Jessica licked her lips and said, "I heard from Arjun's team that you managed to sort out his stomach problems?"

I nodded. "In business, it's tough to maintain regular meals; there's always another meeting, another drink. The stress from negotiations can be intense. I've tried many things for his stomach issues. Depending on the season and his symptoms, I had different remedies ready. Besides wholesome soups, I've concocted various hangover cures. I even taught myself reflexology and developed a foot massage routine to help him stay healthy."

Jessica looked at my hands, her eyes shining with interest. "Kayleigh, you are truly remarkable!" Her smile was broad and genuine.

She pulled out a pen and crossed out the twenty thousand on the contract. I was confused.

She wrote thirty thousand instead, then paused, crossed it out, and wrote fifty thousand.

I swallowed hard. A fifty-thousand-dollar monthly salary was incredibly tempting for someone like me who's used to managing the home.

I couldn't help but mumble, "Actually, I've also studied sound therapy, essential oil blending, and the latest in scalp treatments..."

Suddenly, I stopped myself. Wait, this is wrong. I'm here to meet the woman my husband is infatuated with, not to sell my skills.

Jessica raised her perfectly arched eyebrow and gave me a playful wink. A big one. I blushed slightly.

She crossed out the fifty thousand and changed it to seventy thousand. Then she added more benefits as she wrote, announcing each perk with her alluring voice.

"If you agree to be my personal assistant, you'll get six to eight days off each month. During those days, you'll enjoy all-inclusive services at five-star hotels, including Swedish massages, full-body spa treatments, a luxury suite with a panoramic view, an infinity pool, a jacuzzi, hot springs access, seafood feasts, and private chef services. Plus, in the evenings, you can visit a lounge owned by a friend of mine. With my gold card, you can book male models, starting with four, from exotic types to sweet young things..."

I grabbed Jessica's soft hand abruptly. "Alright, I'll sign."

Turning her down felt almost impolite. I can be a bit of a pushover.

Jessica gave me another big wink and patted my hand. "You cave in so easily. No negotiating at all. You're just too easy to manage."

I wiped the sweat from my forehead. No, my preferences are all good. Really. They're fine!

Returning home, I felt completely worn out, collapsing onto the couch and staring blankly into the distance. After getting married, I hadn't returned to work. Arjun's mother often reminded me of how hard Arjun worked and insisted that I should strive to be the ideal housewife.

So, I painstakingly learned many skills just to take good care of Arjun. At first, Arjun would say he felt incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated wife, and that he was completely satisfied.

But as time went on, everything seemed to become expected—for both him and me. He grew accustomed to my care, and I got used to caring for him.

We don't have any children. I had myself checked, and there were no issues on my end. I wanted Arjun to get checked as well, but he dismissed the idea, perhaps out of male pride. He was so sure there was nothing wrong with him, and I couldn't understand his confidence.

Without children, I treated Arjun as if he were a child, caring for him diligently. But as the saying goes, a child loves their mother unconditionally, whereas a husband might start to see his wife as past her prime. That’s the difference.

"If we ever had kids, they'd be embarrassed by you. In our social circles, you're the only wife who seems to have no standout qualities," Arjun criticized me without mercy.

I remained silent and ignored him. He knew full well that I was never one to fuss over my appearance, even before we got married. Yet, he still chose to say such hurtful things.

Late at night, when Arjun claimed he had work obligations and didn't come home, thoughts of divorce would flood my mind. Marriage is supposed to be a partnership, and if it’s not working, maybe it's better to go our separate ways. But Arjun refused to divorce, and to convince me to stay, he even brought my mom into the mix as a mediator.

As a husband, he knew exactly how to manipulate me. My mom depended on my support, and I depended on Arjun's. It felt like I was trapped, unable to escape.

The living room lights suddenly flicked on. Arjun walked in, "Why are you zoning out on the couch? I texted you on WhatsApp to say I was coming home, and you didn't reply. Did you make the spiced honey cake I asked for? I'm really tired today and wanted some. Did you get around to it?"

He continued to rant. My mind was elsewhere. Arjun was growing irritated and was about to criticize me further when he suddenly stopped, noticing my expression.

After signing the contract with Jessica, she observed me with a curious gleam in her eyes before saying, "Being my personal assistant has its requirements. There are aspects about you I'm not entirely satisfied with, and you'll need to address them."

A chill ran down my spine. So, it was a setup; maybe Jessica was just having fun at my expense.

She stood up and approached me, "I appreciate attractive people, and I know you do too. Your appearance is a bit too disheveled for my taste."

She handed me a card, "This is a membership card for the salon I go to. You'll need to update your look as per my instructions."

Then she handed me another card, "This is a gift card for Burlington Mall. You should get some new clothes."

I nervously picked at my fingernails, "Well, I…"

Jessica looked at me, "What’s the problem?"

I struggled to explain, "I... I don’t want to buy any clothes. Especially, I don’t want to wear dresses. If wearing dresses to work is a requirement, I..."

Jessica raised an eyebrow, "Alright, if you don’t want new clothes, that’s fine. But your hair..."

I clenched my fists, "I’m not comfortable with men handling my hair."

Jessica paused, considering, before suggesting, "How about this? I can arrange for the salon to provide a private room for you, with a female stylist, so you’ll have complete privacy. How does that sound?"

I looked up and nodded slightly, "Okay. Honestly, I do want to look polished and presentable. It's just that I haven't done anything with my hair in a really long time."

I’d been cutting my hair on my own for ages; it was far from any recognizable style.

I hadn’t had long hair in a while.

Jessica didn’t press further. She took me to her usual salon. As a top-tier VIP, the salon accommodated all her requests.

The place was deserted, and the female stylist worked silently, without unnecessary chatter. She just focused on her task.

Gradually, I began to relax.

Once she was finished, I emerged with a voluminous, lively hairstyle. The stylist had a keen sense of style and gave me a chic vintage bob.

Jessica clapped her hands in delight, "My instincts are spot on. Aren’t you just like VOGUE's Anna? You’re even more stunning."

My cheeks flushed instantly.