Page 109 of Double Bossed

Oliver was lying to me the whole time just to

get me in bed.

To take my virginity.

When did he plan to tell me the truth? Did he ever plan to tell me the truth, actually? He probably didn’t even want to bother with telling me such a thing, planning to fuck me a few more times and ditch me when he got bored.

I sniffed, wiping off my tears, but they kept coming back. I sat down on the bench, hoping I would manage to calm down somehow.

All my memories with Oliver came crashing back to me and I realized the full extent of what I’d heard today. Nothing was real. He’d acted like he would be okay with anything I might come up with, promising to provide me with money I would need for my design, when in fact all he’d been thinking about was getting laid. He was a liar, a manipulator and a playboy, inconsiderate of others and their feelings.

Oh, I even told him how I felt about the whole project! I’d told him how important it was with me, sharing my most precious memories as I thought he would understand me and appreciate my story. I could only imagine now how ridiculous I’d sounded to him. All he’d ever been interested about was my body and nothing else.

I was completely embarrassed that I’d let him do all those things to me—controlling me and “punishing” me—falling for him all too easily. I sobbed, clutching onto my chest harder.

Oh no. There was no escaping it. I had to admit it to myself...

I was actually in love with him.

I shook my head, not believing how stupid I was. I had guarded myself heavily my whole life, always focused on the work because I’d known better. I’d been smarter than this. Now, I’d made the biggest mistake of my life, and this was the price—my shattered heart.

I got up from the bench, feeling worse than ever. I was such a fool for actually falling for him. I didn’t know anything about him, yet I’d let my stupid heart get the best of me. I’d let my emotions overrule my reason, and this was what I got. Nothing.

They would tear down this building and with it my dreams and my heart.

I couldn’t go back to the office now. I couldn’t stand to see Oliver again. If I did, I would break completely, and I wouldn’t let that happen. I didn’t want to listen to his lies anymore, and I certainly didn’t want to let him use me for his pleasure only.

That was finished. No more.

After everything, I lost my motivation and will to make this place better, and I felt unusually empty. I didn’t know what I was going to do from now on. I would have to quit, but I was too broken now to do that. I would have to calm down and resign when I became able to think about everything more clearly.

I decided to go back to my apartment and stay there for the rest of the day. Fighting with my tears, I got in my car and drove off from the place that would soon disappear—like it had never been there.

17

Oliver

Where the hell was she?

I held onto my head as I felt some unusual anxiety fill my chest. I’d never felt like this before—not even during the most stressful projects. I had some sick feeling that something bad happened, but I had no idea what that could be.

I couldn’t find Alexandra anywhere. I called her phone multiple times, but she didn’t answer it. She wasn’t at the office. My secretary told me Alexandra had arrived to her office this morning, and then she left a few hours later, but she never came back.

Lunch time had already passed and she was still absent. I was already hung up on her and so worried. Did something happen to her? There must be a reason for her sudden absence.

“Shit,” I hissed and hit my fist against my desk.

Where was she?

This was bad. I knew I’d already fallen hard for her. I still couldn’t quite believe it, but it was true—I cared about her and I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I was seriously going crazy. I couldn’t remember the last time I cared about a woman this much—if ever.

Even though I’d told myself to let it go and wait for her to come on her own, I couldn’t do that. This was stronger than me. I needed to see her. I didn’t know where she lived, so I had to do a search and find out her address. I was sick with worry and desperate to see her as soon as possible.

I logged into the company’s files and searched through our employees’ directory. After several tense minutes, I found her name and her address.

I got up, picking up my jacket, and rushed out of my office. I couldn’t wait until I finished with work. I had to see her right away. Hopefully, she would be at home and nothing was wrong.

I left the office and went to her apartment. Then again, if she was at home, why did she leave her work? Why didn’t she come back?