Inappropriate Conduct
Jamie Reyes doesn’t do one-night stands. But after a soul-crushing breakup and too many glasses of whiskey, he lets himself fall—just once—for a stranger’s hands, lips, and whispered promises in the dark. No names. No strings. No future.
Until Monday morning, when his anonymous hookup steps into the conference room… as Julian Black, his new department supervisor.
Julian is everything Jamie shouldn’t want—older, emotionally locked down, and strictly off-limits. Yet the tension simmers, sharp as ever, and pretending it didn’t happen is impossible when every brush of fingers feels like a memory.
They’re supposed to be professionals.
They’re not supposed to want more.
And if they’re caught, everything Jamie’s worked for could fall apart.
But what happens when the lines blur, and a one-night mistake becomes the one thing neither of them can walk away from?
A steamy, slow-burn MM office romance filled with forbidden tension, secret glances, and the kind of chemistry that doesn’t stay buried.
Baca
Chapter: Jamie Chapter 37: At the TablePOV: JamieThe smell of garlic and adobo filled his mother’s kitchen, familiar and grounding. Jamie had been craving home all week, craving something solid to stand on when the rest of his life felt like quicksand.But as he set the table with his little sister, Mari, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d walked into an ambush.Because Levi was here.Levi, in his pressed shirt and lawyer’s scowl, leaning against the counter like he was cross-examining the roast chicken.And he hadn’t said more than three words to Jamie since he walked in.“Sit, sit,” their mom urged, fussing over the serving bowls. “Eat before it gets cold.”Jamie slid into his chair, Mari plopping down beside him, already reaching for the rice.Levi took the seat across, dark eyes fixed on his plate.The scrape of utensils and the low hum of the radio filled the silence.Jamie shoveled food onto his plate, pretending not to notice Levi’s silence, his mom’s worried glances, Mari’s smirk.“So
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-19
Chapter: Julian Chapter 36: Ghosts of Scandal POV: Julian Julian didn’t go home that night. He sat in his office long after the cleaners had left, long after the building emptied, staring at the city lights through glass that suddenly felt too thin. Jamie’s campaign had been brilliant. Everyone was talking about it. Proud whispers. Admiration. Respect. And Julian hadn’t been there to see it. Not because he didn’t want to. But because he couldn’t risk tainting it. Couldn’t let anyone think Jamie’s success was his hand guiding the wheel. He told himself it was the right choice. Professional. Necessary. So why did it feel like punishment? He poured himself a drink from the decanter he kept for late nights. The whiskey burned down his throat, but the ghosts it conjured burned hotter. Because this wasn’t the first time he’d sat alone like this, staring at a skyline and wondering if everything he’d built was about to collapse. The last time had been years ago. A different city. A different com
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-19
Chapter: Jamie Chapter 35: On His Own POV: Jamie Jamie had spent the morning pretending not to notice the stares. The whispers were still there—sliding around him like smoke—but today, there was something sharper waiting for him at his desk. A manila folder with his name on it. He froze. Avery leaned over the partition. “That’s either your termination papers or your big break.” Jamie shot her a look. She just grinned. He opened the folder. Inside: a campaign brief. His campaign brief. Franklin Foods wanted a new line of ads aimed at college students—cheap meals, quick fixes, late-night comfort. It was exactly the demographic Jamie had lived through only a few years ago. And now the assignment was his. Not Julian’s. Not a hand-me-down. His. Jamie’s pulse spiked as he skimmed the notes. Timeline: two weeks. Deliverables: concept deck, taglines, mockups. Evaluation: board review. His mouth went dry. Avery whistled. “Well, damn. They’re throwing you into the fire.” Jamie shut the folder
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-17
Chapter: Julian Chapter 34: Sabotage POV: Julian Julian Black wasn’t used to losing. He wasn’t used to waiting either. Promotions came to him like clockwork—earned through late nights, impossible pitches, and a reputation so polished people mistook it for perfection. But this week, the silence had stretched too long. The board had promised an announcement about the open Senior Creative Partner seat. Julian had been the obvious choice. Everyone knew it. So when the email finally came, his chest tightened—not with nerves, but certainty. Until he opened it. The board has decided to delay the promotion decision pending review of recent internal concerns. Pending review. The words hit like a fist to the gut. Julian sat frozen at his desk, the glow of the screen painting him in blue. His pulse pounded in his ears. This wasn’t about performance. His numbers were untouchable. His campaigns had carried half their revenue this quarter. No. This was about Jamie. His jaw clenched so hard it ached.
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-17
Chapter: Jamie Chapter 33: Almost Goodbye POV: Jamie The office was empty by the time Jamie shut down his computer. Darkness pressed against the windows, the city glittering beyond like it was mocking him—bright, untouchable, alive. He rubbed his eyes, exhaustion dragging at every muscle, but he couldn’t make himself leave. Because leaving meant silence. And silence meant facing everything alone. He found himself walking to Julian’s office without even deciding to. His feet just…took him there. The door was cracked open, a faint glow spilling out. Julian sat at his desk, jacket off, sleeves rolled, tie discarded on the armrest. He looked tired, shadows carved deep under his eyes, but when he saw Jamie, something in his face softened. “You should be home,” Julian said quietly. Jamie leaned against the doorway. “So should you.” They stared at each other for a long moment, neither moving. Finally, Jamie stepped inside and shut the door. Silence filled the space between them. Heavy. Charged
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-16
Chapter: Julian Chapter 32: Appearances POV: Julian Julian Black had never been told to “tone it down” in his entire career. He’d been told he was too aggressive, too ambitious, too relentless—but those were compliments disguised as criticism. He wore them like armor, because they meant he was winning. But now? Now the same board that had once begged him to save their sinking campaigns was telling him to control appearances. Like his love for Jamie was a stain that needed bleaching out. The message came in a “casual” sit-down with two senior partners and HR. They didn’t meet in the boardroom this time. Too formal, too visible. Instead, they booked a small corner office, blinds half-shut, voices pitched low as if his life were a secret to be managed. “Julian,” one of the partners began carefully, “you’ve been invaluable to this company. No one doubts your talent, your leadership, or your record. But—” “There’s always a but,” Julian said flatly. The man winced. “Optics are critical right now
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-16
Chapter: Bonus Chapter: seven POV: NoahThe rooftop felt like another world.The night air was sharp, every gust tugging at Noah’s open collar and whipping strands of hair across his forehead. Below them, the city unfurled in a glittering sprawl, a thousand jeweled lights scattered across black velvet. Cars streamed through the streets in glowing ribbons, horns and sirens floating faintly upward, swallowed by the height.His jacket lay forgotten somewhere behind him, kicked aside the moment Elias pressed him against the steel railing. Noah should have been cold, should have been shivering from the bite of the wind. But Elias’s hands were on his hips strong, steady, claiming and heat burned through him with every touch.“Look,” Elias whispered, his breath hot against Noah’s ear.Noah’s gaze flicked downward. The city blinked and pulsed, alive and endless. It felt as though every window, every headlight, every eye belonged to them. Watching.“They’ll see us,” Noah said, his voice thin, caught between fear and desire
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-04
Chapter: Bonus Chapter: SixPOV: EliasThe storm had cut the city’s power.Skyscrapers across the skyline were blacked out, their glass facades reflecting nothing but lightning. Inside Thorne & Vale’s headquarters, the emergency lights glowed dimly, throwing the offices into eerie half-shadow.Elias sat alone in the boardroom, his tie loosened, his sleeves rolled up. He should have been reading through the quarterly reports, strategizing contingency plans for the outage. But his thoughts were elsewhere.On Noah.Noah was down the hall, probably still hunched over his laptop, working by battery light. The boy worked like the company’s survival was balanced on his shoulders — and maybe it was. Maybe Elias had let it become that way.The building groaned in the wind. Somewhere, a door slammed in the draft. Elias’s jaw clenched.He wasn’t used to this kind of silence. Without the hum of power, the office felt like a cage. And Noah was trapped in here with him.When the footsteps finally came, Elias knew them instant
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-04
Chapter: Bonus Chapter: FivePOV: Noah The water was hot, steam curling around the glass walls like a cocoon. Noah leaned his forehead against the tile, letting the spray beat down his back. His muscles ached, his chest tight. The day had been endless — reporters digging into his past, whispers in the office hallways, another article calling him a distraction, a liability. He wanted to wash it all off. Scrub away every word that clung like dirt beneath his skin. The door slid open behind him. Noah didn’t turn. He didn’t have to. He knew the weight of that presence, the gravity of Elias Thorne filling the room. “You didn’t wait for me.” Elias’s voice was low, almost unreadable under the hiss of water. “I needed this.” Noah’s voice was hoarse, carried on exhaustion. “I needed to feel… clean.” There was silence, then the soft thud of clothing hitting the floor. Elias stepped into the shower, the glass fogging further, his body joining Noah’s under the stream. He didn’t touch him at first. Just stood
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-04
Chapter: Bonus chapter: FourPOV: Noah The rooftop stretched above the city like a secret kingdom. Noah’s breath fogged in the cold air, his jacket discarded somewhere behind him, forgotten the moment Elias had pulled him close. Wind tugged at his hair and clothing, sharp as ice, but he hardly noticed. Elias’s hands were on his hips, steady, anchoring him against the dizzying sprawl of skyscrapers and traffic below. “Look,” Elias murmured, his lips grazing the shell of Noah’s ear. Noah did. The city glittered beneath them, a thousand jeweled lights blinking in rhythm with the heartbeat pounding in his chest. Cars slid through the streets like streams of fire, horns and sirens carrying faintly upward. It was beautiful. Alive. Watching. “They’ll see us,” Noah whispered, voice breaking with thrill and terror. Elias’s teeth scraped the edge of his jaw. “Good.” The word landed like a spark, setting fire to his veins. He shivered, not from cold but from the sheer recklessness of it. They had been careless
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-04
Chapter: Bonus Chapter: ThreePOV: EliasThe penthouse was silent except for the rain tapping against the windows.Elias loosened his tie, tugging it free from his collar with deliberate slowness. His meetings had run until midnight, his mind still humming with numbers, contracts, rivals who thought they could take something from him. But the moment he stepped inside, he found Noah sprawled on the couch in sweatpants, hair damp from the shower, scrolling absently through his phone.At the sight of him, Elias’s pulse shifted. The noise of the world dulled. The tension in his shoulders burned into something else entirely.He dropped his briefcase by the door. “Come here.”Noah blinked up. “Elias—”“Now.”Noah set his phone aside, padding across the room. Barefoot. Relaxed. Unaware of just how tightly Elias’s control was wound tonight.When he reached him, Elias didn’t kiss him. Didn’t even touch. He simply lifted the tie in his hand and let it dangle between them.“Take off your clothes.”Noah’s breath hitched. “Her
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-04
Chapter: Bonus Chapter Two: Forever
Bonus Chapter Two: ForeverPOV: Split — Elias & NoahNoahThe gala lights sparkled like stars scattered across the ballroom ceiling. Chandeliers glittered, champagne flowed, and laughter rose in elegant waves from the crowd. But for Noah, none of it mattered.Because Elias was across the room, cornered by a small group of investors, and still—still—he was looking at him.Even in a sea of tuxedos and gowns, Elias stood out. His suit was perfectly tailored, black with a subtle sheen, his tie the exact deep navy that Noah had chosen for him. His hair gleamed under the golden light, sharp jawline softened only by the faintest smile he reserved for one person.For Noah.Two years. Two years since they’d stepped out of the fire and into something they had built together. The new firm thrived, their names no longer whispered with scandal but celebrated with respect. Their story had become less about ruin and more about resilience.And yet—Elias still looked at him like he was the only thing
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-08-18
Chapter: Chapter 15 – Midnight Truce Chapter 15 – Midnight Truce (Expanded) (Eli POV) Sleep didn’t come easy anymore. Every time I closed my eyes, I heard his voice from earlier—rough, unguarded: Keep going. Not the usual clipped commands, not the smirk or the grunt that meant “I’m tolerating you.” Something else. Something softer. It was unnerving. I lay on my side, back to him, staring at the glow of my fairy lights against the wall. The room was thick with silence, except for the faint sound of his pen scratching across paper. Normally, that noise annoyed me. Tonight, it was grounding. Like proof he was still there, within reach. Finally, curiosity won. I rolled over. Dante was still at his desk, hoodie tugged loose around his shoulders, head bent over a notebook. His jaw was set, but his expression wasn’t the usual armor. It was… thoughtful. Raw in a way I wasn’t used to seeing. “Homework?” I asked quietly. He looked up, startled, as if he hadn’t realized I was awake. The lamplight caught the blue of his e
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-06
Chapter: Chapter 14 – The Vulnerability SlipChapter 14 – The Vulnerability Slip (Dante POV) Anger usually sharpened me. On the field, it made my throws faster, my focus brutal. But after Eli’s words you don’t get to care anger didn’t sharpen. It hollowed. I threw myself into late practice that night. Extra drills, extra reps. My arm ached, sweat stung my eyes, and still I couldn’t throw hard enough to drown him out. Every snap of the ball replayed his voice in my head. Every slam of my cleats echoed that look on his face, the way his lips curled around the words that gutted me. By the time I got back to the dorm, I was exhausted and raw. The room was dim except for his fairy lights, glowing faint gold across the cinderblock walls. Eli sat cross-legged on his bed, book open in his lap, voice low as he read aloud. His tone was softer than his usual chatter—measured, rhythmic, like he was speaking only to himself. But it filled the room anyway. I froze in the doorway. For once, he didn’t notice me right away. His curls hun
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-04
Chapter: Chapter 13 – Breaking Point Chapter 13 – Breaking Point (Eli POV) Some people thrive on confrontation. They get energy from it like arguments are a sport, something to win. I was not one of those people. After Dante stormed out of the library, the silence he left behind was worse than any shouting match could’ve been. His words clung to me all night. Lit-boyfriend. Comfortable. Jealous. I’d spent hours replaying it, trying to convince myself it was ridiculous. That Dante had no right to even think that way, let alone say it. That I wasn’t responsible for his… whatever that was. And yet, the sting lingered. Not because he was wrong, but because a part of me wanted him to be. By the next morning, I was wound so tight that Jamie noticed the second I slid into our usual table in the dining hall. “You look like someone stole your cat mug,” she said, stealing my toast without asking. “Worse,” I muttered, stabbing at my eggs like they’d personally offended me. Her eyebrows lifted. “Roommate drama?” I hesita
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-04
Chapter: Chapter 12 – Cracks Show Chapter 12 – Cracks Show (Dante POV) Jealousy isn’t supposed to be my thing. I’ve played quarterback long enough to know how to keep my cool. Teammates drop passes, refs make bad calls, fans scream like the world’s ending—none of it rattles me. I’m built to take hits and keep moving. But apparently one lit-class cardigan-wearing idiot leaning too close to Eli Summers could throw me completely off my game. The image stuck in my head. Eli laughing at something the guy said, eyes bright, shoulders loose in a way they never were around me. It burned hotter than any missed pass. I told myself I didn’t care. That it didn’t matter who Eli studied with, who made him laugh, who earned that spark in his eyes. Except it did. By the time we sat down for our next tutoring session, my patience was already shot. The library was nearly empty, just the rustle of pages and the faint hum of the heating vents. Eli spread his notes across the table, his usual chaos of highlighters and scribbles.
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-02
Chapter: Chapter 11 – DistractionsChapter 11 – Distractions (Eli POV) Avoidance worked… until it didn’t. By Thursday, my whole routine was unraveling. Sure, I’d managed a few days of slipping out before Dante woke up, hiding in the library until midnight, pretending everything was fine. But the problem with avoiding someone who lived ten feet away was that absence didn’t erase them. It made them louder. Every glimpse across the quad, every overheard laugh with his teammates, every time I passed the gym and caught sight of his broad frame through the glass—it all pressed against me harder than if I’d just faced him head-on. And worse, the memory of almost refused to die. So I decided I needed a distraction. Something, someone, anything that wasn’t six-foot-something of tattoos and contradictions. Enter: Caleb. He was in my Lit Theory seminar. The kind of student professors adored—sharp answers, neat notes, confident voice. He even managed to wear cardigans without looking like he’d raided his grandfather’s clo
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-02
Chapter: Chapter 10 – Denial GameChapter 10 – Denial Game (Dante POV) The thing about silence it isn’t quiet. It’s heavy. Every morning, I woke up to it. Eli’s bed already empty, his side of the room stripped of noise and presence, just fairy lights draped like abandoned vines. Every night, I came back to the same silence, except now he was already in bed, pretending to be asleep. At first, I thought I didn’t care. Hell, maybe I even preferred it. Room to breathe. No rambling about Milton or metaphors. No half-distracted humming while he scribbled in those notebooks of his. Peace. Except it wasn’t peace. It was a hollow stretch of space where his voice should’ve been. So I filled it. More drills, more weights, more film study. My coach loved it said I was “dialed in.” My teammates noticed, too. They teased me about finally acting like a machine again, like the old Dante who didn’t waste energy on anything but football. They didn’t see the cracks. Like the missed pass in practice. My throw was perfect spiral,
Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-08-31
Masuk
