CEO's Trophy Husband: The Ghost Alchemist-Martial Arts King

"You remember what I told you, right?" Her voice, cool and sharp, cut through the Ferrari’s plush quiet. Rain blurred the grey Portland morning on the windows, the city a wash of muted colors.

Ethan Carter kept his gaze fixed forward, his expression carefully neutral. "Yeah. Don't tell anyone you're my wife. Don't try to find you unless you say it's okay. And no screw-ups at the company." He listed the rules flatly.

"Just… don't use that word," Sophia Langford snapped, a quick, irritated glance his way. Her knuckles were pale on the expensive steering wheel. "Alright, get out."

Ethan blinked. "We're still a good ways from the entrance. Why not just drive me in?" The Langford Biotech tower, a sleek monument to modern commerce, loomed at least a kilometer down the road, its peak lost in the Oregon mist.

Sophia’s eye roll was surprisingly theatrical. "Use your head, Ethan. If the president of Langford Biotech is seen chauffeuring someone who looks like you into the company, what kind of talk do you think that will start?"

A beat, then Ethan nodded, a wry, almost invisible smile touching his lips. "Right. Can’t have people thinking their beautiful president is slumming it with a guy who looks like he lost a fight with a laundry basket."

"I'm glad you understand," she said, her tone clipped, missing or ignoring his faint sarcasm.

Ethan pushed open the heavy door, the smell of damp Portland air and city grit instantly replacing the car’s curated luxury. "Perfectly." He stepped onto the wet sidewalk, the drizzle already making his thin canvas jacket feel inadequate.

The Ferrari’s engine, a moment before a purr, exploded into a roar. Sophia didn't look back, speeding the red beast towards the grand building with its prominent "Langford Biotech" sign.

Inside the car, Sophia allowed herself a small frown as she watched Ethan’s figure recede in the rearview mirror. His entire presentation… it’s a problem, she thought with a familiar sigh. But with Mom and Dad pushing so hard, this was the only card I had left to play.

Truth was, Sophia Langford, the accomplished President of Langford Biotech and one of Portland’s most recognized young executives, had stumbled into an utterly ridiculous situation two days prior. Overwhelmed by family pressure regarding her marital status—or lack thereof—and a critical business negotiation, she’d uncharacteristically sought an escape at a downtown bar. She’d intended to have one drink, to clear her head. Instead, she woke up hours later in an unfamiliar hotel room, her clothes gone, with Ethan, a complete stranger, beside her.

Normally, her first calls would have been to security and then the police. But the relentless campaign from her parents to see her settled had sparked a desperate, unorthodox idea. Instead of charges, she’d offered a contract: a temporary husband. Within hours, they were at the courthouse, signing papers that felt more like a bizarre business deal than a marriage certificate. Today, she’d arranged a minor, out-of-the-way job for him at the company, a necessary fiction for when her family inevitably started their inquiries.

Back on the street, Ethan Carter, canvas bag on his shoulder, rubbed his nose against the damp chill. He watched the Ferrari merge with the city’s morning traffic before starting his own trek. This wasn’t how he’d envisioned his arrival in a major city after so long.

For nearly two decades, his life had been the quiet discipline of Qi-Alchemy, studying under his master on a secluded mountain. To advance his training, his master had sent him into the urban world to find nine specific, rare items—natural conduits for his energy work. He’d been in Portland less than three days when he encountered Sophia. She’d been stumbling near a bar, clearly disoriented and drugged, with a couple of predatory men closing in. Helping was instinct; he’d driven them off.

He quickly realized she wasn’t just drunk; she’d been given something potent, a nasty compound he recognized as 'Neon Lotus Toxin.' He got her to a hotel and used his knowledge to counteract it. But the drug had powerful, unintended aphrodisiac side effects. Things… happened. Afterward, beyond feeling a sense of responsibility, he’d detected something extraordinary: the energetic signature of a Frost Lotus seed within her. The Frost Lotus was an incredibly rare herb, vital for its cold-natured energy, and one of the nine items he sought. When Sophia, in her own desperate state, proposed their strange marriage of convenience, it felt like a complicated, unignorable twist of fate. He’d agreed, seeing a path to fulfill his duty to her and potentially access the Frost Lotus.

So, they’d signed the papers. Now, he was an employee reporting to his own wife.

He reached the base of the Langford Biotech building, a twenty-plus story giant of glass and steel. Employees, polished and purposeful, flowed through the revolving doors. His wife, he had to admit, was even more formidable than he'd initially thought. This place was an empire. Teh sheer size of it felt a little unreal.

As he neared the entrance, an aggressive honk startled him. A black Mercedes screeched to a halt inches away, its driver, a man with gold-rimmed glasses, yelling. "Watch it, pal! You blind?"

"Sorry, I didn't—" Ethan started.

"Just get out of the way, loser," the man spat, waving him off before a security guard hurried over, apologizing profusely to the driver ("Sorry, Mr. Peterson!") and then shooing Ethan aside with a gruff, "This ain't a public park. Move it." Ethan recognized the name; Mr. Peterson, CEO of Croft Pharma, a competitor Sophia had mentioned with disdain.

"I work here," Ethan stated.

The guard eyed his damp, decidedly un-corporate attire. "You? Here? Haven't seen you."

"First day. Medical department," Ethan explained.

"Medical's hiring? News to me." The guard grumbled but made a call. After a moment, surprised, he jerked his head towards the door. "Alright, go on. Fourth floor."

Inside Langford Biotech, the chaotic city noise vanished, replaced by a hushed, climate-controlled hum and an immediate, potent wave of mixed fragrances – floral, fruity, sophisticated. Women, impeccably dressed and confident, moved with purpose through the gleaming lobby. Ethan now recalled Sophia saying her company specialized in high-end cosmetics. The abundance of beauty suddenly made perfect sense.

A few minutes later, he found the medical department on the fourth floor. He knocked and entered a small, functional office.

"You the new recruit?" A young woman with a kind, round face and dark, doll-like hair looked up from her computer, her big eyes curious.

"Ethan Carter. That's me." He offered a small smile.

She beamed, standing to shake his hand. "Olivia Miller. Welcome! Grab a seat." Her handshake was firm and friendly.

Olivia was genuinely nice and made the morning pass quickly with explanations of their duties – mostly first aid, occasional allergic reactions to product samples, and managing employee stress. She seemed to find his occasional bewilderment about corporate norms amusing, mistaking it for dry humor. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

At lunchtime, Olivia led him to the bustling company cafeteria. After they got their food and found a table overlooking the rainy city, she started giving him a rundown of the company hierarchy, pointing out various department heads with whispered, often funny, commentary.

"See her with the red glasses? Marketing head. Super smart, but don't get on her bad side. And that guy she’s cornered? R&D. Probably explaining another product mishap..."

Suddenly, a distinct shift occurred in the cafeteria's ambiance. Chatter near the entrance quieted, then a hush spread. Forks paused. All eyes turned towards the doors. An almost electric anticipation filled the air.

"What's going on?" Ethan asked, intrigued by the sudden change.

Olivia nudged him, her eyes wide, pointing subtly. "Look. You are not gonna believe who that is."

Ethan followed Olivia’s nod. A woman in her mid-twenties, Evelyn Shaw, was navigating the cafeteria tables with an easy confidence. Her dark suit was sharp, hair pulled back, and stylish glasses gave her an intelligent air. She moved with a subtle sway that didn't go unnoticed. The nearby chatter definitely dipped.

"Okay, yeah," Ethan admitted. "She’s got presence."

"Gorgeous, right?" Olivia whispered, grinning. "That’s Evelyn Shaw, HR General Manager. And President Langford’s best friend. Super close. They say she’s ranked number two in looks around here, right after Sophia." Olivia gave a playful nudge. "Thinking of trying your luck, Ethan?"

Ethan blinked, still absorbing the Sophia connection. "Me? Nah." He shook his head. "Not my style."

"Oh, come on," Olivia teased. "A little office crush? It's fine."

He managed a slight smile. "Seriously. I’m married, so… not happening."

Olivia’s playful look vanished. "Oh! Married? Wow, I didn't peg you for