The Day I Stopped Being the Nice Wife - Chapter 7: Chapter 7
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Sunlight streamed through the windows as Jane stirred awake to a soft knock at her door. Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she stretched and took in her unfamiliar surroundings, this wasn't her apartment. The decor was all wrong, the space too grand. Before she could piece together her memories, another knock jolted her fully awake.
"Good morning, Mrs. Lockwood," a maid greeted with a polite curtsy.
Jane's eyebrows shot up. "You must have me confused. Just call me Jane," she said, her voice still thick with sleep.
The maid's smile didn't waver. "Breakfast is ready. Would you prefer it served here or with Mr. Caleb downstairs?"
At the mention of Caleb's name, yesterday's whirlwind came rushing back, the courthouse, the paperwork, the dizzying reality of becoming Mrs. Lockwood overnight. "This is Caleb's home?" Jane asked, her fingers tightening around the doorframe.
"Yes, ma'am," the maid confirmed.
Jane opted for breakfast in her room, needing space to process. Closing the door, she caught her reflection in the mirror, hair wild, yesterday's clothes rumpled. No wonder the maid had looked at her strangely. She quickly gathered her scattered work materials when another knock interrupted.
Caleb stood in the doorway, his tailored suit accentuating his broad shoulders. "Morning," he said, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on her. "House rules, breakfast at eight sharp, no meals in bedrooms unless you're ill."
Jane bristled. "The maid told you I wanted to eat here?"
"She did," Caleb admitted. "But I'd prefer you join me downstairs." His eyes dropped to her bare left hand, a muscle twitching in his jaw before he schooled his expression. "Five minutes," he said curtly before leaving.
Later that morning, Caleb's Ferrari purred to a stop outside Lockwood Enterprises. Employees snapped to attention as he strode through the lobby, their murmured greetings met with a dismissive wave. The elevator ride to his office gave him precious seconds to steel himself before facing his unexpected visitor.
"Uncle," Caleb greeted coldly, finding Xavier lounging in his chair like a smug cat. "Today of all days?"
Xavier's grin widened. "Three years since we lost your father. Time flies when you're waiting to claim what's yours."
Caleb's jaw clenched. His uncle had been counting down the days until he could permanently seize control of Lockwood Enterprises, contingent on Caleb remaining unmarried for one more year.
"You're wasting your time," Caleb said, sliding a document across the desk. "I'm married."
Xavier's smile froze. "That's impossible. After Stella-"
"Meet my wife whenever you like," Caleb interrupted, twisting his wedding ring. "Though I warn you, she's not the type who cares for your brand of theatrics."
Xavier's eyes narrowed. "How...convenient. A marriage of convenience right before the deadline?"
Caleb leaned forward, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Call it whatever you want. The company stays with me." The unspoken challenge hung between them, this game was far from over.
"Good morning, Mrs. Lockwood," a maid greeted with a polite curtsy.
Jane's eyebrows shot up. "You must have me confused. Just call me Jane," she said, her voice still thick with sleep.
The maid's smile didn't waver. "Breakfast is ready. Would you prefer it served here or with Mr. Caleb downstairs?"
At the mention of Caleb's name, yesterday's whirlwind came rushing back, the courthouse, the paperwork, the dizzying reality of becoming Mrs. Lockwood overnight. "This is Caleb's home?" Jane asked, her fingers tightening around the doorframe.
"Yes, ma'am," the maid confirmed.
Jane opted for breakfast in her room, needing space to process. Closing the door, she caught her reflection in the mirror, hair wild, yesterday's clothes rumpled. No wonder the maid had looked at her strangely. She quickly gathered her scattered work materials when another knock interrupted.
Caleb stood in the doorway, his tailored suit accentuating his broad shoulders. "Morning," he said, his gaze sweeping the room before settling on her. "House rules, breakfast at eight sharp, no meals in bedrooms unless you're ill."
Jane bristled. "The maid told you I wanted to eat here?"
"She did," Caleb admitted. "But I'd prefer you join me downstairs." His eyes dropped to her bare left hand, a muscle twitching in his jaw before he schooled his expression. "Five minutes," he said curtly before leaving.
Later that morning, Caleb's Ferrari purred to a stop outside Lockwood Enterprises. Employees snapped to attention as he strode through the lobby, their murmured greetings met with a dismissive wave. The elevator ride to his office gave him precious seconds to steel himself before facing his unexpected visitor.
"Uncle," Caleb greeted coldly, finding Xavier lounging in his chair like a smug cat. "Today of all days?"
Xavier's grin widened. "Three years since we lost your father. Time flies when you're waiting to claim what's yours."
Caleb's jaw clenched. His uncle had been counting down the days until he could permanently seize control of Lockwood Enterprises, contingent on Caleb remaining unmarried for one more year.
"You're wasting your time," Caleb said, sliding a document across the desk. "I'm married."
Xavier's smile froze. "That's impossible. After Stella-"
"Meet my wife whenever you like," Caleb interrupted, twisting his wedding ring. "Though I warn you, she's not the type who cares for your brand of theatrics."
Xavier's eyes narrowed. "How...convenient. A marriage of convenience right before the deadline?"
Caleb leaned forward, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Call it whatever you want. The company stays with me." The unspoken challenge hung between them, this game was far from over.
End of The Day I Stopped Being the Nice Wife Chapter 7. Continue reading Chapter 8 or return to The Day I Stopped Being the Nice Wife book page.