When my coworker Caleb asked me to pretend we were a couple to buy a house, I thought it was just business. A quick deal, easy money, and a chance to finally prove myself at work. I didn’t trust his charm, but the opportunity tempted me. We practiced our “story,” met the seller, and somehow pulled it off. I told myself it was harmless — just a simple favor for profit.

At first, everything seemed perfect. We laughed, shared stories, and I started seeing sides of Caleb I never expected. For once, life felt bigger than deadlines and spreadsheets. But one text changed everything — my best friend June was furious. The house we bought was the one she’d dreamed of owning since childhood. I hadn’t known… but unfortunately, Caleb did.

The truth hit me hard — a business decision had cost me a friendship. I confronted Caleb, angry and hurt, and walked away from him and the deal. But guilt doesn’t disappear overnight, and neither do people who care more than they admit. Later, Caleb showed up — not with excuses, but with proof he sold the house back to June for the same price. No profit, no pride, just an apology.

He said he wanted to fix things because he genuinely cared about me. I wasn’t ready to forgive everything, but I saw sincerity in his eyes. Life isn’t perfect, and neither are people. Mistakes happen — what matters is how we repair them. I agreed to one real date, no lies, no pretending. If there’s a future, it will be built honestly — not on shortcuts or secrets.