The morning meeting turns tense the moment she steps into the boardroom. Whispers follow her—curious, judgmental, sharp. Being the CEO's "wife" has made her visible in ways she never asked for. He sits at the head of the table, unreadable, professionally distant, as if they are strangers.
When a senior executive openly questions her qualifications, silence crashes down. Before she can respond, he speaks—calm, cold, devastatingly precise—shutting the challenge down in seconds.
She realizes then: he won't protect her emotionally, but professionally, he draws a clear line. After the meeting, they argue in private. She accuses him of control. He accuses her of pride. Neither wins.
But when she leaves, she notices something unsettling—his hand clenched tight, knuckles white. The storm didn't miss him either.