The girl boss

Stock Market War

By morning, Carter Tech was bleeding.

News articles. "CEO Distracted by Marriage." "Company Unstable."

My board was panicking. My investors were calling.

And Malik was sitting across from me at breakfast like nothing happened.

"Eat," he said, pushing eggs toward me.

"Did you do this?" I asked.

He didn’t even flinch. "Do what?"

"Crash my stock."

"Siddiqa." He said my name like a weapon. "If I wanted to destroy you, you’d already be destroyed."

I wanted to believe him.

I didn’t.

"I’m going to the office," I said, standing up.

"I’ll drive you."

"I have a driver."

"And I have a reputation to protect. We’re married, remember?"

The car ride was silent torture.

His hand rested on the console. Close to mine.

I wanted to slap it away. I wanted to hold it.

At Carter Tech, chaos.

"Ma’am, we lost 3 clients overnight."

"Ma’am, the board wants a statement."

I was about to speak when Malik walked in.

In my office. Behind my desk.

"What are you doing?" I hissed.

"Saving your company," he said calmly. "Hello everyone. I’m Malik Ashford. And I’m here to announce that Ashford Group is investing 200 million into Carter Tech."

The room went silent.

"You can’t—"

"I just did." He looked at me. "You’re welcome, wife."

That night, I couldn’t sleep.

Because he saved me.

Because I hated that he saved me.

Because somewhere in this penthouse, a man I was supposed to hate was becoming the only person I trusted.

And because Leo asked over video call: "Mommy, when do I meet Daddy?"

I had no answer.