Talia

"Do you think I'm beautiful?" She asked me, her naked body in between the sheets as we cuddled.

"Lauren, I think you're the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes on,"

She stayed silent for a few moments, looking up at me. She smiled warmly and kissed my chin lovingly.

"I am so glad I met you,"

I sighed in content. I was with a beautiful woman, I had the best job in the world and I wasn't lonely for once.

"I think you're the best thing that's ever happened to me," I said.

She flipped herself over on top of me, straddling my waist. She looked so beautiful.

"Oh yeah? Show me,"

....

My car was parked in its usual spot underneath the tree and closest to the South wing. Lauren trudged behind me, still angry about what she saw on the financial records. I had to let everyone go home early so we could leave.

"Sorry about the car, it's a little messy," I explained to her as she opened up the passenger door. I picked up the jacket and briefcase from the seat and threw them in the back.

"It's okay, Honey. You should see half the shit David has all dirty in my house. This is nothing,"

I blushed at the nickname and pressed the start engine button, "I try not to butt in on his personal life. Most things in his office are clean,"

The car was backed out of the spot and ready to get on route to my apartment. Most of the time, I had to stop somewhere after work, but today I was headed straight home.

"You've been in there before?"

"Yes, about five times. He never lets me in there for longer than ten minutes, though,"

She hummed in response and set her hands in her lap. Out of habit, I reached over and rest my hand on her knee, brushing my thumb over it.

Realizing what I was doing, I quickly retracted my hand.

"I'm so sorry, I'm just so used to being in like a relationship with whoever sits in that seat. No one ever comes in my car," I apologized, my face becoming red from embarrassment.

To my surprise though, she only chuckled, making me slighly less mortified that I just did that.

"It's okay. I understand," She smirked at me, "Am I your type then?"

I choked at her words. I wasn't expecting her to say anything like that. She had a husband, why was she asking me these things?

"I,um... What?"

She laughed even more, "You said you were used to having your significant other in this seat, which obviously means that you could see me as someone you'd date. So am I your type?"

"Well, I don't really have a 'type.' But if I were to have one, you'd be it. Theoretically, I mean," I said.

I put both of my hands on the steering wheel and focused on the road for a while. After a few seconds, Lauren started to speak again.

"Why?"

I frowned. She should know why.

"Lauren, you're beautiful and kind. You seem to be smart as well. Doesn't Mr. Peters tell you that kind of stuff?"

I didn't mean to really overstep my boundaries, but with her, it just didn't feel like there were any. I've only known her for two days and I already felt like she was a close friend of mine. That really doesn't happen with me often.

"David stopped telling me that stuff when we got married. I always thought it was because he was stressed, but I can see that it was more than that now," She mumbled.

"I'm sorry," I told her, looking back at her for a second.

"Don't be,"

....

Lauren

When we got to her house, we were greeted by a golden retriever puppy.

"His name is Bruno," She told me as she picked him up and put him in another room for a while.

Her apartment was nice. It wasn't decorated poorly, I actually found it visually appealing. Small paintings and pieces of art hung off of the walls, all marked with the same initials, TFS. She had lamps of different sizes throughout the main area, lighting up the place. If that lighting wasn't already enough, she had LED lights strung on the ceiling.

"The bedroom is this way. You can stay in here and sit on the couch while I find it, or you can come with me,"

"I'll come with," I said, not wanting to sit around and be awkward by myself in an unfamiliar place. She motioned for me to follow her, so I did.

There were even more paintings in the hallways. Many of them were of nature, and some of them were of people. I made a mental note to ask her about it later.

"Okay. So it's in one of these boxes. David- I mean, Mr. Peters- gave me the override code a few months back for emergencies only,"

She handed me a Nike shoe box labeled, WORK: IMPORTANT, and grabbed her own. There were at least three of them, so I had a 1/3 chance of finding the code in mine.

Right as soon as we opened them, we got to work. Most of the papers were covered in dust, which meant it probably hadn't been opened for a while. I grabbed the other box from beside Talia, my arm slightly touching her thigh. I smirked a little when I heard her hum. It was nice to know that I had that effect on her.

After looking through half of the new box, I found a slip of notebook paper with a four digit code on it in my husband's hand writing.

"Is this it?" I asked, handing it to her. She grabbed it and nodded before standing up and brushing off her pants.

She checked her phone quickly and cursed, "Shit. The building is closed. I didn't realize we were gone for that long,"

I frowned and checked my own for the time. 7:56 p.m.

"You're right. What do you want to do?" I asked her.

"Well, do you want to order Chinese or something? I can drop you off at home after we're done eating,"

I smiled at her and nodded my head, "Sounds good to me,"

....

Talia

"What's with all the paintings?" Lauren asked as she shoved a piece of orange chicken in her mouth, "It's not that I don't like them, I was just wondering,"

I chucked and took a sip of my water.

"In my free time, I paint things I find beautiful," I explained to her, mentally high fiving myself for putting it that way.

After the short amount of time I'd known her, it was safe to say that I had a crush on my boss's wife who was also technically my boss.

There was just something about her that kept drawing me in. I didn't quite know what it was, but I was certain she felt the same way about me, although she had a husband.

"Will you paint me, then?" She asked, staring at me. Her legs were crossed over one another and she sounded slighly tired. She looked very painting-worthy for me. I was already picturing how I'd do it, if she let me do it like that, anyway.

"Please? You said earlier that you thought I was beautiful. I want to see it to," She whispered the last part, probably thinking that I wouldn't hear it.

I swallowed my bite of food, "Yeah, if you'll let me,"

....

Lauren

We finished our food a while ago, now we were just sitting and talking about random things. David and I never did anything like this. I'd only known her for two days but for some reason, I felt like I already had feelings for her.

We talked about everything. We talked about why she was single, if I was really happy, how many kids we wanted, our best friends and what we did when we were bored. I don't normally talk to anyone like this, but with Talia, it was different.

She made me feel some kind of way no one else could. She was the type of person I could easily fall in love with.

"Are you still hungry?" She asked me, motioning to the other bowl of orange chicken we'd been given by mistake, "No? Looks like I know what's for breakfast tomorrow,"

She began picking up our mess, and I followed suit. I walked into her kitchen and started loading up the dishwasher, despite her protests. My mother always told me it was only the polite thing to do.

"Lauren, you really don't have to. You can sit on the couch while I finish this up, if you want," She said, tying up the strings to the trash bag.

"It's okay, honey. It gets done fast this way,"

I could get used to this feeling. It might seem ridiculous to some people, but having someone was all I ever wanted. I had a feeling I wouldn't be with David much longer anyway because of the stuff I've been finding out.

I was somewhat hurt that David would do something like that to me though. I don't like accusing people of things, but everything points to him having an affair. I would find out more with Talia tomorrow.

"Alright, are you all set?" She asked me as she wiped her hands on her pants.

"Yep, ready when you are," I said, ignoring the fact that I really didn't want to leave.

....

Talia

The ride back was silent, with the occasional hum from Lauren. I was kinda sad that I had to take her home, but she was married and couldn't stay with me forever.

I wondered what would happen with Mr. Peters and my job. Part of me was worried about losing my job, but I knew Lauren wouldn't let that happen.

"Talia?" She asked, interuppting the comfortable silence we grew into.

"Yeah?"

"Is David a good boss?"

I had to think for a moment. He'd been my boss since I was a senior, but then again, he also hurt Lauren. If I didn't come clean with everything now, I would probably regret it for the rest of my life.

"Well, since you asked," I started, "He's not the best boss. I practically do everything. No one goes to him for anything, I'm the one everyone goes to for every thing. Plus, some other stuff, but I've gotten over that stuff,"

Lauren grabbed my hand, "What's the other stuff, honey?"

I choked for a moment. I swore to never tell anyone about what happened that day. But it was Lauren, and for some reason she could make me do anything and I wouldn't question it.

"When I became an official employee at Hotwire, he tried to force me into sex. I said no, of course but then he started pushing himself onto me. Someone heard me scream and called up to ask if every thing was okay. Mr. Peters made me swear never to tell anyone and made me CFO,"

Lauren rubbed her thumb against the back of my hand, whispering soothing words to me as I wiped away a tear I didn't realize was there.

"You don't have to hold onto that anymore, honey. I'm here now,"

....

Lauren

I knew that I was done with David when she told me she was almost assaulted by him. If she was only eighteen then and twenty-two now, that would have made him thirty-one.

"Talia, nothing like that is ever going to happen to you again, okay?"

She nodded. I didn't realize I was still holding het hand until she turned the corner my house was on, but I didn't let her go. It felt wrong to not be touching her.

When we got out of the car, I grabbed her hand again and watched as a smile slowly appeared on her face.

"There's that pretty smile," I whispered hoping she would see.

Talia really was beautiful. She had a small, button nose and her face was chiseled into perfection. Her eyes were a soft honey color, and every now and again I found myself staring deep into them.

"Lauren, do you want me to pick you up tomorrow morning?"

"Yeah, I'll be up and ready," I told her while we waited at my door, "I really don't want to let you go,"

Talia laughed and pointed her gaze toward the ground, most likely hiding her blush. I lifted her chin with two fingers and made her look me in the eye.

"You look so beautiful right now, Talia,"

"Lee. My friends call me Lee," She replied, slowly moving her head towards me.

I moved in too, closing my eyes the closer I got. I felt her warm breath hit my cheek and before I knew it, her lips were ghosting mine, not quite kissing me yet.

"If you want it, do it," She whispered to me, her lips brushing mine with every syllable.

I tilted my head and touched my lips to hers. Before she had time to react, the door swung open and all four of my best friends were staring at me in shock.

"Shiiit, I like her better than David, that's all I'm saying,"

....

OPE. I felt little butterflies writing this one. It's a little sad, but you get better insight on Talia.

Next chapter will be a little on the funnier side, but also a little more focused on Lauren.