The CEO's Evil Wife

Chapter 5 | A Game of Caution

As Sarah walked back down the hallway, her mind still reeling from the tense encounter, she almost bumped into her friend from the PR department, Gina.

“Sarah? You okay?” Gina asked, concern furrowing her brows as she noticed the troubled look on Sarah’s face. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

She hesitated for a moment, then sighed, her shoulders slumping in exhaustion. “It’s... it’s nothing, really,” she muttered, but Gina wasn’t buying it.

“No, something happened,” Gina said, stepping closer. “You’ve been acting off since you came back from the office. What’s going on?”

Sarah glanced around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear, then lowered her voice. “It’s Mrs. Morgan. She—” Sarah paused, clearly frustrated. “She asked me to make coffee for her, and it was... weird. Almost like she was punishing me for something. She—she said I was too close to James, and it felt like she was accusing me of something I didn’t do.”

Gina’s expression softened, her eyes narrowing with understanding. She leaned in slightly. “Oh, wow. That’s... typical Veronica, honestly.”

Sarah blinked, surprised by her friend’s reaction. “You know her well?”

Gina nodded, folding her arms across her chest. “We’ve been around the same circles, and I’ve seen how she treats people. Mrs. Morgan isn’t exactly known for being warm.” She raised an eyebrow knowingly. “You’re not the first person she’s given a hard time to.”

Sarah looked at her, her curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”

Gina glanced around quickly, making sure no one was listening, and then dropped her voice. “Look, James might be the face of the company, but Veronica is the one who pulls the strings behind the scenes. She’s cold—calculating, even. And her attitude toward everyone outside her inner circle? It's harsh. She's not the kind of woman who shows much kindness. She likes to keep people in their place, especially women who might be too close to her husband.”

Sarah felt a small pang of surprise and unease. “But... James never talks about it. He always seems so respectful toward her. I mean, he's married to her, right?”

Mia chuckled bitterly, shaking her head. “Yeah, well, he’s unlucky in that regard. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure he cares for her in some way, but she’s not an easy person to live with. She’s got this... way of keeping people at arm’s length. I think deep down, James wishes she could be a little more human sometimes, you know? But, it is what it is.” She gave Sarah a sympathetic smile. “Honestly, it sounds like you're just doing your job, and I’m sure that’s all it was. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Veronica saw things differently. She’s just one of those people.”

Sarah stood there for a moment, processing what Gina had said. The weight of the conversation felt like a heavy cloud in her mind, and she sighed. “I don’t know. It just feels... wrong, you know? I’m just here to work.”

“I get it,” Gina said, offering her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Just don’t let her get to you. Veronica may be cold, but she’s also stuck in her own world. Keep your head down, do your job, and let her play her games. She can’t keep that act up forever.”

Sarah managed a small smile. “Thanks, Gina. I needed to hear that.”

Her friend gave her a wink. “Anytime. And hey, if you need to vent, you know where I am.”

With that, Sarah nodded and headed back toward her desk, her thoughts still swirling. Gina’s words had provided a small measure of comfort, but the tension with Veronica was far from resolved. She would have to find a way to navigate the icy atmosphere in the office—without getting caught in the crossfire.

—

"Veronica, I understand you have your reasons for the way you handle things, but... you need to be a bit more mindful of how you treat people here."

Veronica raised an eyebrow, her lips pressing together as she met his gaze. "What do you mean by that?"

"The rumors," James continued, his tone gentle but firm, "People are talking about your... approach. They say you're cold, unapproachable. And frankly, some are afraid of you."

Veronica leaned forward, her posture stiffening. "So, what, you're telling me to smile and pretend to be someone I'm not?"

"No," James replied, shaking his head slightly, "But kindness doesn't hurt. If people are afraid of you, they're not going to be as loyal or as productive. You need them to trust you, not fear you."

Veronica crossed her arms, the words sinking in but her pride unwilling to let them go. "I don't need their trust. I don't need them to like me. I just need them to do their jobs."

He sighed, knowing that Veronica’s pragmatism often overshadowed her understanding of human connection. "I get it, you're here to work and make things run smoothly. But remember, this company is built on relationships. If you keep treating people like they're beneath you, you'll be left with nothing but yes-men and empty walls."

She looked away, her gaze sharp, but this time, there was a flicker of reflection in her eyes. "I didn't realize my attitude was causing that much of a stir. But I'm not here to make friends, James. I'm here to make sure everything runs as it should."

"I know," he said softly, his tone softening. "But sometimes, being a leader means knowing when to show some warmth. Trust me on this one. People will work harder for you if they feel respected, not just used."

The silence lingered, both of them considering his words. Veronica, ever the strategist, weighed the cost of changing her approach. Could she afford to soften her demeanor without compromising her position?

James paused for a moment, his fingers drumming lightly on the desk as he considered his next words carefully. Then, looking directly at her, he added, "And you don't have to worry, Veronica. I know there's been a lot of talk around here, but you should know this—I'm not interested in anyone else."

Veronica tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing in silent question.

He met her gaze, his expression firm and serious. "I'm a married man, and I intend to stay loyal to our marriage. Whatever rumors you’ve heard or whatever people might think, none of that changes how I feel. My commitment is to you, and only to you."

The room fell silent again, but this time there was a different tension in the air. Veronica, though she had expected some form of reassurance, found herself unsure of how to respond. She had always kept her walls up, but for once, his words softened them, just a little.

"I know that, James," she finally replied, though her voice was quieter, the edge of defensiveness that had accompanied her earlier words now gone. "But you should understand—it's not just about us. It's about keeping the appearance of what we have together. People are watching."

James leaned forward, his eyes never leaving hers. "And they always will. But at the end of the day, what matters is what’s between us, Veronica. Not what others think, not what rumors they spread. We have a marriage built on something real—something that's not defined by office gossip."

Veronica’s lips parted, as though she might say something, but for once, the words didn't come. She simply nodded, absorbing his reassurance, and perhaps—just a little—letting herself believe in it.