WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE AND ADULT CONTENT.

The day of the ball was a bit of a whirlwind. Going through my mental checklist to make sure I hadn't forgotten anything; I still feel manic making sure everything is perfect. Alec had been telling me for weeks that it would be fine. I know that he is right, but I don't want to screw this up. This is my first big event, and I never know when his father will show up. I need everything to be perfect.

Stepping out of my office to grab something from the copier, two interns are in mid-conversation. Immediately they stop talking as I come into the room and glance at each other oddly. It's super awkward. The hushed whispers are getting rather annoying around here. If I go to the restroom or go grab coffee, I hear people talking, and when I approach them, they scatter like bugs.

Asking Alec is mute. He acts as though he doesn't see them, or maybe he doesn't care. Either way, like I said, it's annoying.

Turning off the light to my office, I'm about to close the door, when I hear two interns talking in the hallway about Alec. I can't hear what they are saying, but one of them sees me and smiles. They stop talking and say goodnight. What the hell is going on?

I am meeting Alec at his apartment to get ready for the party. Maybe tonight with the masks I can find out something. Oh no....the masks. I completely forgot the masks. I text Alec and let him know. He texts me back that he has it taken care of. Ugh. What would I do without him?

As I am about to walk to Alec's apartment, a man in a suit stops me outside the door of the Media building.

"Miss Thomas?" he asks.

"Yes," I answer, looking at him oddly.

"This way." He says, moving to the black SUV.

What the hell?

"I'm sorry?" I ask. I'm not cool getting in the car with people I don't know.

"Sorry, ma'am. I'm going to take you to Mr. Lockhard's apartment. I'm your driver for the evening." he motions. "This way please".

Jesus, Alec. A little warning. I sometimes think he forgets that I am not accustomed to this kind of thing, and sometimes I forget that he has money, like a lot of it. He doesn't act like he has money, so it often slips my mind. He isn't the kind of guy to flaunt or brag about it. He is humble, and I love that about him. He never makes me feel less than. I'm pretty sure that everyone at the office was eating this shit up, being picked up by his driver bit, for tomorrow's lunchroom gossip though. Sighing, I sit back against the leather seat.

Arriving at his apartment, my heartbeat quickens as I ascend the floors in the elevator.

I know I saw him a few hours ago, but I can't get enough of him. His presence makes me feel safe.

Hearing the shower when I come in the apartment, I sit my things on the chair in the entryway, shedding my work clothes, and making my way to the shower. He is probably expecting me, but that's fine. Opening the door, I find the bathroom empty, but the bathroom is full of steam. I climb in the shower. I'll wait for him here. The hot water feels heavenly after the day that I've had.

Standing under the hot stream, losing track of all else, I don't hear Alec slip into the shower. When he slips his arms around me, I resist a squeal. We are often catching each other off guard like this with things.

"Busy day?" he asks kissing my neck and caressing my shoulders.

"Yeah. It was a weird day."

"Weird?" he asked pulling my back against the front of his chest. "Weird how?"

"Yeah, weird. Everyone talking in hushed whispers like normal, but every time I walked into a room, they all left like I had the plague."

Alec sighs.

"What?" I ask as I rinse the conditioner out of my hair.

"It's the "other things" I haven't gotten to talk to you about," he says.

Raising my eyebrows, I grab a towel. This doesn't sound like a conversation I want to have in the shower.

"Okay. So what? Everyone knows except for me?" I ask, annoyance clear in my voice.

Alec is still in the shower washing his hair. Maybe he feels safer there. "No. Maybe. I don't know. I don't know who knows and doesn't know. It's my father, so honestly, it's hard to tell."

"Okay then, just tell me. I've asked everyone, and no one will tell me anything."

Without looking at me or missing a beat he says, "I bought the company."

What the fuck?

I am looking right at him, but he can't see me. "What?"

"I bought the company from my father. He is never here and he is running it into the ground anyhow. It's a good decision."

"But I work there," I say.

"I'm aware of this" he laughs. "And," he says.

"And that makes you my boss, Alec," I say. It complicates things significantly, and it pisses me off that he is brushing it off like it's nothing.

"So what?" he says, grabbing a towel.

"What do you mean, so what? You know what everyone is going to say." I know I'm borderline whining, but I want him to acknowledge my feelings.

"Let them then. People are going to talk regardless. That's what they do." he is standing in front of me wrapped in a towel, dripping wet, a distraction.

Wrapping the towel around myself and crossing my arms over my chest, I hope I look intimidating.

"Baby," he says pulling me into his arms. "I won't be swayed by some gossip queens at work. "I love you. You are damn good at your job. If they want to talk, then let them. If they don't stop, I'll fire them." he says, kissing my forehead.

"Alec!" I'm serious and he is making this a joking matter.

"Kidding" he smiles. "Sort of." Looking up at him I don't know what to say or how to feel. I feel like I am in a whirlwind. Alec wasn't part of the plan. His buying the company was not in the plan.

"Can we move on from this now? I had other plans for our shower." he pouts, moving my wet hair from the front of my shoulder so that he can kiss my neck.

"Mmm. That feels nice."

"Does it?" he whispers. Pulling me closer, I can feel he has other ideas.

Sliding my hand to meet what is pressing into my belly, I am welcomed by a low moan from Alec. I never tire of being the one to produce that sound from him.

"What exactly did you have in mind?" I ask him as I slide my hand up and down the silky-smooth skin of his erection.

I feel his fingers between my thighs and anxiously await the pleasure that he delivers. "Ah, so ready for me," He says, running his fingers up and down my thigh.

"Change of plans," he says and possesses my mouth. That want, the need, the fire between us. It's always lingering there.

He grabs me, throws the towel aside, and sets me on the bathroom sink. I discard his towel and wrap my legs around his waist. He slides into me with ease. He fills me and it feels heavenly. Throwing my head back, I relish feeling every inch of him.

His pace is quick, but he reaches down between us, and I feel his fingers on the bud of my sex. "Holy fuck, Alec" I cry out. It is so much sensation that I don't think I can stand it. "Alec, I can't" I breathe out.

"Yes, baby." he breathes into my ear. He bites my neck. "Let it out. I want it all. Every fucking bit of you." When he bites me again, I am overcome with the most intense orgasm that I have ever experienced. Realizing that I am crying out and my nails are scratching down his back, I feel Alec tense as he loses himself in me.

Both of us are breathing hard and panting as we try to collect ourselves and come back to reality.  Sill on the counter and Alec leaning against the shower, his eyes closed, I realize I could spend the rest of my life looking at him like that.

Hopping off the counter, and walking up to him, I lean into him before he can see the look on my face. I don't want him to know what I'm thinking. He knows that I love him, yes. I don't want him to know how much. It won't be good for either of us. I always get hurt. Always. He is in the middle of a business venture, and at the peak of his career. He has a lot of things going for him, and the last thing he needs is the hot mess that is me, messing it all up for him.

Sensing something is amiss, he wraps his arms around me. "You, okay?" he asks looking down at me.

'Mhmm" I say and kiss his chest. "We better get ready." I give him my best, "I'm okay" smile.

Raising an eyebrow and shaking his head, he kisses me and walks toward the bedroom.

Maybe looking at a few other positions at other companies might not be a bad idea.  It is something that I am going to do after tonight's ball. 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> CONTINUE TO CHAPTER 18 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>