Haley Slater was a morning person. It was one of those things that had always been true about her. She just enjoyed being able to get up in the morning and feel the world waking up around her. No two sun rises were ever the same.
Plus the feel of the air in the morning was always something unique. From the blistering cold in winter to the inviting warmth of summer.
It was great to feel all of that especially in the early mornings. That being said, Haley Slater was not happy to be awake that very morning.
Normally, Haley's morning routine consisted of getting up, taking a few moments to herself and being able to just enjoy the feeling of once again, having another day to look forward to, then she would get up. Walk around the kitchen in her tiny apartment, get herself ready for the day, and then just go on out, but that particular morning things were different. They were very different and not in a good way.
For one, Haley Slater had woken up and had started screaming. But despite the fact that the sound had made her very aware of her hangover. It was actually the least of her problems.
Her biggest problem was actually the reason for her scream in the first place. She had somehow woken up in bed with Deacon Roth of all people. It was not just a random Deacon Roth( not that she knew any others out there) but it was Deacon Roth, the CEO of Roth Group.
The man who had been there when she had been the CEO of her own family's company.
Slaters and Roths did not get along at all, which was why she had no idea how it was that she had ended up sharing a bed with him. The last thing that she recalled was leaving the dance floor to go and goad him into a drinking contest.
How on earth had that translated into the two of them sharing a bed?
Looking over at Roth, she found him clutching his head the same way that she was and that made her feel a bit better. Clearly she was not the only one who was suffering from the ill effects of their choices the previous night.
"So Roth, long time no see," She began. Trying to seem nonchalant, but inside she was panicking, she had woken up in bed with Roth.
Did that mean that they had slept together? Had she actually had sex with Deacon Roth?
Still trying to act casual, Haley got off the bed, with Roth doing the same. The two of them now staring at each other with the bed between them. Being quick about it, she looked down at herself. Haley found that she was still dressed in the outfit that she had been in the previous night, but that could mean nothing. What if after doing the deed, she'd somehow had the presence of mind to right her clothing?
She longed to head to the bathroom, lock herself in there, and take down her jeans and see if there were signs of sexual activity. But she did not want to draw attention to that.
Unfortunately for her, something must have given her away because Roth scoffed.
"Why are you being so nonchalant right now Slater, when last night you were all over me," Hearing his words, Haley instantly went pale.
What?!
Had she really thrown herself a Deacon Roth of all people, there was no way, it just could not be. How on earth could she have slept with him?
She was just about to spiral even further when she noticed the slight smirk on his face. It dawned on her then that he was joking, and Haley instantly saw red.
"Roth!" She screeched, reaching for the pillow that she'd used the previous night, she threw it at him, the man did not even try to move, and her weak weapon hit its target, bouncing off his chest and falling onto the bed.
"Slater, did you just throw a pillow at me," He stared at her incredulously.
In response, she stuck her tongue out at him.
"That is for implying that I'm some sort of vixen that threw herself at you the previous night. Do not joke about such things Roth, who knows, you might be carrying a brand of cooties that is deadly to my sensitive self,"
Roth scoffed.
"As if anything could kill you, Slater. Anyways, I have far too much self respect to bed a Slater of all people. No matter how drunk I am, that will never happen. So you need not worry about that,"
He clearly thought that his words were an insult. But Haley did not care, she too would rather be caught running around naked in the middle of a field full of people than actually have sex with Deacon Roth.
Just thinking about him naked, had goosebumps spreading all over her skin. There was just no way, some things were far too disgusting.
"So the two of us got super drunk last night, then we somehow ended up sharing a bed," Roth shuddered at that, and Haley rolled her eyes at him.
"After we walk out of this room, we no longer have to talk to each other again. Maybe we'll see each other in another three years, and greet one another and keep going, otherwise there's no need for us to remain in contact again,"
"Goodbye Roth, and I trust that you will not be sharing any of this with other people,"
Roth raised a brow at her, those steel grey eyes roaming over her body briefly before he shrugged.
"Of course not Slater, I will not be telling anybody, so you need not worry that husband of yours will not find out that you have been a bad girl,"
Haley stared at him, waiting for another sign that he was kidding. But Roth merely stared at her with a serious look on his face.
"Roth, are you talking about? I am not married,"
Roth blinked at her.
"Slater, did you seriously get drunk enough to forget the fact that you are somebody's wife?" He gestured towards her hand, and Haley slowly lifted the arm, her eyes widening when she caught sight of a wedding ring.
What?!There was just no way. She was not married, so why on earth was she wearing a wedding ring?
Reaching for the ring with her other hand, she tried to take it off, but the ridiculous piece of jewelry would not budge. Giving up, she glared at Roth.
Whatever was going on she would have to figure it out, without him there to judge her and take pleasure in watching her freak out.
"If I were you Roth, I would not be worried about my situation. I would instead be focusing on your own. What exactly are you going to tell your wife? How are you going to explain the fact that you spent the night with another woman?"
Roth stared at her like she had lost her mind.
"I know you have been out of the loop for quite some time, Slater but surely you would be aware that I am unmarried,"
Dread pooled in Haley's stomach as she looked at Roth.
Then with a shaky finger, she pointed at his own ring finger.
And Roth slowly raised his own arm, staring at his hand like he had never seen it before.
As he continued to stare at the ring, realization dawned on Haley.
The band on Roth's hand might have been slightly bigger, but it was a dead ringer for the one that she had on her finger as well.
Matching wedding bands! Could it be? No! There was just no way.
Looking from her ring to his ring, then to his face, Haley was met with wide grey eyes.
The man looking absolutely terrified, any other day she would have laughed at seeing such an expression on the great Deacon Roth's face.
But that morning, Haley knew exactly what he was feeling, and it was not funny at all. And so, for the second time that morning, the two of them stared at each other...and screamed.