I'd never been one to sneak around, not even as a child. I could never sneak an extra biscuit or even sneak out the house as a teenager. Why? Because I was useless and apparently my face was my biggest give away.

In fact my most successful sneaking had been hiding in a bush from Aaron. Only then I was spotted by a woman and asked if I was okay and if I needed help, probably wondering if I was drunk or high. So I guess I could never consider myself a professional.

Until now.

I had just been released for lunch, having ran up the stairs and crept into the coat room to collect my lunch box. Knowing Alec had been holed up in the office for the majority of the time, and wanted to have lunch, I did what I considered was the best for everyone. And that was hide. I had time to check my phone to see a missed call from Aaron, but I had 2 men to deal with here, I didn't want to add a third. Not today. No matter how much I wanted to speak to him.

Creeping out the cloak room, I darted across the landing and snuck out onto the roof. Nobody ever ventured up here many because they enjoyed the cosy break room with a television and table tennis. I just wanted peace. Seeing my favourite little spot at the small picnic bench placed up there by Andy, I walked across and sat down pushing my lunch box away from me. It only consisted of a sandwich and a yoghurt but I hadn't been shopping. Something I had to do tonight when I finished work. I begrudgingly brought the lunchbox back in front of me and opened it to the cucumber sandwich.

Don't judge.. It's all I had in.

"Well that looks appetising." A voice spoke making me spin in my seat. Alec was stood leaning against the side of the ventilation system looking pleased with himself.

I turned back around and focused on poking the sandwich, I wasn't a great fan of cucumber.

"So, you ditched me for lunch for... A cucumber sandwich. Ms Luna you are very daring." He teased sitting opposite me.

I shook my head lightly trying to block out the mouth watering mint. How does he always smell so good? His cologne only enhanced the flavours which inevitably caused my mouth to salivate.

"Is this were you ignore me? Perhaps we could break the tension by having rough angry sex on the picnic table?" He suggested making me choke on the oxygen I was breathing.

The reaction amused him enough to sit forward and fold his fingers together.

"Are you blushing Ms Luna?"

I sighed giving up my own silent act "What do you want Mr Williams?"

He pouted at my response "It's Alec."

"Fine." I answered looking down at my yoghurt, toffee. I couldn't have picked a worse combination,  cucumber and toffee. But as quick as I looked at it, was as quick as Alec had picked it up and threw it across the roof. My eyes followed to see it hit the ground and bust open.

I was glad to see the back of it. But now I was left with a shitty sandwich.

"Are you out of your mind?!" I hissed looking back at him.

"Maybe. But you aren't going to eat that and I requested your company for Lunch. Now you have no excuse." He smiled pleased with himself.

"I don't waste food Mr Williams. Sorry to disappoint you." I picked up the sandwich in defiance and said a mental prayer that it would taste of something rich, maybe Nutella..

Oh Nutella.

Crunching the cucumber with my teeth I tried to keep a happy face as he watched me with narrowed eyes. They soon turned to amusement as it came to the moment I had to swallow it. I didn't want too, the only other option was to walk around like a gerbil with full cheeks to avoid swallowing it down.

"Enjoying it?" He asked grinning as began to struggle.

I nodded before removing my eyes from his face as my eyes watered. This is ridiculous Luna. Just swallow the damn bread.

Death by cucumber. Jesus wept woman.

I forced it down and dropped the sandwich drinking my water at a rate to ensure the sandwich couldn't fight back.

I gave myself a small victory praise in my mind and went to pick up the rest of it to prove my point when I noticed two birds pecking at some bread. It wasn't until one flipped off the top, I realised my cucumber sandwich had also taken a flying lesson.

I glared at Alec who grinned.

"I hate you so much right now." I muttered pushing the lid on.

"Andy said you have an hour and 20 minutes. Well that's taken 5 so I calculate 75 free minutes to use as you wish."

"And?" I bit annoyed.

"Well I can keep you busy for 60 and you can eat for 15." He replied with a mischievous smirk.

I sucked my cheeks in playing with the label on my bottle. "I don't even know you."

"Well we have 60 minutes to change that." He wiggled his brows.

"I'm at work, I'm not going to fuck you in the restrooms like some cheap tart."

He shifted in his seat still smiling like a damn fool "Well that was incredibly saucy. Tell Ms Luna. Who said we were going to stay in work? I have a car, I could have you back at the hotel in 10 minutes. I'm sure you can force food down in 5 minutes."

"Hmm. But then you'll struggle to finish in 50 minutes, given the fact we have to get back with ten minutes."

"Are you always this stubborn?"

"Only when my cucumber sandwich is given a flying lesson."

"Come." He ordered.

"Takes a little more stimulation then that." I retorted looking at my pecked sandwich on the ground.

It was Alec's turn to cough "Good comeback Ms Luna. With me now. You need food."

***

"This is ridiculous." I whispered folding my arms.

"You remind me of a spoilt teenager. Tell me? Were you an only child?" He asked amused. "Did mommy and Daddy give you everything?"

"This was a bad idea." I replied pushing my chair back to leave.

"Sit. down." He spoke sternly as a few people looked at us. "I mean it."

"You don't tell me what to do." I whispered to him harshly.

His phone landed on the table, turning my eyes to it, I saw myself on the screen and Mark towered over me. "Consider it blackmail with concern. Sit."

I sank back into my seat looking at the white table cloth of the restaurant. "The menu won't read itself." He spoke making me pick one up and slam it on the table a little more forceful than necessary.

"What do you want?" I asked looking up at him.

"For you to pick something to eat, as well as a drink. After that we will speak."

"Am I in trouble?" I asked looking at him.

He shut his eyes and twisted his head visibly annoyed "If the next thing out of your mouth isn't your menu option. I will fill it with what I desire.." He replied opening his eyes to look at me.

I shuddered seeing the primal look in his eye. I looked down at my menu and almost whined..

I looked around seeing we were in an Italian restaurant, but the only thing I knew in Italian was Calamari and that was squid. I wasn't a fan. Heck no.  In fact, I was scared of octopuses, it's the tentacles and yes squids are in that category too!

What as Filetto di Cernia Alla Griglia?

Oh Jesus Christ.. I'm going to end up with side of squid. I had to ask him.. Shit.

"A-" I looked up to see his eyes fixed on me causing my throat to tighten.

"What are you having?" He asked.

"I know you meant earlier as some explicit innuendo of me being on my knees in front of you but this is really important.. I can't read Italian so unless you think I'm bilingual or you hope that I'm not and just wanted me to speak something other than my choice so in fact you could get a blow job, which I guess is a pretty smooth card to play but I am really hungry and I can't read the menu and can't make a choice." I rushed as he lifted his eyebrows.

His hand came across the table and with a flick of his wrist, it was in English.

Let the world swallow me up.

"Better?" He asked amused as my face was burning hot.

"Thank you.."  I mumbled.

Luna for crying out loud! Didn't you check first you idiot?!

When the waiter arrived he smiled at us his eyes lingering on my face, no doubt wondering if I had some bad reaction to the air or serious sunburn.

"What can I get you both?" He asked trying to hold a smile.

"I'll have the Rigatoni Al Manzo Piccante. And Luna?" Alec asked looking up to me.

"I'll have the.. L-Lingweni Carbonara?" I asked looking at the waiter who smiled.

"Linguine." He corrected.

I laughed slightly "Totally said that..."

"Of course." He smiled. "Drinks?"

"Water. Please." I answered taking a small breath of relief as he turned to Alec.

"Water also. Thank you."

The waiter smiled and took out menus before leaving the table.  I waited for Alec to speak but when he failed to do so and simply stared at me, I had to look away.

"You are an extremely attractive woman Luna." He spoke making my eyes flit back to him.

"Uhm..."

"I spoke with Leah, after all I needed someone to extort information from, it seemed she would do anything for an extra day off." He replied slightly amused.

Leah. She sold me out! Just when I thought I could trust her!

"She did not sell you out. I merely sweetened the deal that was already in place, Andy has readjusted the rosters in work. Her mother is sick, she wants to stay with her at the weekends." He informed me.

I guess I said that out loud..

My mind went to Leah and her mom then. Mrs Redford was always a happy lady, in fact when Leah wasn't in, I would help Mrs Redford with her shopping, despite her being super proud and stuck in her ways, I always carried the small basket around the store catching up.

In fact she would always bug me to see if I had found a suitable man yet..

Turns out I was now neck deep in testosterone, and hating it. I wanted to just be alone, with a book and a warm bed and fuzzy socks.

"Luna?" Alec spoke waving a hand in my face.

"Hmm? Sorry." I frowned realising how rude that was.

"She broke her ankle. She is doing okay." He responded.

"Oh, well that's good... N-Not that breaking an ankle is good. Cause I bet it hurts but when people shout break a leg, they don't really mean it cause that would be cruel.. Right?"

"Do you often get these moments? The overthinking, rambling and panicking?"

I shifted in my seat "I- I get panic attacks sometimes. I now have a weird fear of elevators after getting stuck in one with Aa-" I paused thinking of him.

Aaron..

He looked after me that day, we sat on the floor in the elevator watching Star Wars until his phone cut out.

"With some guy." I finished not liking how that sounded on my tongue. He wasn't some guy..

"This guy being Aaron?"

I frowned "How do you know about Aaron?"

"Leah. She was quiet jealous in fact. You work with him when you do the photography right?"

I nodded.

"You never told me why you weren't pleased with it. This morning when Mark interrupted. Is it because of him?"

I shrugged "I guess I read too much into a situation. Thought more of it than.. Than what Aaron did. We were getting on well and then he shoved me away, I just want to know why." I replied.

"So there is still feelings involved?"

I wanted to say no, I wanted to laugh the situation off but if he knew exactly w-

"He's an idiot." Alec said making me look up.  "Really, if he could see what I see."

"I guess you think I'm a gold digging slut now. After last night.." I muttered.

"Not at all. I don't take back anything I have said to you. It's kind of a bittersweet moment. If I'm completely honest."

I frowned. "How so?"

"Well, at least now we know what page we are on, that last thing I wanted to do was have a night of astounding sex and for you to feel plagued with guilt in the morning."

I sighed gently "Why aren't you mad?" I asked.

"Mad? For what? Putting us on the right page. Don't get me wrong, I'd love nothing more than to tear those clothes off you and put you into oblivion. But it's not what your heart desires, is it? How can I be mad at you? You haven't led me on, or used me at all. However I'm openly jealous of this Aaron already."

I smiled "Yeah, well I wouldn't be.."

His brows twitched "He has someone else. Doesn't he? The look in your eye."

I nodded "Seen him with someone yesterday morning. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and a hug."

"And?"

"That was it. She left."

"Did you ask him? Who she was I mean?"

I shook my head instantly "No, no he didn't see me so I can't ask him."

"Could be anyone, friend or family." He reasoned.

"I thought you were on my side Mr Alec." I pouted.

He grinned "Oh I am. Believe me, guess I'm a sucker for unrequited love."

I twisted my head thinking of his reply when our plates arrived. Once the waiter had disappeared Alec got comfortable. "Now, we are gonna eat this, and then you're gonna tell me all about Mark." He replied with a glint in his eye.

The same glint that would be in a wolf's eye as he is baying for blood.