Chapter 1
I accidentally came across a post on social media. My aloof, self-controlled husband, Leo, whom I married for convenience, was actually out having dinner alone with his new assistant. And the post was from the assistant herself.
The post title read: [Me and My CEO: Little Stories]
The comments section was full of people wishing them "forever and ever."
It seemed my three-year marriage was about to hit the rocks.
*****
I scrolled past a post titled: [Me and My CEO: Little Stories]
Since I'm a total sucker for those sweet CEO romance stories, I couldn't help but click in.
But when I saw the picture, my fangirl grin froze on my face.
The photo showed a man's hand.
I noticed the spot of the mole and the style of the ring on his ring finger.
I realized it was Leo's hand.
Leo was my husband, the one I married for a business deal.
The comments section was full of people shipping them.
One commented: [OMG, this is so sweet.]
Another commented: [This is giving me life.]
Someone commented: [Is this seriously a CEO romance come to life?]
I started checking out the rest of her posts.
Most of them had a couple of pics, usually just the back view or a hand.
One post read: [My CEO told me again today not to work so late. Guess I'll skip the overtime next time, or he'll just end up worrying about me again.]
She followed it up with a bunch of guilty-looking emojis.
I kept scrolling, and one photo really caught my eye.
It was shot from the perspective of someone sitting across from a man.
One couldn't see the man's face, but one could just tell that he was someone important.
The caption read: [I was so busy at work today that I totally forgot to eat lunch. Just grabbed a snack to tide me over, but tonight, my CEO took me out for a fancy dinner.]
There were a bunch of selfies of a girl grinning with the food.
The girl looked fresh out of college.
Her smile was super sweet, with those soft dimples that popped up at the corners of her lips.
The post was from a week ago.
I recognized that restaurant.
A few days ago, Leo and I had our third anniversary dinner at that very restaurant.
They even ordered the same dishes we did.
So Leo took someone else there first, and only brought me afterward.
But Leo was always strict about boundaries. He never dined alone with female staff.
My instincts were screaming that our three-year marriage was about to fall apart.
I wasn't about to pretend I didn't see it.
Ever since I was a kid, my dad always told me: I, Claire Stone, never had to take crap from anyone.
I went straight to Leo's company.
And wouldn't one know it, the girl herself was the one who greeted me.
She acted all friendly the moment she saw me.
She said, "Hey, you must be Claire.
"I'm Nora Lane, Mr. Goodman's new assistant.
"Are you here to see—"
I cut her off. I said, "Nora, this is a company. Just call me Mrs. Goodman, like everyone else.
"And honestly, we're not really that close."
Just then, Leo walked in.
He brushed it off, trying to keep things light. He said, "It's just a name, Claire. No need to get so sensitive."
"But Mrs. Goodman, I asked Mr. Goodman before, and he said it makes things feel more friendly," Nora protested, giving Leo a pleading look.
"Honestly, I don't like it, and I don't want to be chummy with my husband's assistant," I replied.
Nora's smile faded, and she looked like she was on the verge of tears.
Just then, Leo's phone rang, pulling him away. He had a meeting to get to.
"Nora, go get ready for the meeting," Leo instructed.
I still remembered exactly why I was here.
"Leo, can you switch out for someone else? I need a word with Nora," I said.
As soon as I said that, Nora's expression grew even darker, and she glanced at Leo, hoping he'd step in.
Leo didn't respond to her at all.
He said, "Alright, I'll get someone else."
Nora quietly trailed after me.
I didn't beat around the bush. I pulled up the post on my phone and showed it to her.
I demanded, "This is your account, isn't it?"