No Longer a Stand-In

Sarah's POV

For eight years, I was James Carter's secretary and secret lover. Eight years of giving him my heart completely.

I truly believed he loved me back - he was always tender and attentive when we were intimate, seemingly caring about my every need and desire.

But then I overheard him telling others, "She's nothing but a stand-in, just someone to satisfy my physical needs when I'm bored. Did you really think I would marry her?"

In that moment, I finally found the strength to let go and stop loving him.

"Honey, when are you coming home to meet the man your grandmother arranged for you?"

"The doctors say Gran's condition has worsened. She might only have a few months left, and her greatest wish is to see you married..."

After my morning meeting, I received these texts from Mom.

This was the eighth time this year they'd pressured me about marriage. Usually, I'd brush it off with vague excuses, but today, for some reason, I didn't want to refuse anymore.

I typed back: "In ten days, after I finish my resignation paperwork."

"You're finally quitting?"

"Yes."

Just as I was putting away my phone and about to shut down my computer to head home, my phone rang. "Come to the conference room."

When I pushed open the conference room door, I immediately saw James Carter standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Years of working out had given him an incredible physique - his abs visible through his crisp white dress shirt, his proportions more perfect than any runway model's.

That was one of the many reasons I was so captivated by him.

"You're here. I bought you new set of seducing lingerie. Wear it for me tonight,” he said, handing me a box.

James held me in his arms, his expensive cologne intoxicating. Memories of our intimate moments flashed through my mind.

I almost agreed, but in the next second, I came to my senses and pushed him away.

"Not tonight."

James hated being refused, whether in bed or boardroom negotiations. He forcefully backed me into a corner.

"Your period was just last week."

"I have a meeting with a new client."

I explained, keeping my head down, avoiding his intense gaze.

James smirked. "We've done it in my penthouse, in the shower, but never in the conference room. Want to try?"

Before I could respond, his lips were on mine, silencing my protests.

His hands roamed freely over my body. I felt powerless, trying to push him away but only being held tighter.

My rational mind screamed not to give in to his seduction, but my body betrayed me.

I couldn't control myself - my arms wrapped around him, feeling his firm muscles, lost in everything about him.

He kissed me, held me, touched me, did whatever he wanted.

My body surrendered to him, but my mind remained painfully clear.

I remembered the scene from last night. James had been drinking heavily and called me to pick him up from the bar.

Outside the VIP room, I overheard his conversation with friends.

"Mr. Carter, we heard your family's arranging a marriage for you. What about Sarah Garnett, that little secretary of yours?”

James laughed dismissively. "She's just a fling. You don't seriously think I'd marry her?"

"The position of Mrs. Carter is reserved for someone else - the one who truly holds my heart."

"Won't your little secretary be devastated? Maybe even suicidal?"

Everyone knew how much I loved James - so much that I would drop everything to be at his side, no matter the time or place. Even his friends joked about it, saying I couldn’t live without him.

I thought eight years of devotion would have earned me a special place in his heart.

Perhaps he would fall in love with me.

But I never expected that in his eyes, I was just a convenient plaything, always at his beck and call.

In that moment, something inside me broke.

As my thoughts returned to the present, James was already inside me.

Intimacy should be something joyful, but now it just left me utterly drained.

He lay against my ear, whispering my name over and over, holding me tightly as he reached his climax.

Kissing my earlobe, caressing my bosom, so tender and passionate.

I once thought these gestures meant love. Now I saw them for what they were - just his way of satisfying his desires.

After we finished, he returned to his cold, distant self. He straightened his clothes and pulled out a credit card from his pocket.

"Your spending money for the month.

"By the way, I'm getting engaged."

"Okay," I replied while putting on my underwear.

"Why aren't you angry?"

James frowned, cupping my face, studying me intently as if searching for the reaction he expected.

"Why should I be angry? I'm just a secretary, just Mr. Carter's friend with benefits. What right do I have to be angry?"

I finished dressing and walked out of the conference room.

Tears blurred my vision. It was time to let go of this one-sided relationship.

The next day, I took a half-day off. As expected, he called me at noon.

"Sarah, where are you?" James's tone was harsh. "Why aren't you at work?"

Ever since we’d started this twisted relationship, I'd lost all personal time. Being by his side constantly, during and after work hours, had become normal.

Taking sudden time off was something I'd never done before.

"I caught a cold, needed some rest," I answered listlessly.

After a moment's silence, his tone softened. "Tell me first next time. Do you need to see a doctor?”

"No need, just some rest will do."

"Alright, I'll come over later. I want cream of mushroom soup - make sure to prepare it."

After hanging up, I looked through the photo album in my hands - pictures of James and me, though mostly just of him.

Photography had been my hobby since childhood, but he always disliked having his picture taken. Whenever I begged him to take photos together, he'd look annoyed.

Still, I foolishly wanted to preserve our memories together, so I secretly took many photos of him.

When he accidentally found this album at my place before, he'd scoffed, calling it childish, though he reluctantly agreed to take a couple of photos with me.

I lit a fire in the brazier and placed the entire album inside.

As the flames consumed our faces in the photos, my love burned to ashes with them.

Just then, the doorbell rang. I opened it to find James standing there with a bag of medicine.

His eyes moved past me to the brazier behind, his handsome brows immediately furrowing.

"What are you doing?"