Samara just arrived in front of Veritas, her husband's company. Like their relationship, the company had been through a lot to achieve the success it enjoyed in the business world. Samara was happy to see Veritas gain global recognition and Elijah acknowledged as a brilliant CEO of a pharmaceutical company in various countries.
Elijah received numerous accolades, and many businessmen sought to associate with him, hoping to elevate their own standing through his connections. However, unknown to those around him, Elijah was also a mafia boss, engaged in illicit activities.
"We've arrived at your daddy's company, baby. Are you excited to visit your dad?" Samantha cheerfully asked Veronica, who was in the backseat.
"Super excited, mommy! Let's surprise daddy!" Veronica enthusiastically replied, making Samara smile broadly at her daughter.
The only person at Veritas who knew Samara was Elijah's wife was his executive manager, Augustus Mori, who was also a close friend of Elijah's and the only Veritas employee who had attended their wedding.
Samara exited the car and quickly opened the door for her daughter, who promptly followed. Veronica immediately took Samara's hand, and together, hand in hand, they walked toward the entrance of Veritas.
As they neared the entrance, a guard stopped them.
"Excuse me, ma'am, but do you have an appointment inside? Non-employees or visitors are not allowed to enter," the guard said to Samara.
"My daddy owns this building, so why can't we go in?" Veronica innocently asked the guard, who glanced at her before returning his gaze to Samara, who smiled at him.
"That's not a good trick, ma'am. You're even using a child to get close to my boss. It's impossible for her to be Mr. Penelton's daughter because our boss is a bachelor. Many have tried that excuse, but it never worked on Mr. Penelton, so please just leave," the guard stated. Samara understood that he was unaware their boss was married.
It was also the first time Samara learned that women had tried to claim her husband, and Elijah had never mentioned it to her.
"Mommy, why are they telling us to leave?" Veronica asked, looking up at Samara.
"Why don't you call your boss? Just tell him someone named Samara Cortez is looking for him," Samara suggested, making the guard scratch his head.
"Ma'am, you'll just bother my boss with his work. Please just leave."
"You'll be the one losing your job if you don't let them in."
The guard, Samara, and Veronica all turned simultaneously to a man standing in the Veritas lobby, who was now walking toward them with his hands in his pockets.
"Sir Mori." The guard immediately bowed to Augustus Mori, who patted the guard's shoulder.
"Let them in. She's our boss's wife, and that little princess is their daughter," Augustus declared, his voice just loud enough for the guard to hear. The guard's eyes widened in surprise as he looked back at Samara.
"Don't worry, I won't tell our CEO that you tried to stop his wife and daughter. Go back to your post," Augustus said, bowing to Samara.
"Fo-Forgive me, ma'am! I-I didn't know that boss was marr--"
"---It's okay. There's a reason why your boss hasn't announced that he's married. And I hope you won't tell anyone what you've learned today," Samara interrupted, and the guard immediately nodded.
"You-You can count on me, ma'am. No-No one will know."
"Thank you," Samara said with a smile.
"Let's get inside. I'm sure Penelton will be delighted to know his queen and princess have come to visit him," Augustus said with a smile, and Samara, Veronica, and Augustus entered Veritas.
"This is your very first time visiting your menopause husband. All employees of Veritas don't know that their boss is already married. Don't you plan to announce your relationship so all the female employees here know that Penelton is head-over-heels for his wife?" Augustus remarked, making Samara smile slightly.
"Elijah and I don't need to broadcast that we're married. We're fine with this low profile to avoid danger to our daughter. It doesn't bother me if all the women here think my husband is single; all they can do is stare at my husband's handsomeness."
"True. Even if women flirt with Penelton, they'll only embarrass themselves since his attention and heart are solely focused on one woman. If the women here at Veritas find out their adored boss is married, there will be a flood of tears," Augustus said as they reached the elevator.
"There's only one woman in Veritas I want to know that my husband is off-limits," Samara said, causing Augustus to frown and turn to her.
"Who? Wait---" Augustus couldn't finish his sentence as his phone rang.
Augustus had no choice but to answer it. His assistant was calling him back to his office to sign some documents.
"Aish! Bad timing," Augustus complained as the elevator doors opened. Samara and Veronica stepped inside.
"Thanks for letting us in, Augustus. Do well in your work," Samara said with a smile until the elevator doors closed.
"Mommy, who was that?" Veronica asked, and Samara turned to her daughter with a smile.
"He's your daddy's friend here at Veritas. You can call him Uncle Augustus."
"But I have many uncles, mommy. I have Uncle Lorenzo, Uncle Vito, Uncle Tad, and Uncle Casimiro," Veronica replied, counting on her fingers.
"Then add Uncle Augustus to your list of uncles. He's nice and harmless, anyway," Samara said to her daughter as the elevator doors opened on the floor where Elijah's office was located.
Samara and Veronica walked hand in hand out of the elevator and headed down the hallway toward Elijah's office. Soon, Samara could see the door to her husband's office, and her eyes didn't miss Elijah's secretary, whom she wanted to teach a lesson about claiming a husband who wasn't hers.
Samara walked straight to the secretary's desk. Elijah's secretary was busy applying makeup, as if preparing for a party.
"Excuse me," Samara said, grabbing her attention. The secretary looked up, raising an eyebrow when she saw Samara and Veronica.
"How did you two get in here? Are you really going to insist on your delusions, you and your daughter, and intrude on a private company where you don't belong?" Natalia immediately insulted them, then pressed the intercom connected to the guard at the entrance.
"Guard, some crazy people have gotten inside Veritas. Can you please drag them out? They're causing a mess in the company," Natalia said before standing up from her chair.
"If I were you, I'd leave now before the guard catches you and your daughter and drags you out of Veritas," Natalia scoffed, but Samara just smiled at her.
"Your job here is a secretary, isn't it? It's working hours, yet you're just putting on makeup at your desk? It seems like your salary is a waste because this is how you work at Veritas," Samara said, making Natalia immediately scowl at her.
"Are you insulting me? You know nothing about my job, so don't question my work. Just leave before I call the police."
"Why should I leave my husband's company?" Samara said, and Natalia mockingly laughed at her.
"You're so ambitious, really sticking to your delusion about my boss. Eli doesn't have a wife or a child. If he does, it's me, as his future wife. How did you even get into our company?"
"Stop calling my husband by his name. That's very disrespectful," Samara said, just as Natalia saw the guard approaching.
"Guard! Take these two out of the building! If Mr. Penelton finds out you're letting unauthorized persons in here at Veritas, you'll lose your job!" Natalia snapped, lecturing the guard as he approached them, and the guard looked at Samara.
"Mommy, I want to see daddy now," Veronica said, and Samara smiled as she caressed her daughter's hair.
"But ma'am, she's the wi--"
"---Just get them out of here now," Natalia ordered the guard, who looked unsure of what to do.
"My-My apologies, ma'am, but I cannot remove the boss's wife," the guard replied, and Natalia left her desk and approached Samara, who turned to her.
"And you believed her lies?! If you can't do your job, then I'll drag them out of the buildi--"
"---what's the fing commotion here?! I'm fing busy and I don't want any noise to hear right now!"
Samara and Natalia both turned to the doorway, where Elijah was peeking out, his gaze immediately falling on Samara.
"Sorry, boss, an outsider got into the building. Don't worry, I'll remove her ri--"
"Daddy!" Veronica happily called out, immediately running toward Elijah, who had fully emerged from his office.
Elijah immediately picked up Veronica, who hugged him tightly.
Natalia frowned at the sight until Elijah's gaze returned to them.
"Is this a surprise visit for me, darling?" Elijah gently said, walking toward Samara.
"Da-darling...?" Natalia softly whispered as Elijah approached them. The strict and stern expression they usually saw on their boss was gone, replaced by a different look he gave Samara.
"Did our daughter and I surprise you?" Samara asked with a smile, immediately hugging Elijah around the waist, which shocked Natalia.
"I am. I'm doing my best to finish my work so I can go home early, but you're here with our daughter," Elijah stated, with a grin that made Samara glance at Natalia, whose face showed a shocked expression.
"Is she your wife, boss?" Natalia asked, and Elijah turned to her seriously.
"She is."
"Ho-How...?"
"You don't need to remove them; they are my important guests," Elijah said, looking at the guard who was frozen in place.
"You can go back to your post, and next time my wife comes here, just let her in. Understand?"
"Ye-Yes, boss!" the guard immediately replied, hurrying away.
"Darling, I missed you," Samara said affectionately, intentionally doing so in front of Natalia.
"I missed you too, darling. Let's go inside my office," Elijah said, kissing Samara's forehead.
"Darling, don't let any woman call you by your name. Only I should call you by your name."
"There's no woman who called me by my name, darling, but if someone does, then I'll rip out their tongue," Elijah said, and Samara once again looked at Natalia, giving her a teasing smile.
"Let's go inside now, darling. Our daughter has something to tell you," Samara said, and Elijah put his arm around her.
"Bring my wife and daughter some snacks," Elijah ordered Natalia before they walked into Elijah's office. However, Samara briefly let Elijah go ahead and approached Natalia.
"I'm not delusional, right? So, don't ever dare to fantasize about my husband again, and never call him Eli again," Samara said, smiling at Natalia before leaving her and walking straight into Elijah's office, content that she had made it clear to Natalia that Elijah was hers.