Her eyes narrow, and I can see her mind working, trying to calculate, to reason her way out. The thought almost amuses me. “You think I’m just going to hand you over some video or photo of me and Ryan? Just like that?”“Oh, I don’t think it. I know it. Unless, of course, you’re alright with the alternative. I could always release this little masterpiece to the press. ‘CEO’s Mistress Caught Red-Handed.’ Imagine the headlines.”Emily’s face twists with fury. “You’re insane.”“Maybe,” I say. “But I’m not the one who’s spent weeks playing house in the CEO’s bedroom. A married man’s bedroom.”She clenches her jaw, glancing sideways at James, who looks like he’d rather be anywhere else. His gaze shifts between us, and I don’t miss the flare of anger in his eyes. This wasn’t part of his plan either, clearly.Emily forces a smile, her eyes pleading as she speaks in a syrupy tone that would be convincing if I didn’t know her so well. “Julie, come on. This is all getting out of hand. Isn’t ther
~~Ryan O’Brien~~ Ryan collapses in his seat. It’s barely past noon, and he’s exhausted. His mother, Adeline, had made him send about three dozen emails to various companies—potential partners—and at this point, if he has to send another “I hope this email finds you well”, he’d lose his damn mind. Jesus Christ. Half the companies on these emails aren’t even worth the attention. And Adeline has somehow forgotten that Ryan has a secretary. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” Ryan says, staring at his mother who’s penning something down in a book. “I’m right where I want to be,” she replies without looking up. “What if I don’t want you here?” “Great. You can leave.” “It’s my office,” he says. “You can’t set up a workstation in the CEO’s office. I can arrange for an office in your name so we can both get privacy. You are suffocating me, Mom. I can’t breathe.” Adeline's pen stills, her manicured fingers hovering over the page. Then, slowly, she raises her head and looks at him
Emily looks like she’s about to explode. Ryan can see her clenching and unclenching her fists. Then she says, “Probably because I’m Ryan’s secretary?”“A secretary who was on her lunch break.”Emily lets out a humorless laugh. “Being on my lunch break doesn’t make me any less his secretary.”Ryan rubs his temples as if the mere presence of both women in the same room is giving him a headache. “Can you both stop? I’m going through enough as it is. I don’t need two women clawing each other’s eyes out in my office.”“Great,” Emily says. “I was just about to go.”“Oh, no, you’re not,” Adeline interjects. “I don’t trust whatever this is. I don’t trust you. If there’s something going on, now would be an excellent time to start talking.”Emily opens her mouth to retort, but Ryan has had enough. He stands abruptly, grabbing his jacket and briefcase with a sharp, determined motion.“Let’s go.” He strides toward Emily, nodding to the door. “I’ve had enough of my mother for one day.”“It’s still
Emily stares at Ryan, and he can see the color drain from her face. She opens her mouth to respond, but no words come out. He takes a step closer, his voice dangerously low. “Why is there a camera in our bedroom?” “Ryan, it’s nothing,” she says. She reaches for the vase, her hand brushing his arm, but he pulls back, setting the vase down behind him, marking it off-limits. “Not so fast,” he says. “Answer the question.” Emily bites her lip, eyes darting around the room. “It’s just… it’s a little kink thing, okay?” She gives a half-smile. “I thought maybe it’d be fun. Your birthday is coming up. I wanted to surprise you with a hot video.” He raises an eyebrow and then taps the side of his reading glasses. “I might be a bit shortsighted, Emily, but I’m not blind. Or stupid. How convenient that this little kink appeared the same day you saw Julie.” “The camera’s always been there. You just never noticed.” Ryan laughs. “Now I’m convinced you’re lying. I love those flowers. I’d know i
~~Julie~~After minutes of struggling, Luke finally gets the old record player going, and the first notes of a tune spill into the room. I sit up on the bed, propping my chin in my hand as I watch him. There’s something so endearing in the way he messes with the dials, muttering little curses under his breath until the music flows right.“I can’t believe this thing works,” he says.I laugh, letting the warmth of his presence seep into me. “Just like old wine. Gets better with age.”He turns to me, his eyes glinting with that mischievous look he’s so good at. “Then I must be in trouble. Because you’re like wine. If you get better each year, I might actually die of drunkenness.”“Is that so?” I tilt my head, trying to hide my smile.“Absolutely,” he says, offering his hand. “Come on. Dance with me.”Without a second thought, I spring off the bed and into his arms, feeling his arm wrap around me as we start to sway to the music. It’s not graceful; I’m sure I’m stepping all over his feet,
~~Luke~~The universe must truly hate me.I mean, it’s the only explanation why every time I try to do something right, something that makes me happy, it comes with problems like an estranged husband who doesn’t understand boundaries. A man like Ryan.He stands frozen in the doorway, his gaze fixed on Julie like she’s the only person in the room.Julie taps my arm, bringing me back to life. I pull myself together and step back to grab my pants, fumbling to get them on. Suddenly I feel like a teenager caught in his girlfriend’s bedroom by her father. Meanwhile, Julie has left the dresser. She's staring at Ryan with an icy glare. “Was I unclear,” she says, “when I told you you’re no longer welcome in this house?”I watch her walk toward him, the silk nightgown clinging to her in ways that leave nothing to the imagination. The bottom half of the gown is folded and still hanging askew around her waist. Reflexively, I reach forward, tugging the fabric down so she isn’t flashing Ryan an
Ryan hesitates, still standing in the doorway, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he glares at us.Julie’s patience has clearly reached its limits. “Leave, Ryan,” she says.He takes one last look at her, and then, after what feels like an eternity, he steps outside. I feel the tension release from my shoulders, a relief washing over me. But Julie isn’t done. She strides out after him. I follow her, partly to make sure Ryan doesn’t pull any funny business, but mostly because watching him get humiliated is proving to be its own special kind of therapy.Grant, the security guard, is waiting outside, his eyes darting from Julie to Ryan to me.“Mrs. O’Brien, I’m so sorry,” he says. “I tried to stop him from coming in, but the gate’s sensor recognized his car.”Julie gives him a short nod. “Don’t worry about it, Grant. I’ll fix that.”Without another word, she walks over to Ryan’s car, reaching up. She tugs at the sticker tag, struggling with it for a while before ripping it from the w
~~Julie~~My husband, Ryan, is standing on the karaoke stage, making a fool of himself. His shirt is unbuttoned halfway, his tie long abandoned, and his cheeks are flushed from too much whiskey.“And I………will always love you…..” he sings, closing his eyes.His voice is terrible.Standing next to him, practically glued to his side, is his secretary, Emily. Her left arm is around Ryan's waist, her fingers lightly grazing his back as she sings along. She’s younger than me, at least by half a decade, all wide eyes and perfect curves, dressed in a tight, low-cut dress that makes it impossible to ignore her presence. She leans into Ryan, whispering something in his ear, and he throws his head back, laughing. He looks at her like she’s the funniest person in the world.I’ve never seen him this happy.The last time I saw him this happy was on our wedding day, seven years ago. Back then, his eyes sparkled when he looked at me. Now, the light in them has grown dimmer; they're shining for someon