The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 10

The other was the core data from the project she had developed for Jotham’s company.

She had always kept the first one locked away in her desk drawer, but now it was gone. Jotham must have taken it.

The other item was stored within Jotham’s company itself, and she didn’t have the clearance to retrieve it.

Both things represented her painstaking effort; there was no way she was leaving them behind for Jotham.

Early the next morning, Ramona received a call from Jotham. There was a racket on his end, likely because he was still on the highway.

“Ramona, did you get my message last night?”

“Yeah, I saw it,” she replied, stirring her coffee with a steady hand, her tone unreadable.

“Sorry about that, I had to leave unexpectedly and didn’t get a chance to talk to you first. But Ms. Prescott is a guest, I couldn’t let her take Milo out by herself.”

“There’s nothing to apologize for. It’s only right that you kept Ms. Prescott company.”

Ramona’s response caught Jotham off guard.

He’d assumed she was ignoring his message because she was angry, but with Brianna around last night, he hadn’t been able to stay in touch with Ramona anyway.

Yet now, her voice was casual, almost indifferent.

“Ramona, I noticed you didn’t reply last night, so I thought—”

“I was swamped yesterday,” Ramona cut in, breezy and light. “I went straight from house-hunting to a business meeting. Didn’t even have time to check my phone.”

Jotham let out a breath of relief. “I knew you were just busy. Don’t work so hard, you know it worries me.”

Ramona frowned. She hadn’t been able to stomach breakfast as it was, and his words only made her appetite vanish altogether.

“Daddy, don’t talk to the mean lady!”

Suddenly, Milo’s voice came through the phone, quickly followed by Brianna’s attempt to hush him.

“Alright, I need to get back to driving. I’ll see you tonight.”

This time, Jotham hung up before Ramona could say another word.

With Jotham out of the office for once, Ramona’s first order of business at work was to search his office for the files she needed.

She combed through every drawer, checked his computer—nothing.

Still racking her brain, she was interrupted by someone hurrying in.

“Ms. Jarrett, Mr. Holt’s out today. There are a few grant contracts that need your signature.”

Ramona picked up the contracts and scanned them.

These projects weren’t the sort that Holt Group could typically secure; she’d worked herself to the bone and pulled every string just to close these deals.

“Wow, miss, you look incredible! Our dresses are picky, but you wear this better than our models!” the saleswoman gushed, genuinely impressed.

In the mirror, Ramona’s already stunning figure looked even more exquisite in the fitted, lilac evening gown. The dress, with its delicate shimmer and sheer panels, could easily make someone look washed out, but on Ramona—her skin fair as porcelain, her features striking and refined—it was perfect.

“I’ll take this one,” Ramona said with a smile, twirling lightly.

The dress was a one-shoulder, strapless design—elegant, understated, and sophisticated, with just the right amount of skin showing. Ideal for a date.

For the past two years with Jotham, she’d been all work and no play, and it had been ages since she’d dressed up like this. She’d almost forgotten how beautiful she could look.

She admired herself in the mirror for a long moment before heading to the register, but as she reached for her card, the clerk stopped her.

“Actually, someone just called and took care of the bill. They also bought you a matching clutch, a set of jewelry, and a pair of shoes.”

“Did they leave a name?”

“They said their last name was Jordon.”

Hearing that, Ramona glanced around on instinct, but there was no one else nearby. Fenton had said Ethan was supposed to be sharp-tongued and aloof, hadn’t he?

Stepping out of the mall, Ramona spotted a car waiting for her—just as she’d expected.

It was the same as the one she’d seen at the Covingtons: no brand badge, but the license plate was unmistakable.

“Ms. Jarrett, we met before. My employer is waiting for you. Please, let me drive you.”