My Boss Is My Husband .. He Rejects me

Chapter 6: Secrets and Rumors

The office buzzed with whispers before Ariana even reached her desk. Papers shuffled, keyboards clicked, and the low hum of voices seemed to carry secrets meant to unsettle her. She had quickly learned that in this company, information was power, and gossip was the sharpest weapon.

Her steps faltered as someone passed by. “Did you hear? The CEO’s wife is working here now… and he hates her.”

Ariana’s chest tightened. Hates me? She forced herself to keep walking, pretending not to hear. The stares, the murmurs—they were all eyes on her now. Every misstep she made would be noted, every hesitation analyzed.

By mid-morning, her inbox overflowed. Reports, schedules, meeting reminders—none of it shocking except for the subtle undertone in every email she sent: be careful, or he’ll notice.

Ethan appeared in the hallway, as inevitable as sunrise. His gaze cut across the floor, and she felt the magnetic pull of his presence. Do not look at him too long, she scolded herself. Yet when their eyes met, the office seemed to quiet around them, the space between them electric.

“Why are you still here?” he asked softly, stopping near her desk.

Ariana blinked. “I… had work to finish.”

His lips pressed into a thin line. “Careful. Mistakes don’t go unnoticed here. Neither do delays.”

Her stomach tightened, but she nodded. “Understood.”

He moved on, but the tension lingered, curling around her like smoke. She tried to focus, diving into spreadsheets and reports, but her phone buzzed incessantly with messages from colleagues: whispers of dinner dates, company gossip, and questions about her “relationship” with the CEO.

Lunch was no relief. She ate quickly at her desk, eyes darting at the shadows, expecting him to appear at any moment. And of course, he did.

“Working late again?” he asked, leaning slightly over her desk. Ariana nearly dropped her pen. His presence was overpowering, his cologne—sharp and intoxicating—filling her senses.

“I… I have deadlines,” she replied, trying to sound composed.

He watched her for a heartbeat, expression unreadable. Then, unexpectedly, he straightened and walked away, leaving a lingering tension in his wake.

The afternoon brought a meeting with clients, and Ariana found herself side by side with him at the conference table. Every word he spoke was measured, precise, commanding. Yet when their hands brushed as they passed papers, a small spark—frighteningly human—flared within her.

She looked away, heart hammering. He rejects it. Don’t forget.

At home that evening, the whispers from the office followed her like shadows. Her father eyed her carefully during dinner, asking pointed questions about her day. “Are you adjusting well? Are you… keeping up with him?”

Ariana gritted her teeth. “I’m managing, father.”

Her mother shot her a worried glance, silent but pleading. Be careful. Don’t let it consume you.

Later, in her room, Ariana’s phone buzzed again. A single line from Ethan: Meet me in the office after hours.

Her heart skipped. Alone, after hours… her mind raced with possibilities. She knew she should ignore it. She knew she should stay safe. But curiosity—dangerous, thrilling, impossible to resist—pushed her toward the inevitable.

Tomorrow would bring another day of whispers, rumors, and office tension—but tonight, the thought of seeing him alone made her pulse race and her chest tighten in ways she didn’t fully understand.

And somewhere deep inside, Ariana realized that surviving Ethan Black—and the secrets he held—was only the beginning.