The Curvy's Pretend Holidate

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY SUPPOSED TRUE LOVE SERVED ME A BROKEN HEART

(Aaliyah)

The soft hum of some holiday music I wasn’t familiar with filled my car as I pulled into the driveway of the two-bedroom flat I shared with Logan Antonio, my boyfriend of ten months.

I shook my body to the rhythm of the unfamiliar, jingly tune, bubbling with pure excitement and contentment as I brought my car to a park.

5:47 p.m.

I was earlier than usual, which was totally perfect, because it gave me more time to prepare for the romantic night I had planned.

Oh, tonight was going to be a special one… and the most exciting part?

Logan wasn’t even expecting it!

I got out of the driver’s seat, rubbing my hands vigorously to keep some warmth in them, and then I opened the back door, reaching for the neatly wrapped package I had gotten him to celebrate our ten-month-versary (not that he’d remember what day it was anyway, given his very busy schedule); some ridiculously expensive champagne (his favorite), a sexy lingerie outfit for me, and the real surprise, two vacation tickets to an exclusive cozy cabin in Aspen, where we’d spend a few days making love and unwinding before we had to head over to my family’s for their annual Christmas reunion.

I know, that perhaps for you, I might be doing a bit too much—trust me, you wouldn’t be the first to disapprove… my friends all say the same, but all of you won’t understand.

I love Logan… with all my heart, all my being.

Hell, left to me alone, I’d kick all of you out to Mars just so I could give him the world, but since that was incredibly impossible, showering him with all the other love languages was just going to have to do, because he meant a lot to me.

But more than that, Logan, for me, represented assurance… a real, physical reminder that this year, for the first time in my life, I wasn’t going to have to endure my family’s pitiful looks and passive-aggressive jabs about my love life, or their insulting, thinly veiled advice about how “girls like me” would never be able to pull a man if they didn’t change who they were.

Logan was my proof.

My anchor.

I couldn’t stop the smile that seemed to have pasted itself on my face as I grabbed the package, and my purse, and my laptop bag, dashing through the chilly December air all the way to the front door of our flat. Tiny snowflakes danced in the glow of the streetlamp outside, a few catching in my blonde curls right before I managed to make it to the safety of our porch.

The first snow of the season.

It had come a bit early for me, but it was perfect.

I fumbled with my keys for a brief moment, but I eventually got hold of them and stuck them into the lock.

To my surprise, it was already open.

What the f**k?

The revelation sent a cold chill down my spine that had nothing to do with the weather.

My first thought was that we’d had a break-in, because if Logan were home, his car would have been out in the driveway, but there was nothing there, and I know I should have instantly called the cops, or the neighbors, at the very least, but on second thought, what was the use of my 5’7, 220 lbs. frame if I couldn’t take down a f*****g intruder?

My brows knit together in confusion as I stepped into the foyer, trying to recall if I had accidentally left the door open in the morning when I was leaving. I was the last to leave after all, and even if Logan had come back home, he was meticulous about locking up.

“Logan?” I called softly, nudging the door open, just in case it was him after all.

No answer.

The apartment was quiet, dimly lit by the warm glow of the table lamp in the living room.

Everything looked normal at first glance, but the air… it felt off.

I set my purse and the rest of my stuff carefully on the entryway table, my fingers trembling slightly.

Something was seriously wrong.

I could feel it in the pit of my stomach.

As I stepped further into the house, a familiar scent hit me.

A woman’s scent, fruity and citrusy sweet.

Oh, God.

My heart began to pound, my pulse roaring loudly in my ears as my brain instantly jumped to conclusions… conclusions my chest didn’t want to come to terms with yet.

A muffled laugh wafted into the hall, coming right from our bedroom, and with a speed I didn’t even know I possessed, my legs moved before I could think, carrying me towards the noise.

The door was slightly open, just enough for me to see the edge of the bed.

Rumpled sheets,

Pillows and clothes, scattered all over the bed and the floor,

And then, right in the middle of the bed, my boyfriend and his boss, Shayna Knowles, going at it like a bunch of rabbits in heat, with Logan tied up in what was clearly a submissive position. His beautiful boss was clad in red leather lingerie, riding him vigorously while she muttered commanding, derogatory terms at him… while her long, acrylic nails clawed visibly painful red marks across his chest. “Come on. I want to hear you beg for me, you slut.” She commanded sharply.

The worst part?

He seemed to be f*****g enjoying it!

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

My vision blurred as the scene in front of me burned into my mind, unbelievable and absolutely horrifying, and yet clearly real.

My fingers dug into the doorframe to steady myself as my chest filled with disbelief, pain, and a rage I’d never known before. I kicked the door wide open, my rage reaching murderous levels.

“Seriously, Logan?” The word escaped my lips before I realized I’d spoken.

The loud c***k of the door hitting the wall startled them both.

Shayna froze mid-motion, her gaze snapping to me, perfectly arched brows lifting in surprise before lowering in smugness. She didn’t even have the decency to look ashamed as she scoffed, climbing off him in indifference.

Logan, on the other hand, instantly went pale, his jaw going slack as his wide eyes met mine.

The pathetic part?

He was still tied up.

“Aaliyah, f**k, I… I can explain—” he stammered, his voice trembling as he tried to sit up, forgetting he was still tied to the bed.

“Explain?” I laughed sharply… bitterly, “Explain what, Logan? That you couldn’t keep it in your pants? That you decided to screw your boss in the bed we share?” My voice rose with each word, my hands trembling at my sides, more from anger and disgust than heartbreak.

The man in question struggled against the restraints, his expression shifting from panic to desperation. “I—I promise, it’s not what it looks like!”

“Oh, honey, it’s exactly what it looks like,” Shayna cut in impatiently, her voice dripping with condescension. “Don’t take it personally. Men like Logan need a real woman to satisfy them, and what he really wants, you certainly can’t give him. Plus, you are so not his type. He is more into—”

“Don’t you f*****g dare finish that sentence,” I snapped, my voice low and dangerous, but the CEO didn’t notice. She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “What? You can’t accept the fact that you’re a fatty?”

“Shayna, stop,” Logan pleaded, his voice cracking.

Somehow, his coming to my defense in that goddamn position made me even more upset.

“Stop?” I repeated, my eyes narrowing on him. “Oh, now you want her to stop? Were you asking her to stop when she was screwing you into our mattress?”

“Aaliyah, listen—”

“No!” I shouted, cutting him off. “You. Don’t. Get. To. Talk. You don’t get to explain, Logan. I trusted you… I… I loved you!” My voice broke on the last word, and I hated how vulnerable I sounded, hated the tears that burned my eyes.

I swallowed it all.

Instantly.

I may be heartbroken, but none of them were going to see me cry, even if I had to sew my eyes shut to make it happen.

Logan’s face crumpled at my words, but I didn’t care.

I turned to Shayna, who was now casually picking up her discarded robe, completely unfazed by the scene unfolding around her.

“You,” I spat, pointing a shaking finger at her. “You’re disgusting! Do you make it a habit to sleep with your employees? Is this some sick game for you?” I stepped closer, my lip curling in disgust. “You know what? You can have him. You clearly deserve each other.”

Shayna shrugged. “Oh, he came willingly, sweetheart. If you can’t keep him satisfied, that’s not my problem. In fact, I actually understand him now. Picturing all of that weight on him while you ride him… it just makes my back hurt,” She finished condescendingly.

I just snapped.

Before I could think, before I could talk myself out of becoming that woman… the kind who went after the other woman instead of her man who cheated—I lunged at Shayna, my fist connecting with her cheekbone, sending her sprawling back onto the bed.

The sharp c***k of the hit echoed in the room, but it wasn’t nearly satisfying enough to quell the storm raging inside me.

“Aaliyah, stop!” Logan shouted at me, his voice tight with panic as he struggled against the restraints.

But I wasn’t done.

I grabbed Shayna by the arm, yanking her up as she tried to scramble away, her smugness now replaced by fear.

“Since you’re so curious about my weight, why don’t I break your back for real, huh?” I snarled, my grip on her tightening, but I barely had time to react, for somehow, Logan managed to rip free from his restraints, crossing the room to save his distressed mistress. “Get your hands off her, Aaliyah!”

It all happened in slow motion. Logan tore her away from my hold, a hot smack landing against my cheek in the process. The slap stung, sharp, leaving my head ringing, and for a moment, I froze, the shock of his actions stealing my breath.

But only for a moment.

I struck back, hard and viciously, returning his slap in equal measure, if not more.

A second one quickly followed, louder than the first, and this time, to my satisfaction, my nails raked across his cheek, instantly drawing blood.

The silence was deafening as he touched his cheek, staring at the blood on his fingers before looking back at me, his expression twisting into something cold and bitter.

“You crazy b***h,” he spat, his voice dripping with venom. “You know what? I’m glad this is over.”

What was he talking about?

“This whole charade,” he sneered, wiping his cheek with the back of his hand, “Pretending to love you, putting up with your obsessive s**t. God, it was exhausting.”

My stomach twisted, bile rising in my throat. “What are you saying, Logan?”

“I’m saying I never loved you, Aaliyah,” he finished cruelly, “Not for one damn second. You’re a pathetic, desperate girl clinging to anyone who gives you the littlest bit of attention. The only reason I stuck around was for the money.”

The words hit me like a physical blow.

“What money?” I whispered fearfully.

“Oh, don’t play dumb, Aaliyah.” He let out a bitter laugh. “You think you’re so good at hiding it, but I know who your family is. You might act all independent, but I know you come from money… big money. Real money. And so, I thought, why not? Why not play along, make you think I’m in love, and then cash in when the time’s right?”

Oh, God.

I stared at him, at the man I loved, the man I thought loved me, and felt something inside me break.

“You disgust me,” I said, my voice low and deadly.

He smirked. “I know. And you’re nothing without me. Because I know all about your parents’ ultimatum… how you stand a chance of losing your trust fund this Christmas. Have fun explaining this to Mommy and Daddy, that you lost the only man who will ever love you, sweetheart.”

Something dark and fierce surged within me. My vision blurred with unshed tears, but I didn’t let them fall.

“You’ll regret this, Logan,” I whispered, stepping back, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.

He laughed again. “Oh, I doubt it, Aaliyah. I hold all the power here.” He slipped on his clothes, “I’m spending the night with Shayna. Be reasonable and calmer when I get back so we see how best to get past this.” He spat, grabbing Shayna and walking out with her, leaving me all alone in the room they had just desecrated.

As the door slammed shut behind them, everything crashed down on me, and I fell to my knees from the weight of it all.

Surprisingly, the tears never came.

Instead, a cold, simmering rage settled in my chest.

The bastard was going to pay for everything he had done to me, and I was going to make sure of it.