"It is not desirable to walk dressed like that in a house where two men live."

"I... I thought you were at the airport."

Vanessa turned again to get her coffee, and the next moment she heard a woman's voice behind her.

"What's up, baby? Who are you talking to?" The voice paused for a second and continued talking, apparently to Vanessa. "Who are you? And what are you doing here?"

Vanessa smiled devilishly. She unbuttoned her shirt discreetly. It opened slightly, revealing a tiny part of her breasts. Then she finally took her cup and turned around. Leaning against the counter, Vanessa took a sip from the coffee. "I live here," she answered, looking at Cole's chick from top to bottom. "And you are?"

The girl, there was no denying it, was very beautiful. Her skin was chocolate brown, and she had a slender, tight body, even though she wore a robe that covered it. Her hair was well-groomed, long, and straight, in an ombre from dark brown in the roots to blond.

"Cole, who is this girl? she asked, running a hand through his arm. "Is she wearing your shirt?"

"Go back to the bedroom, Andrea," Cole ordered without even looking at her. "Now."

The girl didn't say anything and left the kitchen.

Cole approached Vanessa slowly. He stopped at a span distance. But she could feel his breath.

She could feel his scent.

Her body trembled as a result of his closeness.

Cole stared straight into her eyes. "Don't play with the fire, Vanessa," he said in a low voice.

"I don't know what you are talking about, Cole."

Vanessa also didn't move her eyes away from his.

Cole moved even closer to her and began buttoning her shirt. "You know very well what I'm talking about."

Vanessa put her hand on his, stopping him from buttoning the last button. "Isn't your girlfriend waiting for you? Probably naked in your bed?"

That was a new game. The question was, who would get burned?

Cole pulled his hand away, grabbed Vanessa by the chin, and lifted her face so that her gaze met his again. "Don't be late for work," he told her, then walked out of the kitchen.

Vanessa closed her eyes and stood that way for a few seconds. Then she shook her head as if trying to deny something to herself.

Shortly afterward, she returned to her room and drank her coffee, lost in thoughts.

What was this man doing to her that her body was responding in a way she couldn't control?

A knock on the door spoiled the silence.

Vanessa got up from the armchair and opened the door. "Becks, come in. Good morning."

"Good morning, Nessa." Rebecca entered the room. "Hey, this shirt looks better on you, you know that?"

Vanessa rubbed her eyes. "It was the only garment I found last night."

"Yeah, I didn't think of that. Sorry. Well, at least good thing that Cole probably had forgotten to take it. The dry-cleaning boy leaves all the clothes here. We'll change that practice, don't worry." Rebecca put a few dresses on the bed and sat down next to them. "How did you sleep, Nessa?"

"Very well. Are these for me?"

"Yes, choose something if you want for work."

"Oh, yes, thank you. My dress is not very suitable for the office. Neither this shirt..." Vanessa looked down at it, laughing.

"Yeah, don't go out like that." Rebecca laughed. "Okay, get dressed, and I'll wait for you downstairs for coffee."

"Coming in a few."

Rebecca left the room, and Vanessa went into the bathroom. She was glad to see several new disposable toothbrushes and toothpaste above the sink. So she managed to get a proper refreshment.

After that, she took one of the clothes and got dressed.

The dress was yellow and made of rugged cotton fabric. It looked like it was in two parts, but they were sewn together. Curls formed from the area below the bust to the hips, and the second fabric forming the dress's lower part came down from below. The length stopped a few fingers above the knee.

Vanessa looked in the mirror.

Typically, in Rebecca's style. She smiled and headed to the living room.

Rebecca had made two coffees and was waiting for Vanessa on the couch.

"The dress suits you, Nessa!"

Vanessa turned in 360 degrees, "Isn't it?" She sat down on the couch right after that. "Do you mind if I lit a cigarette?"

"Of course, I don't mind."

"Becks..." Vanessa was already exhaling the smoke. "Earlier this morning, I spotted Cole with a girl. I think he called her Andrea..."

"Oh, Andrea's here?"

"Is she his girlfriend?"

"Oh, no, no, no," Rebecca said in a tone that showed how ridiculous this sounded to her. "They have some weird relationship, but they're not a couple. Even though she's been in love with him for many years. Sometimes I even feel sorry for her. Otherwise, she's not a bad girl."

"Why do you feel sorry for her?"

"Well, I don't understand such relationships in general. I'm not blaming Cole. He's made it clear that he doesn't want anything serious with her. But she keeps running after his ass every time he calls her for... You know."

"I don't see anything wrong with such relationships. You have no obligations, no commitments. You just have a good time in bed."

"Did I tell you how much you look like Cole sometimes?"

"Yes, several times."

The girls giggled, though, at that moment, Cole appeared before Vanessa's eyes with Andrea by his side. That infuriated her even though she couldn't understand why.

"Anyway." Vanessa decided to change the subject. "I could pack my luggage after work and move it here, maybe tomorrow?"

"That's going to be great. Get everything ready, and I'll send someone to pick it up."

"Thanks, Becks." Vanessa looked at her watch." It's time to go to work.

"You can use Mom's car. It's in the garage."

"Oh, thank you. See you soon, Becks."

"Have a nice day, Nessa."

As Rebecca had suggested, Vanessa got into Kristen's car and was soon in the office. Shortly after the workday began, the interviews for a new secretary started too.

Many candidates were waiting in the lobby.

Vanessa invited the girls one by one and interviewed them in depth.

Several hours passed, but she had not yet chosen anyone.

"Good afternoon," the next girl who entered the office greeted Vanessa.

"Good afternoon. Please, take a seat."

"My name is Naomi Harper," the girl said before being asked and tossing her blond hair back.

Vanessa looked at her for a few seconds, raising her eyebrow. After that, she looked down at the paper sheet on her desk and took a pen. "Miss Harper, do you have any experience as a secretary?

"Yes, I have. I worked for three years as a secretary and after that one year as a personal assistant."

"Why do you apply for this position giving that you've already had one at a higher level?"

"Because I can't miss the chance to work here."

"Okay. The company provides many opportunities. So, what do you like the most about Willker Enterprises Holdings? What do you know about the company? And what makes you the right person for this position?" After asking these questions and finishing writing her note, Vanessa put the pen down and looked at the girl.

"Well, I know that Cole Willker is the CEO."

"So, you mean that Cole is the reason for you to want to work here? Did I understand correctly?" Vanessa asked the girl in a stern tone.

"Which woman wouldn't want to work for Cole Willker? Who wouldn't want to have such a boss?"

"I understand. Okay, that is enough for now."  Vanessa decided to end this ridiculous interview earlier. "We will contact you if you are approved."

"I'm sure Cole Willker will approve me! Just make sure to include my photo in the resume."

Vanessa put down her pen and leaned back in her chair. "I'll be honest with you, Miss Harper. Cole may approve of you. Fortunately, or perhaps, unfortunately, depending on which side you look at, I'm the one who approves. I wish you good luck."

The girl turned red angrily and left the office furiously.

Vanessa just rolled her eyes and welcomed the next applicant. "Hello. Emma Reed, right?"

"Hello. Yes."

"Please, take a seat."

Vanessa started this last interview of the day a little biased, but the girl showed genuine interest in the company itself and the position.

The interview itself lasted longer than the others, and it was fruitful. The girl looked responsible, capable, and with great enthusiasm for work and development.

That was what Vanessa was looking for.

"One last question, Miss Reed. Why do you want this job?"

"This opportunity is fascinating as I will be able to learn and develop in this important industry on a global scale that I am passionate about."

"Very good. Thank you. We'll contact you if you're approved."

"Thank you for your time. Have a nice day."

After the last interview was over, Vanessa looked at the computer clock. It was already noon. She walked out of her office and headed for Mike's.

"Come in." His voice was heard after she knocked on the door.

"It was exhausting." Vanessa sighed as she closed the door and threw herself on the couch of Mike's office.

He closed his laptop and laughed. "Tell me about it!"

Vanessa stood up slightly and turned her head to him.

"But it was also somehow interesting."

"You mean?"

"Do you have any idea how many girls want to work in this company just to try to sleep with Cole?"

"Welcome to my world. Or Cole's world. It's the same."

"It's hilarious."

"But you don't want?" Mike asked, rubbing his chin.

"What?"

"To sleep with Cole?"

"Oh, please!" Vanessa answered apathetically. "With Cole? He is so not my type."

"If you say so..."

"Yes! I say so!" Vanessa's voice was irritated.

"Okay, okay. If eyes could kill..."

Vanessa laughed again and got up from the couch. "Don't worry. You're safe." She nodded at the door. "Let's have lunch, huh?"

Mike and Vanessa went to the restaurant. They ate a pizza and talked pleasantly without realizing that almost an hour had passed.

"Thank you for doing me a company, Mike. Since Rebecca hasn't been back at work yet, my lunches are boring."

The mention of Rebecca's name changed Mike's expression. He looked sad, though he tried to cover it up by looking out the window.

"When are you planning to tell her?" Vanessa asked him.

"To tell what? And to whom?"

"Do I look stupid?"

"You are everything but not stupid, that's for sure. But I don't understand what you mean."

"If you don't tell her soon that you have feelings for her, someone else will overtake you." Vanessa stood up from the chair. "Well, I have to go back to work. Think about it."

She patted him on the shoulder and went.

***

After work, Vanessa returned to her hotel room and packed her luggage. She placed her weapons and some ammunition on the bottom of a suitcase and placed a second bottom on top, which she locked. After that, she put on a couple of layers of clothes and closed the suitcase.

After that, Vanessa took a bath and went out on the terrace. She had a strange, irritating feeling all the time. She hadn't seen Cole all day, but she kept remembering what had happened in the morning.

The shapes of his body.

And Andrea.

Thoughts that drove her crazy.

So, she decided she needed to distract herself a little. And there was a man who could do this job perfectly as always.

Vanessa changed her clothes and headed directly for Matt's apartment.

"I'm sorry, babe, but I'm in the middle of something," he said to her after opening the door.

Vanessa peered lightly into his apartment, where she saw a girl holding a glass of wine. Afterward, she went closer to Matt, leaving no distance between their bodies. "In the beginning, I can tell. Is she your girlfriend?" Vanessa asked, running her hand seductively over his chest.

"No."

"Good. Tell her to leave."

The girl heard and saw everything and could not believe what was happening.

Matt turned his head and looked at her. Then at Vanessa, then at her again. "You heard the lady."

The girl put down her glass, picked up her bag, and left without saying anything.

Meanwhile, Vanessa went inside. "She was not good enough for you."

"But you are?" Matt asked.

"No, I'm not. I'm worse. I'm using you." Vanessa slipped her finger under the belt of his jeans, pulled him close to her, and whispered into his ear. "Your body. Your lips. Your hands. And the things you do to me with them. I want them. I want to feel them. But I don't need you after that."

"Did you finish?"

"It's up to you."

Matt unbuttoned Vanessa's pants and slowly began to pull them down, squatting in the meantime. "Let's see what we can do about that..."