The evening air was warm, and the soft glow of the pool lights reflected on the water’s surface. I had accepted my boss’s invitation, thinking it was just a casual get-together—an opportunity to unwind after a long week. The setting was relaxed, almost deceptively so, with the gentle hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses filling the space.

Then, out of nowhere, he leaned in slightly, his voice low but unmistakably serious. “You know, if you spend the night with me, I’ll make sure you get that promotion.”

For a moment, I thought I had misheard him. I stared at him, searching for any sign that he was joking, but his expression remained composed, confident, as if he had just proposed a simple business transaction. My stomach twisted. He knew I was married—he had met my husband at a company event—but that detail clearly didn’t concern him.

I felt my pulse quicken, a mix of anger and disbelief coursing through me. Did he think I was that desperate? Did he believe my hard work could be so easily undermined by his arrogance?

I placed my drink down, my fingers trembling slightly. “I think you’ve made a mistake,” I said, my voice firm but measured. Then, without another word, I stood up and walked away, leaving the poolside and his audacious proposition behind me.

The promotion suddenly didn’t seem so important anymore.