I was still trying to steady my breathing, still struggling to focus after everything that had just happened between Nick and me. Not to mention, one of his hands was still resting demurely on my thigh.“Tracyyyy!” Emma’s voice was frantic, making my heart beat even faster. “Where are you?” she asked. “You need to come to the hospital now.”“What?” I exclaimed, my fingers tightening around the phone. “What happened? Emma, what’s wrong?”“It's Dad.” She said before taking a sharp breath, and in the background, I could hear voices, and movement. “He had a—something happened,” Emma continued, and I could tell she was trying to stay calm, but the way her voice cracked at the end made my blood run cold. “He collapsed. We rushed him to the hospital. The doctors are with him, but they won’t tell us anything yet. Mom is losing it. You need to come.”My mind went blank for a second, my entire body freezing up. My dad. My dad was in the hospital. My dad, who had always been strong, who never le
I still felt solemn with everything that had just happened, but now, after hearing the doctor say that my dad was going to be okay and after seeing his state of being, there was finally a sense of relief, even though none of us had fully relaxed yet. My dad was still lying in the hospital bed, looking exhausted, his face paler than usual, his eyes tired as he glanced at all of us. My mom was sitting beside him, holding his hand in both of hers, like she was afraid that if she let go, something would happen again. Emma and Ella stood close together, and I could sense the tension in their shoulders, the way their arms were still wrapped around themselves, like they were trying to hold in all their emotions.I was still standing near the bed, my fingers gripping the edge of the mattress, staring at my dad like I needed to memorize every detail of his face, as if I had almost lost the chance to. He gave me another small smile, trying to lighten the mood. “You guys are acting like I died,”
The days I spent at home with my family felt like a mix of emotions, relief, happiness, and a little bit of worry all wrapped up together. After everything that had happened with my dad, I knew I couldn’t just leave right away. I needed to be there, to take care of him, to make sure he was really okay, to see with my own eyes that he was taking his medication and getting enough rest. At first, I thought I would only stay for a day or two, just until I was sure he was stable, but then a day turned into two, and two turned into the whole week. I knew I should have left earlier and gone back to work, but I couldn’t. My family needed me, and besides, Nick had already given me some days off, so I let myself stay a little longer.My dad was getting better, slowly but surely. At first, he was still weak, still tired most of the time, still needing to sit down a lot and avoid too much movement. But with each passing day, I could see the improvement. He was eating better, talking more, even ma
I got to work very early in the morning, much earlier than I usually would, mostly because I wanted to get settled back in after being gone for so long, but also because I was excited to be back. Even though I had loved spending time with my family, and I had enjoyed every moment of taking care of my dad and being surrounded by my mom and sisters, there was still something about returning to work that made me feel like I was stepping back into something that was a big part of my life.And, if I was being honest with myself, a big part of the excitement was because I would finally get to see Nick again.I had missed him more than I thought possible, and even though we had talked on the phone a few times while I was away, it hadn’t been enough. Hearing his voice through a speaker wasn’t the same as seeing him, standing next to him, talking to him face-to-face. I wanted to see the way his expression changed when he talked, the way his eyes darkened when he was thinking, the way he ran a
Lunch break was supposed to be a time to relax, eat something, or maybe even laugh a little with Brenda and Suzan after all these days of being off before going back to the stress of work. But that was not what happened.Instead, I found myself staring at Brenda’s phone, my stomach twisting into a knot so tight I felt like I couldn’t breathe.“Look at this,” Brenda said, pushing the phone closer to me, her voice low, like she wasn’t sure how I was going to react.I looked down at the screen, and the moment I saw the post, my whole body went cold.It was a picture of me, one I didn’t even know had been taken, and right above it was a long, nasty caption.‘Cheaters never change. Some people act like they’ve moved on, but the truth is, they just hide their dirt better. I wonder how long it’ll take before the truth comes out.’And then there were the comments.Hundreds of them.Some laughed. Some agreed. And some even go further to call me names, making jokes at my expense.I felt sick li
After Brenda had shown me that post and I saw the nasty comments, I was shaken. I tried to push it to the back of my mind, telling myself that it wasn’t worth my energy, but it lingered, gnawing at me like an itch I couldn’t scratch. I wanted to respond and defend myself, but what was the point? People would believe what they wanted to believe.I told myself to focus on my work instead. I had already missed days at the office, and I needed to make up for it. I knew I should have gone to Nick’s office to properly thank him for everything he had done for me, but the last thing I wanted was to stir up any more suspicion, especially after Mrs. Veronica’s warning. The way she had said it, how she made it clear that she would be watching us, made me hesitate. The last thing I needed was to give her more reason to assume things.So, instead, I buried myself in work.I sorted through piles of documents that had been waiting for my review, going over every little detail carefully to make sure
For a moment, neither of us moved.Elias froze mid-step, his eyes locking onto mine, and for a second, I saw something flicker across his face, shock, confusion, maybe even guilt. But it was gone just as quickly as it came, replaced by that usual smug expression he always wore when he thought he was in control of a situation.I stood my ground, I wasn’t going to run. Not this time.“Well, well,” Elias drawled, tilting his head as he took a slow step toward me. “Didn’t expect an audience.”Sylvia let out a sharp gasp, and when I glanced at her, her face had drained of all color. She looked like she wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole.“You—” Sylvia stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. “How long have you been standing there?”I crossed my arms, forcing my voice to remain steady even though my chest was tight. “Long enough to hear your little secrets.”Elias let out a low chuckle. “Of course, you were.” He shook his head, shoving his hands into his pockets as he stu
Nick’s grip on my arms stayed firm, steadying me as I stood there, my chest rising and falling quickly, my mind scrambling to catch up with everything that just happened. The way Elias had looked at me, had sent chills straight through me. But now, with Nick standing between us, his presence felt like a solid wall, I finally let myself breathe.Elias scoffed, shaking his head. “Oh, great. And now your guard dog shows up.” He crossed his arms, his smirk returning, though it didn’t mask the frustration simmering just beneath. “Do you expect this guy to fight me?”Nick didn’t rise to the bait. His head tilted slightly as he kept his gaze on Elias. “I asked you a question.” His fingers twitched slightly like he was fighting the urge not to do something dangerous, something he knew he shouldn’t. “What the hell is going on here?”“And who the hell do you think you are?” Elias barked, taking a step closer to Nick, his hands balling into fists. “This has nothing to do with you, so why don’t y
I booted up my laptop, the hum of the machine matching the nervous buzz in my chest. I could still remember last week’s meeting with my colleagues and how Suzan ratted me out, now everyone knew I’d been crushing on the boss or probably had an affair with him, and worse, Jordan knew I’d turned him down for Nick, his quiet demeanor was so obvious. I sipped my coffee, the bitter taste grounding me before I opened a report Nick had assigned me to review due to my new role as executive senior director. Footsteps shuffled nearby, and David’s voice broke through as he leaned over Torres’s desk, coffee mug swinging. “Yo, have you seen her yet? Bet she’s still bubbling from her new role,” he said, his eyes flicking my way. I froze, my fingers stalling on the keys, my face warming, praying he’d drop it. Torres chuckled, spinning his chair. “Man, she’s probably dreaming of Nick.” He winked at me. I bit my lip and fired a response. “Really funny, Torres. Maybe focus on your own work for onc
The evening air felt cool against my skin as Nick and I stepped out of his car, the neon sign of The Rusty Anchor buzzing above the bar’s entrance. I tugged my jacket tighter, my skirt swaying with each step and my hand tucked into Nick’s warm grip.Brenda’s call earlier had initiated this outing, Jason’s idea to hang out, and now here we were, ready for drinks and whatever the night threw at us.“You nervous?” Nick asked, his voice low, his thumb brushing my knuckles.I smirked, squeezing his hand. “Me? Nah, just excited to see all of us hanging out and having fun.” Nick chuckled, pulling me closer, his lips grazing my ear. “Good, 'cause I’m excited about tonight too.”We pushed through the door, the bar’s dim lights washing over us, the hum of chatter and clinking glasses filling the space.Brenda waved from a corner booth, her dark hair loose now, a red top hugging her curves, Jason was standing beside her, tall and broad, his flannel sleeves rolled up.“Over here, you two!” Brend
Late Saturday afternoon, Nick and I were tangled on the couch in my apartment. My skirt rode up my thighs, his hands gripped my hips, and our breaths were coming in short gasps. It all began with a simple kiss after lunch, sandwiches still half-eaten on the coffee table, but it escalated quickly, his lips hungry on mine, my fingers yanking his shirt open. I straddled him, my panties shoved aside, his jeans unzipped just enough for his hard dick to push inside me, hot, deep. “Fuck, you feel so good,” he growled, thrusting up, his voice rough against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I moaned, rocking against him, my nails digging into his shoulders, heat building fast as I whispered, “Don’t stop, Nick, I’m so close.” The couch creaked under us, cushions slipping, I lost myself in him, my body trembling, right on the edge. A loud knock at the door jolted me, my head snapped up, and my heart slammed as I froze mid-motion. Nick groaned, his grip tightened, and his voice came out
The morning sun shone bright over the city as I walked toward our company’s building. The glass windows sparkled, showing off the busy streets below. I felt a flutter in my chest, something different about today, though I didn’t know why. Maybe it was the cool air or the quick looks my coworkers shared as we met in the lobby.I stepped inside, and the usual hellos bounced around the office. But there was a buzz, a hint of something forthcoming. I heard bits of chatter about a meeting, and guesses about changes. My ears perked up, but I stayed cool, nodding at people as I passed.At precisely 10 AM, we were assembled in the expansive conference hall. The room buzzed with murmurs and speculation. Nick, our esteemed CEO, stood at the front of the conference room, flipping through slides as the employees sprawled around the long room.I sat near the middle, doodling in my notebook, my stomach fluttering because I’d heard whispers of raises but nothing solid until Nick dropped the surprise
After a long day dodging Clara, Kim, and Hannah’s nosy questions at the office, I got home around six, kicking off my heels by the door, the cool hardwood floor soothing my tired feet as I padded into my apartment. I tossed my bag on the couch, grabbed a basket of laundry from the bedroom, and hauled it to the tiny washer in the corner, the hum of the machine kicking on as I stuffed in a mix of blouses and jeans, the detergent’s clean scent filling the air. With that going, I flopped onto the couch, remote in hand, and flicked on a random rom-com—something light with cheesy lines and predictable kisses—letting the noise drown out the quiet while I stretched out, my legs draped over the armrest, my mind still half at work, half on Nick. The movie rolled on, the heroine tripping over her own feet to win back her man, and I smirked, grabbing a bowl of popcorn from the kitchen during a commercial break, the kernels crunching between my teeth as I settled back in. The washer beeped,
Later in the day, the employees gathered in the conference room for a brief meeting with the CEO, the long table cluttered with laptops and coffee cups, the blinds half-open letting in slants of gray light as Nick stood at the front, flipping through slides about quarterly goals, his voice steady and commanding, his suit jacket off, sleeves rolled up to his elbows.I sat near the middle, scribbling notes, my pen scratching against the paper, but my eyes kept drifting to Nick, catching the way his shirt stretched across his shoulders, the memory of those arms lifting me against the hotel door making my thighs clench under the table.Nick glanced my way, just for a second, his gaze locking with mine, a knowing spark flashing there—warm and private, a silent reminder of our weekend—and I felt my breath hitch, my lips twitching into a tiny smile before I dropped my eyes to my notebook, heat creeping up my neck.“So, we’re pushing for a tighter timeline on the new app rollout, and I need e
The Monday after that wild night at The Velvet Haven, I walked into the office with a bounce in my step, my heels clicking against the shiny floor as I carried my coffee, the steam curling up from the lid, my mind still buzzing with the memory of Nick’s cock inside my pussy, his lips on mine, and the way he’d called me his girlfriend in that husky, possessive tone that sent shivers down my spine even now.I settled at my desk, the usual Monday chaos already brewing, phones trilling, printers whirring, someone’s chair squeaking across the room as they rolled it back, and I couldn’t help but smile, a small, secret thing that tugged at my lips as I opened my laptop, my fingers brushing the keys while I replayed the weekend in my head, feeling lighter than I had in months, maybe years.Clara, perched at the desk next to mine, noticed it first, her eyes narrowing as she spun her chair toward me, her coffee mug dangling from one hand as if she was gearing up to grill me. “Okay, hold up a se
We stumbled into The Velvet Haven, a sleek boutique hotel with dark walls and velvet curtains that swallowed the light, the lobby quiet except for the soft jazz playing somewhere distant, and we barely paused at the front desk as Nick booked us a suite, his arm around my waist, pulling me close until my hip pressed against his, his fingers flexing against my side while the clerk swiped his card with agonizing slowness.I pressed myself tighter against him, feeling the heat of his body radiating through his shirt, my lips brushing his ear as I tilted my head, my breath warm against his skin, and whispered, “Hurry up, because I’m soaking wet for you, my panties are drenched just thinking about you, and I need your cock inside me like yesterday, stretching me, fucking me until I can’t stand it.”My voice was a low purr, laced with desperation, and I nipped at his earlobe, tasting the salt of his skin, my hands sliding up his back, feeling the muscles shift as he leaned into me.Nick smir
Right after I said yes to being Nick’s girlfriend, the air between us shifted, crackling with something electric and unstoppable, like a storm rolling in that neither of us could outrun, and he didn’t wait a second longer, leaning across the table with a sudden, breathtaking urgency, his hand sliding behind my neck, fingers tangling in my hair as he pulled me into a kiss that stole my breath away, leaving me dizzy and gasping for air.Nick’s lips crashed against mine, firm and hungry, tasting of the sharp red wine we’d been sipping and a deeper, wilder desire that set my nerves on fire, his tongue slipping past my teeth to dance with mine in a slow rhythm that made my head spin, and I melted into it, my hands gripping the edge of the table so hard my knuckles whitened, the napkin slipping from my lap to the floor in a soft crumple as my whole body lit up, tingling from my scalp down to my toes like I’d been plugged into a live wire.I felt like I was falling, tumbling into a void wher