The Kiss (Addison #1) by Erica M. Christensen

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter One
     
     
    “Addison, my dear, take a seat.” My boss, Shelly Lewis, says while clicking her obnoxiously long hot pink acrylic nails onto her keyboard. I can’t understand how people can willingly get fake nails that are four inches long. It’s just so gross to me. Shelly scoots back in her leopard print leather swivel chair and clasps her hands together. This is going to be really good or really bad.
    “I just wanted to let you know that you’re one of the best employees that we’ve ever had here…” Hell yes! I knew it! It’s going to be really good. Hopefully this means bitch face Brittany is getting canned finally and I’m getting promoted to the Marketing Director, but if not, at least a raise that’s more than a damn nickel would be fantastic.
    “…I’m truly sorry to tell you this…” Wait, what? That definitely escalated quickly. “…unfortunately we have to cut back on staff due to the economy, and as a result, your position is the first to be eliminated. There aren’t any open positions available for you at this time, but I will contact you as soon as something opens up.” My heart stops, and my smile quickly fades.
    “I’m sorry, Addison, I’m so very sad to see you go. But on a brighter note, you’re young and you’ll find something easily!” Shelly gives me a warm smile, pulls a tissue out of her fancy leopard print covered tissue box, and hands it to me.
    Is this real life? I’m being laid off from my job two weeks before Christmas? This has to be some sort of fucking joke.
    “Well, thank you for giving me this amazing opportunity. I loved working with you, Shelly, and everyone else here.” Tears start to fill my eyes. I grab the tissue from her, pull a few more out of the fancy box and walk out of her office. Merry fucking Christmas to me. I grab my cell and call my fiancé, Carlos.
    “Carlos, baby! Can you come pick me up from work, I have some terrible news.” I sob uncontrollably. Carlos has to pick me up from work because my dumb ass thought it'd be a brilliant idea to drink and drive last weekend, the hot policeman did not. This year is obviously ending well, I just pray this isn’t an indication of what the new year has in store for me.
    “Uh yeah, I’m kinda tied up with something right now. I, uh, I’ll be there in…ugh—” he pants and grunts. I can hear muffled moaning in the background, like sexual moans, but it doesn’t sound like a female’s muffled moans.
    “Carlos, what the fuck are you doing? Where are you?” I holler. I see a taxi coming up and wave it down.
    “I’m working out and I’m at home! I’ll be there in thirty minutes—chill!” he shouts back. None of this sounds right to me. For one, Carlos never seemed too busy for me when I called him before and he definitely never put working out before me. Two, he never fucking works out at home, he always goes to the gym.
    I hand the taxi driver $200 for a five-mile drive so he’d hurry, and he did. I had him drop me off halfway down the block so Carlos wouldn’t hear a vehicle pull in. I slip out of my heels and power-walk into the house. I can still hear moaning, groaning, and manly screams. I storm up the white spiral stairs to our bedroom and find my fiancé face down, ass up, naked, while the pool boy plows him from behind. This is ludicrous!
    “ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME, CARLOS? WHAT IS THIS?” I scream. The pool boy is startled and falls off the bed, then hurries to grab his clothes off the floor to cover himself. Carlos’s skin goes from a caramel brown to a maraschino cherry red. He frantically grabs the sheet and wraps it around himself.
    “Baby, it’s not what you think,” Carlos says in his sexy Hispanic accent, but I’m not falling for that shit.
    “It’s not what I think? You were just fucking our pool boy! How long has this been going on? Jesus Christ, Carlos! I can’t believe this, I can’t believe you! We’re done!” I