Quote of the day: keep on trying even if it seems like your efforts are not paying off believe me every step is worth it.

   Greg watched every expression that was being displayed on her face, he guess this was one of those times when she was an open book. She looked sad, and there was this look of regret, at this point he didn't know what to make of this lady sitting in front of him. Just yesterday she wanted to leave at all means, now he was giving her the chance to, she had this look.

    "Is the person coming in immediately? I can fill up for the person until he or she is ready, and I can also help train the person you know," Ashley said looking at everywhere except his face. He couldn't hide the smile that started to spread over his face.

   "Sorry, but she resumed work today since you didn't show up. I really can't do everything on my own," he said wanting to mess with her more.

   "That fast! its like you have been wanting me to leave all this while and didn't say anything," she said loudly, now staring into his eyes with anger.

   "Yeah maybe..."

   "But just yesterday you didn't want me to resign..." Ashley asked sounding a little bit hurt now. He looked into her hazel eyes, it looked hurt too. He started feeling guilty at that point, but still felt like messing with her, at least for the stress she had put him through today.

    "Well I changed my mind just like you."

   "There is a reason for that," she said.

  "Care to tell me?" he asked and he saw her retreat back into her self, like what was she hiding. He wanted to ask her but decided not to probe her, "well I was just messing with you, I definitely wouldn't have gotten another secretary on such short notice and moreover I like you as my secretary. I want no one else."

   "For real!" she squealed suddenly happy.

  "Yes," he answered with a smile. She was happy he could tell by the way she smiled and within the twinkle of an eye she was hugging him, although seated he could feel every bit of her and, at first he didn't know what to do, he was shocked.

   "Thank you, for giving me a second chance," Ashley said and it seems like she was crying. For some weird reasons he felt that the words meant something else, he wrapped his arms around her feeling some sort of comfort in her arms and damn the fucking attraction. He knew he was attracted to her before, but he didn't know how bad it was. He was so used to pissing her off, that he thought for some reasons he had managed to conquer his attraction towards her... Now the question was did she also feel the same way?

  "Wow, I didn't know I had become an essential part of your life," he said jokingly. She pulled away from him at that and he kinda wished he hadn't spoken, cause he immediately missed her warmth.

  "I'm so sorry Mr Marshall I didn't mean to," she stood up; he couldn't miss the blush that was creeping up her face.

   "So now it is back to Mr Marshall."

  "I just..."

  "Never mind," he stood up and walked up to her. "Don't you think you should make it up to me, because of you I couldn't really work, and now since I'm here;you have the privilege of making my day." He knew fully well that she wouldn't agree and will send him out of her house on the first chance she gets, but he still tried.

   She gave him a quizzical look, "so what would you like to do today?" she gave the brightest smile possible. The smile was so genuine and pretty that he couldn't take his eyes off her.

   "Anyone who saw you now would think you had been waiting for this your whole life." He smiled at her.

   "Its just that I feel we both need this, this can be our impromptu day off... But," she had this look on her face like she was rethinking and he thought she was going to withdraw her offer. "Spending the day off with your boss...is that really a day off, we can just pretend we are working."

  He felt relieved, there is no particular reason but he would love to spend the day with her.

   "So what do you suggest we do?" she turned to walk to her kitchen, he looked at her as she walked. This woman was way too curvaceous for his liking, not that he was complaining. The blue cotton gown she wore did no part in hiding how feminine and sexy her body was, he started fantasizing about how it would feel to have her body close to his, her upper body was a little slender but she wasn't slim. She had all the curves in the right places, her hips was well defined giving her ass the defining shape of a goddess.

   "You are not talking Greg," Ashley said turning to face him now with a half eaten sandwich in hand. She let out a gasp; she must have noticed the heated gaze he was giving her, and he really couldn't tell now if she felt flattered by it or not.

   "There is only one thing I want to do now..." he said taking slow steps closer to her. He kinda expected her to move back but she didn't and he liked that, he cupped her face when he got to her front.

  "And what will that be dear old Mr Marshall?" she said with a smirk, there was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

  He leaned closer towards her, his brain kept on telling him not to, but he needed to find something out and she wasn't moving back clearly she also wanted this. "This..." in one swift motion he captured her lips with his in a kiss. What he meant to be a quick kiss ended up as more when he felt her lips. They were so soft and tasted divine, she relaxed into him and kissed him with as much energy as he had. He wasn't expecting her to react that way but was he complaining. He traced his hands down to her waist and pressed her body into his, she let out a gasp as she felt his arousal pressing into her, this only allowed him more entry into her mouth. He felt her hands on his chest as they made their way up to his hair then she pulled away slowly, he painfully pulled away from her too and looked into her eyes.

   Her eyes were clouded with wants and desires. He smiled, he had gotten his answer, she was also attracted to him. Now what should he do? Should he act on it? His Hands were still on her waist, she dropped her hands on his chest, and dropped her gaze also looking at the floor. He wondered if there was something interesting on the floor or was she shy? He got his answer as he saw how red her face had become. He for one wasn't expecting that, he didn't know Ashley could be shy.

  "What..."

   "That shouldn't have happened," Ashley said cutting him shut. She stepped back from him and rested on the kitchen counter.

  "Why would you say so?" He asked her, not quite understanding her. "Well, I just found out that you want me also, don't you?" He walked up to her and she stopped him with her hands.

  "This is not just about wants and desires."

  "Then what is it about? Care to enlighten me."

  "Well for one you are my boss."

  "And we won't be the first boss and employee to have that type of relationship," he said casually.

  "And moreover you have a girl who thinks of you as a fiance."

  "A girl that... " he was about questioning her then he remembered Nora, and how she had claimed him for a fiance when she came to his office. He decided not to say anything concerning Nora, he knew Ashley was curious about who Nora was but he won't give her the joy of knowing and moreover he didn't want to talk about Nora. "Who said anything about acting on our attraction, I just wanted to find out if you felt the same way, that was why I kissed you... Nothing more." It was partially the truth. He didn't want to push her to the verge of resigning again.

   "Oh really," she said with a quizzical look.

"Yes."

  "So this won't happen again."

"I can't promise you that... " he saw her face turn into a scowl. "What can I do with you looking all sexy I really... Okay okay I will try." He raised his hands in mock surrender.

______________________________________

  "So what do you suggest we do?" Ashley asked all cheerful. She was trying her best not to look the least bit nervous, since her nerves were still up from the way he had kissed her earlier. She wanted to look passive about the whole issue and was failing miserably.

   "You should think of something," Greg said casually sitting down on one of the three chairs in the kitchen. "There is only one thing I will love to do with you but we both, Okay okay."

  "How about we cook something, and you can stay and have dinner here after we are done."

  "That sounds great," he said with a genuine smile, but she knew there was a 'but' coming. "But..." and she said it, "I'm really clueless when it comes to cooking." A sheepish smile formed on his face.

  She laughed, "okay you can just assist with the little things, and you can watch too, maybe you will learn a few things." She started moving around the kitchen putting out every ingredients she would need.

   "So what are you gonna cook?" Greg asked still seated. He looked a little bit interested as he pulled at his tie lightly like it wasn't loose enough.

   "I'm going to cook Consommé," she said with a proud smile. That dish wasn't easy to make, it took a whole month to finally get a hang of it, and in all those days she and Chloe had been subjected to eating every silly trash she made until she finally learnt it.

   "Never heard of that," Greg said with a confused look.

  "It is a clear soup made from meat..." Ashley tried explaining but when she saw the lost look on his face she was forced to ask, "you don't know anything about cooking right?"

  "I'm not a fan," he shrugged.

  "Ohh not a fan... I see, will you get up and get me some tomatoes from the fridge, you should atleast know what tomatoes looks like."

   "Really, I'm not a recluse." He got up and got her what she needed. They started working on the dish, he was mostly messing everything up, never has she seen her kitchen so messed up, but it was fun all the same. They joked about almost everything, and they ended up spending longer time on the dish than she expected.

   "Help me with this plates, Greg," she said to him, he came over to pick the plates, and arranged them on the table.

   Ashley stood there watching him, even the littlest thing he does seemed to exhibit his masculine process. He had pulled off his suit and his poor tie, his black shirt was rolled up at the sleeves now and the first two buttons were opened.

   "Ashley... " she heard his voice so close to her, she looked up and saw him at her front, when did he get there? "I know how irresistible I am but the doorbell has been ringing..."

  she scurried away to the door embarrassed to have been caught staring. She heard him chuckling lightly behind her.

  She got to the door and opened it to see Chloe looking all tired and worn out meaning, the great Chloe forgot her key again, suddenly her face lit up. "Is that Consommé I smell?" Chloe walked past her not even muttering a greeting. Ashley followed her inside and saw her walk right into the kitchen only for her to stop at the sight of Greg arranging the food on the table, "oh my God... Consommé and Mr hotty."

   "Welcome home Chloe," Greg smiled at her sitting down at the table.

    "Wow so you both took the day off to..." Ashley dragged her to sit down before she said anything to embarrass her.

  "Let's just eat," she said sitting down next to Chloe. Just as she started serving the food, she heard a phone ringing.

  "Oh I have to pick this call," Greg said excusing himself, now she was at the mercy of Chloe.

   "Please Chloe later..." Ashley said before she started her questioning. Chloe gave her a look of 'now you are in my trap no escaping,' before smiling.

  "Okay... As long as it is the full gist."

   Ashke rolled her eyes at Chloe. After some minutes Greg walked in, they hadn't started eating, since it would be rude to without waiting for him. He had a look of urgency in his eyes.

    "I'm sorry ladies, seems you will have to eat without me... There is an urgent matter I have to attend to," he said with a look as sorry as his voice.

  "Is everything okay?" She asked although her subconscious told her not to.

   "Nora is sick, and she kinda needs me," he said. It wasn't what she had expected to hear, she began to wonder who Nora was to him. "Bye Chloe... Ashley, thanks for today," he gave a genuine smile and walked out hurriedly. She concluded that Nora must be really important to him.

   "Hmmm..." she heard Chloe's voice beside her and wanted to just run, "so he said thanks for today, what have you both being up to that he is so thankful for?" She smirked

  Now tonight will be a long night.

Chapter ten. I hope you loved it, you know what to do, right? *winks*
  Mary Aden.