Chapter 3

"Maybe later," I insisted. "For now, this is just a deal."

Marty gave in. "Okay."

I took a breath. "Third, I want to keep working. I want to be your secretary."

"Secretary?" He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." I looked up at him. "Marty, I don't want to just depend on you. I want to earn my own money for this baby."

He watched me for a long moment, then finally smiled. "Madge, you haven't changed at all."

"What?" I asked.

"You're stubborn." He reached out and gently ruffled my hair. "Fine. I agree."

And just like that, I became both his secret wife and his secretary.

During the day, we were boss and employee. He stayed in his office, and I managed his schedule.

At night, we went back to the house we used to share. We slept in separate rooms.

He kept his promise. He never touched me.

But when I felt sick, he would bring me warm water.

When I got hungry in the middle of the night, he would cook for me.

He even canceled meetings to take me to doctor appointments.

Those small things started to make me feel different.

Sometimes, it almost felt like we were a real couple.

"Madge, Mr. Oliver wants to see you," a coworker said. Her voice snapped me back to reality.

I straightened my clothes and walked into his office. "Mr. Oliver, you asked for me?"

He looked up and smiled. "There's a dinner tonight. I want you to come with me."

"Me?" I frowned. "I shouldn't—"

"It's just dinner. No drinking." He stood and walked toward me. "And the client is a woman."

I stayed quiet.

"Are you jealous?" he asked.

"I'm not," I snapped. "I just..."

"Just what?" Marty pressed.

"I just don't want to see you flirting with other women." The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

Marty went still for a second, then he broke into a laugh.

He looked so good when he laughed that it almost made me forget what I'd just said.

He reached out and gently pinched my cheek. "Madge, you're finally telling the truth."

A wave of nerves hit me. "I..."

"Hey, don't worry." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a soft whisper. "In my life, you're the only person I want."

My face burned. "Stop saying things like that."

"I mean every word." Marty stepped back, his gaze warm and steady. "And you know I do."

*****

That night at dinner, the client really was a woman.

But it was Scarlett, Marty's childhood friend and the only woman he had kept close throughout our marriage.

The second I saw her, my heart dropped.

"Marty, it's been a long time," Scarlett said with a bright smile. Then her eyes slid over to me. "And who is this?"

"My secretary, Madge," Marty said, his tone flat.

"Secretary?" Scarlett let out a small, mocking laugh. "That's funny. I heard she was your ex-wife."

My expression shifted before I could stop it. I had no idea she knew.

Marty's voice turned cold. "Scarlett, watch what you say."

"Oh? Did I say something wrong?" Scarlett smiled, but there was nothing kind in her eyes. "Marty, you're divorced. Why is she still around?"

"That's none of your business," Marty replied.

Without warning, Scarlett reached out and grabbed his arm. "Marty, don't you remember? We said we'd get married when we grew up."

The sight of her hand on him felt like a sharp needle in my chest.

I forced myself to speak, trying to stay calm. "Miss Burke, even though we're divorced, right now we are—"

"You're what?" Scarlett cut me off, her voice sharp. "Madge, you don't actually think Marty wants you, do you? He just feels sorry for you because you're pregnant."

Marty immediately brushed her hand off his arm. "Scarlett, that's enough."

She froze, clearly stunned. "Marty—"

"You don't get to treat Madge like this," he said, his voice icy. "And there was never any real promise between us. That was just something kids say."

"What?" Scarlett stared at him as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Marty turned to me, his eyes soft again, filled with something unmistakable. "Miss Burke, Madge is my wife. We're remarried."

I went completely still. So did Scarlett.

"No way!" she shouted. "You two were over."

"Is that what you thought?" Marty let out a cold laugh. "Scarlett, I know what you did. You lied to my mother so she would pressure me into divorcing Madge."

Scarlett's body started to shake. "I—"

"And do you think I didn't know you said those things to Madge to make her misunderstand me?" Marty pressed.

"Marty, I—"

"Enough." His voice cut through hers. "Scarlett, I don't ever want to see you again."

He took my hand and walked out without another word.

I followed him out of the restaurant, my head spinning. "Marty, what you just said—"