Oops, I slept With The Boss

Chapter 1

December 21st – 2:17 PM - Holly's Story

Holly Thompson stared at her phone in disbelief, the woman's voice still echoing in her ears.

"Hello? Who is this? Why are you calling my fiancé?"

Fiancé. The word pierced Holly like a physical blow. She'd been dating Toby Pearson for six months and not once had he mentioned being engaged. But then again, why would he? He knew she wouldn't have been with him had she known. She didn't want to be the other woman… but that's exactly what he had made her.

"I'm sorry," Holly had managed to say. "I think I have the wrong number." She'd ended the call before the woman could ask more questions. She quickly blocked Toby’s number so the woman or Toby couldn't call her again.

Now, sitting in her tiny bedroom, the outfit she had planned on wearing to the office Christmas party lay beside her on the bed, the party Toby had promised to attend with her. Holly felt tears threatening to spill. How could she be so stupid?

Her roommate Sage poked her head in. "Hey, aren't you supposed to be getting ready? Darcy's already hogging the bathroom."

Holly's fingers tightened around her phone, knuckles turning white. "Toby's married." The words tasted like ash. "I mean engaged… he’s engaged. I don't even know. Some woman answered his phone."

"That absolute bastard!" Sage stormed into the room, planting herself beside Holly on the bed. Her wild blonde curls bounced with the movement. "I knew he was too good to be true. He was so charming I could cut my teeth on him."

The bathroom door opened down the hall, releasing a cloud of steam as Darcy appeared in a towel, her blonde hair wrapped in another. "What's happening? I heard the word 'bastard.' Language by the way."

"Holly's boyfriend is married," Sage explained, her voice tight with anger.

"Not married," Holly corrected weakly. "Maybe just engaged. I've blocked his number anyway."

"Oh, not married, because that's so much better. He still has someone else in his life." Darcy rolled her eyes, water droplets still clinging to her shoulders. "Do we need to kill him? I have connections. My dad's a judge after all; just think of all the unsavory people that pass through his courtroom every day, we could make it look like an accident. Let me know and I'll make a call."

Despite everything, a laugh escaped Holly's lips. "I appreciate the offer, but I'd rather not visit you in prison."

"What are you going to do about tonight?" Sage asked, gesturing to the plain dress splayed across the bed. "Are you still going to the party?"

Holly sighed, running her fingers over the fabric. "I have to. I promised Janet from Accounting I'd help set up. Plus, the CEO is announcing year-end bonuses. I need the money. It would be great to find out how much I'm getting." She picked at a loose thread on her comforter. "I just can't believe I was so stupid. Six months and I never once met his family or went to his place. It was always 'my family's complicated' or 'my apartment is being renovated' or even 'I don't want to expose you to my friends.'"

"Because he had a wife at home," Darcy muttered, leaning against the doorframe.

"Not wife, fiancée." Holly hung her head, shame burning her cheeks. If there was anything worse than being cheated on, it was being the other woman without even knowing it.

Darcy crossed her arms. "Holly, listen. You're going to that party, looking hot as hell, and showing everyone that Toby Pearson is an i***t who didn't deserve you."

"I'm a filing clerk who copies papers and does filing all day." Holly's voice cracked, betraying the hurt that cut deeper than she wanted to admit. "No one's even going to notice if I'm there." She couldn't believe her college education hadn't gotten her a better job. But there was always someone better qualified for the position, leaving her to be a dogsbody at the office, fetching coffee, filing, and making copies day in day out.

"Then get noticed," Darcy said fiercely, moving into the room and taking Holly's face between her hands. "Wear my sexy red dress, not this dress." She pointed to the dress lying on the bed beside Holly. "Let me do your makeup. Make every man in that office realize what they've been missing."

"Including the CEO?" Sage teased, nudging Holly's shoulder. "Mr. Hardy himself? He is f*****g hot."

"Language." Darcy said. Sage was trying to cut down on her potty mouth.

"God no," Holly laughed, the sound hollow. "Conner Hardy wouldn't notice me if I was on fire in the middle of his office. Besides, I heard he's a player."

"That doesn't mean you can't make him sweat a little," Darcy said, a dangerous gleam in her eye. "Come on, let's channel this pain into something productive."

"Like revenge?" Holly asked, staring at the red dress.

"Like reclaiming your power," Sage corrected softly. "Like shagging someone hotter and with a bigger dick."

"Sage."

Holly swallowed hard, feeling a slow burn replace the ache in her chest. Six months of her life wasted on a lying, cheating asshole. Six months of being the fool. "Okay," she said finally. "Let's do it. Not the shagging but the party."

Darcy clapped her hands together. "First things first, you're taking a shot of tequila while I figure out what we're doing with your hair."

"I'm not good with spirits," Holly protested weakly.

"And you just found out your boyfriend is engaged to someone else. Drinking a spirit is just what you need." Darcy stalked out of the room toward the kitchen.

Sage wrapped an arm around Holly's shoulders. "You know, my cousin works for a pet crematorium. We could have Toby's balls turned into a paperweight. I mean I don't think his balls would hold down much because they must be really small."

Holly snorted. "You're both insane."

"We're loyal," Sage corrected. "And we hate seeing you hurt like this, and we love you."

"He's not worth crying over," Holly said, trying to convince herself as much as her friends.

"Damn right he's not," Darcy agreed, reappearing with three shot glasses. She handed them around. "To men being trash, and women being treasures."

"To friends who'd hide a body for you," Sage added, lifting her glass.

Holly stared at the clear liquid, then raised her own. "To never being the other woman again."

They clinked glasses and downed the shots, the tequila burning a path down Holly's throat that matched the fire in her veins.

Three hours later, Holly stood in their tiny living room, transformed. The borrowed red dress clung to every curve she usually tried to hide under practical office attire, her chestnut hair fell in loose waves framing her face, and Darcy's expert makeup skills had given her a sultry look she barely recognized in the mirror.

"Holy f*****g s**t," Sage whispered, eyes wide. "You look incredible. Like, ‘lick me I'm incredible.’ If I wasn't straight, I'd give you a whirl."

"Language," Darcy scolded automatically, but she was smiling with pride at her handiwork. "Holly, you're going to destroy that office party. Men will drool when you walk by."

Holly took a deep breath, the fabric of her dress stretching tight across her chest. "You really think I should go?" She had never worn anything like this before. Sage had given her red high heels to wear from her wardrobe.

"Absolutely," both roommates said in unison.

"Living well is the best revenge," Sage added, adjusting Holly's hair.

"Getting laid is a close second, and what would be better is if it was his best friend or brother," Darcy muttered, digging through her purse. She pulled out a small foil packet and tucked it into Holly's clutch. "Just in case."

"Darcy!" Holly exclaimed, her face heating.

"What? You're not going to die if you have s*x with someone else. It's not like you owe Toby anything."

"No, I mean only one condom… that's not enough." Sage said with a grin.

"Hey, I was low. She'll need to go shopping if she needs more." Darcy said in defence.

"That's not the point, I don't need—" Holly hissed, mortified.

"The point is," Sage interjected smoothly, "you deserve to have fun tonight. With or without a man. Just knowing you look this good should be enough."

Holly nodded, reaching for her coat. "No hookups. I just want to get through this night without crying in the corner all night."

"You better not cry over him, Holly. You are better than him," Darcy argued. "Just promise you'll text us if you need rescuing. We are here for you no matter what."

"Or bail money," Sage added with a wink.

Holly laughed, a real one this time, and hugged them both. "What would I do without you two?"

"Probably die alone with seventeen cats," Darcy replied without missing a beat. "Who will eat you once you're cold."

"Hey! I like cats," Sage protested.

Holly shook her head, grateful for these ridiculous women who'd shown up with tequila and revenge plots instead of letting her wallow. They were good for her self-esteem. "I'm going to be late. Janet will kill me if I don't help set up like I promised."

"Text us everything," Sage demanded. "Especially if you run into Toby. If the asshole has the guts to turn up."

"And remember," Darcy called as Holly opened their apartment door, "if anyone asks why you're not with Toby tonight, just say you upgraded your standards." She held her two fingers three inches apart. "Because he just doesn't measure up."

Holly laughed at Darcy's crude gesture as she closed the apartment door behind her. The December air hit her, sending a shiver through her body. She tugged her coat tighter around her shoulders, suddenly self-conscious about the red dress hiding beneath it.

Was she really going to do this? Walk into that party looking like someone she wasn't sure she recognized?

The Uber pulled up to the curb, and Holly hesitated for just a moment before sliding into the back seat. "Hardy Enterprises, please," she told the driver, her voice steadier than she felt.

As the car pulled away, Holly checked her phone one last time. No missed calls, because she had blocked his number.

The realization that six months of her life had been a lie settled into her chest now that she was alone with her thoughts. She had fallen for his charm, his promises, his lies.

"Never again," she whispered to herself, staring at the city lights blurring past the window.