Chapter 3 A Test of Resilience

"Jane stood frozen on the spot as her husband's so-called girlfriend ranted on. Never in her life had she imagined that a woman would claim her husband in her matrimonial home, and there would be nothing she would be able to do about it.

"...So where is he?" Michelle asked drily.

Jane glared at her. If only she and her husband were in love or were even friends, or at least tolerated each other, she would have taught the woman in front of her a lesson she would never forget.

"He is not home," she said tightly.

"Oh really?" Michelle asked with a mocking smirk. "But why do I find that hard to believe? Well, the only way to find out is to call him, right?"

That was better. Jane thought. She wanted to hear Alex's response.

Michelle brought out her Phone and dialed a number.

"Hello darling...where are you?...Oh... Well, your contract wife said you were not at home... Yes, she did

...alright baby, I'm coming up now."

She hung up and looked pointedly at Jane.

"Don't tell me you're already falling in love with my boyfriend because I can't explain this protectiveness over him." She came closer. "But let me advise you. Try not to fall in love with him because I assure you that your feelings will never be reciprocated. Just a piece of advice."

"Michelle."

A deep voice called from upstairs.

"Oh darling," Michelle purred seductively. "What are you doing? I thought I told you to come upstairs?"

"Oh, I'm coming right up, honey."

Giving Jane a triumphant smile, Michelle catwalked up the stairs to meet Alex.

Jane turned to look up at Alex with hurt and anger in her eyes as a result of his disrespect towards her. He stared back at her cynically for a while, then turned and walked away with Michelle clinging to his arms.

Jane felt like screaming at the world. She felt mocked, shamed, and disgraced and couldn't do anything about it because of the falseness of her marriage. She had no power in the marriage, no power! She might be Mirabelle Jones's wife, but even the sexy Michelle had more power over Alex than she did, that's even if she had any.

"M-madam." Anna brought her out of her reverie. "I'm sorry about what just happened."

She took a deep breath and forced a tight smile. "It's not in any way your fault, so don't apologize."

Anna nodded. "I'll be in the kitchen, madam."

"It's okay."

"Will you be okay, madam?"

"Yes, don't worry about me."

"Okay, dinner will be ready soon."

Anna announced and left after her boss's wife nodded.

Jane's legs suddenly became too light to carry her, and she flopped on the nearby couch. She felt so ashamed and disgraced. Her husband and his whore could possibly be doing some dirty things upstairs in her matrimonial home, and there was nothing she could do about it.

After dinner, she slowly made her way upstairs to try and get some sleep. When she got to the corridor, she heard moans and gasps coming from the room her husband had slept in the previous night. She wasn't a child; she knew what was going on in that room at the moment, and she definitely didn't want to witness it.

Shaking her head, she went into her bedroom, locked the door, and leaned back on it, taking deep breaths. If she would continue with this marriage, she needed to be strong. She needed to create a thick skin and not allow certain things to get to her.

After all, she didn't love him as much as he didn't love her. So she wouldn't say or do anything rash that might make it seem as if she was jealous over Alex. Because she definitely wasn't! He could do whatever he wanted. She couldn't care less.

With her mind firmly made, she climbed onto the king-sized bed, pulled the duvet over her body, and settled to sleep. But sleep didn't come easily."

*************

"You're commencing your work today," Alex announced, his voice devoid of enthusiasm, as he sat across from Michelle at the breakfast table. He was already dressed for the day, having even prepared a set of clothes in the master bedroom where she had been sleeping, considering it housed his closet.

Michelle looked up from her tea cup, a hint of surprise in her eyes. "Today? You didn't inform me about it yesterday."

"Well, I'm informing you now," he replied curtly. "Hurry and get dressed if you don't want to be left behind."

"But..." she started to protest.

"Do you prefer continuing this solitary and monotonous honeymoon?" he interjected, a smirk playing on his lips.

Curse him! He knew exactly what he was doing.

"No, but you could have at least informed me earlier, giving me time to prepare," she explained.

"As the vice president of Maxwell Inc., you must be ready at a moment's notice," he retorted cynically. "Even when given short notice."

"But this is hardly fair!" Michelle voiced her frustration. "I had the right to know that my work would begin today."

"Today happens to be Monday..." he trailed off.

"Which is still supposed to be our honeymoon," she blurted out, then immediately regretted it as he smirked.

"If you desire to consummate our marriage, a simple request would suffice," he huskily replied, his eyes teasing her.

Michelle's eyes widened. "What? No! I... I don't want to be intimate with you."

How could he say such things when he wasn't even attracted to her? Besides, he was merely toying with her. He couldn't be serious. No, he couldn't.

He smirked again, his gaze raking over her. "You're not unappealing at all. In fact, you're worth ravishing."

A blush crept onto her cheeks, quickly replaced by a glare. How dare he speak to her that way after spending the night with that woman who called herself Jane?

"I won't tolerate you talking about me in such a manner, Alex."

"And why not? You're my wife," he responded nonchalantly.

"Only in name," she retorted dryly, as he had so astutely pointed out.

"Ah, yes," he grinned mockingly. "You are an intelligent woman. I'm beginning to agree with my father that you would make an excellent vice president, just like myself."

She rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself."

"Oh, but you know it's true."

They continued their breakfast, yet her mind wandered once again to the woman who had come searching for her husband the previous evening.

"Why didn't she join us for breakfast?" she asked casually.

"Who?" he looked momentarily perplexed.

"I'm certain it was only one woman who came looking for you last night," she replied drily.

"Oh, Jane? She... She's still asleep."

"Good," Michelle replied, rising from her seat. "Excuse me, I need to change."

*************

Jane gracefully adorned herself in a stylish, black long-sleeved blouse, impeccably tucked into white high-waisted boot-cut pants that accentuated her curves. Completing the ensemble, she slipped into a pair of sleek black pumps. With a touch of light makeup, she brushed her hair into a neat, shiny ponytail, and adorned her ears with delicate pearl earrings. Finally, she grabbed her elegant white handbag and confidently exited the room.

"I'm ready," Jane announced, her voice laced with a hint of cool detachment. She was still seething over the audacity of Michelle, who had spent the night in her sacred matrimonial home.

Alex turned his gaze towards her and nodded towards the door. "Let's go."

The drive to the office was filled with silence, and Jane let out a sigh of relief as Alex pulled up beside a towering skyscraper. The pinnacle of the building bore the emblem of "Maxwell Inc."

Upon entering the building, Jane found herself greeted by a series of introductions with both male and female employees. To her surprise, Alex introduced her merely as the new vice president, conveniently omitting the fact that she was his wife. She chose not to dwell on it.

"Jane, this is Mirabelle Jones, the director of operations. She will show you to your office and provide you with some briefings," Alex explained, introducing her to a vibrant young woman after showing her his own spacious office. The woman exuded an air of diligence behind her spectacles.

"I'm leaving her in your capable hands for now, Miss Mirabelle. I have a meeting in five minutes. See you later, Jane," he stated casually before strolling away, accompanied by two other men.

Jane's office was expansive and exquisitely furnished, a space she instantly grew fond of. Mirabelle guided her through the intricacies of running the company as the vice president. Mirabelle, a patient and amiable individual, informed Jane that she was twenty-four years old, just a year older than her, and held a Master's degree from Ottawa University in the Canada. She had joined the company two years ago and graciously briefed Jane on the various individuals she had been introduced to.

Once Mirabelle was satisfied with Jane's orientation, she took her leave, and Jane officially embarked on her first day as Vice President of Jordan Inc, despite her negligent husband's failure to inform her of the exact starting date.

During the lunch break, Jane contemplated heading down to the company cafeteria but thought better of it, uncertain whether her husband would approve of her dining there.

She decided to pay a visit to his office instead, only to find his secretary absent, presumably on her own lunch break. Jane knocked on the door, and a unfamiliar voice granted her entry.

Upon entering, her gaze was immediately drawn to a dark and strikingly handsome man occupying the visitor's chair, his legs nonchalantly draping over her husband's expansive desk as if he owned the place.

"Uh, good afternoon?" Jane greeted, feeling slightly uneasy.

The man's eyes sparkled with admiration as he observed her. "Hello, beautiful."

"I'm here to see Ale... Mr. Jordan," Jane replied, her voice slightly breathless.

"Oh, he just went to freshen up. He'll be here any moment," the man responded smoothly.

"Oh, I see..."

Standing tall at six feet, the young man introduced himself. "The name's Albert Donald, best friend to that stubborn head."

He extended his hand for a handshake, which Jane accepted. "Oh, nice to meet you. I'm Jane," she said simply.

"Mm, that's a truly exquisite name for a remarkably beautiful lady," Albert complimented, gently kissing her hand, just as the adjacent door burst open.

"Is that your latest pickup line, Albert?" Both of them turned towards the source of the deep voice, and there stood Alex, wearing an unmistakable scowl.