Seated at the large dining table for dinner, Jossy and Damien ate in silence as had become a norm. Despite the silence, Jossy ate happily as she hummed to a popular tune. Damien noticed it immediately. She was smiling more than usual, a lightness in her voice he hadn't heard in years. She looked carefree, and it was unsettling.
He set down his glass of wine and studied her. "You're in a good mood," he said casually, though his eyes were carefully scanning her.
Jossy couldn't hide it even if she tried.
Earlier that day, Lennox Corp. had called. As per her conversation with HR, she had performed extremely well in her interview, and they offered her the position. She had almost screamed from excitement when she got the news. She hadn't worked a single day since college; back then, her life had been swallowed up by her relationship with Damien and wedding plans. Yet here she was, holding a job offer in her hands. She couldn't contain the excitement. She had signed a job offer, and not just any offer. The salary had stunned her. Did Lennox really pay that well for such a role? She didn't know, and she didn't care. For the first time, she would earn something of her own. Something Damien couldn't claim credit for.
She pushed her fork around her plate, hiding the grin tugging at her lips. "It was just.. a good day," she murmured.
Damien didn't buy it. He leaned back in his chair, watching her too closely. Something was different about her. Too different.
The following morning after breakfast, once Damien left for work, Jossy sat in their bedroom, laptop open. Her first official day with Lennox began as she thought; Today I will be doing something I love.
Her to-do list was clear on the screen, neatly outlined by the HR coordinator who had onboarded her the previous afternoon.
It seemed simple enough, almost too simple, but she quickly discovered it wasn't just about replying with polite thank yous. Customers were asking for skincare advice, comparing Aurora Glow to other high-end brands, and even sharing pictures of themselves wearing the product. Each comment needed a thoughtful and engaging response. And Jossy loved it.
A smile lingered on her lips as she leaned back, stretching. She hadn't smiled like this in months.The job gave her hope for the future. Maybe it was a foundation. Maybe before she thought about babies again, something Damien wanted so bad, she could give herself six more months to adjust, to build, and to grow professionally. But she kept it to herself.
***
As days went by, each morning, Jossie logged into the Aurora Glow dashboard reviewing customer comments on different platforms. Despite the part-time expectation, she often lost track of time. She would sit at her laptop for hours, completely absorbed in crafting responses, analyzing customer feedback, and brainstorming small improvements. Sometimes, she would glance at the clock only to realize she had been working for eight hours straight.
By the end of the first week, the impact of her work was noticeable. The rest of the Aurora Glow marketing team began to hear about her exceptional performance, how she had flagged issues early, helped customers feel heard, and even suggested engagement strategies that increased positive interactions.
Her supervisor, Clara, a manager of Digital Marketing, was strict but fair. She also had a sharp eye for talent, so she noticed Jossy early on . By the end of the second week, she sent Jossy a note: "I'm impressed by your attention to details. Keep engaging the customers as you are. Your feedback might influence product improvements and our upcoming campaigns."
The praise gave Jossy a thrill she hadn't felt in years. She felt alive and capable and she wondered if she could do more, be more.
By the time Jossy clocked one month working at Lennox, her exceptional performance started to make waves. Even George had heard about her from the marketing team..she was the new hire who kept the team busy with feedback.
The day he heard about her, he knew he had to mention it to Noah. That week, as they finalized their weekly strategy updates meeting, he casually mentioned, "By the way, your friend, the new hire Jossy, she has been exceptional. Her manager Clara says she is the best digital assistant she has ever come across. She works hard, stays motivated, and delivers results"
George raised an eyebrow. "I wonder what motivates her," he said thoughtfully. "Maybe it's her simple background. She was a scholarship student after all. I bet she'll be hired full-time soon given her talent. You know Noah, she looks attractive in her photo..and she is hardworking. That's the kind of woman to marry." He laughed lightly as he continued. "I already have Diana, so I can't date her, but you are still single. Now that you've been receiving a lot of pressure to settle down, maybe you should make her Mrs. Lennox." George laughed out loud.
Noah's head snapped up, marry Jossy? If only. He was too late..or Damien had been too calculating. "She is married, George. To Damien Rothwell." He answered calmly.
"She is? She is his famous wife,?" George frowned. "I don't think she included that on her file. No wonder she looked familiar. Maybe she didn't want people to know she is married to a powerful man. She is truly amazing. Who wouldn't want to use that to their advantage? " He paused, thinking. "Rumor has it they're the perfect couple. He must be a good guy to allow her to work at such a position. Much respect! By the way, wasn't Damien your friend in college? Come to think of it, I haven't heard you talk about him in months. Maybe even since college."
Noah remained silent, his mind racing. Questions still lingered in his mind. Why was she here? Why had she applied for this position? The Damien he knew would never allow her to work at such a job, most definitely not at Lennox. He knew there was more to it.
***
Things with Damien had gotten easier.
When she started working at Lennox, Jossy specifically informed Clara that she would be unavailable in the evenings. Her job mattered, but her marriage mattered more, and she was determined to protect what she had with Damien.That meant every evening was reserved for him, no excuses.
Most nights, they ate together, talked a little, and sometimes just sat in silence, but at least he was home. In her heart, Jossy believed this job had saved her marriage. With the structure it gave her, she no longer hovered around waiting, and was no longer tempted to question his comings and goings. She kept busy in the day, and in the evenings, she gave him her undivided attention.
Of course, not every night was perfect. Sometimes Damien came home late, pulled back into the endless demands of the company. She had learned long ago not to ask questions.
Over the two years of their marriage, she had memorized the boundaries:
Where are you? was to never be said.
What are you doing? was too dangerous.
When will you be home? was forbidden.
Even if he didn't come home at all, she wasn't allowed to ask.
Once, after starting the Job at Lennox, she noticed the faint trace of a woman's perfume clinging to his shirt. Another time, the scent lingered on his jacket. She was smart enough not to mention it, because she didn't want to be as foolish as she was in their first year of marriage. The first and only time she dared to ask such questions, they had been married for only six months. The memory of that night was still fresh on her mind..His eyes flashing with fury, the first slap of many to come, the words he spat, and the uncomfortable silent treatment that followed. That night was enough to teach her a lasting lesson.
Don't you ever question me, Damien had told her flatly.
And she had. Painfully, fully, she had accepted it.
At least she was his wife. That thought had become her anchor. However many girls drifted in and out of his life, however many mysterious nights he spent away, none of them could claim what she could. None of them had the ring, the name, the home. They would never get the privilege, never hold the honor, and so,she worked hard to please him, harder than she ever had before, because, if she just gave enough of herself, he wouldn't need to look elsewhere and for the times he did, it was her fault. And maybe, just maybe, her resolve was working.
Damien had begun coming home earlier than usual, sometimes even surprising her. He now spoke to her more softly, kissed her forehead when he walked in, and lingered at the dinner table instead of retreating straight to his office. Their marriage was now solid and warm, like the way she had once dreamed it could be.