Bitterness and self-loathing—my constant companions—dug deeper.
I hadn’t realised how far I had fallen. But I was starting to get an idea.
I was wandering through the hallways, my mind a mess, when I turned the corner and ran straight into Alicia.
“Oh, sorry—” Her words cut off as she processed who was in front of her. Despite my best efforts, our newly appointed executive financial advisor had managed to escape me—until then.
Before she could leave, I blurted, “Alicia, can we talk?Please.”
Since the company wasn’t burning down around me, I could only assume she hadn’t told anyone what she’d witnessed the week before.
Alicia’s head tilted, all feline grace with the underlying sharp claws ready to cut me all the way up. She gave a minute nod in acknowledgement before turning for her office.
When we were safely shut inside, I jumped straight to it. “First, I want to apologise. I’m truly sorry for what you witnessed. I actually haveyouto thank, since nothing progressed from what you saw. Nothing happened, and will never happen—”
Alicia rolled her eyes. “Nothing happened? I caught you on the cusp of fucking your secretary.”
Her blunt statement made me flinch, her gaze piercing my flesh with unrelenting fortitude.
Fuck.“Your i-interruption set everything straight f-for me,” I stuttered. “It didn’t progress any further, and I’ll never cross that line again.”
“Again? How long has this workplace affair been going on?”
I swallowed.Get your shit together, Felix!Before I could come up with an adequate response, Alicia pushed on.
“Look, Felix, I don’t want to hear your flimsy excuses and apologies, especially when there’s someone who truly deserves them. I know what I saw, and you’re not going to gaslight me into thinking otherwise.” She held up a palm to cut off whatever I was going to say. “You don’t have to fret. I’m not going to implode your life by spreading your dirty secrets.”
Relief was short-lived as her tone grew harsh. “But know this. I no longer value you as a boss or employer, therefore, I do not consider you as such. From now on, I will stay in my own lane, and you stay far away from mine. You can expect the same level of professionalism and calibre of work, but you cannot garner my respect. After seeing you unzipping your pants for a woman who is not your wife… I have no more respect left to give. Good day,Bossman,” she said, dismissing me with a superior swish of her hand.
I followed her command, shuffling out of her space like I’d been tortured to the point of near death. She had read me my rights, and I had no choice but to obey.
Alicia was one key who had the ability to unravel my entire world, but she had promised not to say a word. I had accomplished what I sought to do…So why does my gut roil and flare in opposition?
Racing to the toilets, I upended the contents of my stomach, utterly sick of myself.
Chapter 9
STELLA
I obsessively checked my phone for the millionth time, my knee bouncing beneath the fancy tabletop as I prayed for that notification.
It had barely been a week since I’d poached my husband’s mistress, and I’d put Heather to work immediately. First, I sent her on the most outrageous errands. With the travel and wait times, she barely made it home within daylight hours.
Sure, she tried to push back, grumble and complain, but I couldn’t deny that I got a certain pleasure watching that frustration build. Heather was not one for subtlety. When she was specifically peeved, I could see those dark thoughts processing behind her eyes, secrets swirling on the tip of her forked tongue as she contemplated the benefits of throwing their affair in my face.
Hmm, a little premature, honey.
I needed her to keep that confession wrapped up tightly until I was well and truly ready. Plus, she was a key player in my grand scheme of revenge, and she hadn’t reached her maximum potential yet.
And what type of boss would I be to not help her reach that peak? Well, a different type of peak than Felix, but one no less satisfying and euphoric—for me anyway.
However, that was all riding on one night. The setting was immaculate, the players situated perfectly. And I placed all bets on those two neanderthals doing what they did best—cheat, fuck and go against company policy.
Jake was a second-string running back for the East Coast Cyclones. He already had a horrid reputation for being a disrespectful shit. To the point that the board wanted me to find a way to break our contract and drop him as a client. I also had it on good authority that he enjoyed more of a risky scene when it came to sex, and his dwindling cash and syruped lies weren’t the only things he liked to pass around.
After I gave Heather her latest assignment, her bratty attitude changed dramatically. To know she was to escort an NFL player to another city and broker a deal for his brand sponsorship was one thing. But to provide her with a company card with unlimited funds in the same instance… She was practically frothing.
The poor girl even sputtered a genuine thank you before she left to pack for her overnight stay. I was the one who should have been thanking her.
