Chapter one

Two days later, I said Yes to the man I wasn't sure I loved.

What's funnier?

Being proposed to by your boyfriend who you've known since high school and started dating in college or falling madly in love with your brother's partner who happens to be your boss.

I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.

It all started on that night. That rainy night.

I can still feel my body trembling over him. The warmth on his breath. His gentle kisses.

Los Angeles barely ever saw rain, but that evening, it poured like the sky was trying to confess something.

“Hey M, I’m heading out to join the others for the team's dinner. We'll definitely splurge on the company's card today.”

My gay absolutely stunning colleague, Jamie said. He’s my work best friend, and I love him. He helped me a lot when I first started working in this department.

“Yeah sure, I was supposed to have dinner with Dave but he cancelled at the last minute so I might as well just go for the team's dinner. But I still have a couple of papers to complete, so I’ll finish up and join you guys.”

“Aii bet bet. I’ll text you the deets of the address.”

“Omg, everyone’s left?”

“Oh yes babe, the hard worker of the flock,” he said walking towards the office doors.

“Haha, so funny.”

“Omg sarcasm isn’t your strong suit, Mia,” he said almost laughing

“Yeah right, See you in a bit silly.”

“Let’s get this done,” I muttered looking back at my desktop.

The silence of the office pressed in gently after that, only the faint hum of the air conditioning could be heard. The city lights looked beautiful from the windows. Los Angeles looked softer at night, less demanding.

The sound of my phone ringing ruined the quiet reflection I was having.

It’s been barely a minute since he left, Why is he calling?

“Hello, Jamie, did you forget something or—“

“No babes! I saw the boss heading up, maybe to pick up some files or something, he looked sick or drunk... I dunno, whatever— maybe don’t get on his bad side.”

The elevator ding came before I could even respond.

“Yeah sure… omg he just walked in,” I said , almost whispering, “gotta go, see you in a bit.”

“Hi sir, did you forget something or—?”

His tie was loosened, his posture, usually sharp even in stillness carried a faint instability, he looked like he didn’t have control over his movements any more.

He didn’t look at me right away.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he said.

I blinked, “you’re the one who came back after work hours sir—“

He cut me off sternly.

“I'm pretty sure I can come to my company whenever I want.” He said, walking into his office, with so much irritation.

I gulped, he looked and sounded different, Is this how night time Rafiah behaves?

What was weirder, was that his office light wasn't turned on. Apart from the little glim of light that was shining from the main office where I was working, to his full glass office window that wasn't fully covered with blinds, and his back view area that overlooked the ocean, the light entering was minimal.

How could he just sit in the dark? I thought.

I sat at my desk and completed the task I had, and was about clocking out for the day to go join Jamie and the others at the bar.

I should just leave, he looks like he doesn't want to be disturbed.

Walking out I turned around abruptly.

The polite thing to do is to tell him I'm leaving so he’s aware that he's the only person at the office now.

I walked to his door, it wasn't fully closed, so I knocked faintly and the door flung open. I walked in and what I saw left me speechless…

He was behind his desk, one hand under his pants, stroking his dick and the other hand on the table leaning in to steady himself. He was moaning, not loudly, but just enough .

Wait what— Is he self pleasuring himself, am I seeing things or—

I heard him moan softly again.

My feet completely went numb. I turned back immediately facing the door trying to hurry out, ready to leave, ready to erase what I had just seen.

“Omg, I—“ my voice broke before it formed properly.

“I’m sorry— I didn’t— I’ll just go—“

He turned on the table lamp almost immediately.

Wait, Mia,” he said softly,

His voice stopped me.

I turned around and i just froze completely.

“Wha wha what do you mean?” He was still going.

He didn’t stop.

He was totally unfazed, looking like he wasn’t in total control of his senses.

He didn't flinch and kept staring straight at me like something had possessed his thinking and he didn't care.

It was deliberate, he knew I was watching. For a second neither of us looked away.

Not me, not Raf.

I know I should've left.

I understand that me standing there was ultimately setting myself up for destruction but I didn't want to leave.

That was the moment everything started.