The Unexpected Olive Branch

Ethan was no stranger to long workdays, but today felt longer than usual. The clock above his desk ticked past 8 PM, and the office floor had mostly emptied out. Yet here he was, combing through the latest project reports. He rubbed his temples, sighing heavily.

A sharp knock on the door broke the silence. He looked up to see Sophia standing in the doorway, holding two coffee cups.

“You look like you could use this,” she said, stepping inside and placing one cup on his desk.

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “What’s this? An attempt to poison me?”

Sophia smirked, sinking into the chair opposite him. “You wish. It’s black coffee—your favorite, if the office gossip is accurate. Thought I’d show you that I can compromise, once in a while.”

He stared at her for a moment, caught off guard. “What’s the catch?”

“No catch,” she said simply. “Call it an olive branch.”

Ethan leaned back in his chair, studying her. “I’m almost afraid to ask, but… why?”

Sophia shrugged, looking anywhere but at him. “I figured if we’re stuck working together—and, you know, stuck in this insane arrangement—we might as well try to… not hate each other.”

Her honesty surprised him. For all her fiery arguments and sharp remarks, there was a sincerity in her tone now that he hadn’t expected. He took a sip of the coffee and nodded. “It’s not terrible. I might even call it decent.”

She rolled her eyes but smiled faintly. “Don’t push it.”

Over the next few weeks, their interactions at work became less combative. They still clashed over ideas—Ethan’s insistence on data and Sophia’s passion for creativity often butted heads—but there were moments, small and fleeting, where they found common ground.

One late evening, as they walked out of the office together, Sophia glanced at Ethan. “You’re not as bad as I thought, you know.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Is that supposed to be a compliment?”

“Take it however you want,” she said, smirking. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

Meanwhile, their families were growing impatient. Both sets of grandparents began pressing them to set a wedding date, insisting that the sooner they accepted their “destiny,” the better.

At a family gathering that weekend, Margaret Blake took Sophia aside, her tone gentle but firm. “You and Ethan need to start thinking about your future together, darling. Have you two talked about moving in yet?”

Sophia nearly choked on her drink. “Move in? Grandma, we can barely get through a meeting without arguing. How are we supposed to live together?”

Margaret’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “That’s part of the journey, my dear. Marriage isn’t about perfection; it’s about learning and growing together.”

Sophia groaned inwardly. The idea of sharing a space with Ethan—seeing his annoyingly neat habits, dealing with his infuriating calmness—was enough to make her head spin. But she knew her grandmother wouldn’t back down.

Ethan wasn’t spared either. Over dinner, his grandfather leaned in, his voice low but firm. “Have you thought about living arrangements? It’s time to start taking this seriously, Ethan. Sophia’s a lovely girl, and you’re lucky to have her.”

Lucky? Ethan wasn’t sure if “lucky” was the right word. But the truth was, he could see his grandparents’ health declining. Every time his grandfather coughed or his grandmother’s hands trembled slightly, guilt twisted in his chest.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “We’ll figure it out,” he said finally.

The idea of living together lingered in both their minds as the days passed. Sophia tried to focus on work, but the thought of sharing an apartment with Ethan was like a persistent itch she couldn’t ignore.

One evening, as she worked late in her apartment, her phone buzzed with a message. It was from Ethan.

Ethan:

If we’re going to do this “living together” thing, we need to set some ground rules.

Sophia stared at the message, a mix of dread and curiosity bubbling up inside her.

Sophia:

Rules? What are you, a boarding school principal?

Ethan:

Just practical. Like no touching my coffee machine.

She couldn’t help but laugh.

Sophia:

Deal. But I get control of the TV remote.

Ethan: