---- Chapter 2 Arising star dating the CEO? It was like a cringy office rom-com playing out in real time. Mr. Untouchable had officially been knocked off his pedestal. Everyone just stared. A few single girls shot Peggy dagger-eyed looks of pure envy. Then his voice came through again, smooth as ever: "T'll call you whatever you want. I've got a whole list-I could switch it up daily. But aren't you at your team dinner? Why the surprise call? Miss me already?" He sounded soft, all-in, like he'd drop everything for her. The table lit up with teasing and fake swoons. Everyone gushed. ---- Except me. I just kept drinking, the wine sharp and dry, burning down fast. My nails had dug so deep into my palm, I'd drawn blood. Gerard was my husband. Has been for three years-secretly. So how the hell did she end up with him? sek I'd known Gerard for a decade. Married him in secret three years ago. used to bring up going public-like, a lot. Every time, he'd shut it down with the same line: "Danielle Astor, I'm the CEO of Busch Corp. You want people dragging me for dating a coworker?" Cold. Always the same tone. Eventually, I got the message-he just didn't want to. ---- But I kept telling myself it was me. That maybe I wasn't enough yet. That he was waiting until I proved I was worth it. So I pushed harder. Made it to the top. Number one salesperson this year. Didn't lose a single deal. But then the whispers started. People said I only closed deals by sleeping with clients. Some took it further-said I catered to their weird kinks. To them, every win came from my looks or what I could do behind closed doors. And Gerard? Said nothing. Worse, he used the gossip as another excuse to keep our marriage in the dark.