THE CEO SERECT WIFE

chapter 13 :Jake ex return

The Sterling Group lobby was packed.

I was carrying 2 files to Jake’s office when I saw her.

Tall. Blonde. Designer suit.

Standing right at the reception desk like she owned the place.

"Can I help you?" the receptionist asked.

"Tell Jake I’m here," she said. "He’ll want to see me."

Her voice was familiar. Too familiar.

Then she turned. And saw me.

Her smile dropped.

"You," she said. "You’re the... wife."

---

"Victoria," Jake said from his office door. His voice was flat.

"Jake," Victoria said, rushing to hug him.

He stepped back. "What are you doing here?"

"I came back for you," she said. Loud. So everyone could hear.

"New York was boring without you."

The entire floor went quiet.

I stood there with the files, frozen.

Jake’s eyes found mine. "Isabella, can you come in?"

---

Inside his office, Victoria didn’t wait.

"I missed you," she said to Jake. "We were good together."

"We were never good," Jake said. "We were convenient."

"That’s not true," Victoria snapped. Then looked at me.

"And this? A contract marriage? Really Jake?"

Jake stood up. "Don’t talk about my wife."

"Your WIFE?" Victoria laughed. "For how long? A month?

I know you, Jake. You don’t do forever."

---

After Victoria left, the office was tense.

"Are you okay?" Jake asked me.

"Fine," I said. "She seems... nice."

"She’s not,"