THE CEO SERECT WIFE

CHAPTER 8: OFFICE GOSSIP

"Is that her?"

"That’s the new Mrs. Sterling."

"She doesn’t even look like she belongs here."

I heard them the second I stepped into Sterling Group.

Day 1 as "Jake’s assistant" and the entire 40th floor already knew.

My navy dress felt too tight. My heels clicked too loud.

I kept my head down and walked straight to Jake’s office.

His door was open.

"Morning," I said.

Jake looked up from 3 laptops and 5 files.

"You’re early."

"You said 9AM sharp," I said, sitting at my desk.

He almost smiled. "Good. First task: Coffee. Black. No sugar.

And fire anyone who asks you dumb questions."

I laughed. "Yes, boss."

---

By 10AM, I understood why he was stressed.

Acquisitions. Legal issues. A scandal with a supplier.

That’s when she walked in.

Tall. Red dress. Heels that cost more than my rent.

Perfect hair. Perfect smile.

"Is Jake in?" she asked, not even looking at me.

"He’s on a call," I said. "Can I help you?"

She finally looked at me. Up and down.

"I’m Amara Okafor. VP of Marketing. And Jake’s... friend."

The pause was intentional.

"One second," I said, knocking on Jake’s door.

He opened it immediately.

"Amara’s here," I said.

Jake’s expression didn’t change. "Send her in."

Amara brushed past me. Perfume so strong it made me dizzy.

10 minutes later, Amara stormed out. She stopped at my desk.

"You," she said. "Don’t get comfortable.

Men like Jake get bored of girls like you in a month."

---

Lunch was worse.

I went to the cafeteria alone. Every table went quiet.

"She’s just a student."

"I heard her mom is sick. That’s why Jake married her."

"Contract marriage. It’s obvious."

I put my food down. Lost my appetite.

And that’s when Jake appeared.

"There you are," he said, sitting next to me.

Everyone stared.

"What are you doing?" I whispered.

"I do now," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear.

He pushed his plate to the middle. "Share?"

After lunch, Jake closed the office door.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Fine," I lied.

"Isabella."

I looked down. "They’re right. I don’t belong here."

Jake kneeled in front of my chair.

"They’re jealous," he said. "Because you have something they don’t.

Me."

---

The meeting room was full.

Amara was presenting.

Until she got to slide 12.

My face appeared on the screen.

A photo. From the hospital. Me, crying, holding my mom’s hand.

Someone had leaked it.

The room went silent.

Amara smiled sweetly. "We thought it would be inspiring.

A CEO’s wife, so humble. So... real."

Jake stood up. "Delete that slide," he said. Quiet. Dangerous.

"Jake, I was just—"

"DELETE IT."

After the meeting, Jake walked me back to the office.

"Are you mad?" I asked.

"At them? Yes," he said. "At you? Never."

He handed me his jacket. "Come on. Let’s go home."

In the elevator, Jake took my hand.

"Ignore them," he said. "All of them."

One month.

But the office already thought we were forever.