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The tapping sound of keyboards echoed in the spacious penthouse office atop ValenTech Tower, accompanied only by the occasional soft clinking of glass from the untouched whiskey sitting beside a thick pile of folders. The golden city skyline glittered through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, but Aiden Valen didn’t look up. Not once.

He sat like a statue—perfect posture, crisp black suit, icy expression. The image of power.

"Aiden," came a familiar voice, breaking through the silence like a ripple in still water. His childhood friend, Leo, stepped in without knocking, holding two coffees and wearing a mischievous grin. “You know what your office really needs?”

“A door that locks,” Aiden replied, deadpan, still staring at his screen.

Leo chuckled and tossed a paper bag onto the desk. “And love. You need love.”

Aiden blinked.

“No offense,” Leo said, settling in across from him, “but you're almost thirty, have never dated anyone, and you just submitted a report titled 'Romantic Data Clustering in Emotional AI' for fun.”

“I was optimizing algorithm empathy response for virtual assistants,” Aiden corrected him flatly.

“Right,” Leo snorted. “That's what single people say when they watch too many dramas and can't even text a girl.”

Aiden didn’t deny it.

Leo leaned forward, face suddenly serious. “When was the last time you even tried to date?”

Aiden shifted in his seat. “Dating is inefficient.”

“You're the richest man in the city and still think like an algorithm,” Leo muttered, reaching into his pocket. “Good thing I came prepared.”

He unlocked his phone and shoved it toward Aiden. “Here. Try this.”

Aiden glanced at the screen. LoveLink: Rent a Girlfriend Today!

He stared. Then back at Leo.

“…You're joking.”

“Nope. Think of it as research,” Leo said innocently. “You don’t have to fall in love. Just rent someone to help you simulate a relationship. Practice. Get used to emotional intimacy.”

Aiden arched a brow. “That’s absurd.”

“So is analyzing kiss scenes from dramas in your notebook.”

Aiden turned slightly red. “That’s not—”

Leo tapped the screen again and handed it over. “Go ahead. One trial session. I dare you.”

Aiden hesitated. There was no reason to indulge such nonsense. It was a waste of time. Yet… somewhere deep inside, curiosity stirred. A tug he couldn’t quite resist. Maybe he really had read too many romance novels under dim lighting after 2 a.m.

He took the phone.

---

15 minutes later…

Aiden stood in his living room, staring at his own phone now. Against all logic, he had downloaded the app.

The profile choices were surprisingly detailed: select preferences, personality types, time slots, even simulated “relationship goals.”

He scrolled without real intention—until one profile caught his attention.

Lira (22) | Confident ✦ Witty ✦ Not easily impressed

“Fake love is my job, but I won’t fake a smile if you annoy me.”

She had sharp eyes, a smirk that screamed “I don’t play nice,” and a kind of raw confidence that made her stand out from the rest of the overly polished, too-cutesy profiles.

Before he knew it, his thumb hovered over the book now button.

Ding.

Booking confirmed: Lira will arrive tomorrow at 7:00 PM. Location: your preferred residence.

Aiden blinked.

“…What did I just do?”

---

The Next Evening…

Aiden paced.

Not that he was nervous. He didn’t get nervous. It was more like… controlled agitation. Unusual anticipation.

He’d prepared everything with precision: a clean white shirt, matching slacks, and not a hair out of place. His penthouse had been cleaned again, just in case. A candle burned on the table—for aesthetic purposes only, he told himself.

When the doorbell rang at exactly 7:00 PM, he froze for half a second before striding to the door.

He opened it.

And stared.

There she was—Lira. Her long dark hair framed her face in soft waves, her lips curled in a subtle smirk, one hand on her hip as she looked him up and down like she was judging a mannequin.

“You're… him?” she asked, voice low and teasing.

Aiden cleared his throat. “Aiden Valen. Yes.”

“I Googled you,” she said bluntly as she stepped inside. “You own half the city.”

“I don’t—”

“Relax,” she cut him off with a wink. “This is a date, not a business meeting.”

She took off her jacket, revealing a casual but stylish outfit—jeans, boots, and a black crop top with silver hoops in her ears. Effortless confidence. No hesitation.

Aiden found himself watching her a beat too long before snapping back to composure.

“I prepared a dinner,” he said. “It’s catered. Nutritional and balanced.”

Lira raised an eyebrow. “You sound like you’re planning a diet ad.”

He blinked. “Was that wrong?”

She laughed. Not a fake giggle. A genuine laugh that echoed in the high-ceilinged living room.

“You’re stiff. But I like that. Makes this fun.”

“I’m not stiff,” he defended.

“Right,” she said playfully, strolling toward the couch. “So, Mr. Valen. What do you want to know about dating?”

He paused. Then, slowly sat across from her.

“…Everything.”

She tilted her head. “Everything?”

He nodded. “I’ve never had a girlfriend. I want to understand. Intimacy, conversation, emotions… The variables involved in connection.”

Lira stared at him for a long second. Then let out another soft chuckle. “You really are a CEO. You talk like you’re preparing a merger proposal.”

“I—”

“Okay, okay,” she interrupted. “Lesson one: stop overthinking.”

She leaned closer, resting her chin on her hand. “Pretend we’ve been dating for three months. What would you say to me right now?”

Aiden stared at her.

She waited.

He hesitated, then said carefully, “…Would you like to… sync calendars?”

Lira snorted.

“That’s not romantic, huh?” he asked, genuinely confused.

“Not unless you’re dating your assistant.”

She leaned forward, brushing a strand of his hair aside unexpectedly. The sudden contact made him stiffen—again.

Her smile softened.

“You’re kind of cute when you panic.”

“I’m not—panicking,” he said, eyes flicking away.

She sat back with a smirk. “Alright, Mr. CEO. I’ll go easy on you. For tonight.”

---

One Hour Later…

Aiden had learned five things so far:

Compliments shouldn't sound like performance reviews.

“You smell pleasant” is not a romantic line.

Eye contact longer than three seconds makes his heartbeat triple.

Lira likes strawberry soda.

He likes Lira’s laugh more than he expected.

As she leaned back on the couch, sipping her drink with one leg tucked under her, she asked, “Why now?”

Aiden looked at her.

“I mean, why hire someone now? You could’ve had anyone. You’re rich, intimidating, and annoyingly good-looking.”

He blinked. “You think I’m good-looking?”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

He paused. Then answered quietly, “I’ve been… busy. I always thought love would just happen eventually. But it didn’t. And the longer I waited… the harder it seemed to start.”

Lira didn’t mock him.

Instead, she nodded thoughtfully. “That’s more honest than most real boyfriends I’ve had.”

They sat in silence for a moment.

Then, Lira smiled. “Well, Aiden Valen. You may be hopeless, but you’re not heartless. You’re trying.”

He looked at her. “Does that matter?”

She looked back. “Yeah. It really does.”

---

Later That Night…

After Lira left—just like she promised, professional and on schedule—Aiden found himself staring at the closed door for too long.

She was loud. Blunt. Unexpected.

But something about her presence stayed behind.

As he walked to the window and looked down at the city lights, he whispered to himself,

“I think I want to see her again.”

Not for research.

Not for a lesson.

Just… her.

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Aiden Valen was a man of structure. Schedules. Forecasts. Predictable outcomes.

So why was he standing in front of his mirror, staring at his reflection like he was about to walk into a battlefield… just because he had a date?

A real one this time.

Not a private, safe, in-his-own-living-room session with a hired rental girlfriend—but an actual public outing with Lira, the girl who had somehow started to occupy more space in his head than he was comfortable admitting.

He straightened the collar of his navy-blue shirt for the fourth time, running a hand through his dark hair, frowning when it didn’t fall exactly right.

“This is ridiculous,” he muttered to his reflection.

Yet he didn’t stop adjusting.

---

Earlier That Morning…

“Again?” Leo blinked in disbelief, sipping from his oversized coffee cup. “You booked her again?”

Aiden glanced at his phone. “Yes.”

Leo grinned. “You're addicted.”

“I am… curious.”

Leo laughed. “Yeah. Curious about what her lips taste like, maybe.”

Aiden ignored the jab. “I scheduled an outing. A real-world environment.”

“You mean… like a date? Outside?”

Aiden nodded, unsure why his palms were slightly clammy.

Leo blinked. “You’re going to implode.”

Aiden looked up sharply. “I’m serious.”

Leo leaned forward. “That’s why it’s funny.”

---

That Afternoon…

7:01 PM.

He stood outside the restaurant he had chosen—an upscale garden-style fusion place nestled between marble buildings and glowing lantern trees. Elegant, intimate, but not overbearingly romantic. He had researched it thoroughly. Checked reviews. Made sure the noise levels were moderate. Reserved a private booth.

Still, he wasn’t ready when he saw her walking toward him.

Lira.

Wearing a soft beige sundress, light makeup, and a crossbody bag slung carelessly over her shoulder. She looked radiant under the twilight, strands of her hair catching the golden light like melted chocolate.

She waved casually. “Hey, Boss.”

He stared.

“You okay?” she smirked. “You look like you’ve never seen a woman in a dress before.”

“I haven’t,” he answered honestly.

She stopped. “…Wait, seriously?”

“I mean not like this. On a date. With me.”

Her smirk twitched into something more genuine. “You really are hopeless.”

And oddly adorable.

---

Inside the Restaurant…

They were seated in a cozy booth beneath a hanging garden of lights, menus spread before them.

“Anything catch your eye?” Lira asked.

Aiden was too busy watching the way her fingers drummed lightly on the table to notice.

“…Pasta,” he replied, forcing himself to look away.

“Good choice.” She grinned. “Always a safe bet on a first date.”

“This isn’t a first date,” he said automatically. “This is… a simulated dating environment intended to develop my understanding of interpersonal dynamics.”

Lira stared.

He cleared his throat. “Right. Sorry.”

She leaned her cheek on her palm. “You always talk like that?”

He hesitated. “Yes. It’s how I was taught to communicate.”

“Well, I hate to break it to you,” she said, smiling, “but women don’t swoon over ‘simulated dynamics.’”

“I’ve noticed.”

The waiter arrived and took their orders. Aiden carefully avoided using corporate language. Lira gave him an approving nod, like he passed a pop quiz.

When the drinks arrived—sparkling soda for her, ice water for him—Lira raised her glass.

“To trying new things,” she said.

Aiden hesitated, then clinked his glass lightly against hers. “To… unstructured experiences.”

She rolled her eyes. “We’ll work on that.”

---

30 Minutes Into the Date…

Aiden couldn’t stop watching her.

The way she gestured when she talked, the little pauses before she teased him, the way she seemed so at ease—like she belonged in every room she walked into.

She, in contrast, couldn’t stop noticing the small things about him.

How he barely touched his food unless prompted. How he always maintained a respectful distance, even when leaning closer. How he looked like he wanted to say more but didn’t know how.

“You’re not used to being seen, are you?” she asked quietly.

He looked up. “Seen?”

“As in… noticed for who you really are. Not the title. Not the suit.”

He was silent for a long moment.

Then, slowly, “No.”

She tilted her head. “You want to be?”

He looked at her—eyes steady, softer than usual. “Yes.”

---

After Dinner…

They walked through the nearby park, a quiet space surrounded by low lights and wooden pathways. Lira kicked off her heels, walking barefoot on the cool grass, while Aiden followed in his polished leather shoes like an awkward bodyguard.

She glanced back. “You ever walk barefoot?”

He shook his head. “There are risks. Bacteria. Glass. Insects.”

She laughed. “God, you're such a CEO.”

He raised a brow. “And yet you agreed to come again.”

Lira looked at him, smile fading into something gentler. “Yeah… I did.”

They stopped beneath a hanging willow tree, its curtain of branches swaying in the wind.

Aiden spoke softly, “May I ask something… personal?”

Lira turned to him. “Sure.”

“Why… do you do this?”

She blinked. “Be a rental girlfriend?”

He nodded.

She looked at the sky for a moment, then back at him. “It started as a side hustle in college. Paid well. Easy hours. I’m good at reading people, pretending to be what they need.”

“And now?”

“Now…” She shrugged. “It’s complicated.”

Aiden didn’t push.

Instead, he said, “I think I like who you are, not who you pretend to be.”

She froze.

“…You barely know me,” she whispered.

“I observe. Carefully.”

She smiled, but it was smaller this time. Real.

---

As They Parted Ways…

He walked her to her car like a gentleman. Quiet. Gentle.

She unlocked the door, then paused. “Tonight was… nice.”

“I agree,” he said.

“You weren’t as stiff as last time.”

“I practiced small talk this morning,” he admitted. “Ten minutes.”

She laughed softly. “Nerd.”

He smiled.

She opened the car door. Then closed it again, turning back to him.

“…Hey,” she said suddenly. “Next time, let’s try something simple. No planning. No script.”

He tilted his head. “Such as?”

“Like… a street food date. Or a movie night. Something normal.”

“I don’t know what normal looks like.”

She stepped a little closer. “Then let me show you.”

He didn’t move. Didn’t speak.

But for the first time in a long time, Aiden Valen felt something flutter—small, unfamiliar, but undeniably real.

“Goodnight, Aiden,” she whispered, getting into her car.

He watched her drive away, the taillights fading into the city night.

---

Later That Night…

Aiden sat alone in his penthouse.

He opened his journal—not the business one. The hidden one. The one he wrote in when he couldn’t sleep.

He scribbled:

> Second date: went well.

I laughed. She smiled. My heart… skipped. Do hearts actually skip?

She wants to see me again.

I want that too.

Then paused.

He added one more line:

> I’m starting to wish this wasn’t pretend.

He closed the journal and stared at the flickering candle on his table, her laughter still echoing in his ears.

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Rain trickled softly against the windowpanes of the sleek black limousine as it coasted through the glowing city streets. Inside, Aiden Valen sat stiffly, one hand resting on his knee, the other clenching the edge of his coat. He had spent the last twenty minutes convincing himself that this wasn’t a date—it was simply a... research venture.

He adjusted his tie.

Opposite him sat Lira, legs crossed, looking effortlessly radiant in a simple off-shoulder navy dress that hugged her curves without screaming for attention. Her makeup was light, but her lips had just enough color to keep him stealing glances when she wasn’t looking.

And she wasn’t.

She was staring out the window, humming softly.

"You're unusually quiet today," Aiden finally said, breaking the silence.

Lira turned to him with a slight smile. "You’re unusually nervous today."

He stiffened. "I’m not nervous. I’m... composed."

"Right. And I’m Cinderella on my way to the ball."

Aiden’s lips twitched. Was that humor? Was he…smiling?

"I just think it's strange," he muttered, looking outside to avoid her gaze. "Taking a stranger to a formal event. Pretending."

"Technically, you hired me," she said, folding her hands neatly on her lap. "So technically, this is still business."

"But it's not supposed to feel like it."

"Ah," she tilted her head. "So you want the fake girlfriend experience to feel real?"

He met her eyes then, and for the first time in the night, he faltered.

"Maybe," he said. "Maybe I just want to understand how relationships work. Not just in theory."

Lira leaned forward, resting her elbows lightly on her knees. “Then here’s your first lesson: it’s not all theory and logic. Sometimes, it’s about feeling. Connection. Even chaos.”

Aiden frowned. “I don’t do chaos.”

“That’s why you’re still single,” she teased.

Before he could come up with a reply, the limo stopped in front of a grand hotel, its entrance lit up with chandeliers visible even through the thick glass doors. Tonight was the Tech Elite Charity Gala, an event filled with CEOs, investors, politicians, and press.

Aiden stepped out first, straightened his coat, and extended his hand to Lira.

She hesitated—just a fraction—before taking it.

Their fingers intertwined.

Flashes went off. Reporters began snapping pictures immediately.

Aiden felt Lira lean closer and whisper through a practiced smile, “Now’s the time to act in love.”

He hesitated only for a second before wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her just a little closer. The photographers loved it.

Inside, the room was lavish, with crystalline chandeliers casting golden light on marble floors. Waiters walked around with silver trays of champagne, and the air buzzed with wealth and ego.

“Mr. Valen!” A woman with platinum hair and sharp red lipstick approached. “And...this must be your date?”

Aiden nodded. “Yes. This is Lira.”

“Pleasure,” Lira said smoothly, offering a handshake. She had a perfect balance of confidence and charm, her voice sweet but unwavering.

As the woman walked away, Aiden murmured, “You handled that well.”

“I told you,” she said, sipping champagne. “Fake or not, I’m a good girlfriend.”

Hours passed.

They mingled.

Lira laughed in just the right moments. Touched Aiden’s arm lightly. Looked at him with warm, adoring eyes.

And he…responded.

To his own surprise, he found himself smiling more. Relaxing. Looking for her hand without thinking.

He hadn’t expected this.

At one point during the evening, he found himself watching her from across the room. She was talking to another CEO—older, smug, and annoyingly flirtatious. She handled him with grace, even smiled, but Aiden's chest tightened.

Why?

He didn’t like the way that man looked at her.

When the man reached out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, something snapped.

Aiden walked straight toward them, his hand finding the small of her back.

“Excuse us,” he said coolly to the man. “I need a word with my girlfriend.”

Lira blinked in surprise as Aiden led her away, into a quieter hallway near the back.

Once they were alone, she raised an eyebrow. “Jealous, Mr. CEO?”

He looked away, jaw clenched. “I just didn’t like how he touched you.”

There was a pause.

“You know it’s not real, right?” she asked softly.

“I know.”

But his voice was tight.

Another pause.

“Still,” she added, “thank you for stepping in. It was getting uncomfortable.”

He turned to her then, expression softening. “You could’ve told me.”

“I didn’t want to make a scene.”

Aiden reached up—hesitantly—and brushed that same strand of hair behind her ear.

It felt…intimate.

And it startled them both.

“I don’t get it,” he said, voice almost a whisper. “Why does it feel like this matters?”

Lira took a slow breath. “Because maybe...we’re both pretending too well.”

Their eyes locked.

The distance between them felt charged.

But before either could move—or speak further—a staff member approached and interrupted them, calling Aiden for a brief press statement.

He nodded, adjusted his cuff, and turned to Lira. “Will you be okay alone?”

“I’m not a damsel,” she said, her voice light.

Still, when he walked away, he kept glancing back.

The gala ended late.

The limousine was quiet again.

But this time, the air between them wasn’t awkward—it was thick with something unspoken.

When they arrived back at his penthouse, Aiden cleared his throat.

“You can stay for a while. It’s late. The roads are—”

“Are you inviting me in?” she teased.

“No. I’m... offering you rest. As your...client.”

“Right,” she said, stepping out. “Client.”

But they both knew it wasn’t just that anymore.

Inside the penthouse, she walked around, taking in the minimalistic modern interior. Cold grays. Sharp whites. Not a single photo or trace of personal touch.

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “But empty.”

“It serves its purpose.”

“You live like you don’t plan to stay.”

He looked at her, surprised. “What does that mean?”

“Everything’s perfect. But sterile. No warmth. No sign of anyone else. As if you never intended to share it with someone.”

He didn’t respond.

“I’m sorry,” she added. “That was out of line.”

“No,” he said quietly. “It’s true.”

He poured two glasses of wine and handed her one. They stood on the balcony, overlooking the sleeping city.

“I built my life around control,” he said. “And love—relationships—they’re messy.”

“They are,” she agreed. “But sometimes, they’re worth it.”

He looked at her then. Her hair dancing with the breeze. Her silhouette outlined by the city lights.

“How much of this is an act for you?” he asked suddenly.

She froze.

“Tonight. The smiles. The touches. The way you look at me.”

“I’m good at my job,” she said carefully.

“That’s not an answer.”

She turned to face him, her expression unreadable. “You don’t want the real me, Aiden.”

“What if I do?”

Silence.

She shook her head and stepped away, setting her glass down.

“I should go.”

He watched her walk toward the door. But just before she opened it, she paused.

“Thank you... for tonight.”

Then she was gone.

That night, Aiden didn’t sleep.

He stood at the balcony, replaying every moment.

And he finally admitted something he hadn’t dared to say aloud—

He wanted to see her again.

Not as a rental.

But as something… more.