Lily

I knock on Mr. Acquire's door happily and wait for him to open it. About a minute later, the door opens and I blush deeply at his appearance.

His wavy black hair that was usually parted down with gel is now moved around messily. Eye boogers filled the corner of his beautiful emerald eyes. His toned chest was exposed and the gray sweatpants he was wearing hung low.

I swallow hard as he runs a hand through his hair. I wish I could make his chest my permanent pillow. I fidget with the fabric of my dress nervously at the thought.

Lord have mercy, Lily. You did not go to church every day for sixteen years just to think like this.

He rubs his eyes, "What are you doing here, Ms. Hernandez?" He asks, his voice deeper than normal and I just know my heart is doing cartwheels.

I rub my necklace to try to calm my racing heart. It doesn't work not one bit but I still do it.

"The office is being remodeled, remember? You gave me your address on Friday so we can work here instead."

He opens the door wider and yawns. "Right, yeah. Come in."

I walk inside and my eyes widen. Mama's house is nothing nothing compared to this.

My Lord, he's attractive and rich. Lily, you might as well just give up, sugar.

"I knew you were loaded, but goodness gracious, muffin! This is practically a mansion!"

He shuts the door as I stare at his entrance in shock. Pretty crystal chandelier lights hang above me and sparkly white tiles sit underneath my feet. I walk further and enter a living room and my mouth goes agape. Beautiful high arch windows covered with gray curtains. Three brown plaid sofas with heavy oak arms sit in front of a small glass table that probably costs more than my entire existence. A forty-two inch television hangs against the white, polished wall. A bookcase neatly stocked with paperbacks sits on the side of it and a China cabinet on the side of the bookcase.

I looked around some more of his house and counted a total of five rooms. One gym, his bedroom that he doesn't let me see, his office, and two guest rooms. But there is one thing that catches my attention the most. The silence.

No sound fills the house, besides my sandals against the floor. Not even the sounds that houses make: air-conditioning, or furnace, or the stairwell creaking, or the frig cycling on; nothing but a silence. That resolution saddens my heart.

I search for him and find him in the kitchen. He stands at a coffee pot with his back turned to me.

"Your home is just wonderful, muffin! It's a shame you live a-" I gasp, seeing a pull-out faucet. "I've always wanted one of these!"

I rush to it and smile happily. Man oh man, I've always dreamed of having one of these bad boys.

"A sink?" He asks, holding a coffee cup in his hand and leaning against the sink.

"Mm-hmm. Mama and Diddy couldn't afford it when I was a kid and when I got my own place, by the time I could pay for one I had to take care of mama."

I turn the faucet on and Mr. Acquire puts his cup down with a panicked expression. "Lily, n-"

I press a button, thinking it wouldn't do anything, but it begins to shoot out water. My mouth goes agape and I sit in the sink to try to stop it. Instead, it only turns to the side and splashes all over Muffin.

He lifts me out of the sink and presses a black button to turn it off. I bite my nails nervously as he stares at me with a nasty scowl.

"I am so sorry, Muffin! I didn't mean it, I swear. "

He wipes his face and wipes the water from his chest. My eyes immediately darted to it and I gulped. I know I shouldn't be looking at my boss like that, but darn it, I just can't help it.

"Lily." He deadpans. I direct my attention away from his chest.

He said my first name again!

"Yes, sir?"

"Get the hell out of my kitchen."

I quickly hop off the counter and walk out of the kitchen before he can yell at me. On my way out, I glance back and see him cleaning off the counter.

I walk around curiously, touching random items and entering guest rooms until there is one room I hadn't noticed. I glance back to see if Mr. Boss is watching me before opening the door and stepping inside.

I gasp, seeing an at home gym. Three treadmills line up against the wall, different kinds of weights, benches and even a water station.

My goodness, I've always wanted one of these rooms!

Certainly not to work out. Oh goodness no. I think I would just go on and break all the bones in my body if I tried to lift one of the big boy weights.

I look back again before walking to one of the treadmills. It couldn't be that hard, right?

I step on it and press start. I smile and pat the treadmill. "See, we're doing just fine, sugar!" A nickname comes to my mind as I jog and my smile grows. "Milly! Your nickname is Milly!"

I turn the speed up a little every two minutes until I feel like I'm flying off of it. I grip the handles harshly, trying to not fall and begin panicking.

Lily, look what you done along and got yourself into.

I feel my legs start to give up and grow tired. When my hands start to slip, I screech loudly. "I'm bout' to die!"

I shake my head, panicking, "Oh my wonderful Lord, oh please don't let me die yet. I didn't even get to say goodbye to my precious Vivo." I whisper to God.

"For fuck's sakes, why can't you stay out of trouble for five minutes?" I turn to the side, finding Mr. Acquire walk in.

He snatches me off the treadmill and I smile happily, breathing a sigh of relief. Throwing my arms around him, I hug him tightly.

"Oh bless your heart! You saved my life, Muffin!"

He pulls me off of him as my heart rate starts to return to normal. "There should be a warning for you. Caution: extremely fucking clumsy woman." He grumbles and I laugh.

I walk to the weights. "You made a joke! See, you are warming up to me, Dumplin'!"

"Get away from the weights."

I scoff, "I ain't a child! I can handle a weight just fine." I fidget with my fingers, using Diana's brilliant technique for lying. "Besides, Diddy used to have a small blue dumbbell. One time I dropped it on my foot and got a nasty scar."

"I do not care."

I ignore his rudeness, used to it by now, "Want to see it?" I take my right sandal off and push my foot closer to him. The scar was a bit disgusting as it looked like a big fat pimple.

He looks at it and gags, covering his mouth. "Lily, fuck, that's gross." He says, turning away and I giggle before putting my sandals back on.

My attention goes back to the weights. I unloosen my leather belt and pull up my jeans a little. Squeezing my tush in, I rub my hands together. "If you ain't bendin', you ain't spendin'!" I shout in a deep voice.

Muffin comes closer, "What?"

"If you want to lose the weight, you've got to stop the hate!"

"Stop it."

I thrust my hips, "If you want to go up that hill you've got to use the treadmill!"

A small smile forms on his face and he turns away, trying to play off like he isn't. "Alright, that was a good one."

I smile proudly. "Why thank you."

I bend down to pick up a big boy's weight but before I can, Mr. Boss moves in front of me. "Pick the weight up, Lily. See what'll happen. I fucking dare you." He warns, and I gulp.

Lord have mercy, I'm not supposed to find that attractive, but I do.

My heart beats faster at the tone of his voice and I stand on my tippy toes, "Is that a threat?" I whisper and cover my mouth at this sudden boldness I am feeling.

I stand straight and clear my throat. "I am so sorry. I don't know what got into me, Mr. Boss. It was just you smell so good and my goodness, you're so good looking. I mean, of course, not in a perverted way. But in a none s-"

He leans forward, his gorgeous lips inches away from mine. "Touch the weights, and your ass is mine. Got it?" He asks, rubbing his thumb on my bottom lip. I nod and he grins before walking away.

I can't wait to tell Vivo about this!

For the next few hours, Muffin and I worked together in his living room. This week he told me to put aside my other work, and focus on the details for the fundraiser. If we can raise enough money from that, he'll finally be able to start working on the casino.

When lunch rolls around, after begging him and promising to be quiet for ten minutes, he orders Chinese food. We continue working for the remainder of the day until I'm officially off.

"Ooh, can I see your bedroom?"

"No." He immediately replies

I frown, "Well why not?"

"Because it's none of your goddamn business what my bedroom looks like."

I nod and stand up from the couch. "Sorry."

Don't cry, Lily. Don't cry.

Mama told me I never had a reason to cry unless I was dying. She said I was far too sensitive, and I needed to grow up. I was twelve at the time and always cried when diddy left. But I listen to her now. The only time I cry is when mama hits me.

I start walking to the door and hear Muffin groan. "Fine." He mumbles, and I quickly rush to his room. "Slow down!" He shouts as I reach his room eagerly.

After catching up to me, he opens the door slowly. When it's opened all the way, I step inside with a smile. The first thing I notice is the electric cord and bat sitting neatly on his bed.

I laugh, "Why are these on the bed?"

He scratches the back of his head. "Uh, these are my top security weapons. Gun is hidden safely. But I have them both so I can choose between the two, you know?"

He laughs awkwardly and looks away. I smile, noticing he is nervous. Nervous Muffin is just the most adorable person I've ever seen. It's very rare for Nervous Muffin to come out, so I cherish every moment of it.

"Can I try?"

"No." He replies as he picks up the bat. I smile and clap happily.

"Alright, repeat my actions." He stands on the side of me. "You came to the wrong house, motherfucker!" He says, pointing the bat at the door.

I nod and take it from him. "You came to the wrong house, mother fricker!"

He looks at me in disappointment. "No. Just no."

I laugh and try speaking in a deep voice, "You tried the wrong house, mother fricker!" I add more anger to it and look at him, seeing if that is good.

"Let's try it. But don't actually hit me, okay?" He responds, standing behind his door.

"Okay! On three."

I blow a breath and crack my neck. "One... tw-"

"Hand over the money who-"

I scream and hit him in the stomach with the bat. "Goodness gracious, you scared me!"

He falls to the ground, "Fuck." He groans, holding his stomach. "You weren't supposed to actually hit me, Lily."

"I said on three. Why did you go on two?"

"Why did it matter?"

"Because no one goes on two, Muffin! You always go on three!" I reply, rubbing my necklace to calm my racing heart.

When I notice he is hurt, I bend down to his level and rub his back. "Oh you poor thing, I am so sorry." I try to lift him up but fail.

He holds a hand out, "It's fine. I'm fine, Ms. Hernandez."

"No you're not. Here I've got you sugar."

I help him on the bed and sit beside him. I start to feel my eyes water, seeing the awful thing I have done. I wipe my eyes aggressively, "I am just so sorry, Muffin! Look what I've done! You must hate me."

"I'm alright, Lily. Seriously."

I shake my head, "No, no. Let me take a look."

I lift his shirt slightly before he can object. Seeing a small scar has already appeared on his stomach, I wince.

Maybe this is why nobody wants to call me.

I touch it and he grunts, "Sorry!" I hurriedly get up and rush to the bathroom. Grabbing a warm towel before I return. I rest it on him gently.

When his eyes begin to close, I touch his hand. "I truly am sorry, sugar."

He grabs my other hand and stares at me with a glare. "Drop it. I said I'm fine. Go home."

After some hesitation, I stood up. Good lordy, he acts like such an old man.

I chuckle to myself and wave him goodbye, "Goodnight, Muffin!"

"Goodnight, Lily."

I turn around in shock. "Would you look at that!"

He never said, 'Goodnight, Lily'. It's always either no reply or, 'Goodnight, Ms. Hernandez'. But tonight he said it!

"No. Don't hug m-"

I run back and hug him tightly, rocking side to side. "You're going soft on me!"

He takes my arms off of him, "Get out of my house Lily." He grumbles and turns away.

I giggle, walking out of his room and shutting the light off. The smile drops from my face as I get closer to his front door.

Oh shucks. I've got a big fat crush on my boss and I know he couldn't possibly feel the same.