Smitten by My Handsome New Neighbor, I Invited Him to My Company’s Year-End Party—Only to Lose Everything in One Night

I never thought I’d let myself become so reckless and careless.

The Backstory

In my company of over 40 employees, everyone is settled down with their families—except for me. At 35, I’m still single and have never had a boyfriend. When I was younger, I prioritized working hard to support my parents and siblings, ignoring my own love life.

Now that my family is stable, I find myself past the ideal age for finding love. While my friends and coworkers have tried introducing me to potential matches, none of them felt right. I had always imagined marrying someone who was not only intelligent but someone we both could genuinely love. I decided it was better to stay single than to settle.

Last month, a new neighbor moved into the apartment next to mine. The moment I saw him, I was captivated by his good looks. Over the following days, I found excuses to strike up conversations with him.

His name is Dan, and he’s three years younger than me, working as a sales representative. I wanted to ask him out for coffee or a meal, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it—it felt too forward for a woman to make the first move.

The Opportunity

Last Saturday, my company hosted its year-end party, and everyone was expected to bring a date. Attending alone meant paying a penalty. Dan immediately came to mind. I offered him $100 to be my plus-one for the evening. To my delight, he accepted. I was ecstatic to have such a handsome man accompany me.

The party went smoothly, and my coworkers were thrilled to see me with such an attractive partner. The event ended around midnight, and on our way home, I impulsively wrapped my arms around his waist.

Dan then confessed that he had been attracted to me from the moment he saw me. He admitted that he hesitated to approach me because he assumed I was already taken. His heartfelt confession, coupled with the late-night solitude, overwhelmed me. When he suggested we go to a motel, I agreed.

A Night of Passion

That night, I lost my innocence to Dan. It was a magical evening, but when I woke up, I felt conflicted. I had given myself to someone I barely knew, and it left me questioning my own judgment.

Since then, Dan has asked me to meet him at motels almost daily, and I’ve never refused. I know this carefree behavior might lead him to lose interest in me, but I can’t resist my own desires.

When I try to ask about his personal life, he brushes off my questions, saying we’ll figure things out in time.

Now I’m Stuck

I’m confused and unsure of what to do. Should I step back and reassess this relationship? Or am I overthinking what could be the start of something genuine?