Desk Wars & Coffee Dates

Sophia Kim thought moving to Portland would be her fresh start. After a devastating divorce in Seoul and a career reset at 38, she's determined to prove herself as a project manager in the Pacific Northwest tech scene. What she didn't expect was being seated next to Marcus O'Brien—a man-child game developer who eats cereal for lunch and seems allergic to deadlines. Marcus O'Brien has perfected the art of avoiding responsibility. At 39, he's content with his indie game projects, his cluttered desk, and his freedom from corporate politics. The last thing he needs is an uptight project manager breathing down his neck about timelines and professionalism. When their workplace warfare costs the company a major client, their boss delivers an ultimatum: work together or find new jobs. But when that same client returns with a request for a "diverse leadership team," Marcus proposes the ultimate fake relationship scheme to land the deal. What starts as professional theater becomes something real. Between client dinners and strategic hand-holding, Sophia discovers that Marcus's creative genius matches her strategic mind perfectly. Marcus realizes that Sophia's drive and intelligence challenge him to be better than he ever thought possible. But when success brings new responsibilities, Marcus's fear of commitment threatens to destroy everything they've built. Can a woman who's rebuilt her life from scratch teach a perpetual bachelor that growing up doesn't mean giving up who you are? Perfect for fans of The Hating Game and Beach Read, this enemies-to-lovers office romance explores cultural identity, second chances, and the courage to let someone see who you really are—even in a conference room.