Bidding War: When My Husband Chose His Secretary Over Me Chapter 1

This weekend, my husband and I were invited to a charity auction.

During the bidding, my husband’s secretary and I both set our sights on the same oil painting.

Just as I was preparing for a fair contest, my husband publicly signaled his unlimited support for his secretary, effectively declaring he would outbid anyone for her.

“Jeannie,” she sneered, “you’re nothing but a pet my family keeps on a leash. What right do you have to compete with me?”

As the other guests began to drop out of the bidding, I snapped my fingers at the auctioneer.

“Whatever Mr. Posehn is offering,” I said, my voice ringing clear, “I’ll bid… one dollar more.”

* * *

A hush fell over the room as every guest turned to stare at me. A moment later, it was broken by a wave of derisive laughter.

“Is this woman out of her mind? She’s bidding against her own husband. Does she have money to burn?”

“It’s not just that she’s lost her mind—she never had one to begin with. A mere trophy wife daring to challenge Vincent Posehn in public. She has no idea who she’s dealing with.”

“I heard before I came that Mr. Posehn picked up a pretty little thing years ago and has been keeping her at home. I never thought I’d actually see her in person.”

As the murmurs grew louder, Vincent’s face grew darker.

He shot to his feet, pointing a finger at me as his voice boomed across the hall. “Jeannie, put your hand down this instant! Do you hear me?”

He was practically seething. “You’re spending my family’s money! How dare you compete with me?”

I leaned back in my chair, my expression a mask of calm, and met his furious gaze. “Vincent, I am, for better or worse, your wife. A little respect wouldn’t kill you.” My eyes narrowed. “Why should I have to give up something I want for someone else?”

My voice dropped, taking on a steely edge. “And for the record, I have never spent a single dime of your family’s money. Don’t you dare suggest otherwise.”

Vincent’s face flushed a deep, mottled red. “Jeannie, have I not told you to call me Mr. Posehn in public? You are nothing but a pet on our payroll! We have no real relationship!”

I let out a soft sigh, my eyes locked on his. “So, Mr. Posehn, are you truly going to fight me over this… for your little secretary?”

The truth was, I’d sensed something was wrong the moment I walked in. As Vincent’s wife, I should have been seated beside him. Instead, I was relegated to a forgotten corner.

I had swallowed my pride. After all, old Mr. Posehn, Vincent’s father, had always been kind to me, even inviting me to play chess with him from time to time. A good woman should know when to tolerate her husband’s foolish ego.

But I never imagined that my seat would be occupied by Vincent’s secretary, Jenna. A fresh college graduate whose only remarkable quality was her youth.

And yet, here was my idiotic husband, ready to go to war for her.

The thought sent a blaze of anger roaring through me.

But the so-called rising star of the business world was too self-absorbed to notice. He continued his tirade. “Who the hell do you think you are, Jeannie? I don’t need your permission to do anything. You’ve spent years eating our food, living in our house. What could you possibly have to fight me with?”

His voice rose to a fever pitch. “I’m not afraid to tell you right now, I am buying this painting for Jenna!”

Before I could even react, the secretary herself couldn’t resist chiming in. She shot me a look dripping with provocation. “Miss Chevalier, I suggest you just give up. If you make Mr. Posehn unhappy, your life might become… difficult.”

She paused, a malicious grin spreading across her face. “A trophy wife should know her place, don’t you think, Miss Chevalier?”

Jenna’s words drew another round of laughter from the surrounding tables. Even the auctioneer on stage couldn’t hide a smirk.

I, however, simply waved a dismissive hand and let out a cold laugh. “So, what I’m hearing, Miss Jenna, is that you’re determined to go against me today?”

Jenna’s smile turned wicked, her eyes filled with contempt. “Miss Chevalier, it’s not that I’m trying to be cruel. But you’re a housewife. You don’t even have a job. How could you possibly compete with me? Mr. Posehn has made a patronage pledge—the sky’s the limit. Do you have that kind of money to follow?”

I slowly lifted my head and offered her a serene smile. “You’re wrong, Jenna. You and I are nothing alike.”

My voice was soft, but it carried across the silent room. “I don’t need a man to buy me things.”

Her statement was met with a fresh wave of mockery.

“My God, the nerve of this girl. She probably wouldn’t have even gotten through the door if not for Mr. Posehn.”

“Exactly! She’s only here because she married into the Posehn family.”

“Who would even bother with her if not for him? Auctioneer, just call it. Let’s not waste any more of our time.”

The taunts swirled around me, but they didn’t touch me.

Because every word I said was the truth.

If I wasn’t trying to save Vincent a shred of dignity, I could have stood up and announced that the Posehn Corporation itself belonged to me.

Seeing my silence, the secretary grew even bolder. “See? I told you. A woman with no power should just stay at home. Now you’ve made a fool of yourself.”

Before Jenna could finish, I slowly raised my bidding paddle.

“Who said I was backing down?”

My voice was a silken threat. “It’s just money. Darling, that’s the one thing I have plenty of.”