CHAPTER 5

JOCELYN’s POV

The photos were everywhere by morning.

My phone buzzed nonstop with news alerts, social media mentions, and board members calling.

The headlines were relentless:

Jocelyn Campbell Marries Daniel Steele in a Surprise Ceremony.

Blackwood-Campbell Wedding Canceled — Heiress Marries Rival CEO.

Steele vs. Blackwood: The Family Feud Just Got Personal.

I tossed my phone on the dining table, ignoring the fifteenth missed call from my aunt. Daniel sat on the far end, coffee in hand, perfectly calm, like he wasn’t the center of the biggest corporate scandal of the year.

“Our marriage is trending,” he said casually.

“I saw,” I muttered.

He sipped his coffee. “When you leave the house, try to put a smile on that face of yours.

You don’t want the paparazzi thinking that you were forced into this marriage with me.”

“I didn’t marry you for gossip,” I said flatly.

He smirked. “No, you married me for revenge, but the gossip remains the delivery system.”

I shook my head, grabbing my blazer. “I have to be at the office now, even though there will be so many questions.”

He said nothing, and I stood to leave. I walked past him, but he immediately grabbed me by my hand, not in a rough way, sending warmth between my legs. “No matter what they say, I believe you can handle it. Let your hunger for revenge drive you.”

My eyes widened in shock. This was the first time since I moved in with him that he spoke to me like a human. I opened my mouth to thank him, but what came out was this——

“I don’t need your advice, thanks,” then I shrugged my hand off his grip and walked out, feeling his eyes on me.

By the time I walked into Campbell Group headquarters, the building was buzzing. Employees were pretending to work but whispering in corners, and cameras flashed outside. The receptionist looked like she’d swallowed her own tongue when I stepped into the lobby together. “Mrs. Steele,” she stammered.

I shut my eyes tight. “Get used to it.”

I didn’t even make it to my office before my assistant rushed over. “Jocelyn, I mean, Mrs. Steele. The board wants a meeting. Now.”

“Of course they do,” I muttered.

I followed her to the boardroom, and before I could walk in, I heard his voice from behind.

“Wifey.”

I turned, shocked as ever, as he walked to me with a smile. “What in god’s name are you doing here?”

He looked so unbothered. “Figured I would come over to be my wife’s support system.”

“Mr. Steele..”

“Mrs. Steele… they are waiting.”

My assistant reminded me, and I nodded, walking in with Daniel behind me. The board members were waiting. Half of them looked furious. The other half looked like they wanted to avoid eye contact. We took our seats, and the meeting proceeded.

“Jocelyn,” one of them began, “this sudden change in your marital status—”

I cut him off. “Does not affect my position at Campbell Group. My shares remain unchanged. My authority remains unchanged.”

Another board member leaned forward. “But marrying Daniel Steele—”

Daniel stepped in smoothly. “Means she now has the full backing of Steele Enterprises. That should be good news for all of you.”

Daniel’s voice didn’t waver. “Unless, of course, you were hoping to side with Ethan Blackwood in his unfortunate ventures.”

The silence around the table was instant.

Ethan shifted in his seat, tightening his jaw. “Daniel, you’re not part of this board. This is a Campbell Group meeting.”

“Correction,” I said smoothly, leaning forward. “He is part of this board now. As my husband, he has my proxy vote on all corporate decisions, and as of this morning, Daniel Steele owns a significant percentage of Campbell Group shares.”

Clarissa’s head snapped toward me. “What?”

I smiled thinly. “Surprised? You shouldn’t be. You’ve both been so invested in my personal life, I thought you’d have anticipated a move like this.”

Ethan’s voice hardened. “Jocelyn, you can’t just—”

“I can,” I interrupted coldly. “And I did.”

One of the older board members, Mr. Carter, cleared his throat. “Mrs. Steel,e while it’s within your rights as majority shareholder, it’s unusual to—”

“What’s unusual,” I cut in with a sharp voice, “is that two minority shareholders with personal ties to me have been influencing decisions for years without anyone raising a concern. Daniel’s stake is larger than Ethan’s and Clarissa’s combined. If there’s an issue with his presence, I suggest you reflect on that.”

Clarissa’s knuckles whitened on the table. “You’re doing this out of spite.” I turned my gaze to her, calm but cutting. “I’m doing this because it’s my company, and I will not let snakes run it into the ground.”

Ethan leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. “Jocelyn, you’re letting him manipulate you.”

Daniel’s smirk didn’t falter. “That’s rich coming from you, Ethan. Tell me, do you say that before or after you seduce your fiancée’s cousin?”

“Enough. We are here to discuss business, not our personal lives.”

Clarissa tried to regain composure. “Jocelyn, think about your image. The company’s stability. This impulsive marriage—”

“Is my decision,” I said flatly. “And as the owner of Campbell Group, I remind you that you do not make decisions for this company. I do.”

Clarissa slammed her pen down. “This is outrageous.”

“What’s outrageous,” I said coolly, “is that two people with obvious conflicts of interest have sat on this board unchallenged for years. That changes today.”

Ethan’s voice sharpened. “Are you threatening to remove us?”

“I’m stating that you’ll be treated like every other shareholder,” I said. “Which means your personal feelings have no weight here.”

Clarissa leaned back, crossing her arms. The meeting dissolved into tense silence. I gathered my files, Daniel following at a leisurely pace.

At the door, I paused and looked back at Ethan and Clarissa. “Get to work.”

Back in the hallway, Daniel fell into step beside me.

“You did a great job back there,” he said.

I didn’t answer, but he smirked anyway. “Congratulations on playing a perfect role as my wife.”