Check out Boss Undercover on Amazon. Or alternatively, check out my latest book on here, The Love Affair. 

*THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN EDITED AND ALTERED*

How on earth she was managing to get herself in these situations was beyond her comprehension. In the space of a month working for the 'one' and only James Brewer, things between them had her questioning her everything. Was he flirting with her? Was she overthinking things? Was she attracted to him?

It didn't help that as she sat at her desk, she was replaying yesterday over and over in her head. The way his fingers slid across her jawline and their bodies collided together. Wait, she paused. That was her dream, not the reality of what really happened. God, now I'm even getting reality and my day-dreaming mixed up, she cringed to herself.

Caught up in her own thoughts, she nearly missed his request echoing from the tiny speakers of the intercom. "Miss Daniels, can you go collect a blueprint from the Engineering department. I need it urgently before the meeting I have later."

"Yep, no problem," she replied, flicking off the intercom button as she gathered herself to take care of his request.

Heading down eight floors or so in the lift, Harper made her way onto the department floor, grabbing a spare yellow visibility jacket and helmet from reception before she headed further into the maze of metal. Aside her, men and women were clanking away, testing powered engines meant for the colossal powered drills to extract the oil reservation. Being extra precautious knowing if she clumsily slipped around here, she'd probably end up with a broken bone or two, she headed for the far office where the department manager sat on guard.

Harper knocked on the door and with return heard a recipient on the other side, invite her. A man ahead of her with greying locks tied in a short ponytail, gave a short smile as he gave a once-over upon her.

"Hi, Mr Brewer requested the blueprints for the latest development. I believe you have them," she said confidently, trying her best to maintain steady. If it wasn't obvious that he was undressing with his eyes, it was more believable as he smiled slyly and approached up to her very closely, closing the gap between them. Talk about male toxicity, she thought.

"Hm." Smirking as he held over the blueprints in his hands. "Not so bad to look at," he muttered, chewing his gum as he passed it over. Harper pretended to not hear as she thanked him politely and then left without another word. As much as she wanted to rally on with loyal feminists, the confrontation was too much to bear.

Harper returned back on the top floor, heading back into James' office, dropping the blueprint onto the desk before him. He remained focused on whatever document he was scanning through to have noticed her, or as she suspected was choosing to blatantly ignore.

"Can I help you?" he looked up, placing his ball-pen down.

"I'm not sure I have anything majorly tasked. And the blueprint is there," she replied, feeling his unwavering eyes upon her. God, he was making her feel like a hot mess. It didn't help that she was getting déjà vu of 'dream' version of him kissing her lips in a mad frenzy. Get a grip.

"Well, I can see that. Do you want a putty medal or something?" he said with sarcasm, inferring to the blueprint and solicited thank you she had expected. "But yes, thank you. What else have you got to do in the meantime?"

"Well," Harper paused, quickly grabbing her phone out of her pocket to double-check today's tasks. "You do have...interview questions to respond to from GLAM magazine," she replied.

He cocked his eyebrow with curiosity. "I would rather I didn't have to participate in that but I believe I have no choice. I suppose I can multi-task. Pull a chair up Miss Daniels and get a notepad or whatever out ready," he said, with a short sight at the end of it.

Quickly grabbing her laptop from her desk, she returned to join him at his desk. As she searched through her email inbox for the publicity email, she took no shame in watching from the corner of her eye, him stretch, his shirt lifting to reveal his toned abdomen. God, stop it would you, she scolded at herself.

Clicking on the document, she quickly read through the questions, unaware for a second that he was in her presence as she snorted.

"What's so funny?" he interjected, curiosity and humour laced within his expression as she blushed.

"Erm, it doesn't matter-"

-"No, no, go on."

"Er, well," she paused, "these questions are quite cheesy. And not really business related," she said, pressing her lips anxiously together afterwards.

"Like what?" he asked, getting up and making his way over to her. She could feel his dominating presence towering above her as she tried to focus her attention on the screen.

"Well...the first question in particular wants to know your love life. Or intentions if you were to date," she responded anxiously.

"I should have known. After-all, the magazine is pretty much for a housewife. Old gossip. And I'm assuming this is featured for top bachelor?" he inferred.

"Y-yeah." Harper nodded.

"Ridiculous but I suppose trash publicity is publicity. So, shoot the first," he told her.

"Er, well, it says, where would you take your partner on a date?" Harper said, blushing at the thought of him intimately with another woman.

"Psst. And this is supposed to be good journalism," he scoffed, "Actually," he paused, smirking to himself. "What about you? Where would you like to be taken on a date, Miss Daniels?"

"I don't think it's my opinion they want, sir." She blushed.

"Oh come on," he encouraged, "It'll remain confidential."

"Err, well I guess I wouldn't mind. I'd probably like it to be a surprise but then it wouldn't matter where as long as I'm with that person," she muttered, finding the situation yet again awkward. What's with her putting herself in these situations? He was right about her biting her bottom lip, a habit that she had fallen right back into that moment.

His eyes seemed to be distracted by it instantly before they moved back up to study her eyes. "Is that so? So a cheap date wouldn't bother you?"

"No, not at all."

There was a second or two where neither of them said nothing. Complete utter silence expect the sound of her thumping heartbeat echoing throughout her mind. His lips opened to say something until the intrusion of his mobile phone took his attention elsewhere. Answering it, it gave Harper chance to breathe and settle her nerves that were running around 100mph.

"Right," he piped back up after finishing his call. "I actually need you to report to another task. I need you to head down to your old finance floor and get the report on last month's figures," he explained, placing his phone back into his trouser pocket.

"Sure," she agreed, thankful she could leave the office immediately. Or was she actually thankful for that?

Back on her old floor, a floor she had barely acquainted herself with, she spotted her old manager Collins, attending to a discussion that was occurring at the front of the department. It was rather strange to think that a month ago she was just settling in, excited to be starting her new job and now things were completely turned over onto their head.

"Harper," she heard her boss interject, smiling as he approached her. "It's good to see you. I assume you're here to collect the paperwork?"

"Yep." She smiled back in return.

"So, how's it going up there?" He asked, his eyes glancing up to the ceiling to infer to her new settlement.

"It's...tough and rather boring," Harper confessed, missing only the part about her interaction with the intimidating CEO. "I'd actually like to start my actual job," she added, as they headed into his office.

"I hear ya. But you'll be back down here in no time. If anything, it's an extra paycheck," he said, offering a sympathetic smile as he passed over the report taken from off his desk. "Well, I hope to see you soon, Harper." Patting her shoulder reassuringly as they exited his office.

"Yes you too."

Harper began to head back to the lifts but was startled that as she passed the final row of cubicles, she could hear her directly being mentioned.

"Wow, that's her. She's the one working for the CEO. Barely in for a day and already she's probably sucking his dick to get to that spot," someone sneered.

"So trashy," another cackled back.

Harper tried her best to ignore the jabs and obnoxious staring as she called for the lift. This was not what she wanted to hear. Did people truly believe that? Thankful the lift doors opened, she escaped into them unable to stop the threat of tears collecting in her eyes. Furiously, she wiped it away knowing it was pathetic to cry and if anything, it was that jerk on the top floor's fault for fronting her into the office gossip.

Back on the top floor, she hastily headed into his office, dropped the report on his desk and marched away, unafraid of her boldness. With anger, she sat down at her desk and dropped her head into her hands as she tried to hold back the flood of tears wanting to be released. All of this was too much. This was not the job she wanted. And now people were talking about her? Gossiping? Saying she was probably sleeping around? And what about that creep in the engineering department? Looking at her like she was walking bag of meat? Harper was so mad. So incredibly pissed off that must have sat there unbothered to her work for at least twenty minutes.

James

After wrapping up the last half hour of his meeting via skype call, James was a little baffled to Harper's flee from the scene. She took no regard that he was on a live meeting call and seemed in a haste to get out of his office. He was more curious than irritated by her unprofessionalism.

Getting up, he headed out towards her desk. It was a little unexpected to see her so tense, hands balled into fists resting at the side of her head, elbows propped up. She didn't even seem to react to his presence as he dawned closer.

"Is everything in order?" he asked, leaving out his authority.

She sniffed, quickly jumping out of her skin to respond to him. "Sorry, y-yes," she stuttered, hastily moving her computer mouse to focus her attention on the screen.

"You've been crying," he found himself crying, noticing the redness around her eyes and faint wetness down her chin.

"I'm fine," she piped up, shaking her head. "In fact, I think it's best I give my notice in tomorrow," she blabbered on, refusing to look at him.

"What do you mean give your notice in?" James said stunned. She was planning on quitting? Had he taken things too far? Was that why?

"I'm no longer-"

-"Don't be ridiculous," he interjected, "you're an asset to this company and I promise I'll re-admit you to your actual position. A deal's a deal, Miss Daniels," he said, hoping it would persuade her to listen to some sense.

"I just can't handle this job," she replied, getting up and collecting her things. "I apologise," she sniffled as she headed around the other side of her desk towards the lifts.

"Miss Daniels, I don't understand." Hurrying after her as she called for the lift.

"There's nothing to understand," she snapped, startling him a little and what seemed to herself for the sudden outburst.

"Then let me understand," he said fondly, unsure where this considerate side of him was coming from. As the doors opened, he stood ahead, blocking her entry into them. "I'm not letting you leave this building until we talk." Defending his actions.

She shook her head. "Just let me go, please," she cried, unable to compose herself in front of him.

"No."

"Please."

"No, Miss Daniels."

She sighed. "This is not legal. Just please!" She became even more irritated when he refused to let her pass. "I don't want to work for someone when everyone else thinks I'm sleeping with him! I shouldn't be doing this stupid job. It's just a game to you," she said angrily before pushing past him and heading into the shaft.

He followed hot on her heels, stunned by what had just happened.

"Is that why you want to leave? Because of office gossip?" he demanded to know.

Refusing to look at him, she pressed the button, sniffling as she wiped her tears away.

"Tell me who and I'll fire them," he said, unable to understand where this sudden attachment towards her was coming from.

"No, what's the point."

James smirked.

"Do you find this funny?" she said, angered by him.

"You're just stubborn."

Harper

Before she could respond in her defence, the lift shaft suddenly jumped pausing to a stop. She grabbed tightly onto the railing around the lift. Seconds later, the intercom from the dashboard lit up as a voice with authority came through.

"Is everyone okay? We have security and alerted local emergency service. The lift has a fault in the system."

"Yes, we're fine. Quickly as possible, please," James responded calmly, seeming unfazed by the fear of being stuck however high up in a broken lift.

"Great." She rolled her eyes. "You're the last person I want to be stuck with."

He seemed to find it more amusing. "Great impression you're making." Then he began to unroll his sleeves as he pushed them further up his elbows before leaning back onto the far wall. "You see, why should you care what other people say? I'd say it'd be honour," he teased.

"Your arrogance is showing," she responded, sighing with frustration as she looked away. "How do you think it's right that you're-"

-"Woman, be quiet, will you?"

Harper parted her lips. "Excuse me?"

Before she could even begin to defend herself, he moved forward closing the gap between them. "If you think for one second, you're leaving this place, you have another thing coming," he muttered, tracing his fingertips across her right cheek leaving her speechless. Her heart rate began to thud again and again, even harder as the tension thickened. "And fuck what people think or say," he added, before surprising her as his lips collided with hers.

In that moment, everything around her paused. In that moment, whether reality or not, their lips collided with passion, heat and urgency. His hands took territory around her waist as he pushed her back into the wall. She felt weak within his arms, entranced by his touch. He was dangerous. Kissing her neck, running his hands up her thighs, teasing as he stopped just a centimetre from her aching core. Everything about this, didn't seem real. Even as she ran her hands through his hair, moaned in his mouth, none of it felt it was actually happening.

It was torture. Even more when he bit down gently on her bottom lip, tugging it playfully before pulling away as he whispered in her ear. "I told you that habit would cost you."

Suddenly, the lift moved breaking them apart. James pulled back, smirking as he buttoned the few buttons, she had unknowingly unbuttoned in the moment of it. "Shame, I was enjoying that but playtime's over," he added, licking his bottom lip.

Harper blushed, rolling down her pencil skirt as she looked shamefully towards her feet. So, it did happen. She wasn't just picturing it. 

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