Such a Good Husband

SUCH A GOOD HUSBAND ROWEN CHAMBERS CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Edward Chapter 36 Anna Chapter 37 Edward Chapter 38 Anna Chapter 39 Anna Chapter 40 Anna The Starter Wife Such a Good Husband By Rowen Chambers Copyright © 2023 Rowen Chambers All rights reserved. Published by Waltham Publishing, LLC Cover Designed by Marisa Wesley of Cover Me Darling This book is a work of fiction. The characters, things, and events are fictitious, and any similarities to real persons (live or dead), things, or events are coincidental and not intended by the author. Brand names of products mentioned in this book are used for reference only and the author acknowledges that any trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners. The author holds exclusive rights to this work and unauthorized duplication is prohibited. No part of this book is to be reproduced in any form without written permission from the author. 1 “If this dinner tonight doesn’t go well,” I tell Candace. “I’m taking that to mean I’m meant to be single.” “That’s not what it means,” she says, pouring a packet of sugar into her coffee. “It means whoever this guy is just isn’t the one.” She comes up to me, wrapping her arm around mine and leading me out of the breakroom. “You have to meet a lot of the wrong men to find the right one.” “I’m 35. If I haven’t met the right one by now, it’s not going to happen.” We go into my office and I sit behind the desk while Candace takes a seat on the velvet chair across from me. It was a gift from one of our buyers. The purple is an exact match to the purple on the Adore logo. “I think you’re giving up too soon,” Candace says. “Maybe you just need some time away from the apps.” “I’m done with the apps. I never should’ve been on them in the first place. I don’t know why I let you talk me into that.” She shrugs. “I met Tom that way. And Carol in accounting met her husband on an app.” “The success stories are the exception, not the rule. The whole point of those apps is to keep people on them. It’s how they make money.” “Well, you’re never going to meet anyone with that attitude.” She sips her coffee. My phone alarm goes off, reminding me of my next meeting. “I have to go meet with Edward,” I tell Candace. “We can talk about this later,” she says, quickly getting up. “I’d rather not,” I mutter as she leaves. I was serious when I told her I’m done with dating. It’s exhausting. I can’t do it anymore. Getting up from my desk, I prepare to see Edward. Even though I’ve known him forever, he still makes me nervous. It’s because he expects so much from me and I fear letting him down. Edward is the CEO of Adore Fragrance. He’s an older man who took over when my father died. He was close friends with my father and in some ways reminds me of him. Headstrong. Domineering. Doesn’t take no for an answer. Edward can be difficult to deal with, but he’s a genius businessman. The company wouldn’t survive without him. I take a deep breath as I walk down the hall to his office. It’s on the corner and is lined with windows that look out at the Manhattan skyline. “Anna!” Edward barks. Looking up, I see him standing just outside his office. “I’m coming,” I say, picking up my pace. “We’ll need to postpone,” Edward says as I follow him into the room that used to belong to my father. Every time I come in here, I swear I can still smell him. His heavy, musky cologne mixed with the smoke from his cigars. “Did something come up?” I ask as Edward goes behind his desk and sits down in his black leather chair. “I’m meeting with our attorney,” he says. “It appears a company overseas is selling a knockoff of Adore but using our packaging.” “Oh, then yes, we can meet some other time.” I turn to leave. “Anna,” he says in his deep, gravelly voice. “We’re not finished.” I turn back. “I thought you had another meeting.” “In ten minutes, which is plenty of time to go over this.” He motions to the chair in front of his desk. “Sit down.” Going over there, I take a seat on the stiff, high-backed upholstered chair and wait for him to continue. “Some women’s magazine called me up the other day wanting to interview you.” “Why?” “Because you’re a woman and own a company that makes products for women,” he says, like it was silly of me to ask. “So it’s a business article?” “I suppose it’s something like that. She was rambling on. I wasn’t comprehending everything she said.” “Why’d she call you and not someone in public relations?” “Her father and I play golf. I’m doing him a favor.” By volunteering me to be featured in an article? I wish he hadn’t done that. Edward knows I value my privacy. I purposely chose not to be the face of Adore when I inherited the company. And honestly, I think Edward and the rest of the board were relieved about that. The Adore brand is about beauty, gracefulness, and glamour. I wouldn’t call myself beautiful, I’m not at all graceful, and I’m not even a tiny bit glamorous. “Here’s the woman’s card.” Edward hands it to me. “Call her and set up a time for