Chapter 4

Meeting Room

The three of them sat down.

George Lamont’s gaze landed briefly on Jennie.

William pulled Jennie gently against his side, the picture of a devoted husband. “My wife, Jennie.”

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Simmons. I’m George Lamont, the director’s assistant,” he said politely.

Jennie curved her lips slightly in response, more out of courtesy than warmth.

George did not mind her coolness and quickly turned to business with William.

“As for the backend architecture, our tech department believes—”

“We need to prioritize compatibility within the user data model,” William continued.

William worked in software development, while Jennie was a botanist.

Everything they discussed went straight over her head. It was boring enough that her mind drifted.

After last night’s exhaustion, she could not hold back a small yawn. She covered her mouth quietly.

Even so, William noticed immediately.

He paused mid-sentence, turned to her, and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. His palm was warm around hers.

“Programming isn’t as simple as your gardening. If you’re bored, why don’t you go nap in the car?”

Jennie did not believe for a second that William was truly here to talk business. But she also knew him well. With how careful he always was, she could sit here until the end of time and still find nothing incriminating.

So instead of staying in the room pretending to listen, she decided to give him the chance he so obviously wanted.

She nodded. “Okay. I’ll wait in the car.”

William brushed a light kiss against her forehead. “You want me to walk you down?”

“No.” Jennie stood up on her own.

George watched the scene unfold with a wide smile. “Mr. Simmons and Mrs. Simmons are truly enviable. What a loving couple.”

Jennie felt something inside her chest twist, a soft, painful scratch she could not explain.

It was not George’s fault. Anyone who walked in right now would think William adored her and spoiled her endlessly.

Just like she once thought.

Jennie stepped out of the meeting room. William followed her as soon as she crossed the doorway.

He walked her all the way to the elevator and personally pressed the button for her.

“Be careful. Call me if you need anything,” he said gently.

Jennie did not reply. She stepped into the elevator, and the doors began to close.

Outside, William stood still, watching the numbers on the display drop from twelve down to one.

Only after confirming she was gone did he turn around.

George was waiting by the door, his posture respectful. “Mr. Simmons, Ms. Reynolds is in her office waiting for you.”

William’s expression did not change. He simply responded, “Okay,” and walked toward the director’s office.

But the moment his hand touched the doorknob, he stopped and looked back at George with a cold, cutting stare.

“In the company, watch what you say. Don’t make your superior unhappy.”

A chill ran through George’s spine. He understood immediately.

William was warning him about that “loving couple” comment earlier.

George already knew about the mess between William and Wendy.

He pitied Jennie, who was kept in the dark, and found Wendy pathetic.

But at the end of the day, he was just an employee. He worked for his paycheck and kept his mouth shut.

He hated men like William, though. Men who acted devoted in public and kept a mistress in private.

But no matter what he felt, he kept his face perfectly neutral. He bowed quickly. “Yes, Mr. Simmons. I understand.”

Only then did William turn away and push open the door.

---

Inside the Director’s Office

Wendy sat on the sofa in a fitted business suit. Her legs were crossed, clad in deliberately chosen black stockings. She had placed her high heels on the table in front of her, lounging like she owned the place.

When William walked in, she lifted the corner of her lips, eyes sultry.

He went straight to her, brows tense. “How is Jasmine?”

Wendy pretended not to hear the urgency in his voice. She shifted lazily, letting the skirt ride up just a little more. “She’s at daycare. She’s fine.”

William’s brows tightened. “You said she had a fever.”

Wendy gave a small laugh. “If I didn’t say she had a fever, would you have come to see me?”

His expression darkened instantly. “Wendy, are you three years old? What kind of childish lie is that?”

“You said I am, so I am.”

“You—” William pressed down his frustration. “Every time you call, I show up. But today is Jennie’s birthday. Why the theatrics? If you’re fine, I’m leaving.”

He turned.

Wendy stood up and grabbed his arm. “Who said I’m fine?” Her voice held a soft, needy whine. “You don’t care about me anymore.”

William frowned harder. He tried to pull his hand away, but Wendy caught it and placed his palm on her slim waist, leaning closer.

“My back is killing me,” she murmured, eyelashes trembling. “Massage for me.”

His expression remained cold. He tried to withdraw his hand again.

She held on tighter, stepping forward until they were nearly touching.

Seeing him hesitate, she added softly, “After you left last night, Jasmine started running a low fever. I held her all night. I’m exhausted.”

That finally made him pause.

He looked at the faint dark circles beneath her eyes. She had clearly been up all night.

After a long silence, he began to rub her waist gently. “Why didn’t you call me?”

He had spent the night sleeping in his car, then bought breakfast for Jennie at sunrise. If Wendy had called, he would have gone immediately.

Wendy rested her cheek on his shoulder and whispered, “I felt bad for you. You already work so hard, and you take care of me and Jasmine on top of everything. And now you have to deal with that woman too. I didn’t want to exhaust you.”

William’s hand paused.

He thought of Jennie waiting in the car for him.

He hesitated, then slowly pushed Wendy away.

“Get some rest. Let George handle things today. I need to go. Jennie’s waiting for me.”

Before he could move farther, Wendy rose on her toes and pressed her lips to his.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered breathlessly, “Let her wait a little longer.”

---

Hallway

Jennie had stepped out of the elevator but had not left the building. She stood in the hall for almost a full minute before getting back inside and pressing the button for the twelfth floor.

When she arrived again, she walked straight toward the meeting room.

George, standing outside the director’s office, froze when he saw her. He had not expected her to return. He immediately tried to pull out his phone to warn Wendy.

Jennie reached him in a few quick steps and pressed down on his hand, stopping him.

Her eyes were slightly red, her voice trembling.

“I’ll give you three million. Help me with something. Please.”