Not edited.

  Anastasia's POV

  It was unreal.. Paris.. Paris? Was that even possible? How could it be possible for me to be walking the streets of Paris one day?

I just could not take it seriously.. I stood still, keeping a straight face and glancing at Ash from time to time as they discussed the subject with Mr. Simon. I couldn't get my head wrapped around this.. It just didn't seem real. I smiled and nodded at their questions, but I was Ash's assistant.. That did not mean that I was going along with them.

My eyes Mr. Simon as he walked towards the door, watching him flash me a quick smile before he walked out. I was kind of lost.. Well, really lost.. The idea of the prettiest city in the world left me speechless.. While I tried thinking it through, I didn't even listen to what they were saying.. What was I doing here anyway? Oh, right! Schedule.

I bit my lower lip as I looked down at the tablet, trying to figure out where I left off.. "After lunch, you have a meeting with Miss Lauren here in your office, but it has to be all finished up with in 20 minutes max, because I already tried scooting some other meetin-"

"Anya," He interrupted me, making me look back at him. He was standing up from his chair, flashing me a quick smirk as he looked at me. "Aren't we going to discuss what Josh just said?" Why did he find my focus on work funny? I was just trying to get everything done in time, and Josh already took a while explaining..

  He rounded his desk slowly, walking towards me. The picture of last night flashed in my head. We didn't discuss that either.. I cleared my throat, looking down at the tablet I was holding.. "Well, I just,- I don't think there's much to discuss.. That's between the two of you, correct?"

  When I looked up at him, there was still that charming smirk on his face that made me feel like he found my behavior funny.. But I was only speaking honestly.. What would I be doing in Paris? I got too excited - too soon.

  "Correct." As he reached me, with just an effortless move, he took the tablet from me and put it down on his desk that was now behind him. I felt tremors underneath my palms with this need to reach out for him, now that I wasn't holding anything.. However, I just crossed my arms over my chest and looked back at him? "However, I was hoping to hear your thoughts on this." He mumbled a bit more quietly, seeming awfully focused on my face.

  Here's the thing, gazes like that didn't intimidate me or make me feel uncomfortable.. It just.. It never ended quite well for either of us when he looked at me like that. The clearest gray color stared back at mine, and I had to blink a few times and look away in order to somewhat fight against this force that was pulling me towards him. Damn you Bonner. I had to fight every little urge inside me not to cross the little space between the two of us and repeat he mistake from that night.

I cleared my throat, doing my best to look everywhere but at his eyes.. Or those perfect lips. "I think that a few day trip would," I cleared my throat again slightly.. "it would be great for you.." It seemed like I wanted to continue, but instead my voice simply trailed and I was lost, staring back at his eyes and struggling with finding my voice.. "And, um-" I continued mumbling, obviously lost with my own thoughts.. Christ, he has to stop looking at me like that..

  He nodded his head in understanding, mumbling a small 'mhm' even though I was barely saying something.. "Mhm, yea, just,-" He rose his finger in a way of telling me to stop talking for a second, continuing with a low quiet tone and leaving me helplessly compelled by his simple self.. "just one second," I didn't even realize how close we were to each other until he said that, moving his hand towards me slowly, and causing tingles to roam through my stomach.

  When he pressed the back of his fingers over my face, seeming so damn focused on me, I only thought that he could feel the heat underneath my cheeks. He moved his hand over in a way of taking a slight hold over my jaw and running his thumb over the side of my face.. What was he doing?! Did he not know that moves exactly like that made us both do mistakes that were with huge consequences? Starting from the previous night!

  But how could I..- How could I say something when his touch made me weak from head to toe, and I almost leaned in for more. I took in a slow deep breath, closing my eyes for a second. It was high time for me to move away.. No, instead I looked back at him, just to see those silver eyes going darker within each second, how he scanned me and how easily he leaned towards me.. My lips parted to say something, but when his face leaned towards mine all I did was bit down on them to keep quiet and keep looking him in the eyes, trying to figure out what was going in behind those grays..

  He on the other hand focused on every inch of my face, moving closer and closer until I closed my eyes and only felt his breath on the side of my face. My arms seemed to uncross and I just leaned my pals against his chest, with the thought of pushing him away? No, I only wanted to pull him closer.. However, I stood still, feeling how he moved towards my jaw, inhaling deeply when he reached the crook of my neck, and when he left a butterfly kiss there, I felt myself clenching my fingers tighter around his shirt.

  I released a shaky breath, proving that I could hardly breathe properly around him, let alone do other things.. I didn't even realize his hands simply slid over the sides of my waist and over my back.. Both of his hands were enough to cover my whole spine as he pulled me very slightly closer to himself.. His lips brushed over my jaw again as he left another kiss there, and another on the side of my face.. My eyes were closed, only feeling him worship inch after inch, closer and closer to my face..

  And like something simply snapped inside me, the second I felt his breath near the side of my lips, I moved my head just enough for our lips to connect.. I parted them and kissed him the same second he kissed me, shallow and quick, before with just a slight pull over my waist, he managed to deepen the kiss with yearning that was clearly reflected back on me.. My God, we were acting like addicts around each other.. I couldn't remember a day in which we didn't do something like this.. Ethan once stopped us, anger interrupted last night, and now..- In his office? We were.. We were risking everything.

  But how could I think about that when all I could think about was how damn good his lips felt against mine? How could I stop myself now, when I was clearly showing the same eagerness as him? Each day it was getting more out of hand, and I just felt like after every good thing that happened, I was seriously going to ruin everything with those acts.. Especially now that he was possibly leaving for France.

  Which, speaking of, he seemed to be already preparing his French manners. Starting from the kiss.. And I didn't seem to hold back either. My fingers in his hair, lips locked, breaths lost.. I pulled away. Dear God. What were we doing?

  My senses seemed lost for a few seconds, somewhat muted from that intoxicating scent of his cologne, soft and sweet, yet making me want to get on my tiptoes and kiss his face some more, just to get a better grip of that reality that seemed to be us in that moment.

  He leaned against the side of my face, leaning down again and leaving another one of those tingly kisses right on the side of my jaw. I still ran my fingers through his hair slightly as he inhaled deeply, only assuring me that both of us were lost for another few seconds till I decided to pull away slightly.

  "This," I started off, feeling his hands release me as I took a small step back.. Running a hand through my hair, I looked at him. "This shouldn't be happening.." Not that many times.. Once it was a coincidence, twice - a mistake.. But we had kissed more times than I could bother to count, and we even almost allowed ourselves into something more than that..

  His gaze seemed to roam over my face, scanning me, yet there seemed to be something snapping behind his eyes, and once he looked on the side, I knew he had somewhat understanding in what I was trying to say.

  "No, you're right. It's getting out of hand."

  I pressed my lips together, letting the silence take over for a few seconds.

  "What is going on between us?" I heard myself ask, frowning in some confusion that had been sitting on em for days now..

  No, I was definitely not in a situation in my life to be looking for a relationship.. Especially not in Richwood. I mean, I never dated more than a month or so.. I didn't have the kind of life where I would have the time or patience to find myself a relationship.. Now.. Now I was just starting to somewhat find my ways through life. I couldn't put anyone else in the middle of that.

  "I don't know, Anya. I cannot seem to keep my hands off you when you're around.." I watched him run his hand down his face as he looked on the side.. He seemed pretty serious in his words, frustrated even, and had never related to something so strongly. 

  "We're only complicating things.." I shook my head slightly. "I mean, you're my boss.." Well, that, and I didn't want commitment.. I never wanted any kind of commitment really..

  "And I should be the one stopping this."

  "Do you want to stop it?" God, why did I ask that?

  "Do you?"

  "No."

  "Good." Was all he said. I frowned, crossing my arms over my chest.

  "Good?"

  "Yea, cause I don't want either." Okay, neither did I. So, we both wanted something, but neither of us knew how to explain what it was? Was that it?

  "What do you want?" I managed to ask, hearing how my own voice trailed in uncertainty.

  When he looked at me the way he did, his eyes scanning my face.. I melted. "You." And that one simple answer made my legs go weak within seconds.. He had too much power over me. Not fair, Bonner. Not fair.

  I cleared my throat and looked on the side.. "You should get to a meeting." Taking a step pass him, I took the tablet he left on his desk, before glancing back at him. "We don't have all day for this." I handed him the papers he needed for the meeting. It seemed as if I was the one escaping it, but he didn't know what was going on between the two of us either.

  He looked at me and nodded his head. "Fine. We'll discuss it later."

~

Boredom was overpowering me.. I had done most of my work that day, and now I just had to tap around with my pen and wait till 5 o'clock hit. My mind was racing with one simple thought. Ash. He just came back from the meeting, and only greeted me quickly.. Not saying a word more. Was he angry with me? Did I make him angry?

The last thing I recall saying to him was that we didn't have the time to discuss us.. He on the other hand seemed pretty damn focused on that subject. He wanted an answer.. For what? How could I know what we were when he didn't know either? We weren't dating for sure.. And I don't think either of us wanted that. I just knew that I felt this unbelievable attraction towards him, and you know, it's even harder when someone is marked as a forbidden fruit..

Yes, I wanted more. But I couldn't understand myself.. I mean sure he was a really really attractive guy, and I was aware that every woman around was drooling over him. But, hey, I was always repelled by those who get that much attention. And I was repelled by him in the beginning too.. However, things changed.. I got to know him, and he was no longer the grump I saw him as. Besides, when I asked him what he wanted, he said me. So, the possibilities of him feeling nothing but lust as well were pretty damn high.. And I just hoped it was like that.

Yes.. Lust. That's all it is. There wouldn't be any consequences because we were both just desperate to get it out of our system. We just had to be clear with each other. And he said we'll talk later.. Unless he got angry with me for avoiding the subject in that moment, then I was up for talking about it. I had to know if he felt the same as me.. The tension between us was just becoming unbearable..

The only noise feeling my office was me tapping my pen against the wooden desk.. I moved on my chair slightly, leaning on the side to look through the window that was one the sides of his door. From what I could see, he was pretty focused on his work.. But just like he could sense me looking, he looked up from his desk, and glanced directly at me. Damn it. I almost jumped from my chair.

I moved back, acting like nothing happened.. But I was feeling anxious. I could never sit around when people may be angry with me. I tapped my pen against the desk for another few seconds before standing up and marching towards his door. I stopped for a second just to take in a quick breath, before with a slight knock, I pushed the door open and walked inside.

He looked at me, rose his brows slightly and leaned back on his chair. Did he find it amusing to annoy me by ignoring me? "Yes?" What the hell did he mean 'yes?'?!

I frowned slightly, crossing my arms over my chest. "Can we talk?" I heard myself say, watching how he looked down at his desk and tapped his hand fingers against it.

"I don't think this is the right time." Oh. Did he maybe find satisfaction in that whole 'angry act' that I didn't even know where came from?

I bit down on my lip. "Why not? Are you angry?" I took a few steps towards his desk.. People being angry at me for no reason made me frustrated as well.. It annoyed be because I didn't like people being mad at me.. It just,- I always wanted to make it right.

"Anya, it's 5."

"It's what?"

"It's 5pm."

"So?"

Before he could answer that, the muted noise of heels clicking against the marble floors were heard, sharp and echoing, louder and louder. I stood confused for a few seconds before I realized that someone walked in his office from behind me, making me turn around and look. A tall figure showed up on the door, almost making me take a step back from the convincingly confident posture of hers.

Heels that seemed way to expensive to be walked on decorating well pedicured feet, sparkly and silvery, making her legs seem even longer.. A skintight dress that pretty much lined every single curve on her body ending somewhere over her knees in the nicest nude color, and a pretty deep V neck that didn't seem to show off much since the woman didn't have any cleavage. With her arm slightly bent, she held the prettiest Louis Vuitton purse, holding a phone with her manicured long french nails..

And well, the rest was just as perfect. Her hair was straight, no volume whatsoever, light brown and seemingly golden in the day light. Her eyes seemed the same light brown color, edged with warm shadows, and a nude lip that flashed both of us the most dazzling smile.. Right. Being the one that scheduled him the meeting with her, I should've known that after lunch, 5pm to be more exact, he had a meeting with Miss Lauren. What a pleasure..

I felt heat wash over me. I blinked a few times and took a step on the side, turning back towards Ash. This was the Miss Lauren that I scheduled him a meeting with? He looked at me, smiled, and stood up from his chair. The sound of her heels told me that she walked deeper in the office, until I saw her walk to round his desk.. "Sophie," I heard him say, before he was almost interrupted by her wrapping her arms around his neck..

My eyes widen. Wow. He was for sure close with Miss Lauren. "Jesus, Ash, I cannot believe it's been so damn long." Her voice was high pitched and filled with excitement that was definitely not fake.

I just wondered how long it would take me till I choked her with my gaze.. Oh, was that supposed to be too weird of me? No. What was this? I thought we were in a working environment. Hugging and touching.. Christ, they could've went at it.. I'm sure they wouldn't have noticed me.

"I have to say, it surprised me when I heard you were in Richwood. When did you arrive?" How nice of Ash to ask.. I wondered how he didn't know till then.. I mean, they seemed pretty close. I would say that they were facetiming the whole time..

I watched her move back, and I swear it took me everything not to pull her further by her hair. I wasn't jealous of her smooching around with him.. I just,- I felt left out? Yea, she didn't even greet me.

"I came here with Stefan, silly," Stefan Marino? She tapped his shoulder before turning around slowly, rounding his desk and walking towards the armchairs to sit down. "I had some things to do in New York. I mean, it's Fashion Week soon, and I am super busy.. It's chaos down there.. But yea, I thought I would pay you a visit."

Ash frowned as he sat back on his chair.. She was still standing. Jesus, woman.. We all saw your model body, sit the fuck down.. "I thought Stefan left today.."

"Oh, he did. But I thought I would stay a day longer 'cause that way, we can go to Paris together. We can both agree that it's the most fun when we travel together." Oh. Oh! Paris with her? Was that what the whole trip was about? She glanced at me, and smiled. "Oh, sorry, I'll have a glass of mineral water." Those simple few words caused something to drop in my stomach. I had very little tolerance left.

Ash instantly glanced at me then back at her. "No no, Anya's not,-"

"No, I'll get it." I interrupted. "What can I get you Mr. Bonner?" It wasn't exactly one of my chores to bring stuff at meetings, because I usually attended them, taking notes for Ash.. But it was a chance for me to hear what they were talking about, and no matter how shallow that sounded, I wanted to know. I wasn't missing my chance.

He gave me a look that I didn't exactly understand, but then just shook his head slightly, saying "Nothing, Anya," He didn't really get to finish up cause I had already turned around and walked outside, leaving the door of his office open.. I could hear their voices mute as I walked away, getting out of my office and walking past Kristin reception desk.

"Woah, what's with the marching?" I glanced at her as I reached the little counter that had the waters and the coffee machine..

"Sophie Lauren?" Was all I said, while she just furrowed her brows and nodded her head.. "It sounds like she walked out of a 50's Italian movie premiere.." She did share the name with the famous Italian actress, even though it was spelled differently. And Sophie wasn't exactly as serious as Sophia, but her fanciness was.

"She looks like she walked out of an Italian movie premiere too.." True. "She's French though." I almost dropped the glass bottle on the floor when I heard her say.

"What?"

"Well, her dad's American and she lived in NYC when she was a kid, but her mom's Parisian." Oh great. Was that the reason why they were going on a 'meeting' in Paris? Marino too? Ash did mention that Marino was quite the ladies man, so it would be better if she was with him, cause I did not like the picture I saw in the office..

"What,- What about Stefan? I mean, Mr. Marino? Is he like, I don't know, her husband?" Possibly?

Kristin smiled as she stood up, walking towards me to help me out with the bunch of bottles that I refused to put down. "No, though I heard they had a thing or two, but they claim to be only friends."

"What about Ash? Is she only friends with him too?" I was starting to talk way too fast, and I didn't even realize that I said his name.. Kristin thought that our relationship was only boss-assistant - which apparently we were only that, but my first-name-referring still seemed to push her off track a bit..

She looked at me with a slight frown as she took the few bottles away from me. "They've known each other their whole lives. She always has the best things to say about him in the media, but I've never heard any kinds of rumors that they've hooked up." I stared at her for a few seconds. "Why do you care so much?"

The smile on her face made me snap out of it. I was giving it away.. I mean, not that I wanted Ash that much. If he was with someone else, who was I to judge.

I cleared my throat. "I don't. I just,- I was just wondering. They seemed pretty close." I focused on putting the two bottles and glasses on the tray, shutting myself up finally.

"What are you doing?" She laughed, knowing that I was only supposed to bring him the drinks if he asked, but never supposed to interrupt a meeting. But hey, they asked for it! I wouldn't have had the wish to hear their conversation if they kept it professional, but something told me that the whole meeting.. Not so damn professional, no.

"Doing my job?"

"Babe, that's not your job. It's mine."

"No no," I moved the tray away from her when she reached for it. "You sit down and relax, I'll handle this." There seemed to be a little suspicion on her face, but she downed her curiosity by flashing me a few smiles and finding the situation funny.. It wasn't funny. I wanted to know what Sophie was to him.

She walked back towards her desk, letting me pass heard rush back with the tray. "Alright," I heard her say, but I already walked in my office and turned towards his.. I was in heels, I could not rush that fast, but my footsteps still managed to take their attention, even though they were just talking.. I wasn't sure why that was a relief, but I just-, no, I did not like the closeness! Ash was going to have to bear with it. Especially that day when he acted like he was mad at me for delaying that conversation we were supposed to have.. Who was delaying now?!

I glanced at her again.. The white dress I was wearing seemed way too summery and flowy comparing to her fancy and formal appearance.. My sandals weren't even near sparkly as hers, even though they were pretty similar with the thin belts over the toes and ankles.. However, I could only imagine how damn expansive those were..

Now, even though Ash said he didn't want anything for himself, I brought him a glass of mineral water as well, just so I would have the excuse to leave her served last. I rounded his desk while they were still talking about some lake house, stopping beside Ash, and making place to put down his bottle and glass, but considering the fact that we've been through that process many many times, Ash worked along with me, talking to her, but still putting away things, taking the glass from my hand, putting it down..

Then, he reached back towards me, and I knew exactly what he noticed, cause I noticed it too, so I took a pen from his desk and handed it to him, since he had to sign a paper that he forgot to earlier.. He gave it back to me, I put it back away, and I didn't even realize that the girl went silent.

"Well, you two definitely don't seem like you're married for ten years.." Ash and I both looked back at her. I was confused in what she was saying, but after a few seconds she just rose her brows and looked down at the bottle I was opening for Ash.. And I understood what she meant..

We were both so used to that 'cause we repeated the same process almost every day when Ash got in his office. I brought him something to drink, or when he had a meeting in his office and not in the meeting room downstairs, we still repeated the same routine.. I could only imagine how choreographed that must've seemed.

However there were things that took me by surprise.. For example, how in that moment I almost jumped when I felt Ash's hand at the back of my leg.. The slight caress he preformed took me off guard and that was definitely not part of the routine. What the hell was he doing?

I cleared my throat, straightening up from being reached over his desk to put stuff away. He still held a light grip over my right leg from behind, right above my knee, as he preformed a few caresses with his thumb, almost like he was trying to calm me down. It wasn't that obvious that I was frustrated, was it?

"This is Anastasia. My assistant." I glanced at Ash, but he just flashed her that famous smirk of his, before once again slightly running his hand up at down my leg. I took a tighter hold of the tray as I pressed it against my chest and bit my lip. I knew what was next, I just prayed that he wasn't going to say it again.. Jesus, wasn't it enough drama last night? But it all added up. Sophie knew Marino, so she would've heard one way or another.. And Ash already lied once.. He wouldn't dare saying that again.. Boy, was I wrong.. "And also, my fiancée."

Why did it make me flash her the most honest smile, filling my chest with tingles in the best way possible? I only approved his words, and instead of feeling angered like I did the previous night, I felt fulfilled in the best way possible, smiling from ear to ear and reaching my hand towards her.

***

Welp, I guess it's official *wink wink*

But hey, who else is glad that Ash turned the situation upside down? Let's see which girl will end up being jealous this time..

But like some of you already know, I went through some writer's block.. I just didn't feel the story for a while, and not just this one, my other on-going books as well. But a quick break was enough for me to get back on track and so here it is! Updates should be frequent from now on 😉

Leave a comment if you enjoyed this chap, and don't forget to press the lil star and vote! Ly babes! Kisses, 😘