I don't really, really want to fight anymore

I don't really, really want to fake it no more

Play me like The Beatles, baby just let it be

So come and put the blame on me

-Echame la Culpa by Luis Fonsi ft. Demi Lovato

******

DAMIAN

That woman was infuriating. From the moment she showed up to my house she was doing as she pleased without a single concern regarding if I agreed with her or not. 

I saw her walk down the stage, taking Santiago's hand who whispered something in her ear. She laughed, lighting up the whole room. She then walked towards me and took my hand and placed it with my mother's. 

"Ms. Cruz, what the f-"

"Shut up and dance with your mother," she whispered. "The crowd won't dance unless they see their stiff host dancing, so, get whatever you have shoved up your ass out and move."

That fucking mouth of hers.

I knew she was right though. I took my mother who had a wide smile plastered on her face, something she did more often now that Eliana had arrived. My mother held my hand and began dancing to the best of her ability. I saw Eliana move easily to the rhythm of the music, her hands interlocked with Santiago's. There was nothing sexual between them, even though with the way she was moving it was obvious they were more than comfortable with each other.

It was clear that Eliana enjoyed dancing as her body moved freely to the music. 

"Ask her to dance with you, son," my mother said. 

"What?" 

"Stop drooling over her and dance with her."

"I'm barely even dancing with you, mother. You know I don't do this."

"Go, Damian. As your mother I am telling you to do this. Go."

I exhaled, letting myself travel towards Eliana who simply smiled. Santiago let go of her hands and began dancing with my mother while Eliana stepped towards me. 

"Well, Mr. Novax, this is...different."

"It is," I replied. 

I let my hands go to her small waist, feeling the way that her body swayed to the music. She mouthed the words to the song, while her hands were in the air. She had a natural rhythm to her movements, as if the music was in her blood. 

"I don't really, really want to fake it no more," she sang, giving me a teasing grin. 

Despite my effort to not show anything, I couldn't help but smile at her easy going nature. I found myself moving along with her, now our fingers intertwined, my feet moving along with hers. She was so effortlessly sexy in the way she moved. The way her hair moved made want to... do things I probably shouldn't have been thinking.

Once the song ended, another came on and I found I didn't want stop. It felt good to have her so fucking close... Not just sexually, because damn, the woman was a tease. The woman was confident. But also something about her energy, it was astounding. 

That's why I needed her far away from me. I couldn't have someone like her near me, not when I would only destroy every ounce of happiness from her soul.

Yet like a moth to a flame, I was drawn to her. It didn't take much; from the day I met her she had become like a drug, and I was quickly becoming an addict. 

"There you go," she said, smiling. "See Mr. Novax, we can all have a little fun."

I placed my hands on her hips, smirking when her eyes widened in surprise again. "This doesn't mean you're not in trouble, Ms. Cruz."

"If I am," she placed her hands on my shoulders, her hips still moving to the fast paced music, her feet never faltering, "it won't matter. At least I got Mr. Damian Novax to enjoy himself for one night."

"As if that was your only goal," I muttered.

She slowed her movements for a few seconds before nodding. "It was," she said quietly. "That was my goal, and if I get fired at least I've accomplished it."

Her sincerity took me off guard and I found myself running my hand through her silky hair. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment, as my eyes set on her face, admiring her beauty. 

Fuck.

I wanted to kiss her.

She read my thoughts and with dark eyes, she took my hand in hers and we began moving away from the crowd. We moved over to an empty hallway where she stood against the wall, her chest heaving from both dancing and for other reasons. I placed my hands on each side of her head and I lowered my forehead against hers.

"Why the hell are you turning every part of my life upside down?" 

"I want to," she whispered. 

I noted a small tremble in her hands as she placed them on my chest, under my suit. Even with clothing between us, I could feel the heat radiating from her hands. The loud music in the background faded away as we looked at each other and after a few seconds I couldn't take it. I buried my face in her neck, pressing a kiss to her soft skin.

She sighed softly, her grip on my shirt tightening. 

"Damian," she breathed. I groaned deep in my throat at the way my name rolled off her tongue, as if she was meant to be speaking it the whole time. I nipped at her neck, hearing how a small whimper left her lips. 

Everything about her was intoxicating, the way she smelled, the way she breathed. Fuck, even the way she spoke, so careless and confident. 

I had noticed how many of the men had stared at her constantly, how they had the damn nerve to ask about her. My eyes met hers once again, hooded with desire. 

"Kiss me, Damian," she whispered. 

I wanted to. I fucking wished I could. Instead, I pushed myself away from her, now leaning against the wall across from her. A frown formed on her beautiful face, a mask of confusion now covering it. 

I wanted to say so many fucking things, but I opted for saying what was safest.

"If you think that this will be the way that will stop me from firing you, Ms. Cruz, you are wrong. This doesn't change anything."

She gaped at me, a look of hurt on her eyes. She was always so transparent, never able to hide what she felt. I saw that she wanted to say something and to avoid it, I turned around and walked away.

******

ELIANA

I looked at the mirror for a long time. My makeup was intact yet the flustered look on my face couldn't be hidden. I wanted him,  I wouldn't lie about that. And I thought he wanted me.

"Stupid little girl," I spoke to woman whose reflection I saw in the mirror. The woman that I was allowing to feel something for a man who would never take her seriously or like much other than a game.

The reasonable part of me wasn't surprised by his rejection. What else could have happened? Did I actually believe he would kiss me? Did I actually believe he desired me the way I did him?

Taking a deep breath I stood up tall and made my way back to the crowd. My tactic had worked, everyone was having fun and dancing now. Except for me.

Ezra spotted me and with the same flirtatious smile as before took my hand so that we could dance. We didn't speak, just danced to the music. I felt the stress of what happened disappearing with each and every one of my movements, letting a carefree feeling invade my senses.

"You pulled off an interesting action, Eliana." His grin told me that he was more than content with what I had done.

"Of course," I smiled. "Someone needed to lighten you people up."

"Except for Damian, of course, right?" He gestured towards Damian who was now speaking to a woman yet his eyes were set on us. "Just keep dancing," Ezra whispered giving me a wink. "I saw you two sneak off," he explained. "First thing he did was take a drink so I figured things didn't go well."

"Aren't you nosy?"

He shrugged the question off with a smirk.

"Well, would you rather dance with me or with one of the creeps out here?"

"Neither."

No more words were spoken as we danced. By the time I wad ready to leave my feet were in pain. I took off my heels not caring what the rich people might have thought and said goodbye to Margie who was resting in the quiet kitchen with Caroline. Both women were ready to go rest despite the music still being loud.

Mr. Novax followed behind Santiago and I, preventing me from leaving. They said a quick goodbye before he asked to speak to me in private.

I went into defense mode, not willing to let his words hurt me again. Try as I might, I knew I was infatuated with him. Something told me he was with me, too.

"Do you need tips on more great music?" I asked, sarcastically. "Or information on how not be an asshole to the women you want to fuck?"

Guilt was present in his eyes, though it disappeared soon. He shook off the thought of whatever he was going to say, instead letting out a deep sigh. 

"What, Mr. Novax? All of a sudden you have nothing to say?"

"Nothing at all," he replied. "That will never happen again, do you understand? Just focus on doing your job, and stop making my life miserable.."

I had made that decision already. I would push away everything I felt, all the bits of desire and curiosity would disappear. "I will," I said with confidence. "I won't get near you again."

******

I tossed and turned that night, unable to find any sleep. Deciding that there was no way I would sleep, I made my way to Santiago's bedroom. 

"Thiago?" I knocked gently on his door. When I received no answer, I opened it only to find him deep asleep. "Thiago?" I knelt in front of his bed. He felt my presence and stirred, his hands rubbing his sleepy eyes.

"Eliana... are you okay? What's wrong?"

"I can't sleep," I whispered, feeling like a silly child. He frowned but moved to the other side of the bed. I laid down next to him, leaning on to his chest just like we used to when we were younger. 

"Are you okay?" He asked again.

"Yes," I whispered. "I just don't want to be alone."

"Hmm... Are you going to tell me what's bothering you?"

I shook my head. I wasn't sure how to tell him that I was catching feelings for my boss. Santiago pressed a kiss on my head and squeezed me tighter to him. "My Eliana... You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"Thank you, Santiago. I love you."

"Me too... Now go to sleep. I don't want to deal with your bad temper if you can't sleep."

I settled almost immediately. All I needed was comfort, I told myself. A new day was full of new opportunities.

******

A/N:  Denial, denial, such an evil little friend.

Thoughts?  It seemed like for a moment there he was going to let himself let go, Eliana was more than eager ^.^

I HATED DESPACITO, btw. But, this song makes me want to get up and dance. Might be my Latina roots, lol. 

Thank you for reading :)

-Luz