His Regret: Rise Of The Boss Lady

***Megan's POV***

I sat at the dining table, picking at my meal, my eyes drifting to the stairs for what felt like the hundredth time, waiting for Joe.

He finally appeared, walking briskly down the stairs, his right hand man Carl takes his suitcase.

"What's my schedule?" He asked him smugly.

"Meeting with the dealers and also the Fernandez have called an urgent meeting that's to take place at the factory this evening, everyone's expected to be there."

"The Fernandez" Joe's voice trailed off. "What's their deal?"

"Didn't say but it's important that you have to be there, your father's going to be there too."

Joe smirked.

"I knew it, my old man's planning something mischievous, I'd be a coward to miss it, have our men ready."

Carl nodded walking away swiftly.

Finally Joe made his way toward the table. My heart leaped as I smoothed down my gown and planted a soft smile on my lips.

"Honey," I said faintly.

He slid into his seat without acknowledging me. I was used to his coldness by now, but it still hurt a bit.

"I didn't hear you come in last night. How was your day yesterday?" I asked, serving his portion carefully.

He sighed, picked up a fork, and began picking at the food.

"I'm sure it was hectic, also this is the first time in a long while we'd be having breakfast together, I'm glad we could finally have dinner like this...as a family," I added with a nervous grin.

He dropped his fork abruptly and stared at me coldly.

"Don't you ever have a moment when you just... keep your mouth shut?" he snapped.

I panicked. "I'm really sorry. I just got a little excited being able to eat with you and I got really anxious."

He stood up abruptly.

"Where are you going? You haven't eaten anything yet."

"Just hearing your voice, Megan? It made me lose my appetite," he said, storming off. He grabbed his suit jacket from the housekeeper and slammed the door shut.

I was left alone. As usual.

I signaled to Katie, the housekeeper, to clear the table.

I couldn't bring myself to eat anything. Damn it, I wasn't even hungry. All I wanted was to share a peaceful meal with Joe...

But it never worked out. No matter how understanding I tried to be, no matter how many times I bent over backward, nothing ever worked.

What was I doing wrong? What more could I change? I had memorized his likes and dislikes, yet even doing the things he supposedly liked only seemed to irritate him more.

I sat there in the empty dining room, feeling like a shadow of myself.

I had no one to talk to. No family to turn to. It felt like I'd been discarded by everyone who was supposed to love me.

My adopted dad, Luca Cassano, a mafia don was influential, he and Joe's dad, Don Julian, were childhood friends and partners in crime, that's how I ended up marrying Joe.

I loved him and he despised me in return for reasons best known to him.

"Ma'am, are you okay?" Katie rushed to my side. I hadn't realized I'd fallen off the chair. My eyes were teary, and I could barely make out her face.

"Did I do something wrong?" I asked her through sobs. "Am I not good enough?"

"You are, ma'am. You really are..."

"Then why does he hate me so much? Am I ugly? Do I stink?"

"Ma'am, please pull yourself together. You're beautiful just the way you are. And I'm sure Mr. Joe will see it and would come to love you one day."

"One day..." I repeated in a whisper. Then I laughed bitterly. "One day? When will that come?"

Katie patted my shoulder gently as I cried in her arms like a baby. My heart ached so deeply it felt like I was breaking from the inside out.

I wanted to hate him. God, I wanted to so badly. But how could I? I'd known Joe all my life. I had loved him since we were teenagers, even when he never looked my way.

And I still loved him.

It was like I was cursed, trapped in this one-sided relationship, suffering in silence with no one to turn to.

My family wasn't any better. I was adopted, and they never let me forget it. I had always dreamed of a fairytale life with Joe and a house full of children, finally loved, finally happy.

But here I was, sad, abandoned, and hated. Again.

*****

I didn't know when I dozed off, but when I woke up, I was on my queen-sized bed.

I walked into the hallway and out into the garden, letting the cool breeze soothe me.

A few minutes later, Katie found me, holding a parcel in her hands.

"From Mr. Joe," she said.

Excitement bubbled inside me as I rushed to take it from her. I ran into the house, carefully unwrapping it. Inside was a stunning black glittering dress with a slit on one side.

My heart nearly skipped a beat.

"He got me a dress?"

Just then, my phone vibrated from the counter where it had been all day.

I rushed to grab it.

"Your phone, is it just an accessory? Doesn't it work?" Joe's voice barked through the speaker.

I jerked, quickly checking the notification bar only to see multiple missed calls from him.

"I'm sorry, I was a bit down and..."

"Did you get the parcel?"

"Yes, I did. It's beautiful."

"Good. Have it on and be ready by 8. My driver will come pick you up. Dad insists we attend a friend's party with him."

My heart fluttered.

"Uh, you and I?" I gasped, trying to sound calm.

"Are you coming or not?"

"Yes! Yes, I will!"

He ended the call without another word.

I looked down at the dress, gripping it tightly and twirling with joy.

A night out with Joe. Okay, maybe not a date, but we'd actually walk into the ballroom, maybe together. Like real couples.

I screamed into the dress, hugging it close.

"Thanks, Uncle Julian. Thank you!"

By 7, I was fully dressed and waiting in the sitting room. Katie had called in a makeup artist, and I looked... glowing. Or so she said.

"You look exceptionally stunning tonight," Katie repeated for the tenth time.

"Katie, stop! With the way you're hyping me up, I might actually start to believe it."

"You are stunning, Mrs. Megan. Trust me."

I held her hands, smiling. "This is all thanks to you. Thanks for standing by me through this rough patch. It means everything."

She patted my hands gently.

"Hopefully Joe sees me in a different light tonight," I whispered, voice trailing off.

"Your driver is here," she said a moment later.

"Finally," I gasped, suddenly nervous.

"You okay?" Katie asked.

"Yeah," I shrugged it off. "See you soon."

*****

I walked into the ballroom like a stray in borrowed luxury. Familiar faces were everywhere, but I knew well to avoided their eyes.

Even my step sisters, from my dad's third wife, Harley and Ashley, the evil twins, were there.

Miranda, my dad's favorite child who had recently come back from the states was present, she genuinely despised me the most so going over to say hi wasn't an option.

Then I saw him.

Joe, sadly we didn't get to walk in together but it was still nice to be in the same space with him.

He was completely different from how he usually was at home, surrounded by acquaintances, he was laughing, completely relaxed and happy.

"Joe, how come I never make you happy?" I whispered even though he couldn't hear me.

Struggling to catch his attention. I panicked, unsure whether to walk up or wait.

He looked in my direction and then looked away almost immediately.

I sighed. What did I expect? He wasn't going to change overnight.

That was it. I was going over.

I walked confidently toward him.

"Joe..."

"Joe!" A woman's voice rang out before I could reach him.

She flew into his arms, hugging him tightly. Joe smiled, gripping her waist like they were long lost lovers.

"Miranda! It's been ages," he said warmly.

"Oh, Joe, I've missed you!"

I bit my lip, forcing a smile as I approached them. Miranda, I almost forgot she and Joe were pretty close when we were but teens.

"Honey," I said quietly.

"Yes? Megan?" he replied flatly. My heart sank.

"Any problem?" he asked in a sweet, fake tone.

"Nothing, I just... wanted to stay with you."

"My bad, Megan, sorry I forgot to congratulate you on your wedding with Joe, don't feel threatened by my presence okay?"

Threatened? Why would I be, Joe was mine after all.

"Ignore her."Joe said to Miranda then turned to me. "Just go. Go have fun, alright? Leave."

My teeth dug into my bottom lip, did he just ask me, his actual wife to leave?

***Megan's POV***

I returned home feeling like a complete mess. Joe had brought me to the party just to humiliate me.

I was a fool to think he'd be even slightly affectionate in public. He didn't even look my way the entire night. His eyes were all on Miranda.

Worse, I couldn't leave because I didn't want to offend his dad, Uncle Julian.

I had watched him all night, having fun with other women like an unmarried man.

Even worse, the evil twins seized the opportunity to rub it in my face.

*Flashback*

"Hey, sis. Trouble in paradise?" Ashley smirked.

I grabbed a wine glass from a passing waiter, downed it in one gulp, and gently placed the glass back on the tray.

"There's definitely trouble in paradise. Joe doesn't even want to be in the same space as her. He obviously hates her. I mean, who wouldn't? She's still looking awful even in an expensive dress," she giggled.

"Don't be harsh, Ashley," Harley joined in with a laugh. "You know she's not used to being luxurious."

They laughed again.

I walked out on them and stepped onto the balcony.

There were other guests there, but even among them, I could hear my name on their lips. It wasn't just Harley and Ashley, everyone was gossiping about Joe and me tonight. About how he preferred my sister to me.

"Did you see the way he shoved her hand away when she tried to hold him?"

"It's terrible. Rumor has it he might divorce her soon. He only married her to get his father's blessing to become the next mafia boss then he could marry Miranda."

"She's so pathetic, really. What did she expect? That a man like Joe would love her? He only did her a favor by getting her out of that house, where she was just a maid, her step sister is the real gold."

"Terrible."

I slipped away quietly and tried to leave the damned party. I stood in front of the elevator like a ghost.

When it opened, there they were, Joe and Miranda wrapped up in each other's arms, kissing passionately.

"Joe!" I didn't mean to say his name out loud, but it escaped me. He and Miranda were having an affair?

He walked out, irritated.

"Where do you think you're going? You can't possibly be leaving the party. My dad specially invited your ass here!"

"Don't change the subject, Joe! What are you doing with her? My step sister! Can't you at least give me a little respect? We're in public. Among your acquaintances!"

Joe looked me over from head to toe, then scoffed.

"I can't do this right now. Miranda, let's leave. Find a nice hotel."

"What?!"

Miranda pushed past me, giggling. I grabbed her arm.

"He's a married man. What do you think you're doing? And you're supposed to be my step sister!"

She shoved me hard, and I fell to the ground. Joe didn't even flinch as he stepped over me.

"Go enjoy the party like I said, Megan. Stop embarrassing yourself trying to play the loving wife. It won't work."

They walked off and climbed into a waiting car.

I was still on the floor.

The world moved hastily around me, and I was in the middle of it all, unloved, humiliated, and scorned.

Later, when I went to his father...

"Joe is a man of his own, Megan," Uncle Julian had said, puffing on a fat cigar. "I only shipped you two because I thought you were compatible. But it looks like you can't handle him. He's a man, all right. Let him have fun."

*End of flashback*

I wiped the tears that had begun to trail down my cheeks again.

Pathetic. That's how I looked tonight. Just like every other night.

Never in a million years would I have thought Joe would be sleeping with Miranda, no wonder she was back in town, she did it to spite me.

Suddenly, my door slammed open. Joe stood in front of me, half-naked, a white towel wrapped loosely around his waist.

He was obviously drunk.

I could smell it even before he entered the bedroom.

He staggered in. His eyes were bloodshot, but sharp.

"Didn't know we were reporting our personal life to our families now," he slurred.

I stood up. "You embarrassed me. In front of everyone, how could you cheat on me with my own step sister!"

He chuckled bitterly and tossed the towel on the floor.

I shifted back a bit, stunned by the sight.

"I didn't ask you to come, did I? It was an invite from my dad, why didn't you just stay home. You knew deep down this was bound to happen, stop lying to yourself."

"Joe..."

He crossed the room in three long strides and pulled me close.

His mouth found mine, rough and demanding.

"No. Wait," I tried to say, but it came out muffled.

"Don't pretend," he growled. "You love this."

I hated how my body responded.

His touch burned.

"Joe," I whispered.

"I want to make love to you," he said, and my heart sank.

"Joe..."

"Can I?" He said in a low growl and I didn't know when I nodded.

He tore the gown I still had on. I panicked.

What if he wakes up in regrets by tomorrow morning.

"Wait... you're drunk."

"I know what I'm doing, Megan. And I know I want you tonight."

Was I dreaming?

He kissed me hungrily, carrying me and pinning me to the wall.

"I want to give you all my love tonight," he whispered, his lips brushing my neck, my chest, down to my thighs.

I knew we might regret this in the morning. But God... how could I resist him?

His body was warm against mine, and heat bubbled inside me.

I was wet already.

His hands slid along my thighs, making me shiver.

"I want to make you feel good tonight."

"Mmhmm," I moaned as his fingers slipped between my legs.

"You're already wet," he smirked, licking his fingers. "Yummy."

"god, Joe," I gasped as his fingers went back in, faster this time.

"That's right... say my name, baby."

I bit my lip, trying to hold in the scream that rose in my throat.

"Don't hold back."

"Argh!" I screamed, unable to resist the pleasure surging through me. My body was on fire.

I reached down, stroking his length, making him groan.

Then he grabbed me possessively, laying me on the bed and parting my thighs.

He knelt between them, his tongue teasing me, making my eyes water from the intensity.

"I want to hear you beg, baby."

"Please... fuck me," I whispered.

He pressed himself against me, rubbing his length along my folds but not entering.

He was teasing me, waiting until I needed it.

"Please!" I begged, louder this time.

"Argh!" I cried out as he filled me.

My back arched as he thrusted hard. I screamed, digging my nails into his skin.

So this... this is what being fucked by Joe felt like.

***Megan's POV***

I woke up to an empty bed but a heart filled with hope and excitement.

Joe had made love to me for the first time since we got married and God, was it good.

I sprang out of bed and made for the mirror on the wall, taking in my full figure. He finally noticed me.

Last night was a mixture of everything, soreness, hurt, and then bliss.

I covered my face as I blushed hard. It was finally becoming a reality. Joe finally wanted me.

I twirled excitedly and headed for the shower.

*****

"I need everything, pasta, sauce, and chicken. Lots of it," I told Katie.

"Ma'am, are we expecting a guest?"

"What? No..." I chuckled. "It's for me. I need to eat to my fill, Katie. I am beyond famished."

"That's expected," she whispered.

"What?"

"Nothing, ma'am."

"Come on, Katie."

"I didn't mean to pry, ma'am, but you guys made it so obvious. I couldn't help overhearing."

"What?" I chuckled, holding my sides, then sighed and blushed hard. "So I wasn't dreaming, was I?"

"The dinner night really paid off. I'm happy for you, ma'am."

Dinner night... I wasn't sure that was what helped. I wasn't sure what did, actually. I didn't believe in miracles, but this-this was definitely a miracle.

"Actually, ma'am... I think you should spice things up a bit tonight to seal everything."

"What?... Come on, I don't want to rush anything, Katie. Let it come naturally."

She shook her head, taking my hands.

"Let's go shopping."

Katie and I showed up at the mall with our heads covered in scarves for disguise.

"Is this really necessary?" I asked anxiously.

"Come on..." she dragged me along to the lingerie section.

There were all kinds of lingerie there. Katie chose the really sexy ones, and I couldn't hold back the laughter.

"I can't possibly wear this, Katie. I can't."

"Trust me on this, ma'am."

"I don't know, Katie..."

"Just trust me."

*****

The mood was right. Everything was set in place. The lights were lit and the bed was cozy. Most of all, I was looking sexy as ever.

I had on the lingerie, with a mask on, ready to put on a show for Joe tonight.

I had watched all the videos I could find on the net and practiced as hard as I could.

It was going to be a steamy night or so I thought.

The clock was ticking. Katie and the other helps had been dismissed. I was all alone in this mansion. In Joe's room, on his bed.

I heard his car drive into the driveway and I got ready to put on the best show. I ran to the bed and struck the sexiest pose I could muster.

The door unlocked and footsteps filled the stairs, uneasy ones.

Then came voices.

Hushed ones.

"I missed you, baby," a woman's voice rang out and my heart skipped.

I ran and hid under the bed like a complete fool.

"Let's go really dirty tonight," Joe's voice followed. Soon, they were in the room, their feet scurrying, knocking over the petals I had laid on the floor.

Then came the sound of clothes hitting the floor.

"I want to give you all my love tonight," Joe said, and my heart broke completely. So this was just his usual line.

"Yes, baby, and I'll scream, just the way you like it."

She fell onto the bed with a loud thud.

Miranda. That bitch. She had come home with Joe even though she knew we lived under the same roof as husband and wife

"What about Megan, though? Your little wife. The one you chose over me "

"I don't know. Don't care. She's probably sleeping right now and hey, I never chosed her over you, you know my heart has always beat for you and only you. I only got married to her so my dad would be happy and so he'd handover the rights of his empire to me, I'd divorce her soon and come get you"

She chuckled. "Really, that's some good news, you know that's why I came back, I couldn't stand the thought of knowing you were married to her. I didn't believe it."

"You know I'd never chose her over you. Now shush and let me fuck you. And hey...stop ruining the night with that hoe's name." he kissed her all over now, I could hear the smooching sounds as Miranda giggled.

"What if she hears us?" She asked even though she was yelling on purpose.

"Well, I don't care. She knows our marriage is just a transaction. She'd be crazy to expect anything more."

"Oh, Joe... you're cruel..."

"And you like it. Now shush."

She chuckled. "Sorry, daddy."

My eyes were blurry, cloaked with tears. A fool, that's what you are, Megan.

I bit my lip so hard it started to bleed as Miranda's moans filled the room.

"Yes... fuck me, Yes...!" she screamed.

Even if I had been deep asleep in my room, it would've woken me up. She needed me to hear it, to know who was in charge.

The bed vibrated under their weight, and with each passing moment, each moan, my heart tore to pieces.

I was a fool.

A big fool. It dawned on me now. I was just a pawn in Joe's little game. He played me like a toy and wrecked my heart every chance he got.

He never loved me. He never will. It was all mind games.

I needed to get out of this hell I called marriage. I needed out, and I needed it now.

This night? It was the worst night of my life. Joe had always treated me like trash, talked down on me and my family, humiliated me in public, paraded women around, but this? This was the worst thing any man could do to a woman.

Getting married to me just to get his father's empire, cheating on me with my step sister right under my nose and planning to divorce me once everything was settled.

I swore on my last breath, he was going to pay for this. He was going to regret ever treating me like trash. He and every single person who mistreated me, not leaving out my "family". They were all going to pay.

I crawled out from under the bed in shame.

Miranda and Joe froze, frightened beyond belief. I still had my mask on.

"What's that?" Miranda asked, hiding behind Joe.

"Your worst nightmare, bitch." I took off my mask aiming for her nose.

She cried out clinging to Joe as she stared at my scary face. My makeup was smudged, and I looked like a demon in wrecks.

"Are you crazy? What were you doing under my bed? Are you that pathetic?"

I smirked.

"I'm done. To hell with you and this marriage, Joe." With that, I walked out, defeated but never weak.

I could still hear their voices. "Is she always this pathetic? Is she really going to leave this marriage?"

"Megan?" Joe snorted. "She's just acting up as always. She can't do without me. Pathetic, I'd be the one to divorce her when the time is right."

His voice echoed in my head as I made for my room.

I'll show you what a pathetic woman looks like, jerk.

*****

I dragged my luggage along with me as I made my way out of Joe's exotic mansion before dawn.

My mind was made up. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I had to leave this hellhole.

I didn't stay till morning cause I couldn't bare to see Joe's smug face, he would never be sorry for his actions and it was useless to prepare divorce papers, he'd never sign them because he didn't get his father's blessings yet.

And hell, I'd never allow him achieve that, not at the expense of my unhappiness. I could never pretend not to be hurt by his actions so I left very early that morning.

Katie would probably be worried by morning, so I left her a note.

Not a clue to where I was headed, not like Joe would look for me, but a thank-you note stroke farewell.

I needed a fresh start.

Away from Joe. Away from my family. Away from who I was.

I didn't know when I had wandered into the middle of the road. A bright light and a blaring horn were the last things I saw before my vision went blank.