Chapter 7: The Morning After Victoria's Visit
387 Words
I woke up to silence.
No Evan. No city noise. Just me in his guest room, still wearing his shirt.
28 days left on the contract.
The kitchen smelled like coffee. Evan was there, in a suit already. Tie perfect. CEO mask back on.
“Morning,” he said without looking at me.
“Morning.”
We ate breakfast like strangers. Toast. Coffee. Nothing like the pizza on the floor last night.
“About Victoria,” he started.
“You don’t have to explain,” I cut him off. “It’s in the contract. 30 days. That’s all.”
His jaw ticked. “That’s not what I—”
His phone rang. “CEO Cross.”
He listened, then cursed. “I’ll be there in 20.”
He hung up and looked at me. “Board emergency. Come with me.”
The boardroom was full when we walked in. Victoria was at the head of the table.
“Ah, the wife,” she said. “Right on time.”
“Cut it,” Evan snapped. “What’s the emergency?”
“The fire was not an accident,” Victoria said. She slid a folder across the table. “Arson. And the police want to talk to the CEO.”
The room gasped.
Evan didn’t even blink. “Then I’ll talk to them.”
“You can’t,” Victoria said. “Not with this scandal. A contract marriage? A warehouse fire on day one? The shareholders will pull out.”
All eyes turned to me. Like it was my fault.
Evan stepped in front of me. “My wife has nothing to do with this.”
“Doesn’t she?” Victoria smiled. “She ran into the fire. Very convenient.”
That’s when I understood. This wasn’t about the company.
This was about me.
Evan turned to me. His eyes were serious. “Do you trust me?”
I thought of the fire. The pizza. The way he looked at me last night.
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Good,” he said. Then to the board: “Meeting adjourned. My wife and I have a police statement to give.”
And just like that, the Accidental CEO chose me.
In front of everyone.
But as we walked out, I wondered...
Was I dragging him down with me?
- Writer
