The CEO's Evil Wife

Chapter 6 | Inquiring Eyes

Veronica sat behind her desk, her posture impeccable as always. After leaving James’ office, she needed to relax her mind. The mid-morning sunlight streamed through the glass windows of her office, casting a soft glow on the polished wood and the faintly scented lilies in a vase by her side. Her assistant, Leanne, stood before her, tablet in hand, ready to answer the inquiries she knew were coming.

“Leanne,” Veronica began, her voice steady but laced with an edge of curiosity. “I need a detailed update on everything that happened in this company during my absence.”

Leanne hesitated for the briefest of moments. Though she was accustomed to Veronica’s sharp intellect and high expectations, something about her tone suggested this wasn’t a routine review. “Of course, Mrs. Morgan,” she said quickly, scrolling through her notes. “All the projects have been proceeding as planned. The merger talks with Klein Industries are in their final stages, and the team has submitted the revised proposal you requested before you left.”

Veronica nodded, her expression unreadable. “And the employees? Any… disruptions?”

Leanne paused, choosing her words carefully. “There have been a few whispers, ma’am. Minor things, of course. Nothing that would affect productivity.”

Veronica’s piercing gaze fixed on her. “Whispers about what?”

“Well…” Leanne glanced at her tablet, as though it might offer her a shield. “There’s been some talk about Mr. Morgan. His… interactions with his new secretary, Sarah.”

The room seemed to grow colder. Veronica leaned back in her chair, clasping her fingers. “Go on.”

The woman cleared her throat. “It’s nothing concrete, ma’am. Just speculation. Some employees believe she’s… overly familiar with Mr. Morgan. But it’s likely just idle gossip.”

A faint smile touched Veronica’s lips, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Idle gossip has a way of growing legs and running rampant, Leanne. Anything else?”

“No, ma’am. The rest has been routine.”

She rose gracefully from her chair, walking to the window. She stared out at the city skyline, her mind churning. “Thank you, Leanne. That will be all for now. But keep your ears open. I want to know if these ‘whispers’ escalate into anything more meaningful.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Leanne turned to leave but hesitated at the door. “If I may, Mrs. Morgan…”

“Yes?”

“I’ve worked here for years, and I’ve seen how much Mr. Morgan respects you. He doesn’t seem like the type to… cheat.”

Veronica’s gaze softened, but only slightly. “Thank you, Leanne. That will be all.”

As the door closed behind her assistant, she returned to her desk. She picked up her pen but didn’t write. The whispers Leanne mentioned echoed in her mind, each one a thorn pricking her composure.

Her expression hardened. If there’s truth to any of this nonsense, she would find out soon enough.

The weight of the years she’d been away still lingered in the air, an invisible reminder of the distance that had grown between her and the company—and, perhaps, between her and James.

Despite her absence, she took solace in knowing there were still people loyal to her. People who saw her as the rightful leader of the Morgan legacy, not just a figurehead married into it. Her gaze drifted to the framed photograph on her desk—a moment frozen in time of her and James during their early years.

Their marriage had begun like a business deal, calculated and cold. Neither of them had expected anything else. But she had learned quickly that James was not a man who bent easily. His resolve was steel, his values unwavering, and his focus unshakable. It was a trait that both impressed and frustrated her.

Three years apart hadn’t changed that about him.

Yet, the whispers in the office suggested otherwise. She knew better than to let idle gossip sway her judgment, but something about the mention of James and his secretary pricked at her carefully constructed armor. Was it jealousy? Or merely the need to maintain control over what was hers?

Her lips pressed into a firm line. It didn’t matter.

James Morgan was her husband. Whatever misunderstandings or obstacles lay ahead, she was determined to face them head-on. After all, she had built her reputation on being unyielding. She wasn’t about to let anyone—whether an assistant, a secretary, or even James himself—undermine her authority or her place in his life.

With renewed focus, Veronica straightened in her chair, her hands poised over the stack of reports. She may have been away for three years, but she was back now. And nothing, no rumor or lingering doubt, would stand in her way.

—

In James’ office, Sarah stood near his desk, her tablet in hand as she meticulously reviewed his schedule for the week. Her tone was professional, though her nerves were evident in the slight tremor of her voice.

“Your meeting with the legal team is at two, sir, followed by a conference call with the New York branch at four,” she recited, eyes focused on the screen. “And tomorrow evening, there’s the gala. Mrs. Morgan mentioned she’d be attending with you.”

James nodded absently, his gaze drifting toward the city skyline visible from his office window. He appeared calm, but Sarah could sense his mind was elsewhere.

She hesitated, clutching the tablet tighter as she gathered the courage to ask what had been bothering her since her earlier encounter with Veronica. Finally, she spoke, her voice quieter now.

“Mr. Morgan, if I may…” she began tentatively, her eyes darting toward him for any sign of objection. When he turned his attention back to her, she pressed on. “How long have you been married to Mrs. Morgan?”

James’s brow arched slightly, though his expression remained neutral. “Four years,” he replied simply.

Sarah nodded slowly, her thoughts visibly churning. “I see... She’s quite an impressive woman. Very poised and confident.” She paused, biting her lip before continuing. “But… I can’t help but wonder if she has a grudge against me. I mean, the way she… spoke earlier…”

He leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped together on the desk. His gaze sharpened, though not unkindly. “Sarah, Mrs. Morgan is protective of what’s hers, and she values professionalism above all else. If she came across as harsh, it’s not personal. It’s who she is.”

“But…” She hesitated, unsure whether to continue. “It felt like she was… testing me.”

A faint smile tugged at James’s lips, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “She doesn’t test people, Sarah. She assesses them. And once she has, she decides how to handle them. If you stay focused on your work and avoid any misunderstandings, you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

Sarah nodded quickly, though her unease lingered. “Understood, sir. Thank you for clarifying.”

As Sarah stepped out of James’ office, she let out a small sigh, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she walked briskly toward the elevator. Her head was down, preoccupied with the weight of her earlier conversation, and she failed to notice the figure lingering in the shadowed corner just a few feet away.

Leanne stood there, her arms crossed casually, though her sharp eyes followed Sarah’s retreating form with an air of curiosity. It wasn’t unusual to see Sarah leaving James’s office—after all, she was his secretary—but something about her demeanor caught Leanne’s attention. The nervousness, the slight hesitation in her step—it all fed into the rumors swirling around the office.

Leanne’s lips curved into a thoughtful smile as she leaned against the wall, her mind racing with the latest gossip. The whispers had started even before Veronica returned, but now that Mrs. Morgan was back, the tension in the air was noticeable. It wasn’t just the staff who were on edge. Leanne had caught wind that Veronica had already begun gathering information about what transpired in her absence.

"Interesting," Leanne murmured to herself, her gaze lingering on Sarah until she disappeared down the hallway.