Tess is marching me down the corridor, her grip tight on my arm like she’s afraid I’m a prisoner who’s about to escape.

“Jesus, you’re going to leave a bruise,” I joke. “I get it, you want to talk. You don’t need to death-grip my arm.”

We arrive at an empty office and she practically shoves me in, shutting the door behind us and pulling the blinds closed too. She looks a little wild-eyed and panicked, and for the first time I drop the sarcastic act.

“What’s going on?” I ask. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Tessa keeps opening her mouth like she has something to say but then changes her mind.

I noticed that, just before she practically tackled me to the ground, a middle-aged woman had been trying to get my attention. Is this about her?

Is she jealous or something? About a plain, middle-aged woman I’ve never spoken to before in my life? What the hell’s going on?

I place my hands on her shoulders and rub her arms, trying to soothe her. “Tess, if you have something to say, come out with it. You’re starting to freak me out a little now. Seriously.”

She closes her eyes for a moment and takes a few deep breaths, her chest rising up and down with effort. She appears to come to a decision. “There’s no reason to freak out. I’m just getting a little overwhelmed with work, and I wanted to catch up with you to confirm a few things. It’s nothing serious, I promise.”

I frown, skeptical. All of this just for work stuff? Really?

Am I putting too much pressure on her? She’s taken to the job so naturally that I’ve just kind of been leaving her to it. Is that the wrong decision?

“Really,” she laughs, “you don’t need to worry. I’ve just been dealing with a whole pile of calls about this anti-competition thing with Adler and InFini. The press wants a statement from you. They’re wondering if it’s as big a deal as it all seems to be. Do you want to talk to any of them, to set investors at ease?”

I take a breath. I’ve been so focused on work that I hadn’t even considered this side of things.

“No,” I eventually say. “Get in touch with Brock. Send him out to talk with them. I just don’t have the time to deal with the media right now. Jeez, between this and rags like TMZ still hounding me about you, I’ve had enough of the media for a lifetime.”

At the mention of the gossip website, she pales noticeably.

This is all still new for her, I shouldn’t forget that.

“Seriously, Tess, do you promise me that this was all that was bothering you?” I ask. “There’s nothing else you wanted to talk to me about? If you’ve got a problem, then I want you to share it with me. Communication is important in a marriage, remember?”

I expect to see her cute, little, annoyed nose-flare at that quip, but she just gives a wan smile. Weird.

“No, nothing else,” Tessa says, shaking her head unconvincingly. “I’m just getting stressed with the work, it’s kind of an adjustment getting used to all this pressure.”

I pull her into a quick hug and plant a tender kiss on her forehead. “You can handle it, I know you can. I’ve got your back. And if it’s really too much for you, let me know. I’ll get you an assistant or something.”

“An assistant for your assistant?” She laughs. “What is this, assistant-ception? No, I’ll deal. I can handle it. Sorry for being all dramatic.”

My phone starts buzzing in my pocket. I take it out and glance at the screen.

“It’s Brock,” I say. “I’ve had my mandated five minute break, and my ballbuster-in-chief is going to start sending out search parties if I don’t get back. Or, even worse, call my old man and tell him I’m slacking.” I shudder at the idea.

“It’s fine.” Tessa smiles. “You go do your CEO stuff. I’ll get back to work.”

Before I leave, I remember something. A little surprise for her.

I lead her to my office, careful not to touch her in front of people. I pull out a little black box from my desk drawer and hand it to her.

“To say sorry, for being an absent husband.” I shoot her a grin. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”

She glances from the box, then back up to me. “Okay. Seven. Got it.”

Her voice sounds a little strangled, and she still doesn’t show any signs of annoyance at my bad joke.

Before I can ask any more questions, Tessa turns around and rushes off—without saying goodbye—in the general direction of the women’s restrooms.

I just watch her go, puzzled. What on earth is with her? Is it bizzaro day or something?

Women. I’ll never understand them.

It could just be that she doesn’t want the gossip to spread, what with us spending time alone in a private space together, even if it’s my office and she’s my PA. I guess I can understand that.

I don’t give a crap. I’ve grown in the public eye and people are always going to talk. I learned to tune all that shit out a long time ago. I couldn’t have survived in this business if I didn’t.

I’m looking forward to tonight. We’re having another meal with my parents—something I would’ve told Tessa had she asked.

My parents are back in the country for a little while before they jet off on their next adventure. They’re keen to meet Tessa again, but I still haven’t told them the truth about our marriage. Although, maybe I won’t need to now? Tess has really backed off with the annulment talk recently, and what with the sex, maybe she’s forgetting about it?

The item in the box will look absolutely stunning on her, and I can’t wait to see her wear it.

I walk back into the boardroom, where Brock is practically foaming at the mouth.

“Where the hell were you?” he asks with exasperation.

I take a deep breath and prepare for another long afternoon.