He Wants An Open Marriage? Done!

As Roxanne looked at the envelope, she knew, with absolute certainty, that whatever was sealed inside that paper would change her life forever.

Beside her, Richard’s grip was firm, his chest expanding as he drew himself up to his full, imposing height, ready for war.

They both looked at Martin, the HR director, as he took two stiff steps forward, his face a mask of corporate severity.

"Good day, Mr. Vance," Martin said, his voice entirely devoid of warmth. He turned his eyes to Roxanne. "Good day, Miss Westbrook."

Roxanne swallowed against the dryness in her throat. Richard’s grip on her fingers tightened, but neither of them spoke. The silence stretched, thick and uncomfortable.

Martin pulled the envelope from his side and extended it toward Roxanne. "This is for you."

Before Roxanne could even lift her free hand, Richard’s voice sliced through the quiet like a blade.

"What is that?"

Martin shifted his weight, adjusting his glasses. "It’s an official correspondence, sir," he said, keeping the envelope pointed at Roxanne.

"Hand it to me," Richard commanded, extending his arm, his dark eyes locked onto the paper.

The HR director shook his head, a tight, nervous twitch near his jaw. "I’m afraid I can’t do that, Mr. Vance."

Richard’s brows pulled together, his expression hardening into pure steel. "Why not?"

"Because it is strictly addressed to Miss Westbrook," Martin replied.

Roxanne parted her lips to speak, but Richard didn’t give her the chance. He stepped slightly in front of her, shielding her with his frame. "Then open it."

Martin blinked, caught off guard. "Sir, you know the protocol—"

"Open it," Richard repeated, his voice low, vibrating with an underlying fire. "I want to hear every single word written in that letter."

"It’s alright, Richard. I’ll just take it," Roxanne intervened softly, her heart hammering against her ribs.

"No," Richard said, his gaze never wavering from the director. "He will open the letter and read the contents to me first."

Martin let out a sharp, frustrated sigh. "Sir, with all due respect, I cannot do that. You know how this works."

"Then take the letter and walk out of my office," Richard shot back, his tone dropping into a chilling calm. "You haven’t seen Roxanne today. You can try delivering it when you happen to run into her elsewhere."

"But she is standing right here in front of me, sir. Furthermore, a digital copy of the correspondence has already been routed to her corporate email," Martin revealed.

"Then recall it immediately," Richard ordered, stepping closer until he completely dominated the space between them. The threat in his voice was palpable, a suffocating weight in the room. "Recall it immediately. Freeze the notice, Martin. No one is serving her any notices today."

Martin swallowed hard, his posture rigid. "I am not going against you, Mr. Vance. I am simply doing my job."

Richard’s eyes narrowed to lethal slits. "Who authorized you to bypass my office?"

The HR director glanced at Roxanne, then back to the floor, a heavy silence settling over the room. "I am only following the explicit instructions of the board."

Richard let out a cold, mocking breath. "The board’s instructions?" He paused, his jaw tightening so hard the muscle leaped. "Or my mother’s?"

Martin shifted on his feet, the sudden, awkward silence answering the question louder than words ever could.

Exhaling sharply, Roxanne stepped around Richard’s shoulder and reached out, smoothly taking the envelope from Martin’s fingers. The paper felt icy against her skin. "There’s no need to argue, Richard. I’ll take it," she said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline spiking in her veins. "He’s just the messenger."

Richard’s head snapped toward her, his jaw rigid. "Do you realize what accepting that envelope means, Roxanne? The moment you take it, they’ll say you’ve been officially served."

Roxanne looked down at the crisp paper, her pulse fluttering wildly, but she forced herself to give a firm, resolute nod. "Yes, I know. But I am an executive, Richard. I cannot be summarily terminated without a documented, justifiable cause."

She met his gaze, her mind shifting back into strategy mode. "Besides, look at it this way. Now we know exactly what is waiting for us at the Villa. We know precisely what your mother and the board are planning."

Martin didn’t wait to hear the rest. "Please excuse me," he muttered, shaking his head as he practically fled the office.

The heavy door had barely clicked shut before it swung open again. Libby slipped inside, carrying Roxanne’s sleek leather handbag and laptop case.

"How does the floor look?" Richard asked, his voice returning to a sharp, functional clip as Roxanne slung the bag over her shoulder.

"Calm. For now," Libby whispered, her brows knitted with deep worry.

Richard turned back to Roxanne, a heavy sigh escaping his lips as he reached for his keys. "We need to move. Now. Before the press catches wind of this and swarms the lobby."

Roxanne nodded, her chest tightening as she turned toward the exit. Libby held the door open, watching them with anxious eyes as they hurried down the long, carpeted corridor toward the executive elevators.

Roxanne could feel her breath short in her lungs. Everything was spinning out of control before they even had a chance to mount a proper defense.

The elevator chime echoed sharply through the quiet hallway, and the silver doors slid open.

At that exact moment, the loud ring of Libby’s phone shattered the silence behind them. Roxanne and Richard stepped inside the mirrored cabin. As the doors began to glide shut, Roxanne looked back out into the hallway.

Libby had the phone pressed to her ear. Suddenly, the assistant’s face went completely ghostly pale, her eyes widening in sheer terror. She dropped her arm and sprinted toward the closing elevator, waving frantically.

"Sir! Wait! Don’t—" Libby screamed.

Before the final word could leave her mouth, the heavy silver doors sealed shut with a deafening click, plunging the elevator into descent.

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