Chapter 2 - The Man Who Came Running
“I'm in your lobby,” Emma replied.
“Don't move.”
The call ended.
Madison watched Emma lower her phone.
For the first time since their confrontation began, the younger woman looked uncertain.
“Who were you talking to?” Madison demanded.
Emma slipped the phone into her handbag.
“My husband.”
Madison laughed, although the sound lacked its earlier confidence.
“Right. And I'm the queen of England.”
“Congratulations. I imagine the crown is uncomfortable.”
A few employees nearby pretended not to listen. None of them were particularly convincing.
Madison's cheeks flushed.
“You need to leave.”
“I think I'll wait.”
“You can't just stand here.”
“Apparently, neither can you. Yet here we are.”
The security guard approached, looking uncomfortable.
“Ms. Caldwell? Is everything all right?”
Madison immediately turned toward him.
“This woman is causing a disturbance. Escort her outside.”
The guard glanced at Emma's visitor badge.
“She's checked in, ma'am.”
“I don't care. She's harassing me.”
Emma raised an eyebrow.
“That's interesting. I thought we were discussing your husband.”
Madison's expression turned poisonous.
“Security!”
Before the guard could respond, the elevator doors opened.
Grant Caldwell stepped out.
He was forty-six, broad-shouldered, and dressed in a charcoal suit that cost more than Emma's first car. His dark hair was slightly disheveled, as though he had run a hand through it repeatedly.
Behind him came two executives.
Grant didn't look at them.
He looked directly at Emma.
Then he crossed the lobby so quickly that several employees moved out of his way.
“Emma.”
She didn't answer.
He reached for her hands.
“Sweetheart, are you okay?”
“I'm fine.”
His eyes moved to Madison.
“What happened?”
Madison immediately transformed.
The anger disappeared. Her shoulders relaxed. Her mouth softened into an expression that might have looked innocent to someone who hadn't witnessed the previous ten minutes.
“Grant, darling.”
Emma watched him.
Madison took a step forward.
“I was just handling a situation with an unreasonable visitor.”
Grant didn't acknowledge her.
“Who called you that name?” he asked Emma.
Emma glanced at Madison.
“She did.”
Grant's jaw tightened.
“Which name?”
“Stupid cow.”
The security guard looked down.
One of the executives suddenly became fascinated by his tablet.
Grant turned toward Madison.
“Did you call my wife a stupid cow?”
Madison blinked.
“Your wife?”
Grant's voice dropped.
“Emma Caldwell. My wife. The woman standing right in front of you.”
Madison's lips parted.
For a moment, she appeared unable to breathe.
Then she laughed.
It was a desperate, brittle sound.
“That's impossible.”
Grant stared at her.
“What?”
Madison looked between them.
“I mean, I didn't know. She didn't introduce herself.”
Emma tilted her head.
“Did you need my marriage certificate before you could speak to me like a human being?”
Madison's face went red.
“I'm sorry. I misunderstood.”
“No,” Grant said. “You made a decision about someone you thought had less power than you.”
He turned to the security guard.
“Please escort Ms. Pierce to my office.”
Madison grabbed his arm.
“Grant, wait.”
He looked down at her hand.
She released him.
“We need to talk privately.”
“Not now.”
“It's important.”
“Then you'll explain it upstairs.”
As Madison walked toward the elevator, she turned once.
Her eyes met Emma's.
The look was no longer arrogant.
It was frightened.
And underneath the fear was something else.
Hatred.
Emma noticed it.
So did Grant.
He guided his wife toward the private elevator.
“I'm sorry,” he whispered.
Emma looked at him.
“For what?”
“For this.”
She studied his face.
“You seem surprised.”
“Because I am.”
“Grant, you hired her.”
“Three weeks ago.”
“And you never mentioned her.”
“I've had a lot going on.”
Emma gave a small nod.
That was the problem, wasn't it?
He always had a lot going on.
Inside the elevator, Grant pressed the button for the executive floor.
“Let's have lunch,” he said.
“I'm not hungry.”
“Emma—”
“Who is Madison Pierce?”
“She's an executive assistant.”
“That's her job title. I'm asking who she is.”
Grant hesitated.
“Someone HR recommended.”
“Did HR also recommend that she call herself your wife?”
His expression hardened.
“No.”
The elevator doors opened.
Grant's office occupied the corner of the thirty-second floor. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the Chicago River. A massive desk stood in front of a wall of architectural awards.
Emma had seen the room in photographs.
She had never been inside it.
That realization hurt more than she expected.
Grant closed the door.
“Sit down.”
“I'd rather stand.”
He loosened his tie.
“Emma, this is a misunderstanding.”
“Then explain it.”
“Madison has been making inappropriate jokes. Apparently some people have been teasing her about being the boss's wife.”
“People?”
“Office gossip.”
“And you knew?”
Grant rubbed his forehead.
“I heard something about it.”
Emma stared at him.
“You heard that your assistant was pretending to be married to you, and you did nothing?”
“It wasn't serious.”
“Would you have considered it serious if I had a male employee walking around telling everyone he was my husband?”
Grant didn't answer.
A knock interrupted them.
Madison entered without waiting.
She carried a slim black folder.
“Grant, I need you to sign these before the board meeting.”
Emma glanced at the folder.
“What are they?”
Madison ignored her.
Grant's eyes narrowed.
“Leave them.”
“It's the authorization you requested.”
“Not now, Madison.”
She placed the folder on his desk.
Then she looked at Emma.
“I'd like to apologize.”
Emma waited.
Madison lowered her voice.
“I didn't know you were his wife.”
Emma almost laughed again.
“That's becoming a very popular excuse today.”
Madison's expression tightened.
Then she turned toward Grant.
“Can we speak alone?”
“No.”
“It's about the company.”
“Then say it.”
Madison hesitated.
Finally, she opened the folder.
On top was a document with Grant's signature.
Emma recognized his handwriting.
She also recognized the company seal.
But it was the title that made her stomach tighten.
SPECIAL AUTHORIZATION: EXECUTIVE SPOUSAL REPRESENTATIVE.
Below it was a name.
MADISON PIERCE.
Emma looked at Grant.
“What exactly did you authorize?”
Grant went pale.
Because he had signed the document.
But he had never read the final page.
May you like
And Madison was already smiling.
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