SWNOVELS The Temporary Wife: Chapter 51
I smile to myself as I look around my new office in disbelief. For years, I was envious of Stephen’s office — even more so because I was the one who actually did his job. I didn’t think I’d ever be recognized for what I do. This truly is a dream come true.
“Are you proud of yourself for sleeping your way to the top?”
I whirl around to find Ben standing in my office, his face red, no doubt from suppressed anger. “Ben,” I murmur, my own face flushing as I’m reminded of the last time I spoke to him, a few days ago. I’ve been scared to run into him ever since, unsure whether I could handle the embarrassment. I can’t believe Luca made me so delirious that I didn’t care about anything but him. Losing control isn’t something I do, yet Luca forced me to.
“I never knew you were such a slut, Val. You didn’t need to go to Luca Windsor if you wanted the job that badly. You should have come to me. I told you that I’d give you the job if you gave me another chance, so why did you have to turn to someone like him? Why did you have to lower yourself like that?”
He stares at me with such disgust in his eyes that I can’t help but chuckle. It took a while, but I’m genuinely unfazed by him and his supposedly offensive remarks. Sure, I shouldn’t have picked up the phone, but I won’t feel bad about enjoying my husband. “Lower myself? Yeah, I suppose that’s exactly what I did. He did have my face pressed against the sofa, after all.”
Ben’s eyes flash angrily, and he takes a step toward me. “Tell me the truth, Val. Does he have something on you? The way he made you beg and the things he said to you. That isn’t you.”
I smirk and brush my hair out of my face. “Ben, just because you could never make me come doesn’t mean Luca can’t. You’ve never seen or heard me act that way because you’ve never been able to turn me on the way Luca does.”
Pure pain flashes through his eyes, but I have no remorse. “Doesn’t it bother you to know that you paid for this job title with your body? For as long as you work here, Luca is going to demand things from you. Are you going to continue falling to his knees at his every whim, like his own personal whore?”
“You know what?” I tell him. “I haven’t gone on my knees for him yet.” I frown, regret washing over me. “It’s not fair, now that I think about it. I should really remedy that.”
“Is this all a joke to you?” Ben snaps. “Is he the only one you’ve slept with, or have you been sleeping around with all your superiors? Is that how you got this far when you’re still so young?”
I smile at him and shake my head in amusement. “If I slept my way to the top, I wouldn’t have bothered to compete with you at all. I would’ve just been given the job. Is it really so hard for you to admit that you lost to me?” Ben stares at me in disbelief, and I burst out laughing. “You do realize that I was hired by Anne Windsor, Luca’s grandmother? If I’d gone to her and asked her for the job, she would’ve given it to me, no questions asked. She’s the company’s largest shareholder and holds absolute power. The fact that I competed with you at all means I didn’t use the connections I have. Besides, you wouldn’t even have been in the running for this job if not for your daddy, you hypocrite.”
He grits his teeth and shakes his head. “I’m so disappointed in you,” he says. “I thought the world of you. I thought you were different from every other woman I’ve ever met, and I regretted losing you more than anything else. But you’re exactly what you said you’d never become. You’re nothing but a rich man’s whore. He’ll tire of you eventually, and I’m going to enjoy your fall from grace once he does. You wouldn’t have this job if not for him, and eventually, you’ll lose it because of him, too.”
My smile melts off my face as his accusation digs in deep. He knows about my parents, and he knows how much it pains me. How could he stand there and weaponize my past?
“You’ll continue to do so.” My head snaps up at the sound of Luca’s voice. He walks into my office and heads for my desk, a large name plaque in his hands. “For the rest of your life, you’ll continue to regret losing her, because you’re right, Ben. She’s unlike any woman you’ll ever meet.”
He positions the name plaque he got me so it’s facing Ben and me, and I gasp. It reads Valentina Windsor, Chief Operating Officer.
Luca looks at me, his gaze pensive. “Perhaps I should’ve made it read Valentina Windsor, Luca’s personal whore. Feels like a missed opportunity, doesn’t it? Should I get a separate one for our home office?”
My eyes widen, and then startled laughter escapes my lips. Just like that, he makes my pain melt away. Luca wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me into him, a smile on his face. “I love you,” he tells me. “And I’m really fucking proud of you. I hope you know that. No one deserves this job more than you do, and I know you’re going to take this company to new heights. Windsor Finance and I would be nothing without you.”
I nod gratefully, and he turns toward Ben, who can’t seem to take his eyes off my name plaque. “My wife doesn’t need me to fight her battles for her, so I’ve kept quiet, but I’ve just about had it with you. I thought I made myself clear over the phone the other day, but it appears you’re too fucking dimwitted to read between the lines. Valentina is mine. If you can so much as see my wife in your peripheral vision, you’re entirely too fucking close to her. I’m not a patient man. The next time I catch you anywhere near her, I might well be inclined to make you disappear altogether.” He runs a hand through his hair and narrows his gaze. “After all, you finally no longer have a valid reason to be near my wife. I don’t want you to foul her pretty eyes any further. I don’t want to see you reflected in them.”
Ben looks at me, his anger turning into despair. “You’re married to him,” he says, his tone defeated.
“You almost sound disappointed that I’m not merely his whore.”
Ben runs a hand through his hair, his expression crestfallen. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why would I? Just who do you think you are to demand an explanation from me?”
Luca hums in agreement, clearly pleased by my words. It’s odd how petty he can be sometimes, but it’s awfully cute at the same time.
“If you’re his wife, why even bother competing for this job? It’s clear you were always going to get it.”
Luca’s grip on me tightens, and I shake my head subtly. “Because I truly keep my personal and professional lives separate. Luca had nothing to do with me getting this job. I was appointed as COO because I earned it. I understand that it’s a hard concept for you to wrap your head around, Ben, but it’s true.”
He stares at me, seemingly at a loss for words. “Get out,” Luca says. “I don’t want to see you anywhere near my wife’s office ever again. I highly recommend that you resign, but I’m willing to wait it out. You’re a fucking dimwit, so you won’t last long, anyway.”
Ben throws me one last lingering look before he turns and walks away, regret marring his features. Watching him walk away feels an awful lot like closure. It isn’t just that he cheated — he genuinely is a horrible human being, and it pains me to know I was once foolish enough to fall for someone like him.
“You know the plaque can’t stay, right?” I murmur.
Luca sighs and glances at it. “I can wait,” he whispers. “I’ll wait until you’re ready to place it on your desk, Valentina. For you, I can be patient.”
I stare at him, my heart racing. Keeping our marriage a secret was a key component of our agreement. What would it mean if we tell everyone?