Chapter 91 Your Pethatic Little Secretary
Audrey pulled the sheet up to her chin, covering almost her entire body. Her breathing was still slightly uneven from their earlier activities, but what made her chest rise and fall faster now was the frustration churning inside her. She'd even turned her back to him.
Elliot, on the other hand, seemed completely oblivious. He leaned against the headboard, one hand reaching out to stroke her damp hair.
She slapped his hand away.
He went still.
Slowly, he shifted, lying down behind her and reaching for her waist. She moved away.
This is not good. He sighed quietly. "Audrey. Are you angry with me?"
"Yes!" Her voice was sharp as she spun to face him. He blinked, caught off guard by her sudden movement.
He propped himself up on one elbow, studying her carefully. "Can I ask why?"
Her eyes widened. "You don't know why I'm upset?"
He exhaled slowly. "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking, baby..."
She huffed, clearly not satisfied with that answer. She sat up cross-legged, clutching the sheet around her, fixing him with a glare.
He reached for her hand.
"Don't touch me!"
He raised his hands in surrender. "Okay. Okay."
She glared at him. He waited.
"Why did you answer Catherine's call?" she finally demanded.
Elliot paused, thinking. He genuinely hadn't expected this.
He'd dealt with his mother and sister when they were upset. But this? His wife? Different territory entirely.
He raised one eyebrow. "So she'd know I was with you."
Audrey made a frustrated sound. "But not like that! Do you have any idea how humiliating that was?"
He sighed, trying to reach for her hand again. She let him this time—barely. "Why is it humiliating? We're married."
"That's the problem! Catherine doesn't know we're married." Audrey's voice rose. "Do you realize what she's going to think now? That I'm just some cheap secretary sleeping with her boss to keep her job?"
His jaw tightened. "Don't talk about yourself like that—"
"But that's exactly what she'll think! She doesn't know we're husband and wife, and the way you answered—" She stopped, turning away again.
"Fine.” Elliot didn’t expect this issue would be talked in this kind of conversation. “If that's the issue, I'll announce our marriage when we get back."
She stared at him. "What? No, that's not—that's not how it works."
He frowned. "Then how does it work?"
She was quiet for a moment. "You can't just... announce it."
"Why not? I hold a press conference, tell everyone I'm married. Done."
"You don't see the problem?"
He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Then tell me. What do you want?"
She didn't answer.
He gripped her hand tighter, forcing her to look at him. "You don't want to be seen as cheap, but you don't want me to announce our marriage either. So what do you want?"
She bit her lip, knowing she was being difficult. But his casual attitude about it all was making it worse.
"It's not that simple," she finally said.
"Why isn't it simple? I make an announcement. Done."
She was quiet again.
He rubbed his face. "Then why did you get upset when I wanted to announce it before?"
Silence.
He crossed his arms, studying her. "Why, Audrey? Why don't you want people to know we're married?"
She looked down, fingers twisting in the sheet.
He waited. He knew there was something she wasn't saying.
"Audrey." Softer now. "You can be honest with me."
Still silence. Her gaze drifted, searching for words.
"I..." Her voice was barely audible. "I don't want you to lose anything because of me."
His brow furrowed. "Lose what?"
She took a long breath before meeting his eyes. "Your world is full of people with expectations. People who won't be happy knowing you married someone like me."
He scoffed, annoyance creeping in. "I don't care what people think."
"But they care." Her voice was quick, cutting him off. "They'll judge. Question. Comment." She paused. "You heard Catherine. I'm... 'your pathetic little secretary.'"
His chest tightened. He'd been satisfied with Catherine's reaction—hoped it would make her back off. He hadn't considered how it would hurt his wife.
He exhaled, trying to steady himself. He reached for her hand. She let him, but didn't look at him.
"Audrey... baby." Softer now. "I know what she said hurt you. But are you really going to let her words affect us? Affect what we have?"
She bit her lip. The conflict was clear on her face.
"It won't just be Catherine. I've worked in this world long enough to know how people see women like me. They'll always think I took advantage of the situation. They'll never see me as a CEO's wife. Just some woman who—"
"My wife."
His voice cut through, firm and clear.
She stopped.
"Let them see whatever they want." His eyes held hers. "To me, you're my wife. And I won't let anyone think otherwise."
She was silent.
"You think the business world is cruel?" A small, sharp smile. "Fine. Let them see who's crueler. Anyone tries to tear you down, they go through me first."
Her heart pounded—warmth and something deeper spreading through her chest.
He cupped her face gently. "Now I need to know one thing."
She swallowed. "What?"
"Do you genuinely not want the world to know you're my wife? Or are you just afraid of the consequences?"