The Wife Who Hid Me

My wife, Claire Bennett, raised an irritated hand until the noise in the room died down.

"Everyone, enough. Ryan and I are just boss and employee."

Then she pulled out her phone and texted me right in front of everyone.

"Happy now?"

I opened Ryan Hayes's Instagram and pulled up a photo of the two of them with their faces pressed close together.

"You get this cozy with each other and still call it a normal working relationship? Ms. Bennett, do you think we're all idiots?"

The room burst into laughter. Everyone thought I was leading the teasing.

Claire's smile slowly stiffened, and impatience crept into her voice.

"It's just a cheek-kiss greeting. That's how people say hello abroad. You're reading too much into it."

I walked toward her one step at a time.

"Then give me one too."

With everyone watching, irritation flashed across her face.

"He lived abroad. You didn't."

"I didn't, but plenty of people in this company have. Funny how I've never seen you greet any of them like that."

Claire couldn't answer, so she changed the subject.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

I shrugged.

"Nothing. I'm just sincerely wishing the two of you well."

That was when everyone finally realized I hadn't been joking.

A few coworkers I was close with hurried over.

"Ethan, that's enough. Picking a fight with the boss isn't going to end well for you."

Someone else tried to calm Claire down.

"Ms. Bennett, you know Ethan. Once he gets something in his head, he won't let it go. Don't take it personally."

I'd always treated people well, so plenty of them were willing to speak up for me.

They also couldn't understand why Claire always tore into me whenever something went wrong. She acted like she couldn't stand me, yet she never fired me.

I always told them it was because I was too good at my job to replace.

Secretly, I used to find the whole thing almost funny.

None of them knew Claire and I were married. Her scolding me in public was supposed to be an act, proof that she wasn't showing her husband special treatment.

Looking back now, I only felt stupid.

I'd believed every excuse she gave me, only to end up watching my own wife flirt with another man at the office.

As everyone tried to smooth things over, Ryan finally stepped in with the smug air of someone doing us all a favor.

"Sorry about that. I spent a long time in Europe, so greetings like that became normal to me.

"Mr. Cole should travel more when he gets the chance. It's not good to make such a big deal out of something this small.

"There really is nothing going on between Ms. Bennett and me."

I shrugged.