Page 47 of Donut Overthink It

I grind my teeth. “Doesn’t mean I wanted her to know about you.” Even if a woman who I took to bed looked up the public records here in Chicago, they wouldn’t find a marriage license for Eve and me. We tied the knot in her favorite city—New York.

She finally stops searching for the fucking dress that I don’t even think is here and turns to face me once again. “What were you going to tell her tonight when she saw me at the benefit with you?”

I run a hand through my hair. “I hadn’t got that far honestly.”

She takes a step toward me and lifts her hands, placing them on my chest. “Just tell her the truth.”

I snort, taking a step back from her, not in the mood to have her hands on me. “She’ll never understand. To her, what we’re doing is wrong.”

“To most people, what we are doing is wrong.” She shrugs. “And that’s okay. I know that I love you, and you love me.”

I nod as I let out a long breath not ready for what I have to do tonight because in a way Eve is right. I have to tell Hadley. She is not just some one-night stand that I can ignore from now on. She works for me. And I don’t want her to quit over this. Or hate herself over it. Or walk away from me. Our weekend together didn’t help me scratch my itch for her. It made me realize I want more. A lot more.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

HADLEY

“YOU’RE STARING,” ANDREA WHISPERS in my ear. I made her come to this stupid benefit with me. I couldn’t face them alone. I didn’t wanna face them at all.

“I can’t help it,” I say as I watch them across the ballroom. Aiden’s wife stands next to him in a red off the shoulder dress with a slit up her right thigh. He has his hand on the small of her back as she laughs, and he smiles at the couple who stands across from them. “She’s gorgeous,” I say softly. Why would he cheat on her? Why wouldn’t she be enough for him?

“She’s okay,” she says, and I snort.

“I don’t need you to be that friend right now,” I tell her.

She steps in front of me, cutting off my view of what looks to be a happy couple, but I know the truth. I know how he fucks women and moves on like they’re nothing. While his wife waits at home for him. “I’ll always be that friend.”

I roll my eyes before taking a sip of my champagne. “I feel so ashamed.”

“Don’t do that to yourself, Hadley. You didn’t know.”

I’ve been working for him for three months. How did I not know? Does no one at the office know? Asher and their father have to know. Do they not care how he cheats on her? I wonder if Millie knows. That would explain why she was so shocked to see us in the break room. Then again in my office.” I take another drink of my champagne.

“Hi, Hadley,” Bianca says, coming up to us.

“Hi,” I mumble.

She follows my line of sight and then looks back at me, and a smile spreads across her face. “That’s his wife.”

My eyes narrow on hers. “Yes,” I snap. “I know that.” Well, that just answers my unspoken question if everyone at the office knows he’s married.

“They’ve been together for a long time. Love at first sight—”

“Can you excuse us?” Andrea interrupts her. “We were having a private conversation.”

Bianca throws her a look, and then she looks back at me with sympathy in her eyes. “Don’t worry, honey. You weren’t the first one to fall for his lies.”

“That’s it!” Andrea says, placing her hands on her shoulders and pushing her away. “Go!” She shoves her away, and thankfully, Andrea walks away with a bitch comment over her shoulder.

So he’s slept with her too? Just fucking perfect! I take a drink, hoping the alcohol will numb the pain. “I’m such a horrible slut.”

We both look up when we hear a man clear his throat. My cheeks redden when I see Asher standing by us. “How long have you been there?” I ask.

“Long enough to hear you call yourself a slut,” he says with a smile.

I narrow my eyes at him. “This is not funny,” I state and then point a finger at him. “Are you married as well?”

“No,” he says, shaking his head, and then states, “Monogamy isn’t really my thing.”

---