My Husband Hates Me

Aurora POV:

I sat at my desk and wondered why I'd taken this secretarial job in the first place.

My boss, Jacobsville, Texas, attorney Micheal Angelo, didn't appreciate me at all. I had only been trying to keep him from dying of a premature heart attack by changing his regular coffee to decaf. For my efforts, I had been on the receiving end of the worst insult I could ever imagine, and from the one man in the world that I loved above all others. I knew my co-workers were as upset as I was. But nothing made up for the fact that Micheal Angelo hated me.

I looked down at my voluptuous body in a purple dress with a high neckline, frilly bodice, and straight skirt, vaguely aware that the style did nothing for me. I was wearing it today, of all days, when Micheal gave me that disapproving scrutiny. My mother had tried to tell me, gently, that frills and big bosoms didn’t match, Worse, a tight-fitting skirt only emphasized those wide hips.

I have been trying so hard to lose weight. I’d given up sweets, joined a gym, and worked hard at cooking regular and weight-conscious meals for myself and my elderly mother, who had a heart condition, but all was to no avail.

My father had died the year before of an apparent heart attack. A woman had been suspected of poisoning him, and she’d taken from Dad quite a sum of money before he died unexpectedly, just after being seen with her in a motel room. It had been too late for My mom to stop payment on the check, she didn’t realize the money was missing until well after the funeral.

My mother and I had been devastated, not only by his death and affair but by the disastrous financial condition he’d left behind. We'd lost our home, our car, everything. The woman who’d convinced Dad to give her a quarter of a million dollars couldn’t be positively identified. And she’d run up accounts in department stores and even jewelry stores, for which Dad's estate was suddenly responsible. My mother had her first stroke just after the funeral. My small separate inheritance had been just enough to support us for a few months. But after it ran out, I had no choice but to support us both.

There had been a vacancy at Micheal Angelo's office and I had happily taken it.

It was nice working in Micheal's office, and I was a good secretary, But he never appreciated me. Less today than ever before.

I raged for five minutes, while my helpless co-workers and best friends listened and sympathized. I poured out my heart, including my feelings for my taciturn boss.

“I don't understand how I can be heedlessly in love with such a terrible man,” I said tearfully

“Don’t take it so much to heart, dear,” Mabel said finally, sympathizing with my despair. “He probably had a bad day”

“He thinks I’m fat,” I said miserably.

“He didn’t say,” she replied

“Well, you know how he looked at me and what he insinuated,” I muttered, glaring down the hall.

Mabel grimaced.

“He’s had a bad,” she said again

"So have I,” I replied flatly.

I pushed back my long hair, and my turquoise eyes were tearful, although I was trying hard to conceal my hurt feelings. Libby Collins patted me on the shoulder. “Buck up, Aurora,” she said gently. “Just give it a couple of days and he’ll apologize. I’m sure he will.”

“I could bet my life, an apology was the last thing on the bastard's,” I said

“Miss Hardy, report to my office” the intercom blared

My soul was shocked out of my body. The Intercom is on? Was it on the entire time? He heard all I said, including my confession. The loathe in his voice as if I had committed the seven deadly sins, was the proper confirmation. How would I be able to face him, I wish the ground would open and swallow.

I could see the distraught look on Libby and Mabel's faces as I stood up and headed to his office with my heart in my mouth.

I knock on the door softly.

“Come,” he said with his cold voice

I came face to face with the love of my life, he was seated majestically behind the desk, his big blue eyes staring deep into my soul. He is the most handsome man I have ever seen, his aesthetically appealing appearance and sexually alluring physique was enough to send a pang of lust down my throat despite my anxiety.

“I couldn't help but overhear your conversation,” he said in his dead cold voice.

I gulped hard.

“I'm truly sorry sir, it was.....”

He waved his hand to stop me mid-sentence.

“I would love to pretend I never heard that, but I find it hard to do so. The mere thought of it makes me nauseated. Have you seen yourself, you look like a bloated frog. I'd advise you to get that foolish out of your idea out of your demented mind and focus on the work you came here to do” he said and continued with the paperwork on his desk.

I winced at his every word as they pierced my heart like a dagger. I normally cower in his presence and shrink away, but not today. I could feel my blood boil. I felt suffocated with anger, unable to breathe unless I opened my mouth.