A Wife’s First Lie
1185 Words
The cameras flashed relentlessly.
Questions flew from every direction.
“Miss Brooks!”
“Did you marry him for money?”
“How long have you been dating?”
“Were you secretly engaged?”
Naomi’s pulse thundered in her ears.
Every television camera in America seemed to be pointed directly at her.
She looked at Jaxon.
He gave the smallest nod.
It wasn’t a command.
It was reassurance.
She took a slow breath.
Then faced the reporters.
“I didn’t marry Jaxon because of his money.”
The crowd quieted instantly.
“I married him because I love him.”
For a split second, complete silence fell over the entrance of the Hayes estate.
Then dozens of reporters began shouting again.
“When did you meet?”
“Why keep the marriage secret?”
“Were you afraid of public reaction?”
Naomi kept her smile steady, even though her hands were trembling.
“We wanted something that belonged only to us.”
“Our relationship has always been private.”
“We never wanted fame.”
One reporter stepped closer.
“But you’re a waitress.”
“He’s America’s biggest football star.”
“How did that happen?”
Naomi smiled.
“I didn’t fall in love with a celebrity.”
“I fell in love with a man.”
Beside her, Jaxon glanced at her in surprise.
Even he hadn’t expected that answer.
The crowd erupted with murmurs.
Another reporter spoke.
“Mr. Hayes, is your wife planning to quit her job?”
Jaxon answered without hesitation.
“That’s Naomi’s decision.”
Everyone looked back at her.
She straightened her shoulders.
“My career doesn’t define my value.”
“If I continue working, it’ll be because I choose to.”
“If I stop, it’ll also be my choice.”
The reporters scribbled notes.
Another microphone appeared in front of her.
“Mrs. Hayes.”
The title still sounded strange.
“What was your first impression of Jaxon?”
Naomi laughed softly.
“I thought he was arrogant.”
The reporters burst into laughter.
Even Jaxon smiled.
“And now?” someone asked.
She turned toward him.
Now she had to sell the lie.
She looked into his eyes.
For one long moment, she forgot the cameras.
Forgot the reporters.
Forgot everything except the man standing beside her.
“I realized…”
She spoke quietly.
“That people aren’t always who the world thinks they are.”
Jaxon’s expression softened.
Something changed in his eyes.
Something warm.
Something she couldn’t explain.
A reporter shouted another question.
“Mr. Hayes!”
“When did you know she was the one?”
Jaxon looked at Naomi before answering.
“The first day she challenged me.”
Naomi blinked.
That wasn’t part of their story.
“You like being challenged?” another reporter asked.
“I like honesty.”
He continued looking at Naomi.
“And she has never been afraid to tell me the truth.”
Her heart skipped.
For a dangerous moment, it didn’t feel like they were pretending.
Arthur stepped forward.
“That’s all for today.”
Security began guiding them toward the waiting vehicles.
The reporters continued shouting questions.
“Are you planning children?”
“Will there be a public wedding?”
“What about your honeymoon?”
The doors of the black SUV closed behind them.
The noise disappeared.
Naomi leaned back against the seat.
Then let out the longest breath of her life.
“I survived.”
Jaxon chuckled.
“You did more than survive.”
“You were incredible.”
She laughed nervously.
“I thought I was going to faint.”
“You looked completely confident.”
“I was acting.”
“So was I.”
Their eyes met.
Neither of them looked away.
Arthur interrupted from the front seat.
“Sir.”
“The team owner has moved the meeting to the stadium.”
Jaxon nodded.
“Let’s go.”
An hour later, the SUV pulled into the underground parking garage of Hayes Stadium.
Security guards lined the entrance.
Employees stopped what they were doing to stare.
Some smiled.
Some whispered.
Others openly gossiped.
Naomi heard fragments as they walked by.
“That’s really his wife.”
“She’s prettier than I expected.”
“I thought he’d marry a model.”
“I heard she’s just a waitress.”
The last comment stung.
Jaxon suddenly stopped walking.
He turned toward the small group of employees.
“I’d like to make something clear.”
The hallway fell silent.
“My wife deserves the same respect every person in this organization receives.”
His voice was calm.
But firm.
“Anyone who cannot do that answers to me.”
No one spoke.
The employees quickly apologized.
Naomi looked at him in surprise.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did.”
“They were only talking.”
“They were disrespecting you.”
She smiled faintly.
“No one has ever stood up for me like that.”
His expression softened.
“They’ll think twice before doing it again.”
For the first time since signing the contract, Naomi felt… safe.
Not because of the mansion.
Not because of the money.
Because someone had chosen to protect her.
They entered the owner’s office.
A tall man in his sixties stood by the window.
His expensive suit couldn’t hide the frustration on his face.
“So.”
He turned around.
“This is your wife.”
Jaxon nodded.
“Yes.”
The owner walked toward Naomi.
His expression softened.
“It’s nice to finally meet you.”
She shook his hand.
“You too, sir.”
He sighed.
“I’ll be honest.”
“I was furious an hour ago.”
“But after seeing that press conference…”
He looked at Jaxon.
“You may have just saved this season.”
Naomi frowned.
“I don’t understand.”
The owner smiled.
“The public loves you.”
She blinked.
“What?”
“Our social media numbers have exploded.”
He handed Jaxon a tablet.
Naomi leaned closer.
Millions of people had already watched the press conference.
Comments flooded every platform.
They look adorable together.
She seems genuine.
Protect this woman at all costs.
Jaxon has never smiled like this before.
Naomi stared at the screen in disbelief.
“They actually believe us.”
The owner laughed.
“They’re obsessed with you.”
He turned serious again.
“Which is exactly why there’s a problem.”
Jaxon’s smile disappeared.
“What happened?”
The owner placed another file on the desk.
“This arrived thirty minutes ago.”
Jaxon opened it.
His face darkened instantly.
Naomi noticed the color drain from his face.
“What is it?”
He slowly handed her the first page.
It was a photograph.
A picture of Naomi.
Leaving the restaurant.
Taken that very morning.
Across the photo, someone had written three chilling words in thick red ink.
SHE MUST DIE.
Naomi’s hands began to shake.
Someone wasn’t just watching them.
Someone was hunting her.
- Writer
