The Singapore Project

December 2045The Singapore expansion project reached its critical phase in December. The board will hear final presentations. Funds being green-lit. Consent for the timeline. Executives with decades of experience building worldwide operations examined every detail.Elena devoted five months of her time to the project. What began as an assignment from Rebecca has transformed into her main duty. Despite her junior status, she had taken charge of the market analysis team and had three analysts reporting to her.It shook with fear. And thrilling. Alex had been pulled onto the project full-time in November. They worked together daily now. Long strategy sessions. Late-night conference calls with the Singapore team. Shared pressure and shared victories.The dynamic between them had shifted since their honest conversation. Not quite friendship. Not quite romance. Something in between. Something undefined but comfortable. "These projections are too conservative," Alex remarked as he reviewed

The Board Presentation

December 2045 - Mid-MonthThe Singapore expansion board presentation was scheduled for December fifteenth.Elena had two weeks to finalize everything. Projections. Timelines. Risk assessments. Cultural integration strategies. Market analyses.Every detail scrutinized. Every number verified. Every assumption challenged.Rebecca had been clear: "This is your moment. Prove you belong here. Not because of your name. Because of your work."No pressure.Elena worked twelve-hour days. Refined models.Stress-tested assumptions. Got every conceivable question covered.It was Alex who lent a hand. They had informed human resources of their relationship, completed the required forms, verified that there was no direct reporting link, and accepted the company's policy on dating on the job.Now they worked together openly. Late nights became shared dinners. Strategy sessions became conversations about everything.When Alex saw Elena in the office at eleven o'clock on a Tuesday night, he told her, "

The Family Celebration

January 2046In honour of Elena's promotion, the family celebrated on the first Saturday of the new year.The Mercer mansion was extremely stuffy, according to Sophie.Instead, at Marcus and Zara's brownstone in Brooklyn Heights. More intimate. More personal. More about Elena and less about ceremony.The entire family showed up.In the townhouse, three generations squeezed together. A perfect storm of love and mayhem.At their first formal family gathering together as a couple, Elena and Alex showed up.Her fear was palpable. She forewarned him as they ascended the stairs that he would be interrogated. "My grandpa in particular. He will enquire about your ambitions, future plans for your job, and likely your credit score. Your grandpa is aware of my credit score already.The hiring process at Chen-Hale included a background check. That does not provide any solace. Practicality is key. Join us on a journey through corporate dating.The house was already full on the inside. Elisa's folk

All Chapters of MARRIED BY MISTAKE: Chapter 101 - Chapter 103

The Singapore Project

The Board Presentation

The Family Celebration