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“Yes, sir.”

I explain the situation to Talan. Everything that happened the other night—or at least that I can remember—and everything I found out yesterday morning at the chapel. When I don't hear a response, I look up to find him staring at me, wide-eyed.

“Talan?”

“Yes, of course, Mr. Cameron.” He shakes his head and pulls out his phone. “I’m on it. I have a friend down at City Hall.” His thumbs begin typing away. “We’ll have this cleared up in no time.”

“Thank you, Talan.” I nod to his dismissal.

I work through lunch,but I catch Talan trying not to break out into a sprint, heading towards my office doors.

“Mr. Cameron, I spoke to my friend this morning and she was able to expedite the annulment, we just need to have these papers filled out and returned to her in sixty days and she'll be able to get it filed, and it will be like nothing ever happened.” His chin is lifted high and he's beaming ear to ear as he waves the papers around. I sink into my chair and my muscles relax for the first time in twenty-four hours.

I’ve never been a man that shows a lot of emotion but I throw my hands up in the air and spin my chair around looking out my office window. I let out an exhale so deep it threatens to rattle the window. “Thank you, Talan.”

“Would you like me to drop these papers off toyour wife, personally or should I send them in the mail?” I don't have to see him to know he's proud of his little joke. And now that I have that weight off my shoulder I let out the closest thing to a small laugh.

“I’m sorry, your wife?” Samantha's booming voice has me very nearly jumping out of my skin. A ringing sounds in my ears, I stop breathing, and I’m certain I see black spots in my vision. Is this what a stroke feels like? Am I about to turn my chair around and admit to the woman who just told me, a little over forty-eight hours ago, that if I don’t keep my shit together there will be no promotion? The promotion that they’re supposed to announce to the entire office in less than two hours? Absolutely the fuck not.

Quickly, putting my courtroom face on, I turn around, “Samantha.” I smile. “Nice to see you. Sorry I missed you this morning, but it’s been nonstop in here.” I gesture around my fairly empty desk.

“Cut the shit, Miles. Whatwifeis Talan referring to?”

“This is awkward.” I ignore the hammering at the back of my skull and she stares at me waiting for me to dig my own grave. Not today. “Look, Sam, I didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable, but I guess we’re here now. Remember that trip I took to Kauai last year, that everyone made a big deal over? My first vacation in eight years?” She continues to stare blankly at me. Okay, definitely not going to make this easy on me. “My wife, Camila, wanted to do a small wedding, just her immediate family and my aunt came. I didn't want to tell anyone in the office, in case feelings were hurt. You know how it can be sometimes.” I give her a playful wink.

“A year. You expect me to believe that you’ve been married a full year, and no one here knew?”

“Talan knew.” I raise a hand to Talan who now looks like he's posing naked for a live painting class.

“And this, Camila? She's never come to a single fundraiser or event?”

“Why would she? I barely go to any of those events myself.” Her eyes narrow in on me, “But you know what, I’ll see if we can make the next one,” I lie.

Samantha stalks over to me with the grace of a snake that just found a wounded rabbit.

“Oh, I’m sure you will.”

I fight to not audibly gulp because if there's one thing I never do, it’s show my tell. Samantha starts to retract from my desk andI’m still holding on to that breath and fake smile when she stops at the door and turns back to me. “Oh, and Miles? I came in to let you know that Smith had a family emergency to take care of this morning, so we're postponing announcing your official promotion until after the gala.”

Through my tight-lipped smile, I manage to get out, “Not a problem.”

“No. But it will be if I find out you're pulling some more shady shit.” Her smile is sickly sweet but I keep my face neutral while she struts out of my office. She's halfway down the building before Talan and I both blow out a long breath. I roll my eyes and look at Talan, who looks like he's either about to be sick, or wants to run away and hide. I don't know and right now I don't really care.

“Mr. Cameron, I’m so sorry, sir, I had no idea she…”

I lift my hand, cutting him off. “It’s fine Talan. I’ll take care of it.”

“What should I do about the papers?”

“Set a calendar reminder for fifty-nine days from today, I’ll talk to Camila, but make sure that in fifty-nine days, you get those papers to her, no matter what.”

“Yes, absolutely. I’ll make sure of it. But, I’m sorry, sir. Why fifty-nine days?”

“Because it gives us just enough time to get the papers signed and turned in before the sixty-day mark, but also enough time for me to convince Sam that Camila is actually my wife.”

Yep. Definitely having a stroke.

Camila