Chapter 2
My heart started pounding.
The wedding favors were in my desk drawer. All Ethan had to do was acknowledge me, and I could hand them out.
But Victoria laughed first.
“Wait. Is Chloe Mrs. Cole?”
“Then I should apologize for asking her to get me water.”
Someone from admin joined in.
“Come on, Victoria. The boss’s wife wouldn’t sit at reception signing for packages.”
“Chloe can barely use the printer. Why would Mr. Cole pick a pretty little ornament like her as his wife? What could she talk about at a business dinner?”
“Packages?”
The laughter got louder.
I stood frozen, stealing a glance at Ethan.
He’d heard every word. He’d seen me waiting for him to say something.
Instead, he closed his folder.
“Don’t discuss my personal life at work.”
“Chloe, lunch is over. Everyone, get back to it.”
My hand slipped under the desk.
Victoria laughed and smoothed things over. “You guys, stop. Chloe’s always taken things too seriously.”
“When we were kids, I told her I liked one of her dresses and she wore it every day.”
That wasn’t what happened.
But I didn’t dare correct her.
After lunch, I went straight to Ethan’s office.
“You promised you’d tell everyone before my maternity leave.”
He closed the door.
“Victoria just got back, and the project just launched.”
“If I announce that the CEO secretly married the receptionist, everyone will be talking about that instead of working.”
“They were laughing at me.”
“It was a joke.”
His voice sharpened. “Are you really going to make a scene at work because Victoria came back?”
I stared at him. “I’m not upset because of her—”
“Chloe, we used to date. That’s all in the past.”
“She came back for the project.”
He looked me in the eye and spoke slowly.
“I’ve been honest with you. You see us at work every day. What do you think is going on?”
I clenched the hem of my shirt.
“She’s been picking on me since we were kids.”
“Do you think that matters more than an eight-figure project?”
He cut me off. “Victoria’s talented, and she knows how to behave. Don’t let your insecurities turn every word she says into an attack.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again.
At last, I asked, “If they say I’m not good enough for you again, could you at least defend me?”
Ethan picked up his folder.
“Don’t bring our relationship problems into the office.”
“If I don’t want to make our marriage public, just go along with it.”
I lowered my head. “Okay.”
Back at reception, I took off my wedding ring.
Then I pushed the box of favors to the back of my drawer.
That evening, a storm rolled in.
Ethan pulled up to the entrance and lowered his window.
“Chloe, get in.”
I’d just stepped off the curb when Victoria came up behind me.
“Ethan, are you always this considerate with the receptionist?”
She glanced at my belly, smiling faintly. “Or is Chloe special?”
I looked at Ethan. He said nothing.
I opened the passenger door for Victoria.
“Take Ms. Shaw home first.”
“My husband’s coming to get me.”
Ethan knew I was lying.
He only said, “Be careful on your way home.”
Victoria settled into the seat and smiled at me.
“Chloe’s still as considerate as she was when we were kids.”
“She always knows when to give someone else her place.”