From Secretary to Mistress (Obsession)

What the fuck could've happened while Francesca and I were on our honeymoon?

Our meeting begins like usual, with Mary taking down the minutes while Stone and I work our way down the bulleted list that makes up today's agenda.

We have nearly everything resolved in just under an hour, and the last item we have to discuss is a marketing event to further promote our newest line of cameras.

"I still have jet lag," I say with a grimace. "I don't think I'll be any good even if I come." Everything I've just said is complete bullshit, but it's my way of testing the waters. Stone is usually on my back about attending our company's marketing events, and whatever Stone thinks is right, Mary usually insists on as well.

If things are still how they used to be, then one of them should get on my case at any moment, and the other would immediately follow suit.

But this time, Stone simply shrugs, and Mary doesn't even look up from her notes.

Interesting.

I glance at Stone, asking, "Are you going to skip it as well?"

"Probably."

"Then we'll just need to count on Mary to hold the fort for us."

Mary smiles politely. "It won't be a problem—-"

"It doesn't have to be," I say with a grin.

Stone's gaze narrows at me, but I pretend not to see this.

"Francesca and I have made a bet."

Mary's brows shoot up.

"Since Elaine's speed dating attempt failed to nab you the perfect boyfriend, my wife believes there isn't anything I can do either. But I beg to differ, of course."

Mary's expression turns uneasy. "Mr. Verhaege—-"

"You've met Jared Westland, haven't you?"

"I have, yes, but—-"

"Great."

Mary blinks in bemusement while my friend stiffens next to me.

"Jared will be your date for tonight, and don't even think of arguing. I take every bet I make with my wife seriously, and I always intend to win."

"But—-"

I see Mary glance at Stone, and my friend says curtly, "Jared's a good man. I'm sure you'll enjoy your date with him."

The stricken look that crosses Mary's face almost has me wincing, and my own jaw clenches as I struggle not to meddle between them.

Stone is clearly aware he's hurting her, and I've never known my friend to be this cruel. So why the hell did Stone say those words, when he obviously fucking knew it would cause Mary pain?

I follow Stone into his office as soon as our meeting ends, and I waste no time in confronting him. "What the hell was that?"

Stone's face remains stoic. "I have no idea—-"

"Bullshit," I snap. "You know what I'm talking about. Something obviously happened between the two of you—-"

"Something did happen," Stone says grimly, "but now it's over."

"Is it?"

Stone's lips tighten, and having been friends with him for decades, I know this only means there's something he's holding back from saying.

"Talk to me, man. It's not like you to hurt Mary—-"

"I had to do it," Stone grates out.

"Why?"

"Jocelyn."

Everything finally becomes clear, and I bite back an expletive.

Stone looks at me with eyes that remain haunted by the past. "I can't risk making a fool out of myself again. It's better this way, and I'm sure Mary will eventually be able to move on."

The dullness in my friend's tone is familiar. I remember hearing it the first time years ago, when Stone found out his girlfriend was dead, and all of us thought a drunk driver had killed her.

But on the night before my wedding, Stone found out everything about his former girlfriend was a massive lie, and I had thought at that time it would mean my friend could finally move on.

I had thought Stone would finally be free to fall in love with someone else, but maybe I was wrong, and it simply isn't that easy for Stone to trust another woman again.

"You can't let Jocelyn keep ruining your life, Stone. Can't you see Mary isn't like her?"

But Stone's lips only press together in a thin, white line. "I won't change my mind about this—-"

"You were just a boy when you met Jocelyn," I remind him sharply. "Don't you think that's the reason why it was easy for her to deceive you? To deceive all of us? You weren't the only person she fooled. She made all of us believe, even her own parents—-"

"You're not saying anything I haven't told myself," Stone interrupts me tonelessly. "But I just can't fucking risk it."

"Then will you rather risk losing Mary to another man?" I challenge. "Because that's what's going to happen. Sooner or later, some other man - a better man even - will come take her away, and when that time comes, I hope to fucking God you still think you've made the right choice."

Stone

Terror seizes my chest as the truth of Nic's words hit me, and in the next moment I'm already out of the fucking room and using the GPS app on my phone when reception informs me Mary's left the office without telling anyone where she's going.