I smoothed the skirt of my dress down after I stepped out of the cab,  the crisp December wind stinging my cheeks. Pulling my peacoat tighter around me, I turned to watch my best friend Janice as she paid the cabbie his fee. After a few moments the cab pulled away and she quickly joined me at the steps of the building, excitement dancing in her hazel eyes.

"Are you ready for this? It's going to be epic this year. Just you wait!" She squealed as she linked her arm through mine and practically dragged me up the steps and into the building. 

"Do you want an honest answer to that?" I replied, my voice less than unenthusiastic.

Janice had been dragging me to every company party since we had been hired on, fresh out of college, three years ago. While I knew a few people at the company including Janice, I have never been the most social of people and parties of any kind weren't my thing. I indulged her because she was like my sister and I wanted to make her happy, even if I often found myself bored out of my mind.

"Don't be such a party pooper, Ellie. It's New Year's Eve and you don't want to bring in the new year like that now do you?" She asked, her eyes twinkling mischievously. 

I narrowed my eyes at her words causing her to laugh as we made our way into the room. It was already crowded; people with champagne glasses, cocktails, and other drinks in their hands. Many people were dancing while others stood or sat at tables talking and laughing. Everyone seemed to be having a great time and it was still two hours until midnight. A bar was situated at the back of the room and we wove our way through the people, both of us ordering vodka martinis. I needed a stiff drink to get through this. 

It didn't take long for Janice to wander off to talk to a group of guys I recognized from the tech department. She had her smile turned up and her flirt going full blast as the men crowded around to get closer to her. Janice was gorgeous with strawberry blonde hair, hazel eyes, perfectly full lips and legs for days.

I sighed and took a seat on a stool beside the bar, my eyes drifting over the throng of people. I was already wanting to go home. I could curl up on my couch with my chihuahua and a bowl of popcorn while watching The Vampire Diaries on Netflix. But I knew Janice would hunt me down and drag me back, and so I stayed. 

Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, as they should at events like this but it wasn't me. I wasn't a large part of the company, not well known or liked but no one really seemed to hate me. I was a small fry in the Operations  department and spent my time in my little cubicle. Again, that was something I didn't mind.

My eyes landed on a man standing on the other side of the room. A man I had seen every year for the last three years but not any of the other parties. I had no idea who he was or what his role in the company was, but I would recognize those piercing blue eyes anywhere. He was dressed in a pair of black dress pants, a black button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a solid white tie; a stark contrast to the rest of his outfit. The man's dark hair was slicked back allowing an unobstructed view of his high cheekbones and strong jaw. There was no denying he was an attractive male specimen, I would have to be blind not to notice. 

He was engaged in a conversation with a group of people I recognized to be from the marketing department. He appeared to be relaxed and at ease as he listened to something a man was saying, his face serious as he voiced his reply. Suddenly the group burst into loud laughter and he smiled as he watched them, soaking in the joy around him. Whoever this man was, he was charismatic.

I saw Janice not far from the man and casually began to make my way to her. It was nearly midnight by that time and I didn't want to get lost in the chaos that would soon erupt. I quickly downed the rest of my martini and grabbed another from the tray of a passing waiter just before I reached her side. 

"Oh, there you are Ellie! I was just talking about you!" Janice chirped excitedly when she noticed me beside her. "I wanted you to meet, Kevin. He works with me in Human Resources."

I turned to the man standing in front of her that she indicated with her hand and gave him a polite smile. He was only a few inches taller than Janice and I with nearly cropped brown hair.

"Nice to meet you," I greeted.

"Likewise." Kevin said.

I talked with Janice and Kevin a while longer, having indulged in several more martinis during that time. I felt myself becoming less than sober and decided it was time to get some fresh air, being surrounded by so many people had taken its toll on me once again. I giggled out some apology and made my way to the balcony attached to the room. The cold night air helped sober my foggy mind as goosebumps erupted down my arms.

I heard the doors slid open behind me but I didn't look at them, instead closing my eyes and taking a deep breath in. The sound of voice beginning to count down rang out into the night from the open door and a small smile graced my lips as I thought about the end of another year and the start of a whole new one. The possibilities were endless.

"And so another year ends," a deep voice said breaking into my thoughts.

I opened my eyes and looked at the newcomer and my breath caught in my throat when I saw it was the man with the piercing blue eyes. I couldn't think of a response to his words and the countdown grew louder.

"Three… two… one… HAPPY NEW YEAR!" the crowd inside cheered. 

A smile tugged at his lips as he stepped closer to me. My heart raced and my thoughts drowned in my alcohol drenched mind as I watched him lean towards me. Slowly his lips met mine and sparks bursting in my chest as I returned the unexpected kiss. It quickly deepened, my heart hammering in my chest as I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him closer. I wanted to go on kissing him but my lungs screamed for air causing me to reluctantly pull away, both of us breathing heavily. 

His hands rested on my waist and my arms still clung to his neck as he pressed his forehead against mine.

"Happy New Year," he said quietly. 

A nervous laugh escaped me at his words. "Happy New Year."

He pulled away slightly and studied my face for a moment. "I'm Adam by the way."

"I'm, uh, I'm Ellie," I told him nervously. 

"Nice to meet you Ellie," he replied softly, tilting his head towards mine once more. "Let's celebrate."

Before I could formulate a response, his lips were on mine once again. He tasted of champagne and strawberries along with something I knew was simply just the taste of him. I had no idea who this man was but I couldn't seem to get enough of his mouth on mine. I felt like I could go on kissing him forever.

The sound of a phone ringing met my ears and I felt him reluctantly pull away from me. One hand remained on my waist as he pulled his phone from his pocket with his other and put it to his ear.

"What?" He asked, his tone clipped.

I licked my swollen lips and his eyes followed the movement as he listened to whatever was being said. His perfectly sculpted face turned into a scowl and he hung up without another word.

"I have to go. Business never stops," he said with an irritated sigh. "But I would like to get your number before I leave. Maybe we can continue this again soon."

His blue eyes held a teasing glint as I blushed at his words. I didn't say anything as I entered my number into his phone, my cheeks flushing under his heated gaze. Once his phone was back in his pocket, he gave me another quick kiss before disappearing back into the crowded party.

I took a moment to get my bearings and soon rejoin the party myself and quickly spotted Janice staring at me like I was suddenly crazy. I gave her a quizzical look as I stopped in front of her.

"What?" I asked, feeling much more sober than I had before.

"You- . That was- . What?" She stammered, for once seeming to be lost for words. 

"What are you saying? You aren't making any sense." I told her as she continued to look at me dumbfounded. 

My phone jingled in my clutch, momentarily distracting me from her odd behavior. It was a text from a number I didn't recognize.

Unknown: Meet me at the coffee shop on Whitmore tomorrow at noon😘. -Adam

I smiled to myself as I quickly typed out a response.

Me: looking forward to it😘 

"She probably is freaking out that you were just making out with Adam Carter." Kevin told me as I looked up at Janice from my phone. She was still staring at me with her mouth open.

Adam Carter? Why does that sound familiar?

My confusion must have shown on my face because he chuckled and continued.

"Adam Carter, as in the CEO of Carter Industries, Inc where we work."

I felt the color drain from my face as his words sunk. I had just been having the hottest make out session of my life with a man I didn't know who is actually my boss. 

I just kissed my boss?! 

I looked at Janice in panic but her face had finally lost is look of shock and she now looked at me thoughtfully. 

"You know, this may not be such a bad thing." She said as if thinking out loud.

"I'm supposed to have coffee with him tomorrow afternoon and he's my boss! How is this not a bad idea?!" I hissed at her, not wanting to be overheard.

"I've never known of him paying that kind of attention any of the employees. Maybe he's actually interested." She answered with a smile. "Good, you need a man in your life."

I rolled my eyes.

"Not a man that could fire me. I need this job."

"Coffee never hurt anyone so it's not going to be the end of the world. Meet him and see what he wants. Maybe the New Year will bring you a new life."

I pinched my lip between my fingers and contemplated her words. Maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing.

●●●●

The next day, luckily I wasn't hung over too much and was able to make it to the coffee shop early. My nerves were frayed and I felt jittery, anxious about seeing my boss outside of work in such a way. I knew it was inappropriate but after those amazing kisses last night I couldn't help but want to do it again. I at least wanted to see him once more.

I only had to wait ten minutes before I saw his tall frame moving through the tables towards me. He sat in the seat across from me and flashed me a radiant smile. It quickly disappeared and his face fell as he noticed my uneasy state.

"I'm guessing you know who I am," he stated, sounding disappointed.

I could only nod.

He looked down at the coffee cup he had in his hand and turned it absentmindedly.

"I didn't want that to change your mind," he said after a few minutes. "I've seen you the last few years at the parties and noticed that you seemed different from the rest. I wanted to know more about you. I had hoped to keep my position out of things for a while."

"You planned to lie to me?" I asked with a frown.

He shook his head. "No, not lie. But I didn't want you to act like anything but yourself."

My frown deepened.

"I don't act like someone I'm not, regardless of who or what a person is. That's not me, Mr. Carter."

He visibly winced.

"Please, call me Adam." He sighed and his eyes met mine. 

"Okay, what is it that you want from me, Adam? I've worked very hard to get to where I am in my life and I can't risk losing my job." I told him. I wanted to know more about him, wanted to know him, but after everything I had been in my life I wasn't about to throw it away over a man. No matter how he made me feel.

He looked at me, his face growing very serious. "I want to know you, Ellie. And regardless of your answer I want you to know that your position at the company would never be compromised by anything you said or did with me. I don't let my personal life influence my business responsibilities otherwise I wouldn't have gotten this far."

I contemplated his words, wanting nothing more than to accept his offer without hesitation. But I knew better. I knew I had to be careful and not let my body make decisions for me. I refused to end up like my mother. But there was something about him that drew me in. He wasn't like someone I would expect to run a million dollar empire and yet I felt there were things he kept hidden.

"Alright," I told him after some more thought. "We can be friends, Adam but I reserve the right to call off our friendship if I feel you won't keep your word."

Relief swept across his gorgeous features as he smiled at me and took my hand across the table.

"I can handle friends, Ellie. My life could use someone like you." He said.

I ignored the butterflies that fluttered in my stomach at the feel of his hand on mine.

"Someone like me?" I asked, flustered. "You don't even know me."

"Ah, but I will. And I can promise that you will enjoy it very much."

His eyes fluttered teasingly at me, and I felt heat rush to my face at the many possible meanings behind those words. The memory of our midnight kiss flashing across my mind as I returned his smile.

Oh, boy. What have I gotten myself into now?

******************************
A/N: This was written for the Romance Holiday Contest 2020 for prompt #2.

While it didn't win that contest, I am still proud of my work so I decided to include it into my collection.

Hope you liked it!❣

Vote. Comment. Enjoy!❣

Thanks for reading!❣

~SM~