Chapter 154: The Woman at Northstar

A new executive joined Northstar's international division.

Her name was Evelyn Hart.

Freya heard about her first from business news rather than Louis. Evelyn had spent twelve years building supply-chain operations across Europe and Asia and had recently left a major competitor.

She was competent, polished, and apparently terrifying in negotiations.

Mia showed Freya an article.

"She's beautiful."

Freya looked at her assistant. "Why is that relevant?"

"No reason."

"There is definitely a reason."

Mia became very interested in her computer.

Freya read the article anyway.

Evelyn had been hired to lead Northstar's international expansion, meaning she would work closely with Louis.

In a worse romance novel, this would be the moment a glamorous new woman appeared to create misunderstandings.

Freya refused to participate.

At least, that was what she told herself.

Then she attended a Northstar dinner and saw Evelyn standing beside Louis, discussing something with complete familiarity.

Freya felt an immediate, irrational pinch of annoyance.

She hated herself for it.

Louis noticed her from across the room and came over.

"Evelyn, this is my wife, Freya."

Evelyn smiled warmly. "Finally. I've heard a lot about you."

Freya looked at Louis.

"Good things," Evelyn added.

"What exactly has he said?"

Louis interrupted. "Nothing useful will come from this question."

Evelyn laughed.

Within ten minutes, Freya discovered three things.

First, Evelyn was happily engaged to a woman named Rachel.

Second, she had no romantic interest in Louis whatsoever.

Third, she was much funnier than her business interviews suggested.

Freya felt ridiculous.

Later, in the car, Louis asked, "Were you jealous?"

"No."

"You were."

"I was evaluating a potential threat."

"To our marriage?"

"To Northstar."

Louis smiled in the darkness.

Freya crossed her arms.

"Do not become pleased with yourself."

"I'm trying not to."

"You are failing."

The experience embarrassed her, but it also revealed something important.

Trust did not eliminate every insecure emotion. It only changed what she did with those emotions.

The original Freya had learned to treat relationships as transactions after Clement's betrayal. Freya herself had entered this marriage assuming she would eventually leave.

Now the idea of losing Louis actually frightened her.

That vulnerability was uncomfortable.

She told him so.

Louis became serious.

"I don't expect you never to be jealous."

"Good, because apparently I'm capable of stupidity."

"I only expect you to tell me before you invent an entire plot."

Freya laughed.

"Deal."

A week later, Evelyn invited Freya and Rachel to dinner.

Rachel turned out to be an architect.

Within twenty minutes, she and Freya were arguing enthusiastically about affordable modular housing while Louis and Evelyn watched from the other side of the table.

Evelyn leaned toward Louis.

"I think we've been abandoned."

Louis looked at Freya, who was drawing something on a napkin.

"I'm used to it."

The glamorous woman at Northstar did create a new relationship.

Just not the one a predictable novel would have chosen.

Freya later admitted to Rachel that she had briefly misread the situation. Rachel laughed so hard she nearly spilled her drink. By dessert, the embarrassment had turned into a story everyone except Freya seemed determined to preserve forever.

Freya made a note of the development and returned to the practical work in front of her. She had learned that a complicated life became manageable only when she separated what she knew, what she suspected, and what she could actually do next. Louis respected that habit, even when his instinct was to solve everything immediately. For now, they chose the next useful step and left the unanswered part where it belonged.

Freya made a note of the development and returned to the practical work in front of her. She had learned that a complicated life became manageable only when she separated what she knew, what she suspected, and what she could actually do next. Louis respected that habit, even when his instinct was to solve everything immediately. For now, they chose the next useful step and left the unanswered part where it belonged.