Chapter 5: "The Ex and the Statement"
351 Words
The Hale Group annual gala was mandatory.
For employees. For investors.
For the CEO and his wife.
Aria stared at the black dress from the box. Sleeveless. Silk. It hit mid-thigh.
Professional at the office. Dangerous tonight.
She didn’t do makeup. Damian had sent a stylist anyway.
By 7PM, her hair was up. Diamond earrings she was told to "wear and return" were in her ears.
Damian was waiting downstairs. Tux. No tie.
His eyes swept over her once. And stopped.
"Good," was all he said. But his jaw tightened.
The ballroom was all glass and gold. Cameras. Champagne.
And her.
Selena.
Damian’s ex. Red dress. Arm candy on a board member.
She saw Aria. And smiled.
“Well well,” Selena walked straight to them. Kissed the air near Damian’s cheek.
“Damian. And who’s this? The new secretary?”
The room went quiet. People were listening.
Aria opened her mouth.
Damian spoke first. Cold. Final.
“This is Mrs. Hale,” he said. His hand went to the small of Aria’s back. Possessive.
“My wife.”
Selena laughed. “Right. The contract wife. How long is that again? One year?”
Aria felt her face burn.
Damian’s grip on her didn’t change.
“One year,” he said. “And 364 days left.”
He looked down at Aria. Only at her.
“Long enough.”
He turned them away. Dismissed.
But before they left, he added over his shoulder:
“And she doesn’t answer to 'secretary'. She answers to me.”
The whole room heard it.
Later, on the balcony, Aria was shaking.
“Why did you do that?” she whispered. “You didn’t have to—”
Damian handed her champagne. “Rule #2. Look like my wife.”
He paused. “You did.”
Then softer: “And no one talks about you like that. Not while you’re mine.”
Aria took the glass. Her hand brushed his.
364 days.
But his eyes said he wanted to make it permanent.
Inside, the party kept going.
Outside, the contract felt a lot less fake.
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- Writer
