to work

cheer me up with his random stories and crazy humor. I can't shake the strange feeling I've had since that

s a place I've spent years building my career, climbing to the t

tionist, Karen, smiles at me, though her usual greeting seems to b

, Mrs. O'Brie

Karen," I reply

yes. Maybe I don't usually sm

y, giving her one last

looking at me strangely, whispering behind their hands as I pass. It's almost

ning, Mrs

, Mrs. O

e chief marketing officer, and Ryan O'Brien's wife-titles that have

seems to disturb me a little. A group of employees are standing near the elevator doors,

you all joi

er like they're unsure if I'm serious. W

st the elevator w

It's where I hold our weekly strategy meetings. As I enter, I see everyone's already seated, waiting for me s

veryone," I gree

le

ng for the punchline. No one's used to me being in a go

uffling papers, fidgeting, avoiding my gaze. Finally, I place my bag down on the table a

o one speaks. Finally, Samantha, the vice

ing if you're okay. The last time

burst at the quarterly review party. The shouting. The way I'd dragged Ryan

know you all care so much. But for the record, Ryan and I are still ve

as everyone shifts unco

" I say, glancing at Silas, the campaign

or the new red diamond choker necklace series that's due to launch in a few months. As he clicks through the slides, my phone buzzes

ect him to reply later, but his response comes almost

sends back a winking emoji, and I find myself chuckling under m

ed up his presentation, and the room is silent. All

rs. O'Brien? What did you t

you've captured the elegance of the necklace well, but you might want to focus more on the e

assigning a few tasks to some of the team me

g with Luke and Ryan is just a few hours away,

get my shi

~

I add another layer of perfume, undo the top two buttons of my blouse, and smooth down

by the time I arrive, I spot Ryan and Luke through the win

ree

n? They weren't supposed

alking over to give me a peck on the cheek. "Hey, darli

iration, surprise. He looks different today, too-sharp, polished in a way I hadn't expected. The playful rogue I'd met

Mr. Martinez, meet my wife, Julie." He smiles, gesturing between us. "And Julie

y s