The CEO's Hidden Wife

Lena Montgomery sat at her sleek, polished desk in her modest office at West Enterprises. The towering glass windows of the city skyline outside served as a reminder of the wealth and power of the company she worked for, but Lena wasn't interested in any of that. At 28, she had spent the last few years carving out a name for herself within the company, not as an heir to one of the largest family fortunes in the world, but as a capable assistant to the CEO. She liked the anonymity, the escape from the family drama, and the freedom it gave her to prove she was more than just a privileged woman with a family name.

She adjusted her glasses and looked down at the file before her, but her mind kept wandering back to the constant calls and messages from her mother. Every time her phone buzzed, a sense of dread gnawed at her. The last conversation she'd had with her parents had ended in silence. They had wanted something from her—something she wasn't willing to give.

Her phone rang again, and she sighed, swiping to answer without checking the number. "Lena," her mother's voice crackled through the phone, "we need to talk."

"Not again, Mom," Lena muttered, rolling her eyes. "I'm working."

"This is important. Meet me at the family estate in two hours." Her mother's tone left no room for negotiation.

Lena was about to refuse, but something in her mother's voice made her pause. "Fine," she said reluctantly, hanging up without waiting for a response. She gathered her things and left her office with an unsettling feeling in her chest. As much as she wanted to pretend her family's business dealings didn't affect her, the reality was unavoidable.

Two hours later, Lena arrived at the family estate, a sprawling mansion tucked away in the hills. Her parents had always lived in luxury, and she had been raised to believe it was the only way of life. She had spent enough time in this gilded cage to know that nothing was ever as it seemed.

Her mother greeted her with a strained smile, and her father, who rarely showed any emotion, was sitting at the head of the grand dining table. They didn't waste any time. "Sit down, Lena," her father's voice was commanding, a stark reminder of how little room she had for rebellion.

As soon as she took her seat, her mother slid a sleek document across the table. "This is the marriage agreement," she said with practiced indifference.

Lena frowned. "What do you mean, 'marriage agreement'? I'm not—"

Her father raised a hand, silencing her. "It's simple, Lena. You're going to marry Dominic West."

Lena's mind froze for a moment as the name registered. Dominic West was the CEO of West Enterprises—one of the most powerful corporations in the city. He was known for being cold, ruthless, and detached. It was a well-known fact that he didn't take personal matters lightly, and the idea of him marrying anyone seemed laughable. "You've got to be kidding," she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Her mother leaned forward, her sharp eyes never leaving Lena's face. "It's a business arrangement. We need to strengthen our ties with West Enterprises. Dominic is well aware of your family's situation, and this will benefit us both."

Lena's blood ran cold. "You want me to marry him for a business deal?"

Her father didn't blink. "It's the only way to ensure our future, Lena. There's no room for emotion in this. You'll do this, and in return, you'll have everything you've ever wanted."

Everything. Lena's gaze drifted to the contract her father had slid across the table, but her mind was elsewhere. This wasn't about her, not really. It was about power, legacy, and survival.

A few days later, Lena found herself standing before Dominic West in his imposing office, the air thick with tension. The room, filled with polished wood and modern art, felt cold and sterile—much like the man sitting across from her. Dominic West was exactly as she had imagined: tall, dark-haired, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to cut right through her.

"Ms. Montgomery," he greeted her without a flicker of warmth. "Let's get this over with."

Lena's pulse quickened, but she refused to show any sign of weakness. She crossed her arms, standing tall. "I'm not here because I want to be," she said, her voice steady despite the storm swirling inside her. "I'm here because my family thinks this is the best option."

Dominic raised an eyebrow. "Your family doesn't seem to understand the concept of what a marriage should be. But since we're in this together, let's get the details straight." He slid the marriage contract towards her, his expression impassive.

Lena stared at the document. It was a contract—terms and conditions, a list of dos and don'ts, with no room for personal attachment or emotion. The only thing it promised was that their marriage would remain a secret from the public, and that both parties would maintain appearances for the sake of their families' interests.

"I won't pretend to be thrilled about this, but if it's what's required," Lena said coolly, though inside she was seething. "Let's get it over with."

Dominic's eyes narrowed as if studying her. "Good. I don't expect anything more than what's in this contract. Let's make this marriage work for us both, Ms. Montgomery. We'll never have to speak about it beyond the boardroom."

Lena wasn't so sure. This wasn't just a business deal; it was her life being traded for power, and she wasn't going to let anyone forget that.

As Lena left the CEO's office, the weight of what had just happened pressed down on her. She had agreed to marry a man she barely knew, someone who would never love her, for the sake of a family that had never fully understood her. She had to keep her identity hidden—her family's fortune, their influence, all of it had to stay in the shadows. For now.

But as she walked down the gleaming hallway of West Enterprises, Lena couldn't shake the feeling that this secret marriage was just the beginning of a much larger game—and one she was only beginning to understand.