The Secret Affair with My Married Boss (18+) ✔

T W E N T Y-T H R E E-G U I L T

The next few days were a blur. She heard little from Romeo and it made her wonder. She wondered if his wife was back home or if he had just been really busy. He also hadn't shown up at work but they communicated through email whenever he needed her professional duties.

She noticed for the past few days, he'd come online on WhatsApp, read her message and not respond until hours after and it was really starting to bother her. Had he began to lose interest in her?

She missed him. Badly. She wanted to call but what if she did at a bad time when his wife is around or when he's really busy?

What had she gotten herself into?

She needed someone to confide in. She needed her best friend. She needed Cassie.

Nervously, she dialed Cassie's number. With each ring, her heart skipped a beat. Why was she nervous to talk to her? She had no idea.

After three rings, Cassie finally picked up the phone but the line was silent.

Hailey released a deep breath. She knew Cassie must've been very angry with her and, so, she decided to go first.

"Cassie, you're my best friend and I know you only wish the best for me, but please forgive me. I didn't mean to—"

Hailey's apology was cut off by Cassie's harsh breaths.

"Cassie?"

"Hai...Hailey..." Cassie forced out breathlessly as she breathed deeply into the phone.

Hailey's heart began to race as her mind filled with panic, "Cassie, are you okay?"

"Hai...Hailey, I...need...I think I'm dying,"

Hailey's heart sank in panic as the line went dead and she grabbed her purse before dashing through the door.

°°°°
"Cassie! Cassie, where are you?" Hailey called frantically just as she ran through the front door.

There was no answer. The house was silent.

"Cassie, I'm here! Where are you?" Hailey cried as she ran towards her bedroom.

Her heart was beating so fast as her breathing became rapid. Her eyes were wide with worry and fear.

Pushing the bedroom door open, her heart fell when she saw the body of her bestfriend laying on the floor.

Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she rushed towards her, picking her up into her arms.

"Cassie?" She cried, "Please, don't leave me, I'm sorry," Hailey cried as strong feelings of guilt, panic and heartbreak overwhelmed her.

Cassie was unresponsive as she laid limply in Hailey's arms. Her face was pale and her body seemed frail.

Not knowing what to do, Hailey dialed Zach's number.

"Hey—"

"I think...I think Cassie's dead," She stammered in tears.

"What?"

"Cassie...she...she's not moving,"

Zach's eyes widened in worry as his heart slowly began to race.

"Where are you? Where's she?"

"I'm at her house,"

"Is she bleeding?"

Glancing at her bestfriend, Hailey shook her head, "No,"

"I'm on my way,"

Hailey hugged Cassie closer to her body as she rocked her in her arms like a baby, "You're not dying today. Not tomorrow. Not next week. We are sisters and we are going to die together, when we're old and grey,"

Hailey laughed a bitter laugh, as her eyes poured  streams of tears. She never should've said the things she said to her. She should've listened to her. Now, she wasn't even sure if Romeo was still interested in her. Now, her friend may have been dead and she might not get to say I'm sorry.

She couldn't bare to lose Cassie. She had lost too many important people in her pathetic life and if she should lose her too, she would surely commit suicide.

"I'm here!" Came Zach's panicked voice as he sped into the room, landing on his knees before them.

"Oh, my God, Cassie," Zach cried as he inspected her body, "We need to get her to the hospital quickly, she's breathing,"

°°°

Six hours. It had been six hours since Zach drove them to the hospital. It was almost nine in the evening and they were both perturbed and tired. 

The pair hadn't spoken a word since they arrived at the hospital. They were both very distraught.

Ever since they'd known Cassie, she had always been well and chirpy. Now, she may be sick...or dead.

"What happened?" Zach forced out, his voice as hoarse as a raven.

"I called her. She told me that she thought she may be dying. I rushed to her house and that's when I found her,"

Zach sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair, "Something's not right. She had never been like this before,"

"I know,"

"Did it look like she was robbed?"

Hailey shook her head and answered, "No, everything was tidy and neat. When I got there, the front door was closed."

"What happened then?" Zach questioned himself, releasing a deep, stressed sigh.

"Anybody here for Miss Cassie Leighton?" Came the voice of a doctor standing in the middle of the waiting room.

Hailey and Zach quickly rose to their feet, both rushing towards the tall, dark doctor who wore a tired, sullen look on his face. He had the typical stethoscope around his neck and he wore a white laboratory coat, with small lines of blood dotted over it.

"We are." They answered in unison.

"Is Cassie okay?" Hailey inquired, hoping that her friend was alright.

"To be honest, we're not sure. We are unable to identify what's wrong with her. There are some more tests that we need to do. I would suggest that you go home and get some rest. Come back in the morning when we should have some answers for you," The doctor advised softly before he turned and walked away.

Turning around, she fell into Zach's arms as she began to bawl. Zach hugged her as tightly as he could, as he rubbed her back. He stayed quiet as he tried to comfort her.

He was shocked. He was broken, but he had to be strong for her. For Cassie, too.

"Let me take you home,"

On the way to her house, she pulled her knees up to her chest and stared out the window. She was heartbroken. Guilty. She was overthinking. She was excessively perturbed. Her best friend was lying in a hospital bed and she had no clue what was going on. She wanted answers. And, she wanted positive ones. She wanted to know that her bestfriend was alive and well. Maybe she had her period and she fainted. Or, maybe, maybe, this was all just a joke. Maybe Cassie was just trying to get her back for going off on her.

"I'll see you in the morning," Zach muttered as he pulled up at Hailey's house, bringing her back to earth.

"Thanks, Zach," She whispered before leaning over to peck his cheek.

"Get some rest," He advised and she nodded with a sad smile.

She got out of the car and watched as he disappeared down the road. With a tired sigh, she turned and dragged herself to her porch.

She fumbled around in her bag for her keys, just as a deep voice spoke,

"Where are you coming from this late? And with Zach Hale of all people?"