In a bid to secure a promotion, I hired an actress to play my wife for a dinner with my boss, Mr. Fernandes. The Grand Oak Hotel was the setting for this pivotal evening. Just as anxiety peaked, Autumn, the actress, arrived with her 7-year-old son, Oliver, unexpectedly.

Introducing Autumn and Oliver as my family, I was surprised at how natural it felt. Mr. Fernandes was impressed, and as dinner progressed, I found myself drawn to Autumn and Oliver’s warmth and laughter. What began as a ruse felt increasingly genuine.

At the office party, Autumn’s ex-husband, Dan, tried to expose our charade, but Oliver defended me, touching everyone’s hearts. I confessed the truth to Mr. Fernandes, who was still impressed by our genuine connection.

Spending more time with Autumn and Oliver, I realized I was falling in love with both of them. Despite the initial deceit, our bond grew real. Mr. Fernandes acknowledged this, hinting at my promotion.

I confessed my feelings to Autumn, and she reciprocated. The evening ended with a promise to cherish this newfound family, a sentiment I never expected to find in my quest for career success.