Chapter 12

I wasn't sure if Hayden had alerted the company, but many people greeted us. "Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Parker!" Lost in thought, Joanna nearly knocked me over. She stepped aside, her face pale, teeth clenched. I felt her anger—she wanted to destroy me.

I glanced at Hayden. For once, he wasn't fixated on Joanna. He hadn't entirely forgotten his priorities, at least concerning work. I wasn't one to cause trouble, but Joanna's self-satisfied smirk at the Jackson place sprang to mind. Impulsively, I slipped my arm through Hayden's.

I knew I might not mean much to him, but we were legally bound, giving me license to make a point. Hayden looked surprised, his body tensing before he glanced down. "What game are you playing now?" he asked, his voice low. His emotions were hard to read; he excelled at concealing them.

But I wasn't interested in deciphering his thoughts. I smirked. "Didn't Xander want us to appear together? I'm playing along, so relax." Hayden looked astonished. This was the woman who used to be all about him. Now, she was practically admitting it was a show?

I briefly glanced back at Joanna, who glared with jealousy. She had tormented me, and now that I was reciprocating, she couldn't handle it. Hayden and I headed upstairs, greeted by respectful nods. As we passed Joanna, I could almost hear her teeth grinding.

We reached Hayden's office, and I quickly released his arm as if he were contagious. My exaggerated reaction annoyed him. "Yvonne, you've really changed," he remarked.

"What? You want me to cling to you?" I laughed lightly, avoiding revisiting my cringe-worthy past. "Where will I work?"

Hayden didn't answer directly. He looked at Richard Lancaster, his secretary, who had just entered. "Take her there."

Richard glanced at me. "Mrs. Parker, your office is in the secretary's room. Please follow me." He started toward the door. "His secretary!" I didn't move, frowning deeply. Given Xander's earlier words, I expected at least a manager or director role. Hayden's secretary? No way!

Richard's shoulders tensed; he remained silent, casting a wary glance at Hayden. Hayden looked at me, his icy stare holding a hint of a smirk. "Not interested?"

Of course, I wasn't interested.

Since I didn't respond, Hayden grinned triumphantly. "If you can't handle it, feel free to go home early and stop causing a scene."

It clicked—he was trying to make things difficult and push me out. Taking a deep breath, I remained calm. "Does Xander know what you're up to?"

Xander was the only one who could keep Hayden in check. But at the mention of Xander's name, Hayden's smile widened. "This is Grandpa's master plan."

What was Xander up to? It hit me: he might be trying to set me up with Hayden by arranging a job to keep me close. I had agreed to join the company, and backing out now, risking a messy divorce in three months, was problematic. Hayden's "I told you so" look only fueled my competitive spirit.

Losing was one thing, but losing my dignity was unacceptable. Plus, my partnership with Marlon still needed the Parker Group's power; I couldn't simply walk away.

After a moment of silence, I turned to Richard with newfound resolve. "Let's go. Show me around."

"Yes, Mrs. Parker," Richard replied, his face relaxing.

After following him to the secretary's office, I spotted Joanna. "Is she also Hayden's secretary?" I blurted out.

"She is your secretary," Richard said.

I gasped. Damn Hayden—he clearly didn't care about civility. Having me and his mistress under the same roof? Wasn't he afraid we'd clash?

Joanna's face showed surprise and discomfort. She hadn't expected to be my secretary.

"No, Ms. Charlotte is far too skilled for that," I said with a tight smile. "Having her as my secretary would be a waste. Let Mr. Parker enjoy the honor."

Anyone could see Hayden wasn't giving me a secretary; it was a ploy to see Joanna. But I wasn't holding back—I called him out directly.

Joanna's expression darkened. Richard looked uneasy. "Mrs. Parker, perhaps you should discuss this with Mr. Parker first!"

"What? I can't even make a minor decision?" I asserted my authority as Hayden's wife.

Richard, though hesitant, agreed. "Yes, Mrs. Parker."

I turned to Joanna, noticing her sadness. "Yvonne, are you still mad at me?"

"I actually told Mr. Parker to go home, but he said matters of the heart can't be forced," she said, her voice tinged with melancholy. My carefully constructed authority crumbled. The room fell silent. I was stunned; Lucy's words echoed in my mind: "Joanna is something else," and she was right.

Joanna had charmed her way into Hayden's heart in an instant—something I hadn't achieved after a decade. Finally, I heard myself say, "It seems my husband enjoys confiding in you. Did he ever mention his plans to marry you?"

The air thickened. Richard stood frozen, wishing he could disappear. He sensed the secretary's office was about to become a battleground.

Joanna clenched her teeth, then smiled smugly. "Mr. Parker said he would give me a home."