Page 9 of The Accidental Wife

“I’m not your wife and you’ll see feisty when I beat you over the head with my folder.” I grouse heatedly and he smirks. “Actually, you know what? I’m not your assistant either. I quit.” I tell him and turn to leave, but Cole grabs my arm and stops me.

“Shayla. I’m only teasing you. We can work this out, come and sit for a minute, will you, please?” I tug my arm out of his hold, walk over to his desk, and sit on one of the cream chairs opposite. Cole comes and stands in front of me, leaning on his desk. He crosses his arms over his chest and regards me seriously. “You don’t have to quit. We’re both adults. We can still work together.”

“How? How can we possibly work together after everything that has happened? We got married, remember?” Cole shrugs.

“Yeah. So? Who here knows we’re married, but the two of us? You’re overreacting. Besides, my father hired you for a reason, so you must be good at what you do, and I trust his judgement.” I sigh heavily and shake my head.

“Overreacting? I got drunk and married my boss. I went from being an assistant to the office slut who has slept with the CEO.” Cole straightens from his leaning position and runs his fingers through his hair. “Oh my god, people are going to think that’s why I was hired.” I utter pressing my fingers to my forehead.

“Shayla, you’re no such thing. You’re honestly overthinking this. No one will find out what happened between us, I promise you.” Cole assures me and he seems genuine, but the nagging feeling I have in the pit of my stomach is making me feel uneasy.

“Fine,” I give in with a sigh. I narrow my eyes at him. “You must have thought I was a right dimwit for not knowing who you were. Why didn’t you say something?”

“I thought no such thing,” Cole smiles warmly. “If anything, it felt good to be treated like a normal human being rather than a—”

“—notorious playboy billionaire?” I finish, and he chuckles a little while lowering his gaze to the black Louboutin leather shoes on his feet. “I go just a touch deeper than that, but yes. I may have liked that you didn’t seem fazed by the fact that I was wealthy.”

“Why would I be? Just because you have money doesn’t make you better than anyone else. When cut, you still bleed red like the rest of us mere mortals.”

Our eyes meet, and we stare at one another for a long moment. Cole smiles and shakes his head, seemingly pleased by my response. He walks around his desk and sits in his chair. “It’s almost lunchtime. Would you like to go out for lunch?”

“Lunch?” I intone, and he nods, leaning back in his chair.

“Yeah, we can go to the breakfast bar.” I groan and stand up. “We can share some pancakes.” He sniggers.

“I hate you,” I utter and turn to walk to the door. I hear Cole laugh behind me.

“Hey, what happens in Vegas...”

“Shut up.” I walk out of his office and look back to see him watching me with a grin on his face while shaking his head. The girls are going to have a fit when they hear about this.

I walk to the bathroom and dial Aimee’s number. She answers after two rings. “Yo ho, what’s up?”

“What’s up? Let me tell you what’s up. Remember that billionaire I accidentally married?”

“The hot billionaire, yes.”

“Well, that ‘hot billionaire’ is not only my dear husband…he’s also my new boss,” I tell her and hear her coughing and sputtering on the other end, clearly choking on something. “You dead?”

“I’m good. I’m okay. What do you mean he’s your boss?” She questions, clearing her throat.

“He’s my boss. The man that interviewed me was his Dad--Tony Hoult. How did I not connect the dots here, Aimes? For fucksake. I’m a smart girl—at least I thought I was. I held his card in my hand, and it didn’t click. He probably thinks I’m a fucking idiot. Jesus, I’m mortified.” I mumble, closing the lid of the toilet and sitting on it.

“A lot has happened in the space of four days. My mind can’t cope with all this; I don’t know how you’re dealing with everything so calmly.” She says in an attempt to make me feel better.

“Calmly? I’m freaking out Aimee. I can’t work here. It’s too awkward working with him side by side day in, day out. I can’t do it. I’m going to quit.”

“Shayla, no. Don’t forget that you need this job. Remember how excited you were to finally be in a job that is in a field you’re interested in. This job will open all sorts of doors for you in the future. Just focus on your work, and I promise you, in the end, when you’re a kick-arse architect, it will all be worth it.” I nod and sigh. She was right. As much as the situation sucks, I need to stick it out as long as possible. “So what if you slept with him? He’s slept with dozens of girls. He clearly doesn’t care. Why should you?”

“Yeah, you’re right. I mean, he did promise what happened will stay between us.” I tell her.

“There you go. Just chill and enjoy your first day. It’s all going to be okay.” I sure hope she was right because I honestly can’t take much more. Knowing my luck, he’ll end up being my long-lost brother or something, on top of everything else. I shudder at the mere thought of it.

Heaven forbid.

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