HIS STRIPPER, HIS WIFE novel Chapter 67

Chapter 67

“Go ahead”

“I need permission to go somewhere tomorrow morning. I might come in a little later than usual.”

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I looked up at her properly then, my curiosity from earlier flaring right back up, sitting heavy on my tongue. “Where?” 1 wanted to ask it so badly. “Where are you going, what’s this about, does it have anything to do with whatever had you smiling like that earlier.”

But I couldn’t get the words out. Something about the way she stood there, polite but closed off, told me she wasn’t going to offer more than what she already said, and pushing would only make her retreat further.

“Oh okayyy, no problem.” I said instead. keeping my tone easy, like it didn’t matter to me either way. “Hope it’s not your

sister?”

She shook her head. “Okay then.” I said. “You have two hours.”

Thank you.” she said, and then she was gone, back to her desk, back to whatever world she was carrying around with her that I wasn’t part of.

i sat there after she left, drumming my fingers against the edge of my desk. Sooner or later I would find out what it was, I always did.

But there was another thought sitting underneath that one. less comfortable, more persistent. What if it was a job? What if somewhere out there, someone had noticed the way she works efficiently and was trying to pull her away from here, away from this office, away from me.

The next morning came and went with her chair empty for longer than two hours, closer to two and a half by the time she walked in, her cheeks a little flushed from moving fast, mumbling an apology I waved off without really listening to it. I wanted to ask again. I didn’t.

It wasn’t until the afternoon board meeting that I got my answer, and not from her at all.

We were going over quarterly numbers, half the room already glazed over from the slides, when Martins, our design director, leaned toward me during a break in the discussion, lowering his voice like he was sharing something mildly

amusing.

“By the way,” he said, “that girl from your office. Bianca, she came in for a meeting yesterday with Lens and Vale. Claire’s people. They wanted her full time.”

I kept my face still, though something in my chest sat up sharply at the words. “And?”

“She turned it down.” Martins said, shaking his head like he still couldn’t quite believe it himself. “Said she wasn’t ready to leave where she’s currently working. Loyal one, that girl. Claire was disappointed, honestly, she doesn’t usually chase people

twice.

I sat there for a second longer than I should have, processing it, a warmth spreading through my chest that had no business being there in the middle of a board meeting.

“Details” I said, trying to keep my voice level, professional. “What exactly are they offering.

Martins gave me the numbers, a good salary, benefits, a real position with real growth attached to it, and I nodded along. already thinking ahead.

“Make sure she’s treated well if this ever comes up again.” I said. “Whatever they’re offering, make sure it’s fair. More than

fair

Martins raised an eyebrow slightly but didn’t push, just nodded and let the conversation move on to something else.

I barely heard the rest of the meeting after that. My mind kept circling back to her sitting at her desk just one floor below.

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Chapter 67

oblivious to the fact that I now knew exactly where she had gone that morning.

By the time the meeting ended, I could barely sit still. I walked back toward my office fast, faster than usual.

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