A Secret Love Affair

Chapter Five

                                                                                            (Emily) 

        I was late ...again. Muttering a string of curse words, I scurried around my bedroom in an attempt to get ready. I snatched my phone from the side table. Peter had already called. Twice. I was in some deep s**t. I considered calling him back but that would take minutes out of my day that I didn’t have. I tossed the phone onto the bed. 

        Someone was at the door. A frown touched my lips. I didn’t have time for visitors, not today. The person continued to knock. They weren’t going away. With a frustrated growl, I flung myself towards the door. I snatched it open. 

        “What?” I snapped.

        Marshall stood there, two coffees clutched between this hands. With a lifted eyebrow, he smirked. “Well, good morning to you to.”

           Flames licked my cheeks. I crossed my arms over my chest. “What do you want?”

        “I thought we should talk.”

        “About ...?”

        “Last night.”

        The flames sparked into a raging inferno as images of the previous night rushed forward. I’d slept with him ...again. Even after promising myself I wouldn’t. I shifted from foot to food, refusing to meet his heated gaze.

        I licked my lips, shaking my head slightly. “I’ve got nothing to say.” I tried to shut the door. He wedged a foot between the door and the frame. “Look, last night ...was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”

        Without an invitation, he stepped into my apartment. He shut the door behind him. He set the coffees on the side table that I kept beside the door for mail and such. “We both know that’s a lie.” He sighed, brushing his dark hair back with a sweep of his hand. “There is something happening here...something I’m keen to explore further.”

        He wasn’t wrong. I felt it to. I didn’t want to feel it. It felt almost like a betrayal to Tanner, which was just laughable considering he was the one getting married in a few short months. He certainly had no qualms about tossing our friendship aside for some blonde bimbo.

        “I’m late.” I muttered instead. “We can talk about this later.”

        “I called Peter.” He responded with a smirk. “I told him you were running some errands for me and that you’d be late.”

        I narrowed my eyes. “You can’t just barge into my life like this, Marshall. No one asked for your help.”

        He took a sip from one of the coffee’s. “True.” He offered the other one to me. Despite my anger, I needed the caffeine. I snatched it from him and, without another word, made my way into the kitchen. He followed.

        I couldn’t explain the anger I felt towards this man. He wasn’t responsible for my reckless actions. I knew he was my boss and I still made the decision to sleep with him the second time around. Though, to be honest, I was not expecting coffee the morning after. He was perfectly calm given the very clear line we had just crossed.

        How could I face him at work now? I’d never been one for secrets. I was a terrible liar. Someone was bound to find out. I set my coffee down, leaning against the counter for a moment. My palms rested against the marble. I took a deep breath, hearing his footsteps echoe against my tiled floor as he approached.

        “Are you alright?”

        I felt a tear slid down my face. “I’m fine.”    

        It was a lie. We both knew that. I was far from fine. My life was a f*****g mess. My best friend was getting married. I was sleeping with my boss. Could things get any worse?     

        “I have a confession to make.” Marshall announced. Ah, there it was. The other shoe was about to drop. “It’s about how I know Tanner…He’s my brother.”

        My heart dropped into the pit of my stomach. I felt sick. When I turned, I knew he was telling the truth. I couldn’t help myself. My palm connected with the side of his face. He saw it. He didn’t even try to stop it.

        “Get out. Get the hell out.” I hissed, jabbing a finger in the direction of the door. My anger was irrational. I couldn’t help it. Even knowing that Tanner and I would never be anything more than friends, sleeping with his brother of all people felt like the worst thing I could’ve done to him.

        “He doesn’t love you, Emily. Surely you can see that.” He stated plainly. My mouth dropped. “I don’t mean to sound cruel but he is moving on. Why shouldn’t you?”

        “Does...does he know? About us, I mean?” I manage.

        He shook his head. “No.”

        “Good. That’s the way it’s going to stay.”

        He nodded, “If that is what you prefer.” Marshall took a step forward. “I never intended for this to happen, I hope you know that.”

        He began to explain his true motives behind moving to the city. Apparently, Jessica slept with him without informing him of her relationship with his brother. When he found out, Marshall had confronted Jessica about it.  Jessica had threatened Marshall. If he told Tanner about the two of him, she would deny it or, worse, scream r**e. Either way, his relationship with his brother would be ruined.

        “And what does this have to do with us sleeping together?”

        “Nothing.” He responded with a shrug. “I had no idea who you were the first night we slept together. I needed a distraction. I suspect we both did.”

        I gnawed on the inside of my cheek, considering his words. I was still absolutely furious with him. He should have divulged their relationship last night at the hotel when the four had met. If he had, I would never had slept with him! Even as I thought those words, I knew it was a lie. There was just something about Marshall that I could not resist ...no matter how desperately I wanted to.

        I tossed the now empty coffee cup into the trash bin. “What do we do now?”

        He drank the last remaining ounce or two of coffee in his own cup before sitting it down on the counter. “I haven’t a clue.” He admitted. “I’m not denying that I f****d up, royally. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in continuing this thing we’ve got going on.”

        I inhaled sharply. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought the same. Unfortunately, he was still my boss. That came with problems all by itself. Add that to the fact he was Tanner’s brother, someone Tanner had never mentioned in the five years we’d been friends, and I was left with quite a dilemma on my hands. 

        My heart belonged to Tanner, even if he had no use for it. Was it fair to continue with Marshall when I knew I didn’t love him? Or that I would never love him? What existed between us was simply physical. 

        “I don’t think I can, Marshall.” I admitted. His hand dropped, a frown touching his face, “It wouldn't be fair to you.”

        He lifted an eyebrow. “Because you’re in love with my brother?” A smile touched his lips. “I’m not asking you to marry me for christ sake. We both need a distraction right now.” He shrugged. “But if you really want to put an end to this. I’ll walk away right now. We’ll keep things strictly professional from now on.”

        Even as he said those words, he closed the distance between us. The marble counter bumped into my rear. He placed his hands on opposite sides of me, cutting off any chance of escape. His head lower, lips so close to my own that I could smell the coffee that lingered on them.

        “So, what will it be?”