Chapter 42 Forty - two

Chapter 42 Forty - two
"For real?"

"She is the CEO's wife?"

They express their shock openly, barely able to process the news.

"I had no idea the CEO remarried. What a surprise," one of the women says, bewilderment dripping from her voice.

"I second that, Haley. I'm totally flabbergasted right now," another woman says, her eyes scanning my face.

Actually, they're all staring at me right now. Only now, their expressions carry a look of surprise and importance since I'm obviously not the ordinary new employee they once assumed I was. I'm their CEO's wife.

And they had no idea until now.

"This is his wife, for real?" Aiden asks, his question directed at Clara.

Clara nods beside me. "Yup."

"I didn't know..." He trails off, his eyes finding their way back to mine. I notice him taking in my appearance strangely as his gaze rests on my face. A pang of discomfort flickers through me.

"Well, now you do," Clara's voice jerks me from my thoughts. "Make sure to keep your eyes off this one. Don't say I didn't warn ya," she snorts.

Standing up, one of the women chuckles. She has short auburn hair, and a pair of medicated glasses rests on her nose bridge. "He wouldn't dare approach her, Clara. Not unless he wishes to exit this world early through the boss's fists."

My heartbeat thuds with fright as most of them laugh at the lady's joke. While there's obviously humor in it, I'm too terrified to laugh at anything as I recall what happened to Lorenzo's first wife.

My chest constricts tightly, but I try to push the thoughts aside as I focus on the auburn-haired woman now standing in front of me. She's one of the two women who waved at me earlier.

"Hi, I'm Margaux." She extends a hand, her expression twisting with awe as we lock eyes. A playful smile graces her lips. "I have to confess, the boss has great taste in women. You're gorgeous."

Her compliment nearly sets my heart ablaze with warmth. I can't help but smile genuinely, accepting her hand. "Thank you... You're beautiful too."

She grins before turning back to her fellow colleagues. "Everyone heard that?" she announces with playful pride. "She said I'm beautiful."

Clara and I chuckle at Margaux's dramatics. While her colleagues totally ignore her, she turns back to me, a grin still etched on her face.

She gently withdraws her hand from mine. "Thanks for the compliment. You're welcome to LS Investments and Enterprises. I'm the CHRO, Chief Human Resources Officer. Normally, I'd be aware of your employment before anyone else, but since you were recruited directly by the boss, it's all good. Please let me know if you need anything around the office. I'd be more than happy to assist you," she informs me with a cordial smile.

I nod at her kindness, letting her know I'd be sure to reach out if I needed her support.

"I have to head out. I've got something to finish for the boss. We'll talk more during lunch break. What do you say?" she asks politely.

I'm initially confused, but reading her anticipatory expression, I realize she's asking me out to lunch later.

With a smile, I nod again. "Oh, that's okay."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

She grins enthusiastically. "Alright then, see you later at 2 PM, Liora. And once again, welcome to the team." She winks before finally taking her leave.

My chest eases with relief after my conversation with Margaux. I've almost forgotten what it feels like to have a friendly chat with someone you've just met.

I wish the others were as genial as her. She's warm.

Clara's voice pulls me out of my thoughts again as she gestures toward the remaining six. "Allow me to introduce you to the rest of the team." She points at the women individually. "You probably won't remember their names, but that's Haley, Sara, Nicole, and Cordelia. You already met Margaux, the CHRO." She then points at the two men in the room. "And that's Aiden and Nick. Aiden is the CIO, Chief Investment Officer, while Nick is the Chief Marketing Officer."

My gaze sweeps over them once more individually as Clara continues.

"Everyone, I already introduced you to Liora... So... that's that."

"You're welcome, Liora," they say in unison, except Aiden, who keeps staring at me like a fucking simp.

I don't know what his deal is, but he hasn't taken his eyes off me since Clara informed them that I was Lorenzo's wife.

And he isn't staring at me with amazement or some other related emotion; he's staring at me and narrowing his eyes occasionally, as if trying to understand how I got the wife title with Lorenzo.

Even though I understand his shock since none of them knew, by now, he should've already processed and accepted the news since it was delivered like fifteen minutes ago. At least, the others are no longer fussing about it.

Despite my frustration, I look away from him and focus on my new colleagues, who approach me one after the other to welcome me officially.

We finish the whole interaction within the next ten minutes before I return to my office with Clara.

I release a deep sigh, grateful to have finally escaped that room and escaped Aiden's creepy scrutiny.

"So, you should know the boss has zero tolerance for tardiness, unreliability, and mistakes," Clara says after I settle into the chair in my cozy office. She leans against the desk, her arms crossed over her chest as she continues when I look up at her blankly. "Emphasis on mistakes, Liora. He doesn't accept those."

My nerves fray slightly, and I swallow, at a loss for a response.

She studies me momentarily before asking, "Do you have prior experience as a secretary?"

I answer honestly, "No."

"No?" She repeats with bewilderment, her forehead scrunching. "How then do you intend to work with someone who doesn't tolerate mistakes?"

I shrug my shoulders casually. "I'll learn the role."

"Seriously..." She sighs softly, relenting. "It's okay, I understand. I'll actually help you out with everything you need to know."

I force a smile. "Thanks."

"No problem." She uncrosses her arms. "So, I already told you the boss doesn't accept mistakes, so what you must do is always be ten steps ahead. That's how Anita was able to survive him. I'm talking about learning his schedules, being the one to arrange his important meetings, learning how he takes his coffee in the morning, prepping significant documents beforehand, speaking with clients on his behalf, ensuring he doesn't get disturbed by random folks. This means you are to be the first person to review anything that is sent to his office... Do you understand what I'm saying, Liora? I know this sounds like a lot."

"I understand," I interrupt her gently, urging her to continue.

She hesitates briefly before slowly nodding. "Okay. So as I was saying, you've also got to learn about his mood swings. That's what Aiden was talking about earlier. His temperament." She chuckles softly. "But since you're his wife, I'm guessing you're already used to that, heh."

Don't I know it?

I manage to smile back, even though my pulse quickens with perplexity.

I wonder if I'll be able to handle all of this. Clara was right—this whole thing sounds like a lot.

"So..." Clara breaks my train of thought. I stare up at her as she elaborates again. "No mistakes whatsoever, Liora. If you're confused about anything, you can always reach out to me. Mistakes attract punishment. You could get fired on the spot." She smiles knowingly again, shaking her head as she adds softly, "But I doubt the boss would ever punish his own wife. So lucky you, I guess."

Oh, this lady has no idea what she's talking about.

Lorenzo would never hesitate to punish me. Sure, it won't be firing me on the spot, but there are other ways he can make that punishment happen. Other ways that involve my naked legs quivering over his shoulders.

I quickly shake off my unruly thoughts before they embarrass me in front of Clara.

Clearing my throat, I nod. "Thanks. I'll make sure to be extra careful."

"Good to know." She straightens her stance, picking a file from the stack on my desk and setting it on the polished wood. "So, onto your first task of the day..."

My concentration is disrupted as I sense someone from my peripheral vision making his way toward us. Actually, toward Lorenzo's office.

When I lift my gaze to get a better view, I see a tall man in a black business suit with shoulder-length black hair. He was staring at something on his phone, appearing busier than a bee. But he abruptly halts when he senses my eyes on him.

Surprise flickers across his handsome features when his gaze locks with mine. He blinks several times, probably too bewildered to see me here.

Clara immediately introduces us. "Sir, this is the boss's new secretary, Liora. And Liora, please meet my boss, Alec. He is the CEO's Consigliere."

I recognize him instantly. I know I've seen him before.

Politely, I force a smile and say to him nonetheless, "Hi..."