, wondering if you might be interested in working with me.”
“With you?”
“For Crawford Industries. We’re expanding into the environmental sector, and we’ll need someone who understands marketing and can help us communicate our message effectively.” James paused. “It would be a real job, Sophia. Not just part of our arrangement. You’d be hired on your own merits.”
The offer was so unexpected that Sophia didn’t know how to respond. “You want to hire me?”
“I want to offer you the opportunity to interview for a position,” James clarified. “If you’re interested, if you think it’s something you’d want to do.”
They had reached their hotel, and they stood in the lobby for a moment, other guests flowing around them as Sophia processed what James was suggesting.
“That would be complicated,” she said finally. “Working together and being married, even if it’s just an arrangement.”
“It might be,” James agreed. “But it might also be exactly what we both need.”
That night, Sophia lay in her hotel bed, thinking about James’s offer. The idea of getting back into marketing excited her more than she had expected. And the chance to work on projects that actually mattered, that could make a difference in the world, was incredibly appealing. But there was something else, something she was only beginning to admit to herself. The thought of working closely with James, of spending even more time with him, didn’t feel like a complication. It felt like an opportunity.
The next morning at breakfast, James seemed nervous, which was unusual for him. “Have you thought about what I said last night?” he asked as they waited for their flight.
“I have,” Sophia said. “And I’d like to know more about the position.”
James’s face lit up with relief and something that looked like genuine excitement. “Really?”
“Really. But I have one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“If we’re going to work together, we need to be completely honest with each other about our professional relationship versus our personal arrangement,” Sophia said. “I don’t want there to be any confusion about what I’ve earned versus what I’ve been given.”
“Agreed,” James said immediately. “You’ll be hired based on your qualifications, not our marriage. And if the job doesn’t work out, it won’t affect our personal arrangement.”
As their plane took off, Sophia looked out the window at the city falling away below them and felt something she hadn’t experienced in months: excitement about the future. For the first time since Tyler had abandoned her, she was thinking about what she wanted to do with her life rather than just how to survive. And increasingly, what she wanted seemed to involve James Crawford in ways that went far beyond their original business arrangement.
Sophia’s first day at Crawford Industries was both nerve-wracking and exhilarating. James had insisted that she interview with the marketing director and other department heads just like any other candidate, and she had gotten the job on her own merits. Now, six weeks after their trip to Chicago, she was starting fresh in a career she was genuinely excited about.
“Welcome to the team,” said Patricia Rodriguez, the marketing director, as she showed Sophia to her office. “James has told us great things about your experience and ideas.”
Sophia’s office was small but bright, with windows overlooking the city. She spent her first morning reviewing materials about Crawford Industries’ environmental initiatives and was impressed by the scope and ambition of their projects. Around noon, James appeared in her doorway with two cups of coffee.
“How’s your first day going?” he asked, offering her one of the cups.
“Really well,” Sophia said, accepting the coffee gratefully. “This work is fascinating. I had no idea how many different environmental projects you were involved in.”
“We’re just getting started,” James said, settling into the chair across from her desk. “The market for sustainable business solutions is huge, but we need to do a better job of communicating our value proposition to potential clients.”
“I’ve been reading through some of your existing marketing materials,” Sophia said, “and I think I see the problem. You’re focusing too much on the technical aspects and not enough on the business benefits.”
James leaned forward with interest. “What do you mean?”
“Well, take the solar panel retrofitting project. Your current brochure spends three pages explaining how the technology works, but only one paragraph on how much money it will save the client.” Sophia pulled out the brochure she had been reviewing. “Business owners don’t care about the technical details. They care about return on investment, operational savings, and maybe the public relations benefits of being seen as environmentally responsible.”
“That makes perfect sense,” James said, looking impressed. “Do you have ideas for how to refocus the messaging?”
For the next hour, they discussed Sophia’s preliminary ideas for repositioning Crawford Industries’ environmental division. James listened carefully, asked thoughtful questions, and clearly valued her input.
“You’re going to be a huge asset to this company,” he said as he prepared to leave for his next meeting.
“I hope so,” Sophia replied. “It feels good to be working again, to be contributing something meaningful.”
“It suits you,” James said, pausing in the doorway. “You light up when you talk about this work.”
After he left, Sophia found herself smiling as she returned to her research. It had been a long time since she felt this confident and capable.
Working together turned out to be easier than either of them had expected. They maintained complete professionalism during business hours, with James treating Sophia exactly like any other employee. But their evenings at home became more relaxed and intimate as they shared stories about their days and collaborated on projects.
“The Peterson Group wants to see a full presentation next week,” James said one evening as they cooked dinner together. It had become a routine they both enjoyed, sharing the tasks and talking about their work.
“I’ll have the new marketing materials ready by Friday,” Sophia assured him. “I think they’re going to love the ROI projections.”
“I know they will. Your work has been incredible, Sophia.” James paused in chopping vegetables to look at her. “I don’t just mean as my wife or as part of our arrangement. I mean as a professional. You’re really talented at this.”
The praise meant more to Sophia than she cared to admit. “Thank you. It feels good to be using my brain again, to be building something.”
“Is this what you want to do long-term?” James asked. “Environmental marketing, I mean?”
Sophia considered the question as she stirred the sauce they were making. “I think so. I love the work, and I love feeling like what I do makes a difference.” She added with a smile, “Plus, I have a pretty great boss.”
James laughed. “Just pretty great?”
“Okay, maybe more than pretty great,” Sophia admitted, and something in her tone made James look at her more closely.
They were standing close together in the kitchen, and Sophia suddenly became very aware of the warmth of his body next to hers, the way his eyes seemed to search her face.
“Sophia,” James said quietly, and there was something in his voice that made her heart beat faster.
“Yes?”
“I need to tell you something. This arrangement we have, this marriage of convenience…” He paused, as if trying to find the right words. “It’s not feeling very convenient anymore.”
“What do you mean?” Sophia asked, though she thought she knew.
“I mean I’ve stopped thinking of you as my business partner wife and started thinking of you as just… my wife.” James’s voice was soft but intense. “I wake up looking forward to seeing you. I think about you during the day. When you smile, it makes me happy in a way that has nothing to do with our agreement.”
Sophia felt her breath catch. “James?”
“I’m falling in love with you,” he said simply. “I don’t know when it started, but I know it’s real. And I needed you to know that, even if it complicates everything.”
For a moment, Sophia couldn’t speak. The confession she had been hoping to hear but hadn’t dared to expect hung in the air between them.