Page 21 of The Boss

My limbs are boneless when he finally eases me down, his hands steady on my waist as the world tilts. I smooth my dress with trembling fingers while he tucks himself away, the wet slide of his release trickling down my thigh, a filthy reminder I'll feel for hours.

In the mirror, I look utterly wrecked—hair a mess, lips bee-stung and red, eyes glassy with satisfaction. The evidence of what we just did is written all over me.

"I look like I just had sex in a bathroom," I say.

"You did just have sex in a bathroom."

"Yes, but usually the goal is to hide that fact."

He steps in close again, fingers gentle as they tilt my chin up. The kiss this time is slower, deeper as he molds his lips to mine. He pulls back, only to graze his mouth along my cheek.

"I'm not letting you go, Vivian."

Next morning, I'm five steps from Matthew's office door with two coffees when I hear his voice suddenly rise in volume. He snaps. His tone is flat, clipped. Nothing like the man who traces lazy circles on my hip at 2 a.m.

"That's not my problem anymore, Caroline. It stopped being my problem the day you decided honesty wasn't worth the effort."

I’m hearing one side of his phone conversation. I don't catch the full gist. I don't need to.

"No." Matthew again, colder than I've ever heard him, even in that first meeting when he didn't know my name. "We're done talking about this."

I back away before he sees me, coffee cups shaking in my hands. I tell myself it's not my business. I tell myself people have exes, people have history, that's not a crime.

But I can't stop hearing it. That voice. His voice. The one he's never once used on me.

Yet.

I knock, nervously. Suddenly move cautious than usual. I enter his office and he swivels unnervingly; a little too flustered and out eyes meet.

"Coffee," I state the obvious, holding out both cups.

"Ah, thanks." Matthew says, closing his laptop. "Talk to me."

"Um, nope, got nothing in particular. You good? I overheard you on the phone just now."

"Oh, just Caroline, remember, you met her last night." I set my cup down harder than I mean to.

"Oh, yes. Sounded like a problem. Not my business, but I hope you’re okay."

He doesn't flinch, which somehow makes it worse. "She hurt someone I care about. I don't forgive that easily."

His eyes turn steely. He avoids my gaze. Reaches out and picks up his coffee.

That's not an answer. I take it as a warning. My mind races ahead, thoughts pin-balling. But one thought hammers at me, what happens when it's me?

For once, neither of us has a smooth line ready.

5

MATTHEW

Icould explain it away. Tell her Caroline doesn't matter, that it's ancient history, hand her the version that makes me look fine. Vivian would probably even let me.

I don't.

"Caroline was engaged to my best friend," I say. "She cheated on him with a colleague and boasted about it in a group chat. I was the one who told him. I've hated her since, and I let that hate turn me into someone I don't recognize whenever she's near me." I exhale. “And she’s taken to always trying to get near me. I fight against feeling that way about her. ‘Hate’ is probably too strong. But whatever it is, I don’t want you to see that in me. A cold, unforgiving side. It’s in me but I keep it buried."

Vivian doesn't say anything right away. She just moves closer, until her forehead rests against my chest.