Temptation Haven: Dirty Little Secrets

Reality Check

The next morning, Lily arrived at the office ten minutes earlier than she usually did. She wore a high-necked blouse, a longer skirt than usual, and her hair pulled back into a neat, professional bun.

She was dressed so carefully that nothing could be mistaken for an invitation. Her cleavage was properly covered. She kept her expression carefully blank as she set her bag down at her desk and powered on her computer.

The image of Vance’s mouth on Vanessa’s still burned behind her eyes every single time she blinked. But she refused to let it get to her. She had already spent enough time last night thinking about it, replaying the kiss until her chest ached.

When Vance arrived and walked past her desk on the way to his office, she didn’t look up.

“Good morning, Mr. Ashford,” she greeted him with her eyes fixed on her computer screen.

The formal tone attracted his attention. He paused for half a second, as if expecting something more from her. When nothing came, he gave a short nod and continued into his office. The door clicked shut behind him.

Lily exhaled slowly and opened her emails.

Today she would focus on doing her job. She would avoid any accidental brush of her body against her boss. Whatever had been happening between them, she had to put a halt to it, at least for today. She had already let herself fall too deep.

Vance couldn’t help but notice that his secretary was acting oddly. Not her usual self. Her face remained stoic and detached every time she came in to brief him or drop off a file.

A faint crease formed between his brows as he watched her gather some documents. Just as Lily turned to leave with the files, he called out to her.

“Lillian. Wait.”

He used her full name. Lily slowly stopped and turned to face him.

“Yes, Mr. Ashford. Is there a problem?” she asked.

He rested his chin on his knuckles, his expression unreadable.

“You’ve been acting strange all day. What is the problem?”

She slowly shook her head, forcing a tight-lipped smile.

“There’s nothing wrong, sir.”

“There definitely is. I can see the way you’ve been acting all day. You haven’t been your usual self. And also the dressing. Since when did you become the overly professional secretary?” Vance asked, raising a brow.

Lily held the files closer to her chest. “I’m just trying to do my job, sir. Is there anything else you need?”

Vance stared at her for a long moment before letting out a quiet sigh.

“Is this about yesterday? Is this because you saw me kissing my ex-fiancée?”

Lily’s nails dug into the files as she quickly shook her head. “No. It’s not like that, sir,” she lied.

Vance’s voice dropped slightly. “Then tell me what the problem is already.”

Lily sighed and took a small step closer to his desk.

“Yes, you’re right. It’s about the fact that I saw you kissing your ex-fiancée yesterday. You assured me that the two of you were done. In fact, you acted like the both of you weren’t even on good terms. I suppose I was just… shocked.”

Vance leaned back in his chair.

“Vanessa and I have had our issues. But we’ve been in a relationship for over a decade. It’s been on and off. We’re just trying to see if we can work things out.”

Lily’s eyes widened at his reply. “You two are getting back together?” she asked.

A small, almost careless smirk tugged at the corner of Vance’s lips as he nodded.

“Yes. We’re considering it. Maybe after a few counseling sessions to resolve her previous issues.”

Lily’s heart dropped hard. “You can’t do that,” she muttered under her breath.

“What?” Vance asked.

“I said you can’t go back to her,” Lily repeated, her voice stronger this time.

“And why not?” Vance asked, tilting his head.

Lily scoffed. “Why not? Isn’t that obvious? Maybe because you’ve been f*****g me for over a month. How can you even want to go back to that woman? You told me she treated you badly. I’ve been here for you. Supporting you every f*****g way. And now you’re just going to return to that b***h?”

Vance’s jaw clenched.

“Watch your tone. Watch the way you address her,” he said, his voice suddenly hard and cold.

Lily flinched, surprised by the icy edge in his tone. It was different from the dominant, possessive voice he usually used with her. This was pure cold distance.

“I’m not sorry if I spoke out of turn,” Lily replied, her voice shaking slightly. “I assumed you and I had a connection. I just can’t believe you’re going back to her.”

“You know what, Lillian?” Vance said slowly. “I thought you understood your place and where you stood. Right from day one, I warned you that you were not to catch feelings for me. No feelings were supposed to be involved in what we were doing. But you stand here now, speaking to me like we’re in a relationship or something. I don’t remember ever treating you like we were a couple. Hell, when Damien and I both f****d you, I didn’t have an issue with that. So why are you now butting into my personal business?”

Lily stood frozen in front of his desk, tears already brimming in her eyes.

“You’ve always known I had feelings for you, Vance. You’ve always known since day one. You think I would just spread my legs for anybody at all?”

Vance chuckled lowly. “What the f**k are you even talking about? You f****d Damien. Isn’t he just anybody?”

Lily snapped, dropping the files hard onto his desk.

“Damien was different, and you know that. And the only reason I was even with him was because of you.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Just forget it, Vance. And thank you for clarifying where I stood. I won’t butt into your personal life again. And you sure as hell won’t be getting anything more from me.”

She picked up the files again and walked out of his office in anger, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.

Vance watched her go, his jaw still clenched. He ran a hand through his hair and let out a heavy sigh.

In reality, he wasn’t actually planning on going back to Vanessa. Yesterday’s kiss had been a final goodbye. He didn’t know why he had told Lily that.

Perhaps he had been trying to gauge her reaction, to see how deep her feelings ran.

“f**k,” Vance cursed under his breath.

He couldn’t even understand why he had done something so deliberate and cruel. It hadn’t been his intention at all. Yet the look on Lily’s face when he said those words still lingered in his mind, and brought a sudden tightness to his chest.

After the harsh, painful reality check Vance had given her, Lily tried to focus on work. She returned to her desk and forced herself not to think about how much her heart ached. Somehow she managed to make it through the entire day without breaking down.

The moment she returned home and closed the door behind her, her back pressed against it and she slid down to the floor, breaking into tears.

She wept bitterly, heartbroken and hurt. She had never felt so stupid and silly in her entire life as Vance had made her feel today.