His for a year. - Chapter 15: Chapter 15

She scanned me from head to toe, then stepped inside without waiting for permission.
I shut the door and followed her.
“It’s 8. Has Zade informed you about your visit to the company?” she asked, glancing around the room.
“Yes.”
“It’s a good thing you’re already dressed,” she said, eyes narrowing. “Keep your trouble away from us, will you?”
She stepped closer.
“I asked if there was any potential danger lurking around you, didn’t I?”
I nodded, fear creeping up my spine.
“So what’s this, then? Why did you lie?”
“This is new to me too, Anna. Please… believe me,” I said, voice trembling.
She let out a short, sarcastic laugh. “Believe you? Do I look like someone who would? I knew you were trouble from the moment I saw you. Zade just didn’t want to listen. And now… here we are.”
She turned to leave, then paused in the doorway. “I came to warn you. This better end here. Tell your psycho boyfriend to stay away—for at least a year.” She opened the door, muttering, “You’re lucky Zade’s interested in keeping you safe.”
I let out a shaky sigh as I sank onto the bed. Who could this intruder be?
Before I could spiral too far into my thoughts, another knock came.
I opened the door to find a group of people carrying cases and equipment.
“Can I help you?” I asked, confused.
“Miss Anna sent us,” the woman in front said with a smile. “We’re your assigned makeup team.”
I stepped aside and let them in.
They got to work immediately, setting up their stations and lighting. I sat still as they worked around me, touching up my skin, concealing my eye bags, enhancing my nose, and picking a lipstick that complimented my tone perfectly.
Before 10, we were done.
I looked at myself in the mirror—polished, radiant, flawless.
My phone chimed.
“Come to the carpark - Zade”
I guess it's time. I put my phone in my purse and placed a blazer jacket over my shoulders and walked to the park. My feet were hurting, the heels straps rubbed against my ankle so hard. But I couldn't complain, I had no right to.
_ _ _
Zade sat next to me, scrolling through emails on his tablet, his wedding ring catching sunlight through the window like it belonged there. I kept staring at mine.
We were married.
Legally. Publicly. Secretly.
He hadn't said much since we left the Avner residence that morning. Just a simple, "You’ll meet my core team today. Let them see us." No extra words. No soft looks. Just duty. Just business.
The blacked-out Mercedes rolled to a stop outside the mirrored skyscraper bearing the AvnerTech logo. It was our first official appearance as a married couple, and the whole building knew it, maybe the whole of New York.
Zade stepped out first, wearing a charcoal-gray suit that matched the clouded Manhattan sky. He moved around to my side, offering his hand like a proper gentleman. I took it, swallowing the nerves tightening my throat.
Cameras flashed across the street. I tried not to stare. They were everywhere.
Zade leaned toward my ear. "Smile."
I did. Barely.
The lobby burst into quiet activity when we entered. Executives nodded in recognition. Assistants stiffened like they’d been caught slacking. A few whispered excitedly to one another, phones half-hidden in their palms as they tried not to be obvious.
It was surreal, walking beside Zade in full view—no hiding, no pretending not to exist. I could feel their eyes on us like heat on my back. This is what I signed up for.
“Mr. and Mrs. Avner,” a voice greeted warmly behind us.
We turned.
It was Alex. Grinning like he had won something.
“Or should I say, power couple?” he added with a dramatic bow. His smile was wide, genuine, the kind that made it hard not to return.
I smiled. “Hi, Alex.”
Zade gave a single nod, his hand drifting to my back in a slow, deliberate motion. Possessive.
Alex’s eyes flicked down briefly to Zade’s hand, then up to me. “So it’s official now, huh? Wow. I mean, I got the invite, but I didn’t realize it would be… so soon.”
“Neither did I,” I replied with a light laugh, hoping it masked the edge of truth.
“You both looked beautiful in the wedding video. The way you smiled at him?” Alex shook his head. “That kind of stuff melts hearts.”
Zade’s smile was barely a twitch. “Is that so?”
Alex chuckled. “Hey, I call it like I see it. Congrats, seriously. I mean it.”
“Thank you,” I said, genuinely touched.
Then Alex’s gaze softened. “And… Olive, are you feeling better? After that day? I never got the chance to follow up. You were pretty shaken up when we last saw each other.”
“I’m okay now,” I said. “Thank you for asking.”
Zade’s fingers pressed just slightly into my back. Subtle. But enough for me to notice.
Alex noticed too. His smile faltered for half a beat before he recovered.
“Good. That’s good.” He clapped his hands once. “Well, the whole floor’s buzzing. The new Mrs. Avner and her husband walking in together? It’s like a royal visit.”
Then, with one last grin at me—and a brief, unreadable glance at Zade—he stepped aside. “I’ll see you guys around.”
We walked forward, but I could feel Zade glance sideways at me.
“Don't give everyone the room to be this friendly with you. You're the CEO's wife now ,” he said, voice smooth.
“I understand.” I murmured, trying not to change my mood.
“I’m not upset, not yet.”
“Right.”
"You'll be by my side for today's meeting." He ordered, leading me to the conference room.
The meeting was a blur of sharp words and digital presentations. Zade presented a new data integration model for healthcare analytics. I didn’t understand half of it, or why he wanted me here, but I watched the way he moved: calm, assured, absolutely in control. He was a different man here, and something about that was attractive.
After the meeting, he led me down a quiet hallway and into a private elevator. Neither of us spoke, but I could feel the tension soften, just a little. When the elevator doors slid open, we stepped into what looked like an entirely different world.
His office.
And I—was stunned.
It was massive. Not just spacious, but thoughtfully spacious, the kind that whispered wealth and power without needing to say it out loud. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined one side of the room, flooding the space with natural light and offering a panoramic view of the New York City skyline. From up here, the city looked soft and far away—like nothing bad could touch you at this height.
A sleek black desk sat near the windows, minimalist in design, with a silver MacBook open at its center and a glass of water placed perfectly beside it. Behind it, bookshelves, each with a purpose, stretched up the wall—filled with books, curated pieces: sculptures here, photographs there, gold-plated awards on display like they had earned their place.
Across the room was a sitting area—plush charcoal-gray couches with cream throw pillows, and a low coffee table stacked with Tech magazines and a single white orchid in a crystal vase. Everything was quiet, precise. Even the scent in the air felt designed to impress without trying too hard.
Zade walked ahead, loosening the cuffs of his shirt, like they were his second skin. “Have a seat,” he said, motioning toward the couch. His voice was calm, but I could tell this was his element. Here, he was in complete control.
I sat slowly, trying not to look like I was mentally calculating the cost of the rug beneath my feet.
Because this? This wasn’t just an office.
It was a kingdom.
And he was very much the king in it.
“What exactly do you do at AvnerTech?” I asked, pretending to sound curious instead of overwhelmed.
He didn’t look up. “Media intelligence. Real-time consumer behavior tracking. Political influence campaigns. We mine data, turn it into insight, and sell strategy to billion-dollar clients. Fortune 500s. Governments.”
“Right.” I swallowed. “So, like...legal spying.”
He almost smiled. “It’s not spying. It’s optimization.”
“You sound like a Bond villain.”
This time, he actually smirked. Just briefly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Stay here for a bit. Anna will come up with instructions for you. Don’t go wandering.”
I watched him walk out of the giant door.
Ten minutes later, Anna entered, her hair in a razor-sharp bun, a tablet in hand. She placed the tablet on the table and turned it toward me. “Read it twice. Then again with a smile.”
I skimmed the words—nothing too flowery, just polished happiness. “We’re grateful for the love and support… excited about this new journey… blah blah forever.” It sounded exactly like something we’d never say to each other in real life.
But I read it anyway.
Twice.
When she was satisfied, she led me down another hallway toward the small media room—a sleek space with cameras already set up, led lights glowing, and a backdrop that carried the company’s logo in elegant blue. A man with a headset offered a rehearsed smile and a clipboard. “Mrs. Lloyd, welcome. We’ll make this quick.”
I froze a little at the title. Mrs. Lloyd. God.
Zade stood behind the setup, speaking with someone but watching me from the corner of his eye. He looked calm, collected. The kind of calm that made you nervous, like he knew everything and you knew nothing.
A stylist stepped in to adjust a curl on my shoulder and fix my collar. Zade walked over just as the camera crew gave the signal to start rolling.
He didn’t say anything, just reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers brushed my skin—barely there, but enough to jolt my pulse.
“You’ll do fine,” he murmured. “It's just for our social media.”
I wasn’t sure if that was reassurance or a command.
The light flashed on.
I straightened. “Thank you all for being here. My husband and I are incredibly grateful for the warm wishes and cute articles…” I smiled, almost convincingly, “…and we’re excited about this new chapter together.”
The words rolled out easier than I expected. I added a soft laugh at the right moment, looked at Zade the way someone in love might, and even said the word “husband” without choking on it.
Someone clapped quietly behind the lights. Anna gave a small nod.
As soon as the camera cut off, I stepped away, smoothing my dress with shaky fingers.
Zade leaned closer. “I should’ve brought you to the investor dinners. You’re good at this.”
I gave a dry smile. “I’m good at pretending.”
He didn’t disagree.
We returned to his office in silence. The energy shifted the moment the door closed behind us. I stood near the couch, not sure if I was supposed to sit or stay standing.
He walked around his desk, glancing at his phone. “You handled that better than I expected.”
I took a breath. “I was wondering… if it’s okay—if I could see my sister today.”
He looked up slowly. “Today?”
“Yes. Just for a bit,” I added quickly, almost like an apology. “I promised her I’d check in. I won’t stay long.”
He paused. His gaze stayed on me a second longer than I liked.
Then he nodded. “Fine. You can take my driver.”
“Thank you.”
I turned to leave, but before I reached the door, I heard him say, “Text me when you get there.”
There was something in his tone. Not cold, not possessive—just… aware.