Champagne

Champagne arrives and we all toast to a prosperous future working together.

As Mr. Losange sets down his glass, he asks, “So where did you find this assistant of yours that speaks such lovely French?”

"I stole her from a rival," is Mr. Conti's straight-face reply.

"Ooo, I love it. So scandalous, it's not normally like you Americans. Always having to meet with HR and lawyers for hours before the slightest decision can be made," Mr. Losange mocks.

"I'm the boss of my company. I do what I want," Mr Conti says, like the rules don't apply to him.

Something about his tone gets the bats flying again. This time there's also the accompanying sensation of my nipples hardening. I move to lean my elbows on the table, close enough together that you can't see the shape of my hardened nipples through my blouse.

Everything he's saying tonight is shooting straight to my core. He's an attractive man, but he's always so detached at work that I never have a problem remaining professional.

Tonight is different. He's loosened up a bit and I'm seeing him in a new way. God, I hope this little crush I'm developing doesn't turn into anything that will embarrass me at work.

Unfortunately, the movement grabs Annabelle's attention and, with a devilish smile, she asks, "Are you cold Alexa?"

She says it in French, so Mr. Conti looks clueless, but Mr. Losange instantly reacts, saying in English, "If you're cold, please take my jacket."

He starts to take off his jacket, but Mr. Conti stops him and says, "Antoine, save your jacket in case your wife needs it."

He shrugs out of his jacket and says, "Here take mine." He places it around my shoulders so quickly that I don't have time to protest.

Plus, my hardened nipples are hidden, so at least that problem is solved. However, a new problem has arisen. His coat smells divine. I don't know what cologne he uses, but I'm fighting the urge to take deep sniffs.

This dinner is going to drive me crazy!

"Thank you, Mr. Conti," I say quietly.

"Alexa, I think it would be alright for you to call him Cassio. And call me and my wife Antonio and Annabelle," Mr. Losange says jokingly, as if I'm a kid.

I look at Mr. Conti unsure, but he nods. The look in his eyes tells me he's not necessarily a fan, so I say, "Alright, but in the office I'll still address you as Mr. Conti."

I ordered steak for dinner and when it arrives, I couldn't be more relieved.

Firstly, I haven't had a more amazing steak in my life, but secondly, it gives me something I can focus on, so I don't feel constantly overwhelmed by Mr. Conti's presence.

For the most part, Antoine and Cassio converse while I talk to Annabelle in French.

At some point she asks, "How long have you been his assistant?"

"Only for a few weeks. Why?" I ask naively.

“I know you feel strongly about keeping things professional but it won’t work,” she warns. I can tell she finds my situation amusing.

"No, nothing will happen. There won't be any relationship here. He’s my boss, and I'm too young for a relationship anyway. He’s almost ten years older than me," I say with conviction.

"So blind. Age doesn't matter. Love comes when it wants to and even those with the strongest will, can fall. Knowing that you two will probably fight it will only make watching this all that much more fun! I'll have to come visit more often," she says excitedly.

Her confidence scares me. She's older and understands love more than me, seeing as I don't understand it at all. I've never been in love and I hope to never be in love. I thought that my reaction was purely physical because Cassio is undeniably, off the charts, sexy, but what if she's right, and I like him?

I shake my head out of my thoughts. I don't like him and even if I did, I'm definitely not on his radar. I'll learn to keep my purely physical reactions under control and no one will ever need to know what I'm thinking. I will take this secret to the grave no matter how hard Mrs. Losange may try to unearth it.

During all of my deliberating, I didn't realize that I was cutting my steak a little too aggressively. I'm pulled out of my head when I feel myself elbow Mr. Conti. I immediately freeze, then I slowly and gently place my utensils on the plate and lower my hands to my lap. I'm mortified.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Conti. It was an accident," I say quickly. Then force myself to look at him so he can see the sincerity, and so I can gauge his reaction.

"It's fine. I'm glad you're enjoying the steak," he says calmly. He turns right back to Antoine and resumes his discussion. Mrs. Losange can't be right. Mr. Conti's reaction makes me think that it would make no difference whether I was here or not.

I turn back towards my plate and notice Mrs. Losange smiling and holding a laugh. I ignore her and pour all my focus into properly using a knife and fork until my dinner is complete.

I think I'm finally at the finish line when the waiter comes to take our plates, and it’s obvious Mr. Conti thought the same, until Annabelle asks for the dessert menu. I don't think anyone at the table wants more food, but Annabelle has a twinkle in her eye that worries me.

I give myself a quick pep talk to keep my head in the game, ‘You’ve made it through dinner. It’s just a bit of dessert, then you’ll be on your way. Keep your head up, and you’ll be out of here in no time’.

Little did I know, Annabelle would use this last little bit of time to have a little fun playing her games.