The Wife School — Samantha Winston

Arnold Souche has everything under control. He made a mistake with his first wife, but his second wife will be perfect. So that she doesn't get any wild ideas, he sends her to an all-girls school in Switzerland to be raised by nuns, and gives her in the dowdiest clothes possible. Amelia is content to go along with Arnold, until the day Ben arrives in her life and suddenly she realizes that nothing can replace passion and love. But if she leaves Arnold, she'll owe him a quarter of a million dollars, and suddenly true love is looking like something she'll never attain.

To My Readers: I'm a classics lover, so some of you will recognize Moliére's influence in this tale. But the theme of man wanting to control woman and being thwarted by true love is a classic. How many well-laid plans have gone awry because Cupid shot his arrow and hit the wrong target? I hope you have as much fun reading this comedy of arrows �" er, errors, as I had writing it!

THE WIFE SCHOOL EXCERPT

The jacket Chrysalde lent him was lemon yellow linen with pale green silk lining. Ben put it on, the silk rustling against his fingertips. A disguise was no good unless it was complete. And now he was completely in disguise. He closed his eyes. Tried to fit into this new skin. A flamboyant persona, with turquoise hair and a name that made people choke with laughter. Yes, he could deal with that. Use it if he had to. A buffoon �" no. Someone who'd grown up with the adversity of a ridiculous name would not be a buffoon. He was tough. He'd been made fun of all through school, first because of his name, then because -- he glanced over at Chrysalde -- because he was gay. Yes, he'd be gay too. That would make his character more believable with the lemon sherbet jacket and teal hair. He felt a smile tug his lips. He was starting to believe his own made-up history.

In the taxi, Chrysalde filled Ben in as to who he was going to meet. “You have an appointment with Miss Amelia. She's Souche's protégé. He has all but adopted her. Rumor has it she's being groomed to take over all public relations for Souche Enterprises.”

Ben thought hard. He knew Souche, but had never heard of an adopted daughter. “Where did she come from?”

“She was in an all girl's school in Switzerland. Some sort of nunnery I suppose for wealthy young women. Souche wanted to protect her from the ‘real world'. I hear he's grooming her to take his place at his side. He's announced that he intends to marry her.”

Ben blinked. “How old is she? Souche must be as old as my father!”

“She's terribly young. It will be a May December wedding, that's for sure.” Chrysalde batted his eyelashes. “How tacky of me, gossiping like this.” He giggled, and Ben stared thoughtfully out the window.

Souche enterprises was located in an ultra modern building made of steel and glass. It was huge, cold, and said very clearly, ‘I am a huge, vastly important conglomerate and you are a tiny insignificant flea.' Ben felt right at home. Chrysalde led him to a plush office in the heart of the building.

“Amelia, meet Mr. Ben,” he gave the slightest pause. “Dover. Ben, this is Amelia Lawn.”

“Hello Mr. Dover. I'm pleased to meet you.” She frowned distractedly at a pile of papers in her hands and shoved them on a nearby desk. Then she looked up at him and smiled.

Ben found himself staring into a pair of unattractive horn-rimmed glasses hiding clear brown eyes. The eyes were fringed with long, dark, curly lashes, and below the eyes were a straight nose, full lips, and dimples. Two adorable dimples. The rest of her was dowdy. Shapeless gray dress, nondescript hairdo, no make-up at all; just a scrubbed ‘girl-next-door' look that didn't suit her at all. How strange. He recognized a beautiful woman hidden behind the unattractive glasses and clothes. Why would a woman pretend to be so plain?