"Please stop," she whispered as soon as he removed his lips from hers.
Tears had welled up in her eyes as he looked at her worry written all over his face. Slowly releasing her he stepped away from her as she looked away from him. Running his hands through his hair he cursed over his actions. This was not how he wanted their first kiss to be like.
"I'm sorry Esther," he said softly as she did not look at him.
"Just leave," she said not looking at him.
"Esther I..."
"Please," she whispered.
The manner she said that one word tore at his heart as he left her apartment as requested.

————

She liked Jacob but her main concern was opening her heart to another man only to have it ripped into shreds.
The kiss he had initiated in the pharmacy was still fresh in her mind. So good and satisfying had it been to see Ben shocked as another man showed her affection, and now this.

———

A few days passed by with Jacob not showing up as usual.
On the third day she heard a knock on her door. Using the walking stick she went to answer the door and found him looking miserable and drunk.
"I'm sorry Esther," he said leaning on the door. "I shouldn't have kissed you without your permission. I just wanted to do so, so badly," he said as her neighbor passed by.
"Jake come inside," she said waving at her neighbor.
He stepped inside and watched as she closed the door.
"It wasn't my fault I kissed you," he said looking at her seriously.
"Go sit on the couch Jake," she whispered as he turned to walk towards the couch.
Bringing him a bottle of water she watched as he drank thirstily.
"I can't help the fact that I like you. When I saw that douchebag I just had to show him what he had lost. You are a good person Esther. Do you know that? You are a good person," he said as she smiled at him.
"Jake why don't you lie down and rest," she said as he removed his shoes. Laying on the couch she covered him up with a blanket.

—————

As she nursed a cup of tea the following morning she couldn't help but smirk seeing him walk into the kitchen holding his head before becoming serious.
"Good morning," he said in a gruff voice as she looked at him.
"Please let that be the first and last time I see you drunk," she said pointing at the glass of water and pain killers. "Apology accepted," she added as he took the pills.
"Yes ma'am," he said taking a seat.

She handed him a plate of eggs and toast and a cup of tea before taking her seat once more to finish up her own breakfast.
"Can we be friends at least," he said looking at her.
"I would like that," she smiled as he smiled at her happy to see her smiling once more.

————

"So you don't like people knowing who you are," she said before licking her ice cream cone as they strolled through the park.
"Hmmm I hate the way the paparazzi interferes with peoples lives," he said with a frown.
"I see. They are rather a pesky bunch right," she laughed as he took her hand in his.
"Yes. And you don't like being called boss," he said making her laugh.
"How do you know that?"
"Well ever since the restaurant opened I noticed how your staff reacted when I asked where the boss was on several encounters," he said.
"Very observant," she said looking up at him as they stopped by a bench before they took their seats.
"Have dinner with me this evening. I really enjoy talking to you," he said as he watched her eat her ice cream.
"Is that how you ask a girl to join you for an outing?" She questioned with a raised brow as his cheeks turned pink.
"May I have the pleasure of your company this evening angel," he said with a charming smile.

Laughing at his response to her question she nodded her head yes winning a wide smile from him.
"Well if we are going to dinner then I guess I need to go prepare," she said standing up excitedly.
"Hmmm not really," he said reaching for her hand pulling her back to the bench as she looked at him in confusion. "I just want to enjoy this with you," he said as he looked at the couples walking around and families laughing.
Without another word they watched the people around them in content.

————

Knocking on her door she opened the door to see him looking dashing in a tux as he smiled at her. He had simply asked her to wear a formal gown. What he hadn't told her was that they were attending a company dinner.
Though she wanted to ask questions she let it be and enjoy his company. She smiled looking up at him as he raised her hand placing a kiss on it making her turn away with a shy smile.

"Let me get my purse," she whispered as he smiled looking at her.

"You look breathtaking," he said gently making her stop as she turned to him with a smile.

"You don't look half bad yourself," she said making him chuckle. "I don't know what suites you more, formal or casual wear. You seem to pull off both looks well," she said as she made her way to him holding her purse.

"Thank you," he said with a laugh as he took her hand in his after she had locked up her apartment.

-----------

"I thought we were going to a restaurant," she said seeing him driving away from the city.

"Do not worry love, you will eat to your hearts content were we are going," he said as he focused on the road taking a turn.

Turning towards two large gates she watched as they swung open as two guards waved at them from a booth.