Jeffrey shot Tommy a nce,
Tommy asked again, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“I’m heading out,” Jeffrey said to Reba. “Call me if you need anythingter.”
Reba didn’t say a word and turned to walk inside.
Jul 16 vouefines
She <b>realized </b>Jeffrey was intentionally putting on this act. Without his silent nod, Victor and Tommy would never dare to speak to him like that. Since that was the image Jeffrey wanted to show, <b>Reba </b>would y along.
“Ms. Jensen, <b>Victor </b><b>said </b>as he walked in with a tablet, politely exining the house rules, “everything in this home is up to you, except kicking Mr. Hanson out. If you <b>and </b>Mr. Hanson disagree on something, your decision always takes precedence.”
Reba raised an eyebrow, a teasing note in her voice. “So, kicking him out is the one thing off–limits?”
That’s right, Victor replied.
Reba casually held out her hand. “Hand over all the keys to the master bedroom, and the master key.”
Victor didn’t hesitate. “Sure thing
Victor knew Reba wanted the keys to keep Jeffrey out of the master bedroom. Everyone saw <b>that </b>Jeffrey was desperate to win her back and didn’t want to make things worse, especially after Jeffrey’s past mistakes.
Reba nced down at the keys in her hand, a little taken aback. She was surprised that Victor would actually give her the keys.
If you
need anything else, I’m always here,” Victor said warmly. He’d always liked Reba and secretly hoped she and Jeffrey would patch things <i>up</i>.
Reba simply nodded and went to the study, spending the whole afternoon totally absorbed in painting. By the end of the day, she’d made some good money off her art.
Her phone buzzed; it was a voice message from Jeffrey. “Give me some time. I’ll slowly sort things out with Andrea.”
Reba replied: [Aren’t you drunk?]
Just half an hour ago, she’d received a call iming Jeffrey waspletely out of it. But then she watched hime back, perfectly sober in the car. If you’re going to fake it, at least try to make it convincing, Reba thought to herself.
“I wasn’t drunk,” Jeffrey admitted, speaking in that low, maic tone of his. “I just used others to tell you how much I miss you.”
Reba didn’t reply She set her phone nude, choosing to ignore him.
Jeffrey returned home just before dawn.
Victor, knowing Jeffrey’d show up at this hour, was waiting in the living room.
As soon as Jeffrey came in, Victor gave him a polite reminder, “Ms. Jensen took the master bedroom keys and the master key. <b>Looks </b>like you’ll be staying in the guest room tonight
Jeffrey didn’t reply. He strode upstairs, reached the master bedroom, and opened the door. As expected, Reba hadn’t locked it since he’d been out all night.
He took a shower in the guest bathroom and then slipped into the bedroom and gently wrapped <b>his </b>arms around Reba from behind, falling asleep as naturally.
When Reba woke up the next morning and found Jeffrey holding her, she feltpletely calm. untouched.
With that agreement from the other night, even with the master bedroom keys in her <b>hand</b><b>, </b>she knew there were always ways Jeffrey <b>could </b>get in if he really wanted to.
She had a hunch there was more going on with Samuel than met the eye, but with Jeffrey, she could never be sure what he’d really do next,
She tossed off the covers, ready to get up, but before her feet even touched the floor. Jeffrey pulled her back into his hug. His voice, gentle <b>and </b>raspy, murmured in her ear, “Reba.”
Reba stiffened for a split second, helpless against the flood of memories that came with that achingly familiar voice.
Jeffrey was handsome, his voice easy on the ears, and every time hezily drawled out her name, it was like a gentle breeze strumming across guitar strings–soft and lingering in her mind.
“Just stay with me a bit longer, Jeffrey whispered, pressing her back against his chest. Morning made. everything feel fresher, sharper. “Feels like forever since we’ve been close like this.”
Reba tensed up.
Jeffrey ced a light kiss near her ear, while his hand slipped under her sleepwear, fingers gently tracing along <b>her </b>waist.
Reba fought back the unease bubbling up inside her and asked coolly, “Is this part of our agreement?”
Jeffrey’s hand didn’t stop moving at her waist, the air thick with desire as his lips peppered her neck with soft, lingering kisses. “No,” he murmured, “it’s just a bit of husband–and–wife intimacy.”
“I don’t <b>want </b>this,” Reba said, pushing his hand away and sitting up.
Jeffrey sat up, still feeling the lingering warmth and scent Reba left behind. Moving deliberately, he gently
brushed her <b>hair </b>away from her face with fingers that remembered her touch
He sond, “I you’re not feeling it, that okay. I’ll wait until you are stuff like this should be something we both want; otherwise, it’s just one of us uffering, you know?”
Reba turned away, struggling with her feelings. Deep down, the hated the person Jeffrey had been, but she still couldn’t forget how good he could be.
Even if they really did go their separate ways, those five years of happiness would probably stick with her for
the rest of her life.
The rest of the day, they barely spoke. Other than eating together and ying with Samuel, most of the Reba <b>was </b>lost in her painting, trying to earn some money, while Jeffrey kept busy working overtime.
After what happened before, Jeffrey stopped calling the shots about her hobbies. If she wanted to paint, the painted. If she didn’t, he’d just take care of her.
Before she knew it. Monday rolled around.
Jeffrey had a big meeting at the Hanson Group, so he dropped Reba off in front of Primey Technologies and left <b>right </b>after. The meeting at Primey was left to Derek to run.
Reba had just walked into the office and hadn’t even gotten to her desk when she noticed a few people staring right at her. Someone whispered, “She’s here.”
“Reba, have you had breakfast? Want a piece of cake?” someone asked.
“Do you prefer coffee or water in the morning? I can grab you some,” another offered.
“Mr. Hanson didn’te with you?” someone else chimed in.
With everyone chatting at once, Reba <b>could </b>tell they’d already figured out her connection to Jeffrey Jane had given her the heads upst Friday.
As always, Reba handled their <b>enthusiasm </b>with her usual cool politeness, keeping things at arm’s length. “<b>Thanks</b>. I’ve <b>already </b>had breakfast. I’ll get my own coffeeter.”
When it came to Jeffrey, she kept things strictly professional at work. There was no point in bringing up rtionship.
their
“Honestly, none of us ever guessed you and Mr. Hanson were actually married, someone teased, clearly fishing for gossip. “Were you undercover just <b>to </b>see what life’s like for an ordinary nine–to–fiver?”
Reba froze mid–motion with her bag, inwardly sighing. She predicted this wasing once the secret got
Our
“So, <b>what’s </b>it like? Is it just how you imagined?” another chimed in, curiosity in their voice.
“Mr. Hanson’s such a great guy, even keeping up the charade for you, someone else joked. <fnc4e6> ???? ????s? ???????s ?? f?ndnovel</fnc4e6>
“Seriously, if you ever need anything, just say the word. We’ll make sure you’re covered another colleagu
assured her
“Im not here to get <b>a </b>taste of someone else’s life, Reba said, setting her bag down and powering up herputer just like any other day. I’m just here to work and earn a living, same as you all.”
Of course, nobody really believed <b>her</b>. Nobody would believe that a wealthydy left her cushy life put to it out with themon people.
Still, they went along with Reba’s story to save face, after all, she was the wife of a major yer. “Sure. totally get it. Must’ve just gotten bored at home and decided to make some petty cash, huh?
Reba swallowed whatever she was going to say. No matter how much she exined, they’d never really believe her anyway.
She typed in her password and booted up herputer. Just as she opened her work software, she noticed Andrea strutting over in a bright, eye–catching outfit, greeting everyone with her usual over–the–top enthusiasm. “Good morning, everyone! It’s been a while. Miss me?”
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