Chapter 2

The moment lunch break began, Wendy called the administrative office directly.

I answered, and her sharp voice came through the phone.

“Bring me a cup of hand-ground Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee. The water needs to be exactly 185 degrees. Deliver it to the executive office. I want it now.”

I went straight to the break room to prepare it, but grinding the beans by hand took time.

I was five minutes late.

That was all it took for Wendy to lose her temper.

When I hurried into the office with the coffee, she flung out a hand.

“Is everyone in your department incompetent? Look at the time! You’re five minutes late!

“Do you have any idea how much that changes the temperature and ruins the flavor?

“If this puts me in a bad mood, are you prepared to deal with the consequences?”

Every eye in the administrative office turned toward me.

Wendy’s makeup was flawless, and her designer suit fit her perfectly, but her vicious tone made everyone visibly uncomfortable.

I forced myself to remain professional.

“Ms. Jasper, I apologize for the delay, but freshly ground coffee does take time to prepare.”

She snatched the cup from my hand and deliberately poured the scalding coffee over the back of my hand.

“With how slow and useless you are, I have no idea how you got hired by Ford Corporation.”

Her eyes swept over me with contempt.

“Then again, maybe I do. Who did you have to sleep with to get in here?

“You’re disgusting! Start packing. You’re getting fired.”

My nails dug into my palms as pain shot through my burned hand and anger surged inside me.

I was seconds away from snapping when the administrative supervisor rushed over and stepped between us.

“I’m so sorry, Ms. Jasper! She’s new. I apologize on her behalf.

“Please don’t upset yourself over something so minor. It isn’t worth ruining your day.”

As she spoke, she gripped my arm and whispered under her breath.

“Don’t react. Think about who she is. She could cost our entire department its year-end bonuses.

“She isn’t worth it. Let me handle this.”

Wendy finally looked satisfied by the supervisor’s groveling.

She slowly pulled out a sanitizing wipe and cleaned her fingers.

“At least the supervisor knows her place.”

Then she lifted her chin.

“Come on. I’m going to inspect the company cafeteria.”

Inspect the cafeteria?

What right did an outsider have to inspect anything inside the company?

“Ms. Jasper, access to the employee cafeteria is restricted. Visitors aren’t allowed inside without authorization,” I said.

Before I could finish, the supervisor yanked my arm again.

“Don’t you understand? She’s Mr. Ford’s favorite.

“If you offend him, you might still be able to explain yourself. But if you offend her, you could lose your job before you even know what happened.

“Mr. Ford gives her anything she wants. Everyone here says she’s basically the boss’s wife around here.

“One word from her could cost all of us our jobs. You’re still an intern. Don’t take that risk.”

The boss’s wife?

That was news to me, considering I was his actual wife.

When Wendy saw me standing there silently, she assumed I’d finally been scared into submission.

She gave me a mocking smile.

“What’s wrong? You heard Mr. Ford’s name and suddenly lost your nerve?

“Let me make something clear. A man like Shane Ford is completely out of your league.

“You’re nothing but a low-level intern.

“All he has to do is make one phone call, and no company in this industry will ever hire you again. Understand?”