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

T W E N T Y-F O U R-A C O N F I D A N T

A surprised gasp left Hailey's lips as she turned to face a steaming Romeo. Her hand involuntarily rose to touch her chest as she tried to catch her harsh breaths.

"What the fuck, Romeo?! You can't scare me like that," She cried.

Romeo clenched his jaw as he glared at her. The jealousy was eating him away, "That doesn't answer my question,"

"What question?" She snapped.

"Why is Zach Hale dropping you home at this hour?" He snarled, taking a menacing step towards her.

She smirked evilly at him, "Why, are you jealous?"

His jaw clenched even tighter, he almost thought his jaw would break and his teeth would shatter like glass.

Romeo was angry. He was jealous. His jaw was tightly clenched and his chest was heaving. Was she really that into him as she had claimed to be?

"Don't give me that, answer me!"

She cocked her head to the side as her smirk grew mischievously, "Look at you being all jealous. Well, let me tell you this: You have no right to be."

He folded his arms across his chest, "Not that I am jealous, but why don't I have the right?"

Hailey laughed humorlessly, "I don't belong to you, and you don't belong to me. Don't you ever think that you have me fooled. You are a married man!"

Romeo's heart dropped as he stared at her blankly, trying to mask his true emotions. She was playing a game. She didn't want him like she had said. She was a...professional flirt.

With a sigh, he sat on the chair standing on the porch and looked out at the darkness, giving up. What was he doing?

Her features softened and she scolded herself mentally. She didn't mean to say what she said. She was just upset and confused. Slowly, she walked towards him and sat on his lap, facing him.

She stared into his soft, hazel eyes as he looked back into her blue orbs.

"I'm sorry," She whispered.

Silently, he nodded.

"Say something," She pleaded, resting her forehead on his.

"Are you dating Zach too?"

She sighed and looked into his eyes with a look of determination on her beautiful face, "No. Zach is my best friend. I have no interests in him and he has none in me,"

He nodded again, as he contemplated on her words. It wasn't fair to her. He was married yet he wanted to be with her, and she wasn't allowed to date other men? Didn't he see the inequality in that?

"Not that I'm complaining, but why are you here?" She questioned softly.

"I..." He released a deep breath as he snuggled his arms around her waist, "I needed someone to talk to,"

"I'm here," She cooed, as she ran her finger along his jawbone.

"I...I still have nightmares." He begun.

She stayed silent but he knew she was listening, so he continued, "About the night of the robbery. I know I haven't said much about it but that's only because I tried to...forget about it and move on, but the truth is...I remember every detail about that night and it's traumatizing. It's making my insomnia worst."

"Oh, baby," Hailey breathed as her heart became heavy, "I'm sorry you had to go through that but I'm glad you came to me. Have you ever thought about seeing a counselor?"

He shook his head, "No, I don't think I need help."

"Honey, you may think you don't need help but you do. Everyone needs help at some point in their lives. Why don't you try confiding in the doctor that diagnosed your insomnia?"

He sighed, dragging a hand over his face, "I'll think about it,"

She nodded encouragingly with a sad smile on her face. After a few moments of silence, she spoke quietly, "Cassie is in the hospital. That's where I was before Zach dropped me off,"

Romeo's eyes widened slightly in surprise, "What? What happened?"

"I...I don't know. The doctors haven't figured it out yet either. They are still running some tests. I'll go back tomorrow,"

"Oh, I'm sorry," He muttered as he rubbed her back soothingly and in circular motions, "How did you know that she's in the hospital?"

"She called me and I went to her house and found her on the floor. She was unconscious," She mumbled as she laid her head on his chest and shut her eyes, forcing back the threatening tears.

"Damn, I know it must've been hard seeing her in that state. Was the house in shambles? Did it seem like she was robbed?"

"No, the house was clean and she wasn't bleeding. She just seemed...frail and dead."

"Damn," Romeo breathed as his heart fell sorry for her. He didn't know the words to say to comfort her but he hoped she knew that he cared, "She'll be okay,"

"I hope so,"

He lifted her chin up with a finger so that she was looking into his genuine eyes, "Listen to me, baby. Cassie is okay and you will be okay, too. We'll all be okay,"

Hailey smiled at him, believing his words. Her gaze fell downwards, to his lips and he noticed. He leaned in and locked his lips on hers as he closed his eyes. She felt something in that kiss and she too closed her eyes as she basked in the comforting feel of his lips.

He was there for her and that's all she needed.