Loving You For Eight Years

I nodded, but there was only silence on the other end of the line.

“Hello? Anyone there?”

The caller hung up.

So annoying! Are they messing with me on purpose?

I glanced at my phone and saw that the call was from Ryan. Suddenly, I was stone-cold sober, gripped by the guilt of being caught in the act.

But then I shook it off. What’s there to feel guilty about? We’re not in a relationship. As he made clear, I was just his secret lover, and I’ve already quit. We’re done—no strings attached!

I shouldn’t feel guilty.

The handsome guy came out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, water still glistening on his perfectly defined muscles.

Damn it. For some reason, his face started morphing into that of Ryan. What the hell?

He lay down beside me, concern in his voice. “Emma, what’s wrong? You look upset.”

I was feeling a bit down, to be honest.

He started kissing my nose, then my eyes, and finally my lips, but I found myself getting irritated. I pulled away.

“I’m a little tired. Maybe next time?”

I jumped out of bed, determined, and opened the door. The guy left with red eyes and a forced smile.

The next day, I woke up to find it was already noon. It felt amazing not having to go to work. I sat in bed, daydreaming while scrolling through travel photos and videos.

I realized I’d been traveling for over three months. Checking my bank balance, I saw I’d only spent 17, 000 dollars—plenty left to keep enjoying myself. Savings really do bring peace of mind.

So, I fired up my computer and started planning my next adventure.

Hmm… How about Iceland to see the Northern Lights?

I asked the handsome younger guy if he’d like to come with me. He said he’d love to, but he had already blown all his savings on a trip to Bali.

I smiled and said, “I’ve got the money, you just need to bring yourself.”

He kissed me right away. “You’re amazing, like a fairy who’s come down to Earth. Once I graduate and make some real money, I’m taking you around the world.”

I didn’t mind spending money on him, but the night before we were supposed to leave, just as I was saying goodbye to him in front of the hotel, I turned around and found myself staring into a pair of cold eyes.

I forced a polite smile. “Mr. Hayes, what a surprise! Are you here on business?”

Ryan looked a bit worn out, but he still had that proud, icy demeanor. “It’s been a few months, and you’ve changed a lot.”

I wasn’t sure what he meant by that.

Maybe he noticed my new look—I’d styled my hair in loose waves and wore a floral dress with a high slit that showed off my long legs. Over the past few months, I’ve had so many men approach me, I’m starting to realize just how attractive I really am. For the first time, I’m feeling relaxed and genuinely happy, not stressing over work or worrying about displeasing Ryan. And with my handsome younger guy by my side, I know I’m glowing.

“Thanks for the compliment, Mr. Hayes. If that’s all, I’ll be on my way.”

I waved goodbye with a smile and stepped into the elevator. To my surprise, Ryan followed me in.

My smile faltered. “You’re staying here too?”

This was a five-star hotel, but Ryan usually stayed in a seven-star presidential suite when traveling for business.

He didn’t answer, just gave me a cold, hard look, his eyes full of something that looked a lot like anger.

We parted on good terms, didn’t we? He was the one who let me go. I didn’t do anything to upset him.

The elevator ride was tense, but I stayed calm. He’s just my former boss now; we’ve got nothing to do with each other. I’m not afraid of him anymore.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, I started walking toward my room. But just as I was about to step inside, Ryan pushed the door open with a large hand. “Emma, we need to talk.”

I frowned. “Mr. Hayes, it’s late. Talking now isn’t appropriate, whether it’s about work or anything else. Besides, I have a boyfriend.” I mentioned the handsome younger guy. “It wouldn’t look good if he misunderstood.”

Ryan’s expression turned angry. “Emma, we’ve only been apart a short while, and you already have a boyfriend?”

I blinked, genuinely surprised. “Mr. Hayes, what are you talking about? We were never together. I was just your secretary and bed partner. You said that yourself.”

“We had a relationship,” Ryan insisted, pausing as if struggling to find the right words. “Emma, you were with me before just for the money, right? And once you had enough, you left. Isn’t that it?”