For ten years I have been in love with James, but the problem is, he is my boss and also happily married the his high school sweetheart and they have a daughter of four years. I have kept it professional, working as his PA, I had to make sure I kept my emotions under control, then there is the fact that I do nearly everything he thinks his wife does. I can't hate her though, because she truly loves him and he loves her. When tragidy strikes, leaving the man I love without his wife, struggling to keep his company up float and his daughter happy, I am left to pick up the broken pieces. I give everything to keep him together, but one can only give so much until you have given enough. I had it all, the perfect wife, the company with the billionaire status, the beautiful daughter and no care in tye world other than keeping my family happy. One call ruins it all and my perfect world comes tumbling down. Without my wife, the love of my life, I am struggling to stand on my own two feet. Aedlin, my sweet and caring PA, jumps in to save the day and I couldn't be more grateful, but when my heart starts getting involved, so does guilt and regret. I don't want to hurt her, but it is the only way to keep my sanity, or so I thought.
Aedlin
For ten years I have worked for him, making his appointments and taking his calls, answering most of his emails and forwarding those that I can't. I even pick up his daughter from school every day in my lunch, though he believes that his wife is doing it. He also thinks it is his wife cooking for them on the days that he comes home late, but it has always been me. For ten years I have been working my ass off, keeping his wife's secrets, not that any of them are all that horrible to keep. You see, James and Diera are the perfect couple. They are always supporting each other, constantly laughing and touching and they just can't seem to get enough of each other, the white lies that I have to keep aren't worth spilling, because at the end of the day, James will still love Diera and he still won't even notice me, even if I am right under his nose nearly every day. I'm not complaining, not at all, I love my job and I am very well paid, I have set hours that I work unless in cases of emergency, which is pretty much four days a week, but still no complaining, because for ten years, I have had the simple privilege of being close to the man I am in love with, but that is the problem, those pesky feelings has kept me here, driving around in my lunch to pick up sweet Lamia from school and drive her to her dance class, for a four year old, that girl can move. Three days a week, when I am not working late with James, I cook and clean at his house, have a wine with his wife and then I am off, running to my apartment to get some much needed sleep. I am stuck in this endless circle of providing for him, yet I forget to provide for myself, all because I can't seem to walk away from him.
I just walked into James's office when the call came through and as I listened to the doctor explaining to him that there has been a horrible accident that I realized what the time was. It was past three in the afternoon and I haven't stopped to look at the time. I had been running around, trying to answer an overload of emails, trying to answer the phone that never seems to stop ringing and then running around, trying to get client files for James that he requested. I never stopped to look at the time. I quickly ran to my table, my heart pounding in my chest as I grabbed my phone and saw ten missed calls, all from Diera. She tried to get a hold of me because I was supposed to pick up Lamia at two and take her to her dance class. Instead, Diera got in her car and she never reached her destination, all because I didn't look at my damn phone.
That was three months ago. Every time I look at him, guilt eats at me. I can't tell him that his wife is dead because of me, can't tell him that I was the one that was supposed to pick up Lamia, that if I had just kept my eyes on the time, his wife would still be alive. I can't tell him that though, I refuse to tarnish the memory of the woman he loves. Instead, I keep on working, going on as if I know nothing of his private life. I don't tell him about the empty hole I feel in my heart, about the fact that in the ten years that passed, I have became friends with Diera, I have known secrets about her that he didn't even know, I pretend that I am not falling apart right along with him. Just like I have been pretending for the past ten years like I wasn't head over heels in love with him.
"Aedlin, I need the file on the Betterman family." James says from within his office. Guess that is the nice thing about having my table right outside of his office door, he doesn't have to do much more than raise his voice to tell me what he wants and needs. There is also no please and thank you, not since that day. I am surprised he even remembers my name most days. I quickly open the file on my laptop and send it to him, waiting for that thank you, stupid as I know there will be none. "Fuck!" I hear him shout and I flinch. "Aedlin, did you remember to get ahold of Marcus regarding the progression of the Betterman estate? They need to be done with that kitchen by tomorrow morning." He says. I hear his footsteps as he comes to the door, and I look up just as he steps out of his office.
"They finished the kitchen yesterday, we are ahead of schedule on the Betterman estate." I tell him and he gives a sigh of relief.
"I really should give you a raise." He says and I smile, because he said this a month ago and he did give me that raise, but he keeps forgetting what he is doing and I have to constantly remind him. He used to be on top of things, used to be better dressed and shaved, but since Diera passed, he hasn't been able to focus on one thing for long before his attention is pulled into another direction. He has taken over the duties of his wife, or the duties he thought she had, instead, he has made my work less, by picking up Lamia from school every day and taking her to her dance classes and then leaving early to be home in time to cook for her. He tries his best to be mother and father for their little girl and I admire him for it, but I really wish I could help more. I wish I could tell him that I would pick up Lamia and that I would help him cook, but then he would know what I have been doing or worse, what his wife wasn't doing and I can't add that to my conscience. Goodness, I don't think I can bare setting foot in his house and be reminded of the last day I saw Diera, can't stand to look at her photos hanging on the walls and know that it is my fault that she is now nothing but a memory.
"You gave me a raise last month. If you give me another raise, you will end up paying me your salary while taking mine home." I tell him with a little laugh that I really don't feel, but I have gotten so good at pretending that he doesn't even realize just how fake my laugh is.
"I have the largest construction company in Florida, I doubt that your salary is even ten percent of the salary I take home." He says, reminding me of that sad truth.
"In that case, raise away." I say, this time skipping over the fake laugh. For a moment he looks at me and I look at him and I allow myself to just take him in. His black hair hasn't been cut in weeks, some of it hanging in his eyes and I am dying to wipe it out of the way, but I know that would be inappropriate. His blue eyes that use to shine with laughter are now haunted, lost and filled with grief. His usual five o'clock shadow has turned into a full on beard and I am not sure if I like it or if I hate it. Don't get me wrong, I like a man with a bit of a beard, but I hate it because I know why it is there, because he has no energy or reason to put in the effort to shave it. His body is harder, I know he has been spending more time at the gym, not because he wants to look good for anyone, but it is the best way for him to take out his frustrations and deal with his pain. His clothes sit tighter on those extra added muscles, but his tie is uneven and his shirt is wrinkled. "How are you holding up?" I ask him, as I watch his eyes go distant.
"I am fine." He says, rubbing his hand over his beard.
"You should leave." I tell him when I see what the time is.
"Am I that bad?" He asks suddenly and I look at him confused. "You are chasing me away from my own office." He says in answer to the confusion I am sure is showing on my face.
"What? No, it is ten minutes to two, you need to head out now if you want to get to your daughter on time." I tell him and that seems to shake him out of whatever trance he was in. He looks at his watch and growls in frustration.
"Shit, I needed to send the contract to the Jacobs family an hour ago." He looks pissed and then looks between his office and the elevator that will take him to the lobby of our building.
"If you want to, I can fetch Lamia today and you can finish that contract, I am sure Mr. Jacobs will understand why you are a bit late." I tell him, hoping he won't think my question strange. When he sighs in relief, I nearly do to. I have missed the little girl and I can't wait to see how she has approved in her dance lessons.
"Thank you, Aedlin, I will send you the address. She also has a dance class that you will need to take her to if you don't mind." He says and I don't bother to tell him that I already know all of this, because I know that will lead to questions and he won't like the answers. Instead I quickly pack my things and head out as James head back into his office to get started on that contract.
Finally, I will get to see my little monster again!
She was a world-renowned divine doctor, the CEO of a publicly traded company, the most formidable female mercenary, and a top-tier tech genius. Marissa, a titan with a plethora of secret identities, had hidden her true stature to marry a seemingly impoverished young man. However, on the eve of their wedding, her fiance, who was actually the lost heir to a wealthy dynasty, called off the engagement and subjected her to degradation and mockery. Upon the revelation of her concealed identities, her ex-fiance was left stunned and desperately pleaded for her forgiveness. Standing protectively before Marissa, an incredibly influential and fearsome magnate declared, "This is my wife. Who would dare try to claim her?"
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
Alcohol and heartbreak are definitely not a good combo.Too bad I learnt that a little too late. I’m Tessa Beckett and I painfully got dumped by my boyfriend of three years.That led me to getting drunk at a bar and having a one-night stand with a stranger.Before he would see me as a slut the next day,I paid him for the sex and deeply insulted his ability to please me. But this stranger turned out to be my new boss!
Renea was trying the wedding dress, when suddenly the man rushed in the dressing room and held her neck tightly... “Bitch! Are you still trying to pretend innocent!” Jasper said as he tightened his grip on her neck and choked her harder. Then he used his other hand and took out the phone from his suit pocket and played the video of two people having sex in front of Renea… However, what was even more shocking, was that the woman in the video was, Renea Morris, however, the man in the video was not Jasper. Renea struggled to take a phone away from Jasper’s hand and tried to explain, “Jasper, it was not what you think… I… I can…” Jasper looked at Renea with his eyes full of disgust, as he said, “Let’s call of the wedding. I can’t marry a woman like you.” After saying that Jasper walked out of the shop Renea chase after Jasper... But then she sees Jasper passionately kissing her sister Kailey. And she hears everything, that her sleeping with strange men was all a plan of the vipers of the last two days, and that their goal was to get out of this stupid marriage. Even her adopted parents were also involved in this matter... They all do this with her because of the inheritance left by her grandfather... Renea heart was filled with anger and she wanted to expose their true colors to the public... However before she could do anything, Kailey had pushed her in front of the car and she got killed... However, when Renea open her eyes, she found herself sitting in the car with Kailey... She realized that she was reborn and went at the time when everything started... Renea looked at the people who had hurt her in her previous life and her lips curled up in a cold smile... She was back... However, this time... she was back for revenge...
Jennifer Bennett, the rightful heiress to the Bennett legacy, fought hard for her family's recognition, only to be eclipsed by an impostor. Faced with false accusations, bullying, and public humiliation, Jennifer eventually gave up trying to win their approval. Vowing to rise above the injustice, she became the bane of those who wronged her. The Bennett family's efforts to break her only fueled her success, leading her to heights her rivals could only dream of. Someone asked, "Do you feel let down by your parents?" With a calm smile, Jennifer said, "It doesn't matter. In the end, power prevails."