Page 55 of My Big, Fat, Accidental Billionaire Husband

“Some of us have actual businesses to run,” I counter.

Marco leans forward, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “So how is married life treating you? Is she as good in bed as she looks?”

My jaw tightens involuntarily. “Be very careful what you say next...”

“Whoa,” Leo’s eyebrows shoot up. “Since when are you so protective? You’re the one who always said marriage was a prison sentence.”

My drink arrives, and I take a long swallow, grateful for the burn.

“Speaking of marriage,” I turn to Marco. “How’s yours going? All of what, two weeks old now?”

Marco grins. “Just like yours! But it would’ve been nice if my best man hadn’t bailed on my ceremony to go get hitched himself.”

The guilt hits harder than expected. “I was there for the reception.”

“Yeah, for like twenty minutes,” Marco scoffs. “You showed up, danced with your new secretary for half a song, then stormed off when I tried to dance with her like the place was on fire.”

“She’s not my secretary,” I snap, the words coming out sharper than intended.

A brief silence falls over the table. Sam gives me a curious look.

“Right,” Leo breaks the tension with a laugh. “She’s Christopher’s secretary. Or personal assistant, whatever. Same difference.”

“It’s not the same.” I try very hard to keep my tone casual, but tonight, these friends of mine are getting deep under my skin. “And she has a business degree. She’s actually helping me with some aspects of the Costa Rica project.”

“Letting the wife play businesswoman,” Leo winks. “Smart move. Keep her busy while you’re out with the boys.”

I take another drink instead of responding, knowing my temper is already too close to the boiling point. These are myfriends. This is ourusualbanter.

Why is it suddenly grating on me like sandpaper?

“Seriously though,” Marco says, signaling for another round. “What happened in Vegas? One minute we’re all at my bachelor party, the next thing I know, I wake up with the worst hangover of my life and find out from Page Six that you got married. Still can’t believe I missed seeing that.”

“No one remembers anything,” I say with a shrug, trying to sound casual. “It was spontaneous. We’d been seeing each other casually for a while.”

The lie tastes bitter. I’ve repeated it so many times now in public that it should roll off my tongue, but tonight it sticks.

“Bullshit,” Leo declares. “I call complete bullshit. That sounds like reputation management training at its finest. I never once heard you mention her name before that weekend. Not once. And suddenly she’s your wife?”

Sam nods thoughtfully. “It is strange, Dom. We all woke up with zero memory after those vials. Then the news breaks with pictures of you two leaving some wedding chapel?”

“Speaking of thosevials,” I counter, leaning forward and giving Leo a hard stare, “maybe next time don’t hand out GHB at a bachelor party. None of us remembers a damn thing from that night. Thanks to you.”

Leo at least has the decency to look vaguely guilty. “Hey, that was just supposed to be a good time. Not my fault you decided to go get married during your blackout.”

“Bros before hoes, man,” Marco adds, nodding. “Always bros before hoes.”

Something in me snaps. “Don’t call her that.”

Marco blinks in surprise. “What?”

“Don’t call her a ho,” I repeat, my voice dangerously low. “Her name is Tatiana.”

“I wasn’t calling her that...” Marco tries to explain. “It’s just an expression. I—”

An uncomfortable silence settles over the table. Leo glances at Sam, who’s been quietly observing the entire exchange.

Sam clears his throat. “So the Costa Rica project is still on track? I was worried with all the... unexpected developments.”

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