With no other choice, Ivy forced herself to look composed. Chin held high, she marched over and slid into the passenger seat.

But as she fumbled with the seatbelt, she hissed, “Drive. Now.”

A cluster of coworkers was still watching her from outside.

Jamison chuckled. “What’s the matter? Rob a bank or something?”

“Neither, but from now on, could you please not pick me up from work in such a grand fashion?” Ivy shot him a look, then frowned in confusion. “You used to keep such a low profile. What’s with the parade all of a sudden–are you worried people won’t notice you?”

He gave her a cocky little grin. “Times change. I’m making a statement–and making sure everyone knows I’ve got your back.”

Let her colleagues see she wasn’t alone, so no one would dare make life difficult for his wife.

“Thanks so much. Tomorrow when I go into the office, I’m sure the rumor mill will be working overtime again.”

“Again? So you mean there are already rumors floating around today?”

Ivy nodded. “Ever since that scandal a while back, everyone in the city knows I cut ties with the Windsor family and married into the Ludwigs–so now they all think I landed my job here thanks to connections, just some pretty face for show, totally useless.”

She finished her self-deprecating monologue and turned to look at Dr. Ludwig, a trace of accusation in her eyes.

Jamison wasn’t surprised; he’d more or less expected it.

Beautiful women in the workplace always seemed to draw a certain kind of prejudice. People assumed they’d gotten ahead by using their looks instead of their brains.

Maybe that was true for some. But Jamison’s wife had never stooped to that–and never would.

She was that rare combination of brains, beauty, and backbone.

When Ivy saw him smiling after her complaint, she grew even more annoyed. “You think this is funny? Your wife’s being slandered and you’re laughing?”

He steered the car with easy grace, unhurried as he replied, “With your personality, can’t imagine you caring what a bunch of gossips say. You’ve been putting up with this sort of thing your whole life.”

Ivy was speechless.

Honestly, it was getting a little scary how well he understood her.

After a moment’s silence, she started grumbling like a child. “Normally, I wouldn’t care. But today I pointed out a huge mistake in their operations and no one listened–cost the firm a fortune. After work, my manager called me into her office. Guess what the first thing she asked was?”

Jamison didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “Your manager–male or female?”

Ivy rolled her eyes at him. Could he focus, just once?

He guessed, “Male?”

“Female,” Ivy snapped. “Forty-ish, sharp as a tack. I looked her up–never married, no kids, career woman through and through. They call her the Iron Lady of Finance. Satisfied? Any other questions?”

“That’ll do,” Jamison nodded, finally circling back. “So, what did she want to ask you?”

Ivy turned away, staring out the window. “I don’t want to talk about it. Just drive.”

Jamison didn’t press, just glanced at her now and then, quietly amused by her silent sulking.

“Let me guess,” he said gently. “She’s secretly impressed by your skills? Asked how you made such a sharp call?”

Ivy really didn’t want to answer–but his careful prodding made it hard to hold back. After a few seconds, she turned back, unable to keep the frustration from her voice. “That’s not it. She came right out and asked if I had inside information. You know what that means, right?”

Jamison nodded. “I do.”

“She basically thinks I’m getting tips from the Ludwig family. That’s the only way I could’ve made such accurate predictions–she refuses to believe it’s my own ability.”

No matter how tough and mature she was, Ivy was still just a woman in her early twenties. Sometimes, she needed to vent.

“People say marrying into wealth is great. I’m not so sure. It just erases everything I’ve achieved. No matter what I do, everyone assumes it’s all thanks to my husband’s family.”

She rambled on, venting her indignation, but when she caught a glimpse of Jamison’s smiling profile, she only grew more exasperated. “You’re smiling again! This is all your fault, you know.”

“Of course, my fault entirely,” he said, feigning contrition. “Overshadowing Miss Ivy’s brilliance.”

Ivy glared at him, lost for words.

Jamison had rushed through a hasty lunch just so he could leave early and pick up his wife. He’d been tired to the bone, but listening to her complaints–even if she was blaming him for everything–he found himself oddly refreshed. Honestly, he thought it was kind of adorable.

“How about I show up at your office and set the record straight? Tell everyone I’m hopeless at finance, can’t even balance my own portfolio, and that every smart market call you make is pure Ivy genius?”

Ivy was dumbstruck, immediately realizing he was teasing. If he weren’t behind the wheel, she’d have reached over and socked him.

“What, you don’t need my help?” he asked, glancing over to find her glaring, her eyes wide with disbelief.

She huffed and whipped her head away. “Talking to you is pointless. Just drive.”