The scent of his musky cologne wafted across Athenaïs' senses as he stepped out of the conference room shaking hands with his prospective business partners.

The meeting had seemed to end on a good note, Keith signaled Athenaïs to come with him; she stood up immediately to follow him.

"Call Sam to get the car ready," Keith said. Athenaïs picked up her phone to call Sam immediately.

They drove to Keith's neighbourhood— San Francisco. They arrived at a luxury condo and Keith handed over a key to Athenaïs.

"I hope you like it. This is your new home,"

Athenaïs froze for a moment, she knew she was going to get an official apartment but she wasn't expecting such a luxurious one.

It had a nice view of the city and it was just a few minutes away from Keith's apartment. The state-of-the-art home had everything, fully furnished.

Words couldn't express how impressed she was, she hugged Keith in cheer. He smiled and showed her around.

Like that wasn't enough, on their way out, a brand new black sedan Mercedes Benz CLA 2020 drove in.

And the key was handed to Athenaïs, she tried to hide her excitement but failed terribly. Keith smiled seeing how happy she was.

She took it for a test drive screaming in excitement. Keith laughed. He had the car delivered to her house while they drove back to the office.

Everyone at the office secretly envied Athenaïs, some believed she seduced the boss, and others thought she was just lucky because Hye-Na stole her work.

There was one narrative or the other but it didn't change the fact that Athenaïs found Keith's favour. When the other ladies in the office see her with Keith they secretly wished it was them instead of her.

In a blink of an eye, she became her colleague's superior.

Athenaïs and Keith were all alone in his office. She sat down while Keith was on a phone call. He noticed Athenaïs zen mood while he was talking on the phone.

He ended the call.

"I want to apologize," he said abruptly.

"For what sir?"

"At the party, with... Anne,"

Athenaïs smiled and shook her head.

"No sir, you have nothing to apologize for... water under the bridge."

In one week, Athenaïs moved to her new apartment with her best friend Martha that was thrilled to be living in one of the richest neighbourhoods in California in just a snap of a finger.

Athenaïs kept hoping that Keith felt something for her and in due time they'll be romantic lovers.

The Tampa project kicked off, and Athenaïs, Keith, and the entire team travelled to begin the execution of the project.

They spent three weeks in Tampa overseeing the project, in the space of those three weeks, Keith and Athenaïs grew closer.

An evening at the beach in Tampa, Athenaïs had her nose buried in a book when Keith approached her to find her reading one of his favorite books.

Those nuanced moments made them grow fond of one another. Keith made sure her opinions and ideas were heard in meetings. The hope in Athenaïs' heart thrived.

They shared many nights in each other's bed, they were almost practically lovers; asides from the fact that Keith has not made anything official.

The urge to tell Keith how she felt about him was so great but the fear of losing what she had with him was even greater.

She came so close one time, a windy night at the cabana close to the shore, Athenaïs gazing deep in the ocean, Keith covers her shoulders with a blanket from behind.

"You love the beach a lot don't you?" He said. As she spends most of her free time there.

Athenaïs smiled and nodded in affirmation.

"Yeah, the ocean... so peaceful yet so warring, like a symphony of love and war," Athenaïs said.

They dwelled in silence for a moment, and then Keith tilts her face to kiss her. All she wanted to do was tell him she was in love with him. That night stood out from other the other nights she shared with Keith.

He's usually the dominant figure but something changed about him that night, he was more passionate and loving.

From that moment on, Athenaïs decided she was going to make the first move if Keith didn't; she didn't want to play safe anymore. Every time she tried telling him, something held her back.

They travelled back to California for a brief intermission.

Athenaïs had something planned for that night, she was going to leave a cryptic note for Keith at his doorstep— a quote from their favourite book. A puzzle that will lead him to another quote that said.

"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

A quote from Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen.

She was finally ready to let out her emotions to him, imagining in a million and one ways how he'll react or what was going to happen.

Her mustered-up courage had grown strong enough to take what was coming, her heart pounded at the feeling of getting rejected but suffering in silence wasn't any better, Athenaïs was ready to rip off the band-aid.

They were all alone in his office, almost at the end of the day.

"You should head home early today..." Athenaïs said.

"I should... we have that early meeting tomorrow, be sure to remind me; I tend to be forgetful in the mornings."

They suddenly hear a subtle argument coming from the reception. His secretary buzzed in that a young woman is approaching his office.

This woman walked in, and Keith was taken by surprise. Athenaïs stood there looking confused; the lady walked toward Keith smiling, she moves very close to him and kissed him on the lips briefly.

"Surprised to see me, honey?" She said.

Athenaïs, perplexed and heartbroken, oblivious to what's going on or what to say and how to react.

"Who is this woman?" Athenaïs thought to herself.

Keith breaks the awkward silence, "Flynn... what a pleasant surprise," he said with a crooked smile.

The lady— Flynn McAdams, smiles flirtatiously at Keith.

"Meet my assistant, Athenaïs," Keith added.

Flynn turns to smile at Athenaïs.

"Athenaïs, Meet Fly-"

Keith gets cut off by Flynn

"His fiancé!" she said in a sharp note.

The room went cold.