Nate was already awake when the sun started coming up. He was buzzing with anticipation and nerves.
Today was the day. The big Fourth of July party that would change everything.
He'd finally made it to the big leagues at StarPhire, the hottest fintech startup in the valley. And today his colleagues were invited to his home to show them he wasn't just the compliance guy who did the lame shit. He had the perfect house, the perfect girlfriend, and he was all set to prove he belonged among the real players.
He slipped out of bed quietly, trying not to wake Nora, and padded downstairs to the kitchen. He made his coffee and pulled out his timeline one more time, grinning as he reviewed every detail. Food, pool games, his automated fireworks display. Every detail was locked down.
These weren't just any coworkers either. The big players were coming. Marcus with his Wharton MBA confidence. Tyler who was turning down Goldman Sachs offers like they were spam emails. Jack, the technical genius who built the foundation of StarPhire. And Alex, the creative director whose campaigns regularly won awards. And he was going to be in their inner circle after this.
His knockout of a girlfriend Nora was the cherry on top, who would make them all jealous as hell.
He downed his coffee, then checked his timeline one more time. Nothing could be left to chance.
Not after that damned prank war.
The thought crept in despite his best efforts to keep it buried. He tried to push it away, focus on today, but the memory forced its way back. Watching Nora getting fucked by his best friends in his own bed, right in front of him. Hearing her beg for it.
"We were just acting," she'd insisted any time he confronted her, those piercing green eyes penetrated his soul. "Where's the trust after four years together?"
He'd tried to argue. "I heard you, Nora. I saw you, with my own eyes, right in front of me."
"You think I would actually fuck your friends? It was just a performance to sell the prank, and it worked, we got you good!" Her voice gleeful as she reminisced about "winning" the prank war.
"We had to make it look convincing, right? God, Nate, you're being so paranoid."
Every time he brought up what he'd witnessed, she'd turn it around on him. Make him the problem. The jealous boyfriend. The one who couldn't handle a harmless prank.
At some point it became easier to accept her story than to accept what his own eyes had told him. At least on the surface.
But he couldn't face Dean and Finn again after what they'd done. He cut them out of his life completely, blocked their numbers, avoided the places they hung out. He couldn't confront the truth, couldn't let it disrupt his dream of perfect life.
But today was different. Today was the day he brought that dream to fruition.
He landed the dream job, now he just had to prove he belonged with the key players. Marcus with his Wharton MBA confidence. Tyler who was turning down Goldman Sachs offers. Jack, the legend who built the entire technical foundation that made StarPhire possible. And Alex, the creative director whose campaigns regularly won awards.
Nate was the compliance guy. He was brought in to do the boring paperwork while these guys changed the world. He set out to prove he was more than that. He wanted to be one of them.
He'd made a resolution not to drink today, stay vigilant, stay in control. Learn from his mistakes.
The back door opened behind him and Nora emerged, stretching like a cat in the morning sun. Even fresh from bed, hair in a messy tangle, she looked stunning. The months since April had been good to her. Her trainer had helped sculpt her body into something even more devastating than before, though Nate didn't trust that smug asshole Brock for a second. Still, he could hardly deny the results Nora was getting, so he kept his mouth shut.
Her ass was noticeably rounder and more sculpted from months of squats and deadlifts. Thicker, more defined thighs that strained against whatever she wore. Those flawless double-D tits that still made his brain short-circuit, but now set against a narrow waist that emphasized her hard won curves into a perfect hourglass figure.
Nate had become pretty insatiable in the wake of her transformation, to the point of her annoyance. But she was giving him some leeway because she did enjoy the attention, and it clearly kept Nate happy instead of him asking too many questions about April Fools and the aftermath.
"You're up early," she said, her voice husky from sleep. "Planning your little party?"
"I just want everything to be perfect," he said, trying to keep the edge out of his voice. "These guys are important."
She rolled her eyes, strutting over to pour herself coffee. "They're just a bunch of tech bros, Nate. Not the UN Security Council."
She had no idea what was at stake here.
"I'm going to grab a shower," Nora said, heading back upstairs. "What time are they coming over?"
"Around noon," he called after her.
An hour later, she reappeared in a simple red, white, and blue bikini that showed off her amazing curves.
Nate felt that familiar mix of pride and anxiety watching her move around the kitchen.
"You look great, but maybe something a little less..." he started, then caught himself.
Nora's eyes flashed dangerously. "A little less what?"
"I just meant, you know, it's a work thing, so maybe something more conservative?"
"Maybe I should cover up because you don't trust yourself or your coworkers to behave like adults?"
"It's not that, it's just..." He gestured helplessly. "This is important to me."
She crossed her arms under her chest, pushing her tits up higher. "So I'm supposed to dress for your insecurity?"
"Come on, Nora. You know what I mean."
"No, actually, I don't. Explain it to me."
He was digging himself deeper with every word. "Just... maybe something that won't distract everyone?"
"Right. Because my body is the problem." Her voice was getting sharper.
"That's not what I said."
"It's what you meant."
"Think what you want I guess, but go change! I mean it! And before they get here!"
She turned to head upstairs. "Fine. I'll change. Since you asked so nicely."
Nate's stomach dropped as he realized how he came across.
"Babe, wait, I didn't mean..."
"You're good," she called back sweetly. "I'd hate to embarrass you." She fluttered her eyelashes at him as she walked away.
At least she was going to change, but he knew he'd pissed her off.
When she returned a few minutes later, Nate's eyes went wide.