Dangerous Affair with my hot boss

CHAPTER 007: JUMPSTART

~~ELLIE~~

Just one month. I gave Nolan just one month to redeem himself, to fix our marriage, which he single-handedly broke. But what he didn't know was that nothing was going to change my mind. We were getting a divorce. There was no coming back from all that had happened during the past few weeks. And it wasn't just about him — it was about me too.

I wanted another man. I wanted my boss, and it felt like the world was suddenly colorful again because he wanted me too.

Hooking up with Mr. Ashworth wasn't cheating... it was trying things out.

I sat at the very end of the dreamy restaurant he'd texted an hour after my reply to his email. I'd accepted... after hours of contemplation and an almost heart attack from all the painful expansion in my chest.

I'd arrived a bit too early — call it eagerness... I just couldn't wait to start whatever I was getting myself involved in with my boss.

I'd forgone my usual cashmere sweaters and put on a baby pink sweetheart basic top, and for the first time, I didn't care how plump my t**s looked in it. My hair was in a ponytail, gold hoop earrings, and of course, my signature look: the Taylor Swift red lipstick. I looked pretty, I felt pretty, comfortable, and confident... but all that comfort and confidence flew out the window at the sight of my insanely good-looking boss sauntering into the restaurant.

Sweet Lord.

Why did he have to look so delicious even when scowling? He was like a man straight out of Pinterest or a hot romance book. He was in a grey sweater and dark slacks, his jet-black hair curlier than usual, and for his signature look, he wore a stoic expression.

I sat up, clearing my throat and kept muttering a childhood poem to calm myself as he got to the table I'd picked.

"Sorry for keeping you late." I caught the moment he swept his greyish eyes over me, lingering on my boobies before he sat. "I seldom work on Saturdays."

"It's great," I said out loud without thinking. Jesus, I was going to make a total fool of myself before the end of this awkward meeting.

Mr. Ashworth nodded, now looking everywhere else but me. Was he... shy? Of course not. He was the embodiment of anything but shy.

"I, uh, also had to pick up these from my lawyer." And from nowhere, he pulled out a couple of documents and held them to me.

A lump formed in my throat as I took them.

"Printed copies of the app’s contract and mine. We're going in exclusively, so that meant extra paperwork," he said, sounding so formal, like we were still just boss and employee. "If that's okay with you," he added, his brows lifted in inquisition.

"It is." I swallowed, trying to appear confident. Meanwhile, I wanted to pee badly.

I picked up the fountain pen he'd rolled over, and just as the tip touched the first dotted lines, he interrupted,

"Read carefully before signing anything, Ms. Baker." I peered up at him; his face remained stoic as he looked over me. His gaze drifted to my finger and lingered on it for a moment. My wedding ring. He was staring at my wedding ring — again.

This must be an issue for him. Hell, it should be an issue for me too. But then, I was no better than a divorced woman.

I felt the urge to tell him I was going to divorce my husband, but I knew how desperate I would sound. He could mistake that for me wanting something long-term — which I did — but...

"Ellie?" Mr. Ashworth's voice pulled me out of my never-quiet head.

"Sir?"

"Read and sign," he said slowly, like he was talking to a kid. Considering our age difference, and being subjected to his very superior aura, I felt like one.

I signed quickly, running my eyes through the words that now looked Arabic.

"All done." I smiled, but it wavered when our eyes met again. I handed him the documents; he took them and stretched out one to me.

"That's your copy. Don't lose it."

"I won't." I shook my head, accepting it.

Mr. Ashworth nodded once, then began drumming his long, fine fingers on the table as he stared at the paper. I took the opportunity to stare at his chiseled face.

God, this man was beautiful. It felt so dreamy just being close to him.

"You smell like fresh cherries dipped in vanilla. Your skin... it's like a porcelain doll's, like pearls glowing under the moonlight. I want to worship it, kiss and mark every part of you..."

"Mr. Ashworth—" His unexpected, beautiful words knocked the air out of my lungs.

"Marc. Call me Marc when we're alone like this. Save the formality for the office." His hands were clenched in fists on the table, his expression strained, like he was holding back from saying certain words or doing certain things.

I needed to say something back, something to throw him off the edge too.

I bit my bottom lip; his eyes followed. I smiled, already knowing the perfect words to say next.

"What about in bed?" I asked, sheepishly. It was almost impossible to be confident under the dominant gaze of Marcus Ashworth.

A lustful flash in his eyes, a slow smirk, and a sexy swipe of his thumb on his bottom lip before he replied in a rich, erotic voice,

"You know what to call me, Pet."

~~~

My panties were soaked by the time I got back home. And no, it wasn't because I had made out with Marcus or anything of the sort, but from the intense, quiet ride we had together in his Rolls Royce. I kept stealing glances at his side profile. I wondered if he knew the depths of his good looks, he must have women drooling over him every now and then. But then, why wasn't he married? Or engaged? There was no scandal about him at the office. He'd probably cut off the head of anyone who dared to gossip about his personal life. That gave me the assurance that whatever we were engaging in was a safe secret.

I'd told Nolan I was out for my usual Saturday reading at the library. I'd expected him to be out as well, but I saw his car parked in the driveway.

I carefully took off my black stilettos and tiptoed into the small lounge that led to the stairs.

"Surprise!"

The shadowed lounge went bright. The light shone on me, and I ducked like my sins had been brought to light.

Nolan stood in the middle of the lounge, smiling widely, arms spread. He was freshly shaved, his hair still wet. He was in a new dove grey shirt and grey slacks.

A few feet behind him was the dining table filled with...

"Nolan? What is all of this?" I asked, mortified at the sight of the feast on the table.

"A dinner for my beautiful, perfect wife." He saluted like a Disney prince.

Oh no. No. No. No. How did he make this much food? Nolan didn't cook — he didn't know how to, and he never cared to learn.

My stomach churned when I looked over the huge grilled chicken placed in the middle.

There was so much food, I didn't even think we could afford. It reminded me of my sister's birthday disaster — she'd invited all her friends and none showed up. I and the rest of my sisters were forced to eat everything so she wouldn't stab herself with a butter knife.

"Nolan, you didn't have to do all of this. It's—" My voice trailed off, my chest expanding painfully.

"I do, Ellie. I do." He said solemnly. He grabbed my shaky hands, his eyes glassy and blue. "You deserve the world. You deserve the man I'm working on myself to be. I promise, no more heartbreaks."

Guilt stabbed me in the gut as I stared at him. There were times I cried for moments like this, but now, it all felt wrong.

"Thank you, but—"

Nolan shushed me, smiled sweetly, and led me to the dining.

He eased me into a seat and went ahead to sit right opposite. He looked so giddy, like he'd won a lottery, and suddenly, I felt like crying and confessing everything. Yes, he cheated, but he seemed really regretful and desperate for a chance to redeem himself. I had to do the right thing.

"There's something—"

My phone beeped then, cutting me off. I jerked and looked at my phone from under the table.

It was a credit alert — of $2,000! A text from my boss followed.

MR. A:

Your $1,000 payment for our first night at Zeus has been paid into your account. The other $1,000 is for your costume for tomorrow's meeting. I want you in a pink pleated skirt, a white blouse. I want to see your t**s. Ponytail and red lipstick.

The address will be communicated shortly.

Be there before 10 PM.

NOTE: You're staying over.

I reread the text four times to be sure of every word, and my body reacted deliciously all four times!

Who knew a woman's v****a could get heartbeats from a text?

"Ellie? Are you okay?" Nolan's voice startled me. I looked up to see his neck stretched out like he was curious to see whatever I'd been staring down at.

"Yes, I—" I was so flustered, trying to catch my breath and steady my racing heart. Nolan's sweet smile was immediately replaced with concern. s**t.

I needed to play this off real cool or I'd have a suspicious, desperate husband on my neck.

"Gia's sick!" I spoke quickly. "I need to go visit her tomorrow evening. I might sleep over."

Nolan's expression turned empathic, relieving me a little.

"Oh, that's terrible — wait, you're skipping work?" He arched a brow.

Was it skipping work when the boss himself wanted me to stay over?

"Yes. I could write an email to him that Gia's sick and—"

Anyone who knew Marcus Ashworth would definitely laugh at what I'd just said. My boss would never grant such unnecessary leave.

"Your strict boss who hates holidays and never grants leaves?" He huffed, looking down as he dished his food.

My heart banged in my chest as I remembered all the times I ranted about my evil boss to him.

Now it felt terribly uncomfortable talking to him about Marcus!

"What happened? He changed for the better?" He picked up his fork and knife, cutting dutifully into his steak.

"Yeah." A shaky breath escaped me. "Yeah, he... changed." I muttered, picking up my cutlery. I watched Nolan. He ate hungrily, not in the least suspicious — to me.

He had absolutely no idea how changed my boss was.