The CEO's secret wife

Elena Carter stood outside the Blackwood Corporation building with one hand wrapped tightly around the strap of her handbag and the other pressed against the small silver ring hidden beneath her glove. The enormous glass building rose above her like a monument to power, its dark windows reflecting the gray morning sky. People in expensive suits hurried through the revolving doors, phones pressed against their ears, assistants following behind them with tablets and folders. Nobody paid attention to the young woman standing quietly at the entrance, and Elena preferred it that way. For three years, she had lived in the shadows of one of the most powerful men in the city. She had learned how to smile when people asked why she was always alone. She had learned how to swallow the hurt whenever someone called Alexander Blackwood a bachelor. Most importantly, she had learned that being a wife meant nothing when the world didn't even know you existed. She looked down at her left hand. The ring was simple compared to the enormous diamonds worn by the women who worked inside the building, but to Elena, it was worth more than every piece of jewelry in the world. Alexander had slipped it onto her finger three years ago on a rainy evening in a tiny private ceremony. There had been no photographers, no reporters, no family members, and no grand celebration. Just the two of them, a marriage certificate, two witnesses, and promises they had made beneath the soft glow of candlelight. I will protect you, Alexander had whispered that night. Even if the whole world turns against me, I will never let anyone hurt you. Elena had believed him. She had believed every word. But lately, something had changed. She couldn't explain it, but the man she had married was slowly becoming a stranger. Elena took a deep breath and pushed through the revolving doors. The receptionist looked up immediately. “Good morning. Do you have an appointment?” Elena forced a polite smile. “Yes. I'm here to see Mr. Blackwood.” The receptionist glanced at her computer. “Name?” “Elena Carter.” The woman's fingers moved across the keyboard before she frowned. “I'm sorry, Miss Carter. I don't see your name on his schedule.” Elena's heart sank, though she had expected that answer. “Please call his assistant. He knows I'm coming.” The receptionist studied her suspiciously. “Do you have an appointment with Mr. Blackwood?” Elena hesitated. There were so many things she could say. I'm his wife. Three simple words. Three words she had been forbidden from saying publicly. Instead, she answered, “It's personal.” The receptionist's expression changed slightly. “Mr. Blackwood doesn't accept personal visitors without an appointment.” Before Elena could respond, a familiar voice came from behind her. “Mrs. Carter?” Elena turned. Daniel Reed, Alexander's personal assistant, was walking toward her with a surprised expression. Daniel had been one of the few people who knew about their marriage from the beginning. He was also one of the few people Elena trusted. “Daniel,” she said quietly. He stopped in front of her and lowered his voice. “What are you doing here?” “I need to see Alexander.” Daniel glanced toward the receptionist before looking back at her. “You know he has a board meeting in less than twenty minutes.” “I know.” Elena's fingers tightened around her handbag. “I won't keep him long.” Daniel's expression softened. “Is everything okay?” She wanted to say no. She wanted to tell him that she had barely slept for three nights because Alexander had stopped coming home. She wanted to tell him that yesterday she had waited until midnight before finally falling asleep on the couch, only to wake up at three in the morning and discover that he still wasn't there. She wanted to tell him about the woman whose name had appeared on Alexander's phone again and again. Instead, she simply said, “I need to talk to my husband.” Daniel looked at her for a moment before nodding. “Come with me.” Elena followed him toward the private elevator. As the doors opened, Daniel stepped inside and pressed the top-floor button. Once the doors closed, Elena finally released the breath she had been holding. “Daniel.” “Yes?” “Has Alexander been okay?” Daniel looked at her reflection in the polished elevator wall. “He's been under a lot of pressure.” “That's not what I asked.” Daniel remained silent. Elena turned toward him. “Is there something you're not telling me?” “Nothing that I'm supposed to discuss.” Her heart tightened. “So there is something.” Daniel sighed. “Elena, whatever you're worried about, don't make a decision based on fear.” She stared at him. “What does that mean?” Before he could answer, the elevator doors opened. Daniel's expression immediately became professional. “His office is at the end of the corridor.” Elena nodded and stepped out. The atmosphere on the executive floor was completely different from the lobby. It was quiet, almost unnaturally quiet. Employees moved carefully, speaking in low voices as if even a whisper might disturb the king of the building. At the end of the corridor stood a pair of enormous black doors. Alexander's office. Elena had entered those doors countless times as his wife, but always through a private entrance. Today, she walked toward them through the main corridor for the first time. Daniel stopped her before she could reach the door. “He's inside.” “Thank you.” Daniel hesitated. “Elena.” She looked back. “Yes?” “Whatever happens in there, remember that you are his wife.” A sad smile touched her lips. “Sometimes I wonder if he remembers that.” She opened the door. Alexander Blackwood stood with his back toward her, staring through the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his broad shoulders straight and his hands tucked into his pockets. Even from behind, Elena knew every detail of him. She knew the way he slightly tilted his head when he was thinking. She knew the faint scar near his right wrist. She knew that he hated coffee without sugar but pretended to like it because she loved making it for him. She knew that when he was angry, his jaw tightened before he spoke. She knew everything about him. At least, she thought she did. “Alexander.” He turned. His eyes landed on her, and for a brief second, something unreadable crossed his face. Then it disappeared. “Elena.” His voice was cold. Not angry. Not loving. Just distant. The distance hurt more than anger ever could. “I came to see you.” “I can see that.” “I waited for you last night.” Alexander walked toward his desk. “I was busy.” “You didn't call.” “I didn't have time.” Elena stared at him. “You didn't have five seconds to tell your wife you weren't coming home?” His expression hardened. “We're not doing this here.” “Then where, Alexander? At home? The home you've barely visited this week?” He stopped and looked at her. “I have a company to run.” “And I have a marriage to save.” Silence filled the room. Elena swallowed the lump in her throat. “What is happening to us?” Alexander looked away. “Nothing is happening.” “That's a lie.” His eyes snapped back to hers. “Be careful.” She almost laughed because she couldn't believe the man standing before her was the same man who once held her face between his hands and promised that she was the only woman he would ever love. “You don't even look at me the same way anymore.” Alexander's expression remained unreadable. “You're imagining things.” “Am I?” Elena stepped closer. “Then explain the calls. Explain the late nights. Explain why you suddenly have secrets from me.” His jaw tightened. “There are things you don't need to know.” Her heart cracked a little more. “I'm your wife.” “I know.” The answer came too quickly, too coldly. Elena stared at him. “Do you?” Alexander said nothing. She reached into her handbag and pulled out a small envelope. “Then maybe you should read this.” His eyes dropped to it. “What's that?” “Something I found.” He didn't take it. “Where?” “In your study.” For the first time, genuine tension appeared in his eyes. Elena noticed it immediately. “You look worried.” “I'm not.” “Then open it.” Alexander finally took the envelope. He opened it slowly and pulled out several photographs. Elena watched his face change as he looked at them. “Who is she?” she asked. He said nothing. “Alexander, who is that woman?” The photographs showed Alexander entering a hotel with a beautiful brunette. The pictures were taken two weeks ago. Elena had seen them before, but she had hoped there was an explanation. Alexander's silence was becoming an answer. “It's not what you think,” he finally said. Elena's eyes filled with tears. “Then tell me what it is.” He placed the photographs on his desk. “I can't.” “You can't?” Her voice broke. “After three years of marriage, that's all you can say?” Alexander looked at her, and for a moment, his cold expression softened. “Elena, trust me.” She shook her head. “I did.” He stepped toward her. “I still need you to.” “Then give me a reason.” He stopped. Neither spoke. The clock on the wall seemed painfully loud. Finally, Alexander said, “You need to stay away from my business.” Elena's face went pale. “Your business?” “Yes.” “I'm not asking about your business. I'm asking about my husband.” Alexander's eyes darkened. “Go home, Elena.” She stared at him in disbelief. “That's it?” “Please.” “Please?” A tear slipped down her cheek. “You hide our marriage from everyone. You barely come home. You refuse to explain where you've been, and now you're telling me to go home like I'm some employee you've dismissed.” Alexander's hands clenched at his sides. “I'm trying to protect you.” “From what?” He didn't answer. “From whom?” Still nothing. Elena wiped her tear angrily. “You know what hurts the most?” Alexander looked at her. “It's not that you're keeping secrets. It's that I don't know whether you're keeping them because you love me or because you've stopped loving me.” Something flickered across his face. Pain. Real pain. But it vanished almost immediately. “I never stopped loving you.” Her heart stopped for a second. “Then prove it.” Alexander looked at her, and for one dangerous moment, she thought he would finally tell her everything. Instead, he turned away. “You need to leave.” Elena stared at his back. “Fine.” She picked up her handbag and walked toward the door. Her hand was already on the handle when Alexander spoke. “Elena.” She stopped. “Yes?” His voice was quieter now. “Whatever you hear today, whatever anyone tells you, don't believe it.” She turned slowly. “What am I supposed to believe?” Alexander looked directly into her eyes. “Believe that I chose you.” Elena's heart ached. “Then why does it feel like you're choosing everyone but me?” She walked out before he could answer. The moment the door closed behind her, Alexander's face changed completely. He picked up the photographs again and stared at them. His phone rang. He answered immediately. “Talk.” A man's voice came through the phone. “She knows about the photographs.” Alexander's eyes darkened. “How much does she know?” “Enough to start asking questions.” Alexander looked toward the closed office door. “Then move the plan forward.” There was a pause. “Are you sure?” “Yes.” “What about your wife?” Alexander's jaw tightened. “Nobody touches Elena.” “But if she keeps digging—” “I said nobody touches her.” He ended the call and dropped the phone onto his desk. Outside, Elena stood in the corridor, unaware that she had heard only one sentence through the partially closed door before walking away. Nobody touches Elena. She stopped and looked back at Alexander's office. Her heart pounded. For the first time, she realized something terrifying. Alexander wasn't simply hiding another woman. He was hiding something much bigger. And whatever secret her husband was protecting, it had finally begun to threaten the only thing he had spent three years trying to keep hidden—his secret wife.