“What? What’s wrong?” Mandy said, confused. “Didn’t you tell me to stop any strange women without an appointment? She didn’t have one and asked to <b>see </b>the CEO by name<b>, </b>so I stopped her–like I was told.”
Sam smacked his thigh with a loud p. “Oh my god! Are you serious? You actually blocked her? Let her up–no, wait! I’ming down myself to get her!”
Mandy was stunned. “What’s going on<b>, </b>Sam? She really knows the CEO?”
“Knows him?” Sam was already halfway out of his office, hurrying toward the elevator. <b>“</b>She’s not just anyone—she’s the CEO’s wife!”
Just as he rounded the corner, he collided with someone.
The first thing he saw was a pair of polished, custom–made ck dress shoes and the matching tailored cks.
Oh no<b>. </b>
Sam slowly looked up and locked eyes with Sean.
“Sir… Mr. Jasper…”
Sean looked down at him<b>, </b>narrowing his eyes. The air around him turned cold and tense. “CEO’s wife? Who?”
“Miss Riley, sir.”
The icy tension in Sean’s gaze melted instantly. His expression rxed, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
“She’s here?” he asked.
Sam quickly hung up the call and nodded. “Yes, sir. She’s downstairs. The new receptionist didn’t recognize her, and since she didn’t have an appointment, she blocked her…”
The farther Sam got into the exnation<b>, </b>the softer his voice became.
Because the receptionist–his cousin Mandy–had already messed up once. She had let some random woman through weeks ago, and Sean nearly had her fired. Sam had begged and pleaded just to keep her job safe.
Sam and Sean had been friends since college. They were close back then<b>, </b>and after Sam returned from studying overseas, he had joined Jasper Corporation through the proper channels.
Now, standing there<b>, </b>Sam felt a wave of dread wash over him.
Was his career about to go down the drain because of his clueless cousin?
“Please, please<b>, </b>someone save me,” he muttered.
But the fury he expected never came.
Instead, Sean’s smile widened. <b>“</b><b>I </b>like that. ‘CEO’s wife.‘ Let’s call her that from now on.”
<b>He </b>turned toward the elevator. “Come on. Let’s go get her.”
Sam froze for a second.
“<b>Wait</b><b>… </b><b>so </b>I’m not getting fired?” <b>he </b>thought.
Realizing <b>he </b>was off the hook, he nearly shouted with <b>joy </b>and hurried <b>after </b>Sean with <b>a </b><b>grin</b>.
<b>Downstairs</b><b>, </b><b>Mandy </b><b>stood </b><b>stiffly </b><b>in </b><b>front </b><b>of </b>Charlotte, her <b>expression </b><b>a </b><b>tangled </b><b>mix </b><b>of </b><b>shock </b><b>and </b><b>regret </b>
<b>“</b>Wait–she’s the CEO’s wife?!” she thought.
Mandy lowered her head, wringing her fingers anxiously. “I… I’m so sorry. I <b>really </b>didn’t know you were Mrs. Jasper. I thought you were just…”
“Mrs. Jasper?” Charlotte frowned. <b>“</b>I’m not.”
Mandy panicked. “Please, don’t tease me. My cousin already told me everything. You are the CEO’s wife. I’m the one who was blind–I didn’t recognize you! Please, forgive me!“.
Charlotte frowned deeper. “I told you–I’m not his wife.”
Mandy, flustered, thought Charlotte was angry because of what she said earlier–about Miss Stone being the CEO’s match. She figured Charlotte was holding a grudge and refusing to admit it out of spite.
“I’m screwed. I’m so dead.
“I offended the CEO’s wife. If she wants me gone, not even my cousin can save me.
“Why is my life like this?” Mandy muttered to herself.