I concealed my true identity and started working at my husband’s company. During lunch, I accidentally took a sip from his cup. His secretary stormed over, sl3pped me across the face, and shouted, “How dare you drink from my husband’s cup!” At that very moment, my husband walked into the room…

I looked at him.

“Is she essential to Hartwell Industries, Julian? Or is she essential to you?”

He didn’t answer.

That silence was enough.

Then he said something that hurt far more than I expected.

“Celeste understands the pressures I deal with. She knows what it takes to manage a company like this. You wouldn’t understand.”

I stared at the wedding ring on his hand.

“Does she know you’re married?”

He glanced toward the door.

“She knows what she needs to know.”

I felt something inside me become very still.

I didn’t argue.

I simply turned and left.

By early afternoon, rumors were spreading throughout the building.

Apparently, Celeste had been telling employees that I’d behaved inappropriately toward Julian and attempted to take advantage of my access to the executive dining room.

One colleague quietly warned me that Celeste was determined to have me dismissed.