Austin “...so glad to be your partner. Congratulations to us all and thank you.” Althea finishes her speech. I extend my hand as she steps off the stage, helping her navigate through the crowd. She loops her hand through my arm as I guide her. She whispers in my ear, “Are you sure it’s just business?” I look at her face, trying to decipher what she means. “She’s looking at you as much as you’re looking at her,” she leans over once more. I don’t play coy. I zoom in on the marketing table. Sure enough, new girl’s eyes are on us. Althea grips my arm closer to her body. She takes a peak at the table. “With the amount of attention we’re giving them over there, I’m sure she means more to you than what you’re telling me.” “No.” She laughs at my immaturity. “You don’t realize it yet, I see.” “Don’t make assumptions.” I pulled up her seat for her. “Thanks. I’m sure she’ll love how gentlemanly you are to another girl.” She smirks. “I’m sure she’s also loving the man-child hanging all

The second helping of tiramisu, cream puffs, and cheesecake in front of me has finally lost its appeal. I will admit that gorging myself with sweets temporarily took my mind off my boss and his pretty companion. The arrays of cakes and pastries kept me in a sugar haze. I barely understood what Tommy and the girls were chatting about. I was in heaven. There was even a time I let Tommy feed me a piece of sugared apple. Which admittedly, no one has ever done. I don’t like people hand-feeding me, it’s creepy how an inanimate object is just thrust to your face like that without your control. I soon as I leaned back in my seat and let my food coma subside though, my eyes automatically shifted toward the happy couple up on the platform. Little Mermaid keeps on fixing Mr. Cane’s bow tie. Is it that messy? How can a piece of fabric barely two inches in height be so disheveled? I’ve never seen one piece of unruly hair on that man, let alone a crooked tie. Can she have a more valid excuse to

He's horrible. Mr. Cane is simply an awful man. There's no other way to say it. His mood started quite early in the morning and it didn't let up. I thought he was going to have a fistfight with Tommy. I don't know what crawled up his butt, but Tommy was just being nice. I saw him in the lobby on the way up and he wanted to chat. It's sweet of him to walk me over. The long corridor leading to Mr. Cane’s office can be creepy sometimes. I think there’s some tension between the two, they keep on butting heads every time they talk. I haven’t seen them get along. The others say Tommy’s one of the few friends Mr. Cane has in the office, but it doesn’t seem like he’s being a good friend whenever they see each other. I think it confirms that he really must be an unpleasant guy. With the way he snipes and sometimes outright threatens his friend, it’s kinda hard to believe there’s something good left in him. From that encounter, it just got worse. He was so damn moody in the car, I didn’t w

There’s no light in the hallway leading to the kitchen. From what I can see, the faint illumination is coming from the fireplace. My parched throat keeps me venturing from the guest room and out into the open space. The snow outside has worsened. Layers and layers of white almost covered the entirety of the glass-paned wall. Allowing only a sliver of light from the moon to shine through. The thunder that envelopes the sky every few seconds does a better job of leading me through Mr. Cane’s living room. The carpet absorbs my footsteps. I’ve never felt something more luxurious on my bare feet. Rounding the island, my eyesight treats me to a glorious sight. Mr. Cane, shirtless with sweats hanging loose on his pelvis. Spooning ice cream into his mouth. A sexy man and dessert. I don't know which one is more tempting for me. I’m spared from fainting because his back is facing me and the abs I’ve seen earlier aren’t assaulting my senses. But when lightning strikes again, I’m treate

“Listen. I need you to pick up stuff for the little one.” I nod. I knew this, Charlie would need the items from the vet - some toys, vitamins, and dog food. “She would have to be settled with her… things at the penthouse.” He pauses. He is deciding on something from the contemplative look on his face. “Okay, fine. You will have to go up and get her comfortable. Afterward, I have a meeting with the Engineering Department, I need you there to take notes.” Everything was alright until he told me this. “Excuse me? I mean, sir. I can’t just go to your place by myself..?” He crosses his arms. I knew by this gesture that he was peeved. “Are you questioning my orders, Ms. Blake? Or are you forgetting who’s the boss here?” That cold and distant tone again. “When I tell you to do something, you do it. No questions asked.” He stands and stares at the window of his office. “Do not presume that just because you’ve been to my penthouse and that you saw my life there, you have any right to q