The Contract Said No Strings Attached (Charlotte) novel Chapter 168

Even though his wife could be a fire-breathing dragon—fierce and petty to boot—Jacob figured he ought to be the bigger person. After all, he was the man of the house.

So, dressed in a smart suit, Jacob quietly made his way to Mrs. Austin’s room. He found her inside, fussing over her hair and touching up her makeup. He cleared his throat as he stepped in. “What are you up to, honey?”

Mrs. Austin startled for a moment, then quickly regained her composure. “Oh, nothing. Just felt like sprucing myself up a bit.”

Jacob frowned, puzzled. “Sprucing up? For what?”

She ignored him, turning away. “Why do you care?”

A thought occurred to Jacob, and he tried to sound gentle. “With so many men trying to flirt with you recently, do you really need to doll yourself up even more? Maybe you should just stay home for a while, keep a low profile.”

That set Mrs. Austin off. She raised her voice. “And why shouldn’t I dress up? Can’t I have a little self-respect and ambition? I don’t care what you say—I want to look young and beautiful.”

Jacob forced himself to stay calm. “I’m just looking out for you.”

Hands on her hips, Mrs. Austin shot back, “I don’t need you to look out for me. I want to look my best, and frankly, I think you’re just jealous that other men want to court me.”

Jacob’s expression darkened, his voice rising. “Jealous? Don’t be ridiculous. I’m worried you’ll get taken in by some smooth-talking con artist.”

Mrs. Austin glared defiantly. “Oh, please. You’re just being petty because you can’t stand the idea of someone else liking me.”

Jacob took a deep breath, struggling to hold his temper. “I’m your husband. Do you really think I’d hurt you? Who knows what those men are after, suddenly professing their love?”

But Mrs. Austin wouldn’t hear it. “What could they possibly want? You’re the one who’s paranoid all day long.”

Seeking a male companion—must be alive, able to hold a conversation, and bonus points if you can cook. If you’re needy, please move along.

Interested? Serious inquiries only—no time-wasters! If you think you’re special, don’t hesitate—call now!

Below that were Mrs. Austin’s phone number, home address, photo, and even her annual income.

Mrs. Austin’s face turned thunderous. “What kind of ridiculous garbage is this? Where did it come from?”

The butler, still sweating, stammered, “Ma’am, these flyers are plastered all over the neighborhood. And that’s not all…”

“What else?”