The year I was completely gone for my boss, I secretly changed her contact name to “Wife.” The next day, she couldn’t find her phone and borrowed my new iPhone 17 Pro Max. “Siri, call—” Her voice was soft, gesturing for me to say the name. I froze, my mind going blank as I frantically tried to refuse. “James?” Ava Sterling looked at me, a flicker of confusion in her sharp eyes. Seeing my lips sealed tight, she pushed the phone closer to my mouth, repeating slowly, with a deliberate, knowing weight to her words, “Siri, call…” I wanted to cry. With no way out, I closed my eyes and yelled in utter desperation, “Wife.” … Liquid courage is a powerful thing. At a company dinner for upper management, the project director, her face flushed with wine, turned her attention to me. “James, you don’t have a girlfriend. How about you make do with me?” The table fell silent. “Are you seriously hitting on the CEO’s assistant?” someone whispered, tugging at her arm. That lecherous old woman. My boss, Ava, had a last-minute emergency tonight and sent me in her place. No one expected Director Evans to spew such nonsense. I bit back a sharp retort and offered a polite, strained smile. “It’s true I don’t have a girlfriend,” I said, “because I have a wife.” Her face fell. She pressed on, demanding proof. I glanced at her, then picked up my phone. With Ava absent, this was the perfect cover. “Siri, call Wife.” The call screen lit up, the name “Wife” displayed clearly for all to see. Director Evans stared, dumbfounded. Mission accomplished. I was about to hang up when a familiar ringtone blared from the doorway. My heart stopped. I whipped my head around in disbelief, my phone nearly slipping from my grasp. There she was, the cool, untouchable woman I’d worked for for three years, Ava Sterling, standing in the doorway with an unreadable expression. Everyone’s gaze followed mine, jaws practically hitting the floor. The screen of the phone in Ava’s hand was lit up, the call neither answered nor rejected. But that ringtone, a sound I knew better than my own heartbeat, exploded in the silent room like claps of thunder, turning my brain to static. …My world was ending. Ava said she wasn’t coming! Don’t tell me she heard me call her… wife! “James… you and Ms. Sterling! You two are…” someone stammered, too shocked to form a complete sentence. I slammed the end-call button, my mind scrambling for an excuse, any excuse at all. But Ava’s phone kept ringing. What? What was happening? Under the confused stares of everyone present, her famously icy gaze shifted, and she answered the call. …Someone else had called her, a split second faster than I had? I could have died from the scare. I let out a silent, shaky breath. I heard a crisp “Yes,” and then Ava’s eyes swept over the room, landing on me for a fraction of a second. She motioned for us to continue before turning and stepping out onto the terrace. Director Evans, now stone-cold sober, dabbed at her forehead with a trembling hand and wisely shut her mouth. The room slowly came back to life. “You scared the hell out of me! I really thought James was the CEO’s husband…” I forced a laugh, trying to play it off. But for the rest of the dinner, my mind was a blur. All I could think about was when, exactly, Ava had arrived at that door. I was lost in thought when she returned, her expression cold as ice. She took her seat at the head of the table, her sharp gaze locking onto Director Evans. My stomach dropped. Director Evans shrank under her stare, her face pale. “Ms. Sterling, I… I had too much to drink. I shouldn't have been so presumptuous.” Ava watched her, her voice devoid of warmth. “No,” she said coldly. “You shouldn’t have.” My head snapped up. Everyone at the table stared, first at her, then at me, their eyes asking the same silent question: Are you two actually together? Before I could say a word, Ava placed her phone on the table and slid it into the center for everyone to see. One of the senior partners picked it up, and his expression immediately turned grim. Displayed on the screen was proof that Director Evans had been skimming from the company. The color drained from the director’s face. Before she could protest, Ava gestured, and security discreetly escorted her out. The rest of us sat in stunned silence, still reeling from the whiplash of events. Only I was breathing a sigh of relief. Thank god Ava hadn’t heard me call her wife. She hated workplace drama and was all about efficiency. If she knew I’d changed her contact name for my own pathetic fantasies, I’d be out on the street just as fast as Evans. That was too close. “You look pleased, James.” Ava’s voice cut through my thoughts, her gaze lingering on me. I composed myself, pulling on my standard professional smile. “You rooted out a problem, Ms. Sterling. As your assistant, I’m genuinely happy for you.” She gave me a long, unreadable look. “I see.” The next morning, the employee elevator was packed. My head was spinning. Last night’s emotional rollercoaster had wrecked my sleep. I’d spent the night dreaming of Ava almost discovering my secret. What can I say? I crave her, but I’m a total coward. I fought tooth and nail against countless competitors to land this job, just to get close to her. But in the end, all I dared to do was secretly change her contact name. She usually messages me, so the chances of her finding out were slim to none. Last night was a freak accident. From now on, no more using “Wife” as a shield. If I don’t use it, she’ll never find out, right? I forced myself to focus, pulling out my phone to double-check the schedule for Ava’s promotional photoshoot later today. A colleague next to me saw me yawn and elbowed me playfully. “Rough night?” I couldn’t exactly say I was up all night thinking about our boss, could I? I offered a weak smile. “You know how it is. Too many beautiful women online, not enough time.” He grinned knowingly. “Tell me about it. My digital crush changes seven times a day, but in real life? Single my whole life.” Speaking of digital crushes, I had a real-life one secretly stashed in my contacts. Ding. The elevator arrived at another floor. My colleague and I stepped out to let people off before getting back on. When I looked up, I saw her. Standing at the back of the now-emptier elevator was Ava Sterling herself. My blood ran cold. Did she hear my stupid lie? Wait… why am I so nervous? “Ms. Sterling…” we mumbled, our voices strained. My colleague whispered, “The executive elevator isn’t broken, is it? Why is she slumming it with us?” “I have no idea…” Ava’s eyes flickered towards me. “Get in,” she said, her brow furrowed. Did someone piss her off? She seemed to be in a perfectly fine mood when the party ended last night. As the elevator ascended, my phone buzzed. A text from my colleague. [The boss looks pissed. My floor’s next. Good luck, buddy.] Ding. He scurried out, leaving me alone with Ava. The enclosed space filled with a heavy silence. I was about to say something, anything, to break the tension when her cold voice sliced through the air. “James, spending your nights watching… unconstructive content can negatively impact your work performance.” She was warning me. “Right, boss. I’ll switch to watching during the day,” I replied instantly. Ava paused. Only then did I realize what I’d just said. “Wait, no, boss, that’s not—” The elevator doors opened. Ava gave me a flat, unimpressed look and strode out. “Beach photoshoot this afternoon. You’re coming with me.” Huh? I stood there, stunned. Ava’s photoshoots were always a ten-minute affair. She never needed me there. Why now? We arrived at the beach as the sun began to set. The moment Ava stepped out of the changing room, my eyes widened. She was wearing a sleek one-piece, partially covered by a translucent wrap that was as sheer as a dragonfly’s wing. Her collarbones were a delicate, alluring line… Was I really allowed to be seeing this? I blinked, trying to compose myself. Her figure was breathtaking, a work of art. And her face was, as always, stunning enough to command attention anywhere she went. She seemed a little uncomfortable, probably from showing more skin than usual, a slight frown creasing her brow. Just as she was about to look up, I snapped my gaze away. Better safe than sorry. She couldn’t find out I was lusting after her. But then I remembered she had specifically asked me to come today, and my mind started racing again. Could it be that Ava… felt the same way about me? “Ava!” The director’s excited voice boomed from behind me. “You finally listened to me!” …So much for that theory. Ava’s uncharacteristic choice of attire wasn’t for me; it was because the director, her best friend of many years, had finally nagged her into it. Chloe, the director, had always complained that Ava was wasting her incredible figure with her severe business wear. “Why didn’t you answer my call earlier?” Chloe teased, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you needed a thirty-minute pep talk just to put on a swimsuit.” Ava was just passing me. She paused, glanced at me, then frowned at the director. “Couldn’t find my phone,” she said, dismissing the guess. “Let’s just get this over with.” Once the shoot started, Chloe was in her element, sighing with admiration as her camera shutter clicked furiously. Then, she stopped. “Okay, Ms. CEO, lose the wrap,” Chloe instructed, making a gesture. Lose the wrap? My heart skipped a beat. I looked at Ava, and found her eyes already on me. Our gazes locked for a split second before she looked away. I understood instantly. It was one thing for her to wear a swimsuit in public. It was another to reveal even more in front of her subordinate. She was uncomfortable. I pretended to be engrossed in my phone, but my ears were practically twitching. If Ava actually agreed to take it off, I would be the first to look up. Seeing Ava hesitate, Chloe sighed and waved over her own assistant. “Go help her with that.” “My assistant will do it.” Ava’s voice was quiet, but firm. My head shot up. Me? She turned down the director’s assistant, but she wanted me to do it? I was completely bewildered. Was it because… after all these years, she was more comfortable with me handling her than a complete stranger? I was still in a daze when I stood before her. We had never been this close. I’d been craving her for a long time, sure. But now that I actually had to make a move, my courage failed me. My hands trembled as I carefully untied the wrap. “It’s not that fragile.” My hands froze, and a hot blush crept up my neck. So embarrassing. I bit my lip and clutched the gauzy fabric. With the wrap gone, the elegant line of her collarbones was fully exposed. I couldn’t help but steal a glance, my heart hammering in my chest. A woman this perfect… if only she really were my wife. As I lowered my hands, I heard Chloe shout from behind the camera. “Brush her hair back for her.” Startled, I looked up at Ava and found her watching me. Her expression was unreadable. “Do what the director says,” she said, her voice even. “Okay…” Steeling myself, I raised my hands again, my fingertips grazing the smooth, pale skin of her nape. The sea breeze was cool, but the air between us felt thick and heavy. I was too close to her, too afraid to look for too long. I started to step back, but Chloe’s voice, now buzzing with excitement, rang out again. “Perfect! Now take off the skirt, too.” What?! Take off her what? My hand froze in mid-air, but my eyes had already betrayed me, drifting downwards. The wind gently lifted the hem of her sarong, offering tantalizing glimpses of her long legs. But… this couldn’t be right. “Get your mind out of the gutter! She’s wearing a slip underneath!” Still… Ava shot Chloe a warning look, but then her eyes met mine. “Go ahead,” she said. Was this really happening? I stared at her, feeling like I was in a dream. It’s just for work, it’s just for work… I chanted the mantra in my head, but as I reached for the tie at her waist, she caught my wrist. “Stop shaking,” she murmured, her voice low. The warmth of her hand on my skin sent a jolt through me, making my heart race even faster. I could only nod, my throat tight. She let go. She had… held my hand. I retreated behind the camera, trying not to stare, but my eyes kept being drawn back to her. Bathed in the warm, golden light of the setting sun, she stood with an easy grace. She was like a painting, so beautiful that a single glance could make my heart ache for hours. After the shoot, Ava went to the changing room. A few moments later, she called me in. As I entered, I saw her searching frantically through a pile of clothes on the sofa. “Call my phone,” she said, standing up, her tone casual. I froze. Call her from my phone? Her contact name was still “Wife.” Calling her now, in front of her, was like volunteering to jump into a volcano. No. Absolutely not. “James?” Ava asked, looking at me with confusion. When I didn’t respond, her expression hardened. “Are you nervous about something, James?” she asked slowly, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. My heart pounded. Her instincts were razor-sharp. She was onto me. “No, no… my phone’s dead. Let me go charge it.” I clutched the phone in a death grip, ready to bolt. “Is that so?” She closed the distance between us in a single step. “Siri.” “Yes?” my iPhone chirped instantly. I flinched. Before I could process what was happening, a slow, knowing smile spread across Ava’s face. Her eyes held mine, and her voice was smooth as silk as she spoke again. “Siri, call—” She paused, waiting for me to fill in the blank. I couldn’t say it. I would rather die. I shoved the phone behind my back, my jaw clenched. Ava’s brow furrowed. She leaned in, stalking me one step at a time. My face flushed, and I turned my head away. But she didn’t seem to notice, pressing closer still. “Siri, call—” Her voice was a predatory purr, and I swallowed hard. I was damned if I did, and damned if I didn’t. “Well?” she pressed, her aura of command leaving no room for escape. I squeezed my eyes shut and, in a voice of pure desperation, yelled, “Wife.”
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