The Day I Fired My Husband Novel

Chapter 1 My father sent me to my husband's company to test him . A surprise inspection , he'd called it . I thought it would be a formality . 07:32 O I wasn't even five steps inside the office when I saw her : a woman dressed in a look of curated innocence , staring at an industrial shredder as if it were magic . " Wow , this thing is so cool , " she breathed , and then , without a second thought , she picked up a contract from a nearby desk and started to feed it in . A colleague next to her went pale . " Lexi , for God's sake , stop ! " he yelped , diving to snatch it back .

" Weren't you in Carter's office playing video games ? Why are you out here ? " She just giggled . " Hehe , I got thirsty . " As if on cue , her hand , holding a full cup of water , jerked . The entire contents splashed directly onto the main power switch on the wall . The office went dark , followed by a collective cry of despair from every cubicle . tall . I grabbed the arm of a young intern . " Who in the hell hired that woman ? " He immediately put a finger to his lips . " Keep your voice down , " he whispered , his eyes wide with fear . " That's our boss's wife . Mr. Hayes's wife .

I heard this whole division is technically hers . " He gave me a weary look . " Are you new ? You get used to it . She usually just stays in his office and doesn't bother anyone . " A sharp , pulsing pain started in my temples . If she was Carter's wife ... then what was I ? I pulled out my phone and dialed my father . " Dad , " I said , my voice cold and clear . " Cancel the evaluation . Just tell Carter to bring the divorce papers to the office . " 1 The official story was a routine divisional review .

A surprise audit , my father had called it , telling me not to feel any pressure , to just consider it a chance to get familiar with the assets . The real story ? He was sending me to test my husband . I figured it would be a simple in - and - out . A formality . I badged in with the credentials the front desk provided , the frosted glass doors to the main office floor hissing open before me . The first thing I saw was a woman .

She was dressed in a white sundress that screamed calculated innocence , crouched in front of a heavy - duty office shredder , her expression one of childlike wonder . " Wow , this machine is so cool , " she murmured , her voice a breathy whisper . " Does it just ... eat anything ? " Before anyone could answer , she reached over to a nearby desk and picked up a thick , bound document . From my angle , I could clearly see the cover sheet , stamped in bold red letters : ACQUISITION AGREEMENT . Without a moment's hesitation , she started feeding it into the machine's hungry maw .

A man in glasses nearby went white as a sheet . " Lexi , no ! " He launched himself across the short distance between them , a desperate dive that was more of a controlled fall , snatching the 07:32 D Chapter 1 contract from the shredder's teeth just in time . He collided with her , but she barely seemed to notice . 07:32 C " My God , Lexi , what are you doing ? " he gasped , his voice thin with terror . " I thought you were in Carter's office playing on your Swit- ch . This contract has to be signed this afternoon ! " The woman - Lexi - didn't seem the least bit offended by the collision .

She just giggled , a light , airy sound , and held up an empty tumbler . " Got bored . And thirsty . " The man with the glasses clutched the rescued document to his chest like it was a newborn baby . He let out a shaky breath , forci- ng a pained smile onto his face . " Right . Thirsty , " he said , his voice dropping to a near - beg . " Please , can you just ... go back to his office to get a drink ? He has that filtered water cooler in there , remember ? " She pouted . " The water in there tastes weird .

I like the out here better ." Ignoring the man's look of pure , unadulterated despair , she skipped off toward the break room . I watched the whole insane spectacle , a sharp , pulsing pain looked like an intern , his ID badge still shiny and new . looked " Who is she ? " I asked , keeping my voice low . starting in my right temple . I caught the sleeve of a young guy who The intern's eyes flickered from me to the woman's retreating back , a flicker of raw fear in them . He brought a finger to his lips in a universal sign to be quiet . " Keep it down , ma'am .

" He leaned in , his voice barely a whisper . " That's Lexi . She's ... she's Mr. Hayes's wife . Carter's wife . " The floor seemed to tilt beneath my feet . In that single moment , all of Carter's recent strangeness - the late nights he claimed were spent at the office , the way his phone was always face down on the nightstand , the vague , distant look in his eyes - it all clic- ked into place with a sickening finality . The intern , oblivious , kept whispering . " The rumor is , this whole division is technically hers , so she's the real boss , you know ? You must be new .

You'll get used to it . " He sighed , a sound of weary resignation that didn't belong on someone so young . " She usually just stays in his office , watches Netflix or whatever . Doesn't bother us . Carter must be out for that summit today , so there's no one to babysit her . That's when she ... explores . " His words faded into a dull roar in my ears . She's Carter's wife . Then what in God's name was I ? " Ma'am ? Are you okay ? " the intern asked , his brow furrowed with concern . " You look really pale . " I forced a smile that felt like cracking glass . " Fine . Just ... surprised .

" I looked out at the open - plan office . " I'm just surprised a place like this would have someone like that on staff . It's ... an eye - opener . " The intern gave a bitter little shrug . " Like I said , you get used to it . As long as she doesn't actually break anything , we just try to survive until she gets bored and goes back in his office . " I didn't say anything else . Doesn't actually break anything ? If that contract had been shredded , a multi - million - dollar acquisition would have imploded . The fallout , the financial loss ... who would have answered for that ?

I watched Lexi's silhouette in the break room . She was humming to herself , her body swaying to a rhythm only she could hear . My hand went to my phone , my thumb hovering over my father's contact . But then I stopped . 37 07 32 Chapter 1 Just leaving now would be letting Carter off too easy . My father sent me here to evaluate his performance . And from what I'd just seen , it wasn't just his performance that was in quest- ion . It was his judgment . His character . His integrity . I needed to see just how deep the rot went .

I smoothed down the front of my blazer and walked back to the reception desk . " Hi , my name is Audrey Sterling . I'm from the corporate headquarters , here for the divisional review . " My voice was calm , even . I'll need a temporary workstation , preferably somewhere quiet . And one more thing - this is an internal audit . I don't want Mr. Hayes to be aware of my presence . " The receptionist nodded , her professional smile unwavering . I found a quiet desk in a far corner of the office , settling in behind the monitor . My eyes , however , were fixed on Lexi .

She had eme rged from the break room and was now staring intently at the fire alarm pull station on the wall , a dangerous curiosity gleaming in her eyes .