As I'm still leaning on top of my own desk, quietly staring at the door that Chopard walked out of, I'm stunned–And for a second, I thought he would come back or if he's playing a mind game to get me to follow him but nothing.

Not one noise indicating that he's still here, to finish what he started.

Due to the late hours of the night and the last intense minutes in my entire life, my brain becomes mushy, unable to form a single thought right now. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't get my brain to articulate something in my head.

I don't even know what I should do next.

But thankfully, I have been in this office too many times. Many times to the point that I don't need my brain to tell me what to do, as my body belongs moving on its own.

As my brain goes on autopilot, I push myself off my desk as I reach over and grab my bag, packing everything I need for the next morning. I don't know what paper or folders I'm grabbing but I'm grabbing something and that's good enough for me.

Afterwards, I slowly walked over to the door, feeling the cold knob, the same knob that Liam touched, turning the knob, I carefully opened the door, but with no reason at all.

Walking throughout the halls towards the elevator was like a ghost town, no one was here at all. All I heard was the sounds of my heels clanking on the floor, and my bag hitting my thigh every now and then.

The hallways are also dark, the only light is the outside building lights shining through the window, and some of the street lights.

Going into the elevator, my eyes try to adjust to the harsh lights lighting up the elevator, making my eyes squint.

Finally getting off the elevator, I reached the front desk, where I expected Ruby but had to remind myself that she had gone home, everyone has, except me. As far as I know, no one else is here, not even Chopard.

I don't know what happened to him, but in the back of my mind–I was sure I would see him leaving, considering I started moving not long after he quickly left.

Waiting in the entrance of my building, I called my driver to come pick me up, informing them that I had to work late and I will pay them extra considering this is outside of their working hours.

But they should be used to this by now, since I've been working late many times.

It didn't take long, but long enough that I had to sit in the waiting area before the driver came and picked me up. In that time frame–I didn't move an inch or say anything, I didn't need to. All I need to do is get home and sleep.

As I still waited, blaring lights shine in front of my face but it didn't faze me as I thought it was just passing cars. As I stared down at my fingernails, suddenly I jumped slightly in my seat as my name was being called.

"Ms. Cantrell" Someone called out in the building entrance.

I looked up and I immediately recognized the familiar person, in the familiar suit as he waits for me. Gathering my things, I straighten my back and hold my chin up high as I walk past him, he follows, opening the car door for me as I hop in. Relaxing myself.

As soon as we took off, my brain became more foggy as all I could focus on was the passing cars and the different street lights, followed by the still somewhat busy street, even at this time of night.

The car pulls up outside my house and as I get out, the lights inside my house are lit up, indicating that there are still people working inside, unlocking the front door–They must have heard me working in, because they stopped whatever they were doing, coming to greet me.

Instead of greeting them back, I immediately dismissed them from their work as the time was almost one in the morning, and I didn't want to hold them up because I decided to work late.

That is another perk to my life, the housekeepers get paid by the hour and only get dismissed by me, whenever I feel it's necessary, no manager to bark orders at them. That's how they clean more effectively, knowing that no one is breathing down their neck.

As they gather their things and leave out the front door, I am alone, once again.

The lights are still on, of course. But now, I'm left with just myself, and the brain that can't function properly.

I decided to head upstairs to my bedroom as standing in the middle of the living room is not going to do anything, and plus I still have work tomorrow which is the most disappointing thing.

Entering my clean room, clean of trash or any clothes on the floor, I carefully sit down on my bed, staring into space as I try to clear my mind from this brain fog that will, in fact, keep me up all night.

And that's the last thing I need right now. All I need is sleep and that's the number one thing that is needed at this second.

As I breathe in and out, I start to reflect on the day, every single detail, every conversation that I had with anyone, every paperwork I have seen and approved, and anything else leading up to the kiss.

Then I was punishing Chopard for something, what was it? I thought, rubbing my forehead to try and remember the reason I was punishing him, my god, I was making him do paperwork after paperwork in an inhuman way.

I thought it would send the message of knowing our place in this world and what would happen if something like that were to happen again.

The memory rings in my head, the hotel room, I was punishing him for the whole thing that happened in the hotel, the night that we almost kissed, the memory is even more painful due to the fact that it would lead up to what happened less than three hours ago.

Stupidly, I had to stay late and I thought that making Chopard stay late was a good idea, then I got offended, thinking that he wanted to go home early, and thinking he wanted to get special treatment from me.

We were going back and forth, afterwards Chopard gets closer in my space and asks those questions that I don't even want to remember.

And with a bitch with no brain at the time, I didn't say anything else other than 'Yes'. Giving him confirmation for whatever reason.

"Do you mean that I'm replaceable?" Stop it.

"Is everyone replaceable?" Fuck, what the hell.

"Is everything replaceable?"

The question repeats over and over in my head, minking his voice, the tone, and the breathing. My brain is going turbo speed, making me relive the questions over and over again.

Dropping my head into my hands, my eyes landing on the floor before quickly closing them, my brain doesn't care to spare me with the details of that intense kiss. I remember every pause, hand placement, how breathless we both were and everything in between.

And in the end, he looked like he was attack by a wild animal, the way his lips were a different shade, clearly indicating how hard I was going in on the kiss, and his hair out of place, my hands couldn't restrict themselves, and his clothes had wrinkles, clearly from the shared space we refused to leave.

Groaning, I couldn't help but think about it, and how much I wanted it to last longer.

Pulling my head out from my hands, I touched my lips, carefully–Jumping slightly as I felt the softness that was on Liam's just not so long ago, my lips felt...empty, like it's missing a piece that it never thought it needed.

Quickly pulling my hand away from my lips, I lay back in my bed as I stared at the ceiling now thinking about nothing, except for the fact that something like this happened, when I least expected it.

I always thought there was something about him but not to the point to where I would be making out with him on my desk, it was so unexpected, so–

Suddenly, I sat up in bed, breathing hard. How come I didn't think about this, all this time, I was thinking about the past and how I ended up in the moment, but not about the future and the consequences this kiss could bring.

This could lead to a lot of things that could potentially destroy me, my company and my reputation.

If word gets out about this, my public image would tank, people would look at me as an unserious person of business, investors will evidently drop out due to the scandal, sales would most likely drop due to people thinking I'm a shady person, resulting in the company laying people off because we are unable to pay them.

And even if some workers stay and continue their employment at the company, the most likely thing is that they are not going to take me seriously as their boss.

All the moments where I felt powerful because people were fearful of me and knowing that in any moment, they could get fired. It would be for nothing.

The workers are going to take me as a joke and not even flinch at my presence, my presence would count as just another normal person walking past them. That would crush me, knowing that I wouldn't have the influence that I used to have on the employees.

And worst of all, I would disappoint myself, for all the work I've done, all the struggles I've endured, the many times where I wanted to give up but didn't. Those moments would be for nothing. 

The second worst thing that would come out of this is disappointing my mother. She believed in me and helped me any way she could as a mom and if she knew what had happened to cause my company to drop, it would break her heart.

Knowing that she helped me through tough moments, just to be thrown away like that. All because I was lustful for my assistant.

Chopard has had more than one occasion where we were being inappropriate as boss and worker, he could use the time in the hotel room and now the physical contact of us in my office. He could take both of them at his advantage.

And the media and the people would side with him, because in this universe– People take a man's words over a woman's. And that's just the hard truth about this world.

As I thought about all the possibilities this could turn against me and possibly ruin my life. I started shaking my head, trying to get out of this mindset. I'm overthinking, nothing has happened yet and still I'm fearful of going into work tomorrow.

I need to calm myself down, I can't focus if I'm overthinking, but somehow, the thought of everything makes me want to die inside.

Standing up, I head out to where I dropped my bag, which contains my phone–My head is still going a hundred miles per hour, running through every scenario, outcome and more. So much so that I can't even keep up.

I felt like I'm having an out of body experience. I saw myself unlocking my phone, reaching the call icon, scrolling to his name. My finger is quick to try and press on call, until I paused, my finger hovering over the small symbol.

Taking a deep breath out, the thoughts calm down as I think to myself, What am I doing? I mean, Why would I even call him, what would I talk to him about. How awkward it would be, after everything that happened.

Then thinking about a few hours ago, referring back to the end when he stopped and suddenly left. He was nowhere to be seen at all, even after I went downstairs, I was so sure that I was going to see him, at least see him leaving. But no, he vanished into the streets.

Considering I didn't take long to process myself and left soon after.

As I'm still holding my phone, I wondered where he went.

That means there is a possibility that he was scared of the consequence as well and that's why he left so abruptly. But that possibility is very slim, almost down to zero percent.

Rubbing my forehead form all this stress and overthinking, I figure that it's time to go to sleep, because it happens to be past one in the fucking morning.

Setting my phone down on my bedside table, I head to the bathroom, only hoping that the hot shower will make me fall asleep faster so that I don't have to left alone with my thoughts, now that my brain has something to look back on to keep me awake.

Plus, if Liam is going to be at work tomorrow, then I have to prepare, for better or worse. And I doubt that this is getting better.

Looking in the mirror with a clear vision, thanks to the bright lights, I'm shocked because of the person looking back at me. I don't look like myself at all, and I'm not sure if I like it or not.

My face is flushed, like I just ran a race, touching it, it feels hot, but not too hot. My lips are a slightly different tint darker, just like with Liam's. I guess we were going all in, more than we both expected.

My red hair is all over the place, it's the messiest I've seen it. There are strands of hair flying everywhere, not knowing where to go other than up in the air. Carefully stroking it, I could feel the tangles forming as we were all over the place.

Looking down at my hand where I was tugging in his hair, I wondered if his hair was crazy and messy.

Now that I'm in the bright lights of the bathroom, I leaned over the counter and studied my eyes, which now my pupils are deciding between small or large. I guess I'm still feeling the effects and aftermath of the kiss that my pupils are having problems getting back to their normal size.

Staring down at my clothes, there are wrinkles all over them, from my suit to the shirt and down to my pants.

I don't even want to know how those wrinkles form but I have an idea.

Finally turning on the shower, I stripped down my clothes quickly as I hopped in, feeling the hot water touch my face. Running the water through and down my body, every touch, every water droplet that lands on my skin makes me feel like I'm back in that office, sitting on that desk.

With Chopard in front of me, of course.

The shower starts to become too much as I start to feel light headed, almost losing my balance as I frantically reach for the shower nod and quickly switch it to the coldest setting, forcefully waking me up and regaining my focus.

Finally settling into bed, as I turned off the lights–I just want this night to be over and done with. I set my alarm, groaning as I have just a few hours to sleep. I layed down on the pillow as I tried to get into a comfortable position.

It took a few tries of tossing and turning, trying to get myself to sleep but once I did, I laid on my side as I tenderly touched my lips unconsciously, my brain still fighting the thought of craving the feeling once again.

I wondered where Chopard went, probably to New York.

-Summer Roe