C234 The Identity Of The Mysterious Wife

While Alicia buried herself in the financial reports, the atmosphere at Wood IT Company was far calmer. Employees moved from office to office carrying documents, phones rang almost without pause, and keyboards echoed throughout the administration floor. Inside the Vice Director's office, Chris sat comfortably behind his desk while his secretary, Amanda, stood opposite him with a thick proposal from the Administration Department.

Chris adjusted his glasses before flipping through the pages one by one. After reading several paragraphs, a smile slowly spread across his face. He nodded with satisfaction. "Not bad..." Amanda looked at him curiously. "What is it, Mr. Chambers?" Chris chuckled. "It seems those little brats finally learned something from me." Amanda burst into laughter. "Who wouldn't?" "You practically lectured them every single day." Chris nodded proudly. "That's called proper leadership."

Amanda folded her arms. "Or constant nagging." Chris placed a hand dramatically over his chest. "Amanda..." "You wound me." She laughed. "No, Boss. I'm serious." "Whenever someone submitted poor work, you never scolded them immediately." "You'd explain it step by step until they understood." Chris nodded. "Because shouting never teaches anyone." Amanda smiled warmly. "I think that's why everyone respects you."

Chris looked down at the proposal once more. "The formatting is cleaner." "The budget calculations are accurate." "The implementation timeline is realistic." "They're improving." Amanda grinned. "See?" "I told you they were paying attention." Chris nodded proudly. "At least all my overtime wasn't wasted." Amanda suddenly remembered something. "Oh..." "There is another thing."

Chris looked up. "What now?" She laughed awkwardly. "They're still asking me about your wife." Chris nearly dropped the file. "...Again?" Amanda nodded repeatedly. "They simply refuse to give up." Chris rubbed his forehead helplessly. "What exactly are they asking this time?" Amanda tried imitating the curious employees. "'Amanda, have you met Mrs. Chambers?'" "'Is she beautiful?'" "'Does she really work here?'" "'How did Vice Director get married without anyone noticing?'"

Chris covered his face. "I should've known." Amanda couldn't stop laughing. "And whenever I tell them I honestly don't know..." "They don't believe me." Chris looked at her suspiciously. "So what ridiculous conclusion did they reach this time?" Amanda coughed awkwardly before answering. "...Some people think..." "...I'm your mysterious wife." Silence. Chris blinked. "...What?" Amanda immediately raised both hands. "I didn't start it!" "They came up with that theory themselves!"

Chris stared at her for several seconds before suddenly bursting into laughter. "My goodness..." "How did they even arrive at that conclusion?" Amanda shrugged dramatically. "I honestly don't know." "They said I spend too much time with you in your office." Chris laughed even harder. "Well..." "That is literally your job." Amanda nodded helplessly. "I know!" "But gossip doesn't need logic." Chris grinned mischievously. "If my wife heard them." "She would probably fire all of you before asking any questions."

Amanda's eyes widened. "Wait..." She slowly leaned forward. "Mr. Chambers..." "You just said..." "...your wife would fire me?" Chris instantly froze. His smile disappeared. "...Did I say that?" Amanda crossed her arms with a victorious smile. "You absolutely did." Chris covered his face. "No I did not..." Amanda's eyes sparkled with excitement. "So..." "My guess was right?" Chris looked defeated. "What guess?"

Amanda pulled a chair closer before lowering her voice dramatically. "I've suspected it for days." Chris sighed. "I should stop underestimating you." Amanda smiled proudly. "I notice everything." Chris folded his arms. "Alright then." "Tell me." "What exactly made you suspicious?" Amanda began counting on her fingers. "First..." "The day you were promoted." "You remember Director Wood personally came to help you pack your office?"

Chris smiled faintly. "I remember." Amanda continued. "Tell me honestly..." "Have you ever seen the Director personally helping another employee move offices?" Chris thought for a moment. "...No." "Exactly." She lifted a second finger. "Then there was the lunch incident." Chris immediately knew where this was going. Amanda laughed. "I asked you if you were going to lunch." "You said you were still busy." "But the moment someone knocked on your office door..." "You panicked."

Chris groaned. "I wasn't panicking." Amanda raised an eyebrow. "You started sweating." Chris looked embarrassed. "I..." "You even asked who was outside before opening the door." Chris sighed deeply. "...Continue." Amanda smiled triumphantly. "When you realized it wasn't the Director..." "You suddenly relaxed." "You looked like a man who thought he'd been caught." Chris rubbed his temples. "I really did that?" Amanda nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes."

Chris couldn't help laughing at himself. Amanda lifted a third finger. "Then..." "That women said director asked you to report to her office." Chris nodded. "And?" Amanda leaned closer. "Most people become nervous when they're summoned." "You..." "...looked excited." Chris laughed loudly. "What?" Amanda nodded. "Yes and the timing was suspicious." "She asked you to report to her office during lunch. "That's when I knew your relationship with the Director wasn't ordinary."

Chris shook his head in admiration. "You really pay attention." Amanda smiled proudly. "It comes with being a secretary." Chris suddenly pointed toward the mountain of files on her desk. "You know..." "I clearly don't give you enough work." Amanda gasped dramatically. "Boss!" She pointed at the towering stacks of paperwork. "Look at this mountain." "I've barely finished yesterday's files." "And today another pile arrived."

Chris laughed. "You're still alive." Amanda rolled her eyes. "Barely." The two laughed together. After a brief silence, Chris's expression became serious. "Amanda." She immediately straightened. "Yes, Boss?" "You've figured out something that most people haven't." She nodded quietly. Chris looked directly into her eyes. "I trust you." Amanda's playful smile slowly disappeared. "I know." "Your marriage..." "Your wife's identity..." "Should remain your secret." "There are simply reasons why it needs to stay private."

Amanda nodded respectfully. "So yes I understand." Chris smiled gently. "So please..." "Don't let it spread." Amanda smiled reassuringly. "You have my word." Chris grinned. "Otherwise..." "You'll cry again." Amanda froze. "...Boss." Chris couldn't stop smiling. "Just like you cried when I announced that Tricia Sunderland would become the Interim Administrative Department Team Manager." Amanda's face instantly turned bright red. "You noticed?"

Chris laughed loudly. "Not only did I notice..." "The Director noticed too." Amanda covered her face with both hands. "I thought nobody saw me." Chris chuckled. "You looked very disappointed that it wasn't you." Amanda groaned. "I was embarrassed." "I thought I deserved it more since i possibly knew everything from working alongside you." Chris smiled warmly. "And that's exactly why I had this role for you ."

Amanda slowly lowered her hands. "You mean..." "You already knew the secretary role would be mine?" Chris shook his head. "No." "At first i thought of making you the interim team manager." "Judging by how you cared about the department." "You knew what responsibility means." "The problem was Just that You are a little shy and when they start troubling you." "Asking questions none stop." "...You would have had hard time." "Besides your punctuality and keeping record of everything made you my number 1 contender for being my secretary."

Amanda smiled, feeling unexpectedly relieved. "Thank you, Boss." Chris nodded before returning to the proposal. "Alright." "Enough gossip." Amanda laughed. "Agreed." She picked up another stack of files. "Back to work." The peaceful atmosphere returned to the office.