The Cherished Wife by Chweety

"Don't you want to know what's going on?"

Brian watched Arya zip over to another table to chat and snoop, while Noelle was contentedly focusing on her meal. He was a bit confused. "I thought you were close to the big shot upstairs?" Noelle took a bite of her food and looked up with a slight frown. "How do you expect me to answer that?"

Brian realized Noelle was not wrapped up in the drama and chuckled. "Looks like I'm the one who's too curious for their own good."

"Yeah, seriously. You're a big guy, so why are you so into the rumor mill?" Noelle chuckled, spotting Arya bounding over with a look of sheer excitement. "You guys will never believe what I just heard!"

Arya was practically bouncing with enthusiasm, so Noelle played along. "What's the scoop?"

"That new girl who just showed up on the 27th floor today is Mr. Hoffman's uncle's daughter. But get this-there's no family tie by blood. She's not here to work; she's here on a manhunt!"

Noelle hesitated. "A manhunt?"

were not even in Brookville at the moment. Noelle was aware Charles had an older sister who was married, but as for the rest of his relatives,

she's not after just

mean, talk about a family entanglement! They might not be related by blood,

brow furrowed. "She's

drop the boss's name like that?" Arya quickly clamped a hand over Noelle's mouth. "I only heard it through the grapevine." "Heard it

department was buzzing about a Ms. Baker who breezed in this morning, demanding the head chef whip up something special just for her, ordering off-menu like she owned the place. She strutted around as if she were the First Lady or

Janet Baker. The staff overheard a heated argument, and Becky came out on top. Now everyone was joking that Janet's big show was a total flop because Charles was not giving her the time

her earlier tension melting away. "Mr. Hoffman isn't the type to blur the