Chapter 4

At seven-forty the next morning, I arrived at the reception lounge beside the 38th floor at headquarters.

The coffee break station wasn't fully set up yet, and the admin staff were bustling back and forth.

Chloe spotted me and quietly pulled me aside.

"Be careful. Vanessa's in a weird mood today."

"What's going on?"

"She got here super early, changed her lipstick three times, and asked what time Mr. Grayson would arrive."

The corner of my mouth twitched. "How hardworking of her."

At eight-twenty, several executives started coming up.

I set out the materials and was about to step back to the side when Felix came out of the elevator, hurrying to keep pace with Cole.

Cole wore a charcoal-gray suit today. His tie had been knotted in a rush, and the edge sat slightly crooked.

He listened to Felix's report as he walked, his expression cool, his stride quick.

As he passed the coffee station, his gaze landed lightly on my face.

Just for a second.

No one noticed.

But I knew he'd seen me.

He'd also seen the faint shadows under my eyes from a sleepless night.

As he walked past me, I reached out without thinking and straightened his crooked tie.

The motion felt completely natural.

Just like at home.

I even smoothed out a small crease on the collar of his suit jacket while I was at it.

Cole stopped and looked down at me.

In that instant, the air itself went still.

The next second, Vanessa set her coffee cup down on the table with a loud clack.

She strode over in a few steps, her voice shrill and cold.

"Sienna, what do you think you're doing?"

The whole area went quiet.

Admin staff, assistants, several department heads all turned to look.

I drew my hand back and said calmly, "His tie was crooked."

That one sentence seemed to set Vanessa off completely.

"Since when is that any of your business?"

She let out a cold laugh, her eyes raking over my face.

"What class of person do you think you are, daring to seduce the big boss?"

Everyone in the room sucked in a breath.

Lily, standing in the back, went pale.

Felix's expression froze too.

Cole said nothing.

He just looked down at me.

I looked back at him.

Suddenly, I wasn't angry at all.

Really.

I just found it absurd.

I'd fixed my own husband's tie, and somehow that counted as seduction.

When Cole didn't speak right away, Vanessa took it as tacit agreement, and she grew even bolder.

"I saw it a long time ago. You're up to no good. A junior planner with her eyes glued to the CEO's Office every day, acting all high-minded, but behind everyone's back you're the best social climber of all."

"You think pulling a little stunt at an event like this will make Mr. Grayson look at you twice?"

"Dream on."

I let her finish, then slowly turned my head toward Cole.

"Mr. Grayson."

I said his name in front of everyone.

"Do you think so too?"

Vanessa was taken aback for a moment. Then she folded her arms, a confident, victorious smile on her face.

She probably thought I'd finally started to panic.

Cole was silent for two seconds.

Then he raised his hand and took hold of my wrist.

Everyone froze.

The next second, he pulled me to his side. His voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for every person there to hear.

The entire reception lounge fell dead silent.

"Allow me to introduce her."

"This is my wife, Sienna."