Chapter 2: Cold Boss, Secret Husband
522 Words
For the whole week, I felt like I was walking on eggshells.
Working as Lucas Montenegro’s secretary was no joke. He was every bit as cold, strict, and terrifying as everyone said he was. He never smiled. He never spoke more than necessary. Every instruction was sharp, every correction icy.
"Miss Santos, this report is unacceptable," he said, tossing the paper back to me without even looking up. "Do it again. And do it right this time."
I swallowed hard, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. "Yes, Sir. I’m sorry, Sir."
Inside, I wanted to scream. You don’t have to be so mean! I’m your wife, for heaven’s sake!
But of course, I couldn’t say that. Here, I was just Mia Santos, the new employee. At home... well, "home" was a big, luxurious mansion where we lived under the same roof, but acted like strangers.
We had agreed on the rules:
1. No one must know about our marriage.
2. We live separate lives; he stays in his wing, I stay in mine.
3. We only meet formally if our parents are visiting.
So every night, when I came home exhausted from work, I would see him in the living room or dining area. He would glance at me—cold, indifferent, as if I were just another person passing by.
"Good evening," I would say softly.
He would only nod once, then look back at his phone or his documents.
It hurt. It hurt more than I expected. Because even though this marriage was just a contract... I was slowly falling for him. Falling for the man who treated me like dirt at the office, and a ghost at home.
One afternoon, I was carrying a stack of heavy files when I tripped over the carpet. Papers flew everywhere, scattering across the floor.
I froze. And then I saw black leather shoes step right in front of me.
I looked up. There he was. Lucas. Standing tall, his expression darker than a storm.
"Are you always this clumsy, Miss Santos?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.
"I... I’m sorry, Sir. It was an accident," I stammered, scrambling to pick them up.
Suddenly, he bent down. To my shock, he helped me gather the papers. His hand touched mine for a split second. His skin was warm... very warm.
For a brief moment, his eyes locked onto mine. There was something there—something I couldn’t read. Curiosity? Confusion? Or was it just my imagination?
"Be more careful next time," he said quietly. Then he stood up, turned around, and walked away as if nothing happened.
I stayed there, sitting on the floor, my heart beating so fast I thought it would burst out of my chest.
He touched me.
My husband just touched me... and scolded me... and helped me.
And deep down, I knew... this was only the beginning. The secrets between us were getting deeper, and my feelings were getting stronger.
But what would happen when he finally realized... the woman he was starting to notice at work... was the same woman he was married to?
- Writer
