1 Truth, 2 Lies

There are so many ways that could've played out, and my brain chooses to play only the dirty ones.

"Good morning, Ms. Williams." I greet her, taking my seat, and Ryan comes in just a minute later. "Let's begin, shall we?" she says, and I nod.

The meeting ends well, and just as we are exiting the room, Mrs. Williams stops us. "Oh, right, how can I forget?" She reaches for something in her bag. "Congratulations on the wedding!" She hands him a gift bag. Meanwhile, I'm drowning in confusion.

Wedding?!

When he takes the expensive bag from her, I search his fingers thoroughly, but I notice he has his left hand still buried. No, this can't be happening.

"Thank you, Mrs. Williams." My mouth goes dry. He's married.

He really is married.

I keep smiling. It doesn't affect me. Why should it be? It's nothing big. I exit the room first, politely, and go to my office.

That's why he was behaving so strangely—he's a taken man.

He even took a whole week off, and my delusional mind was telling me he's into me, but clearly not if he's a married man.

Why didn't I read between the lines and follow the signs?

I quickly type up his name to look it up, but my door opens, and I quickly exit the browser. "Ms. Moore?" "Boss?" "I need you to publish a job vacancy for HRO; Mrs. Baker is about to retire." My eyes go down to his finger, and I see the ring, the last piece of proof.

I clear my throat before speaking. "Will do, and congratulations on the wedding, sir." Why do I feel so bitter?

"I bet she's beautiful," I comment, trying to ward off the jealousy and anger that's overpowering my sadness. "Mm," he eyes me with guilt through his cold front, "excuse me." I excuse myself to the bathroom, and once I'm inside a stall, I cover the toilet and sit on it, taking a few breaths.

I'm fine; I'll get over it. There isn't even anything to get over.

I sigh, trying to calm my chest, which is about to burst with my fast heartbeat.

He was single just a few months ago, wasn't he?

I ask myself, remembering the last time I went to his house to help redecorate.

He was probably in a relationship I didn't know about. But why would he lead me on? I was being delusional and thinking too much of it.

It doesn't matter anymore. I'll get over this and over him. I know I will.

...

I suck in one deep breath and exit the bathroom, going back to my cabin to finish up some documents until my lunch break comes around. My door suddenly bursts open, and James rushes in, squeezing me in a hug before my hand can touch the knob.

"It worked!!! Oh my god, it worked." He jumps us around, but I'm not in the mood. "What worked?" "With the strategy you suggested for how to approach the new partners, we got the deal. You're a genius!" I smiled a bit, quite happy that he got through. "Good," "let's grab a beer later with Jay," "no thanks, I have some work tonight, but send greetings," I lie, and he nods, about to drag me out for lunch, but my door widens before I can protest.

"Ms. Moore, my office." I roll my eyes in annoyance and follow him to his office. "Should I wait for you?" James, before I close the door, asks. "No, just send her lunch up to my office." "Uh." "Let's go." He cuts me off and walks off.

"So, Ms. Moore, you have the audacity to fraternize when I told you specifically not to?" He speaks while sitting around his table. "Sir, I was not." "3 more hours after work," "what?" "I won't repeat, now have a seat until our lunch arrives." I huff and plop down in the seat under his burning gaze.

He's a married man, yet still he's behaving as if he owns me. Hot boss or not, I own myself.

Mhm..

I get a call interrupting my glare contest with the hot man before me.

"Hello?" "It's Anonymous; we need to talk." "I'm at work; can't this wait?" "It can, but I won't be available in the evening," the muffled voice said, and I sighed. "We'll talk about this tomorrow, since I won't be available either." "K." I hang up and immediately start being questioned. "Who was that?" "Someone" "Who?" "Personal," I say, folding my arms. "Who?" he asks venomously, determined for an answer. So under pressure, I say, "My boyfriend."

Shit.

The lie just flew right out of my mouth before I could process it, and I immediately saw a flash of anger in his eyes. I hit a nerve.

"A boyfriend?" "Yes, sir." "Why is he calling during work hours?" "He wants to take me out later, but unfortunately I have to work 3 hours later." His lips curve up just enough to show his satisfaction.

What's going on? Why did I lie? Why is he upset, then satisfied? He's a married man.

He stares at me for a while, and I shift uncomfortably under his scrutiny. "You're not a good liar, Ms. Moore." "What?" I ask in frustration, Am I that easy to read?. "Yes, you are." I gasp, and my pen falls, so I pick it up, but when I sit back down.

Ryan is staring at me with predatory eyes, and I'm a hundred percent sure that this look alone would make any woman want to offer herself up on a platter. He rolls his sleeves up, and he leans back into the chair, closing his eyes. "Is everything okay, sir?" I ask, noticing that he's in discomfort. "Yes, stay put." I sit back down reluctantly.

When the door knocks, I open it and take the food from the secretary with a thank you, but when I turn around, Ryan is staring at me with a deadly look just inches away from my face, and I almost drop our lunch. How is he always doing that?

"Fuck!" he groans and backs up, going back to his desk. "Mr. McIntyre, is everything okay?" "No." As soon as I place the food on his desk, he pulls me into his lap, and I gasp, trying to get up. "Stop squirming; you're making it worse," he huskily said in my ear, and I feel something hard under me, making my eyes widen.