[Hey babe, you busy?]

    Elysia sent a quick text to Tarquin.

    The moment his phone buzzed, the deep crease between Tarquin''s brows smoothed out, and his whole face softened. The change was instant-he looked gentle, even tender. Not only did he turn gentle, but he also tossed his pen aside, abandoned his work, and grabbed his phone to call his wife back.

    Before hearing from his wife: work is life.

    After hearing from his wife: forget work-wife is life.

    "Did you just wake up?" Tarquin''s voice was so soft it was almost unrecognizable.

    Lowell, sitting across from Tarquin, could barely keep a straight face. See? There isn''t a man alive who can''t be sweet-they just save it for the right person, and Tarquin''s sweetness was strictly a limited edition.

    Lowell knew when to make himself scarce. As soon as he stepped out, he announced to the team,

    "Congrats, everyone-you''ve all been pardoned. Pack it up, it''s time for lunch."

    People looked around, surprised. "The boss is taking a break?"

    "Yep. Looks like you lot have suffered enough. An angel hase to save you all."

    "Which angel?" someone joked.

    Lowell grinned, "The boss''s wife."

    Suddenly, everyone perked up.

    "It''s lunchtime, so she''s probably calling the boss home to eat. Think he''ll actually go?"

    "Oh, definitely! It''s all over the inte-our boss is absolutely whipped! He adores his wife."

    "Yeah, but he''s also a workaholic. You guys remember how much he loves his job, right?"

    "That was then, this is now," someone piped up. "Lowell, who does the boss love more: his wife or his work?"

    A young woman chimed in, "I bet he loves his wife more!"

    Lowell gave her a big thumbs-up. "You win! Right now, the boss only wants to be in love, not at work! If he didn''t have to make money for his wife, he''d never be here he''d be glued to her 24/7!"

    "He only dragged himself to the office this morning because his wife was tired and napping at home Now that she''s up, he''s probably dying to go back."

    People looked skeptical. "Is he really that bad?"

    The next second, the office door swung open.

    Tarquin strode out in an expensive tailored suit, nced around, and told Lowell,

    "I''ll drive myself home. Cancel my afternoon meetings. I won''t be back."

    And with that, he hurried toward the elevator.

    The team stared as the elevator disy ticked down to the parking garage. When the doors closed, they finally let out a collective squeal.

    "No way-Lowell called it! The boss really couldn''t wait to get home to his wife!"

    "Who would''ve thought? Our cold, aloof boss is actually a total softie at home!"

    "This is the first time I''ve thought the boss was kind of pathetic-he''s so whipped!" someoneughed.

    Lowell grinned. "Oh, you have no idea. He isn''t just obsessed with her he''s actually scared of her, too."

    Eyes widened. "Seriously?"

    "Cross my heart," Lowell swore, hand over his chest.

    Soon, word had spread: the boss was a total puppy, always glued to his wife, and even a little bit afraid of her. People joked the boss''s wife was a real-life guardian angel, Saving them all from endless overtime. If you wanted to get ahead, don''t cozy up to the boss-go make friends

    with his wife!

    ...

    At the Number One Estate, Tarquin pulled up early. In the living room, only Elysia and Winona were around.

    yton and Pam, early risers, had taken little Evan out for a walk and some grocery shopping so as not to wake the others.

    The rest of the kids were still upstairs, catching up on sleep.

    Winona had arrived about half an hour ago, rushing over the moment she heard Elysia was awake.

    Blossom wasn''t there—she was

    vel

    busy. The new school year was about to start, and as a pre-K teacher, she had to be back at

    school for training.

    After a month of rest and TLC, Winona was finally back to her old self!