A Risky Christmas

“Red!”Her name cracked through the glass walls of the office like a whip. She flinched, almost spilling the tray of coffee she was carrying. Goodness, that was close. “Coming, Mr. Alton!” she called back, tightening her grip before hurrying down the hall towards his office in her low heels.The door to his office was half open. She knocked anyway, one soft tap. No answer. She pushed it open carefully.And froze.The sound hit her first: a breathy moan, the creak of leather against skin. Then came the sight; his body moving rhythmically between the legs of a woman bent over his desk. Her black hair curtained her face and her moans filled the room.Red’s mind blanked. This wouldn't be the first time she's walked in on him…well…entertaining his ‘many flings’ and she should have gotten used to it by now but somehow, she was stunned. Her shirtless boss had his back to her, shoulders flexed as he moved and the woman's moans filled the office shamelessly. He had both of her hands clipped

Red didn’t breathe for a full three seconds. It's him, it's really him and she's here…in this rather suggestive position with her boss! The knock echoed through her apartment again. “Red? Babe? Are you in there?”Her heart plunged.“Oh my God,” she whispered, sliding off the table so fast her knee almost buckled. “No, no, no, no…this isn’t happening.”Alton didn’t flinch. He didn’t even turn his head toward the door. He straightened, his hands sliding from the table as he watched her scramble. His expression remained unreadable, calm in a way that made the panic claw harder up her throat.“Red?” Darren called again.She rushed toward the sofa, snatching up the first shirt she found, a loose grey tee, and tugged it on, dragging the hem down her torso. Her fingers shook so badly the fabric caught at her wrist.Hell, her boss saw her in her underwear! Goodness, everything seems to be going wrong tonight! Alton’s gaze lowered, following her movements in silence, hands in his pocket… but

Scarlet should have known better than to argue with him. The only thing he knew how to do best was undermine her work like some maniac. He's so infuriating! Goodness, what she would give for the day to go by quickly! “I did exactly as you asked, Mr Alton.” She said, trying to stay calm. Alton leaned back in his chair, arms folded, eyes fixed on her with a look that made her skin prickle.“That’s not what I asked for,” he said calmly.Scarlet exhaled through her nose, keeping her voice even. “You asked for revised projections based on the investor’s feedback. That’s what this reflects.”He tilted his head slightly, gaze never leaving her face. “No. I asked for projections that anticipate objections. This does not.”“It does,” she countered, unable to stop herself. “If you look at page twelve, I accounted for the liquidity concern they raised and adjusted…”“I know what’s on page twelve,” Alton interrupted.Her jaw tightened.She stood across from his desk, tablet clutched in her han

Alton's eyes narrowed on her almost in warning. Scarlet looked away. She was on a break, and she was doing absolutely nothing wrong. Darren reached for her hand, his touch gentle and reassuring. “I'm very happy you agreed to meet.” Scarlet smiled, her finger lacing through his. “Me too.” Scarlet felt him before she truly saw him, the same way she always did now, like her body recognized his presence faster than her mind could process. Her fingers tightened around the ceramic cup in her hands as his shadow fell across the small table.“Red.”Her heart lurched.Darren stiffened across from her, confusion flickering across his face as he turned to look up at the man who had stopped beside their table without invitation. Alton stood there with his phone already tucked away, jacket still on. Scarlet looked up slowly.Alton’s eyes were on her, not Darren. They swept over her face, lingered for half a second too long on their laced fingers.“That's cute.” He muttered but she could hear