For it being a dull, cloudy Tuesday morning, I was feeling pretty damn energized. I threw together a small gym bag to take to work like I'd planned, and I spent a considerably longer amount of time getting ready for work than I normally would. I'd gotten up before the ass crack of dawn to make sure I had adequate time to prepare. I wanted to make a stellar first-day impression with a sharp looking outfit – another borrowed ensemble from Haley – and my hair curled almost to the perfection that Erica's had been the day before.

By the time I'd finished up my makeup and getting dressed, it was six-thirty and Haley was running around the apartment, frantically trying to get herself ready. She was running late to get to the medical center and resembled a chicken running around with its head cut off.

"Holy!" Haley's darting around screeched to a stop as she took in my appearance. "Damn, Vanessa!"

I was already out of my comfort zone wearing the skin tight, almost inappropriately low cut V-neck blouse Haley had suggested for me the night before, but the way she was eyeballing my look made me worried that the top may be too revealing.

Then again, what I considered to be revealing, Haley usually considered not revealing enough. Haley had always been the more confident dresser between the two of us. Maybe I just wasn't used to wearing something that showcased my cleavage like it was the nice, shiny cherry on top of a banana split.

"Wow!" Haley grinned like a proud dance mom about to send her underdressed daughter out onto the stage. "You look-"

"Like I need to change," I blurted out and turned to head back to my room.

She grabbed me by the arm and pulled me back. "Oh, no you don't!"

"It's too open. There's too much boobness," I complained, imagining a disapproving look on my coworkers' faces when I walked in the office.

"No, it's not!" she scoffed, and I half expected her to swat me over the head with a rolled up newspaper. "You look fantastic! Runway worthy, even. Seriously, Vanessa. I think you're just nervous about your first day. Don't overthink everything. You're a knockout! Go into work looking sassy and confident!"

I grumbled a few curses under my breath and took another look in the mirror. I had to admit, I did look good. My dark hair held some really pretty curls without the need for hairspray, which I was thankful for, and Haley's pinstripe charcoal blazer and matching slacks went perfect over the semi-racy royal blue blouse. I'd finished off the look with strappy black heels that were a little tough to walk in, but they looked outstanding.

"Besides," Haley smiled at my reflection in the mirror. "I'm sure your sexy new boss will appreciate the way you look."

I groaned again. Maybe Jesse would like the low cut top and tight fitting pants, but did I really want my boobs to make that big of an impression on my first day? What if Erica or Aly took my choice in clothing as me trying to suck up to the C.E.O.? I shuddered at the thought of them pegging me as the type to seduce her way up the corporate ladder. That girl was definitely not me.

"You're overthinking again!" Haley swatted my arm with a stern look. "Get out of here before all the cabs are taken and you're late! You look perfect! Now, go, go, go!"

She shooed me out of the apartment with just a few seconds to grab my bag and purse on the way out. Hurrying towards the elevator, I stumbled about four times, instantly regretting the heels. I regained my composure when the warm summer air hit me out on the sidewalk, and I made quick work of hailing a cab – I credited the cleavage display for that.

Forty minutes later, I was stepping off another elevator in the Chrysler Building and throwing on my confident façade again as I opened the door to Advantage Republic.

"Good morning, Nancy!" I greeted the receptionist with a smile.

"Good morning, Miss Hamilton," she smiled back. "There's fresh, hot coffee waiting in your office and Erica wants to see you as soon as you get time."

Nancy didn't seem to bat an eye at my appearance. Maybe I had been overthinking it.

"Thank you. And please call me Vanessa," I said, my heels clicking against the tile as I made my way down the hall to my office.

I still couldn't get over that. I have an office! Eek!

My office was right next door to Erica's and I noticed her door was open when I walked into mine. I quickly set my things aside at my desk and a warm, fuzzy feeling crept into my body when I spotted the steaming carafe of coffee across the room at the little coffee bar that sat in the corner of my office.

I could hear Erica talking on the phone and waited until I heard her hang up before I walked in. She was really invested in whatever was on her computer screen and it took her a moment to look up after I knocked on the door.

I cringed inwardly, waiting for her to tell me I needed to wear more appropriate business attire, but those words never came, to my surprise.

"Morning, Vanessa," Erica smiled sweetly, shuffling around some papers on her desk. "How did everything go yesterday? Did Aly give you a full tour and explain where everything is to you?"

"Yeah, she did," I nodded. "She's really nice! I think we'll be good friends."

"That's what I like to hear." Erica stuffed a stack of paperwork into an accordion folder and walked across the room to hand it to me. "I want you to read up on this. Everything you'll need to know about Integrity Investment Group is in this file. Study it. Learn it inside and out. You'll be flying to Los Angeles with Jesse and me this Friday morning and I need you to be completely fluent on this deal."

I stared at the thick, heavy folder she'd placed in my hands for a few long seconds before asking who Integrity Investment Group was.

"To be able to provide better services to our clients, as well as gain more clients, we're looking at a possible corporate partnership with Integrity," Erica explained. "They're a top notch investment firm with offices all over the world. If we're able to get them onboard with Advantage, it could mean huge developments for our company and our clients. We've been in talks with them since March, but Jesse just secured a meeting with them last week."

"We're meeting with them Friday afternoon?" I asked, remembering that it was a seven-hour flight from New York to Los Angeles.

"We're arriving in L.A. on Friday," she clarified. "We'll spend the weekend perfecting our presentation. Our meeting is next Monday at nine."

Before I could ask another question, her phone started ringing again and she looked at me apologetically, saying she had to take the call.

I marched back into my office and plopped the folder down on my desk, going to fetch a large cup of coffee before I tried to dig into that monster. I had three days to memorize everything in Erica's file, and seeing that it was about an inch and a half thick, I was already feeling a little intimidated.

And then I remembered that she'd said Jesse would be at the meeting in L.A. The tiny hairs on my arms and the back of my neck prickled up at the thought of going on a business trip with Jesse.

You're not going with Jesse. Erica will be there, too! My conscience reminded me.

Right. Why was I letting the thought of a trip with both of my bosses mess with my nerves? I had to keep reminding myself that Erica was going to be there, not just Jesse. And I was anxious and excited to work one-on-one with Erica anyway, and to show her how committed I was to the job. I was psyched to travel to Los Angeles and be a part of what could be a really important business deal. I was looking forward to impressing Erica with my skills and attention to detail. So why was I so stuck on the minute, pesky detail that Jesse would be there, too?

"Morning," came a smooth voice accompanied by a knock at my open door.

"Speak of the devil." I nearly spilled my coffee as I turned around to face him.

Jesse cocked a brow, his eyes alive with amusement. "Excuse me?"

"Did I say that out loud?" I asked awkwardly, my cheeks already burning hot.

His mouth curved into a sexy smile and he nodded. "Yes. You did."

I gave a nervous laugh and tried to wave it off. "I'm not awake. I haven't had my coffee yet."

I made my way over to my desk and stood behind it, trying to use it as a barrier between myself and the breathtakingly gorgeous man in my doorway.

Jesse looked exceptionally good. He'd gotten a thousand times sexier since that night on the plane, if that was even possible. I assumed he'd gone through some tough personal times, based on the darker tone in his previously vibrant blue eyes. He looked a little harder and a lot manlier, like he'd experienced a lot of life in a short amount of time.

Time had certainly treated him well in the sex appeal department, though. His muscles appeared larger than I remembered beneath his thin white button up. He wore his scruff just a little more obvious than he used to, and I stifled the temptation to imagine how his facial hair would feel against my skin – my now scalding hot skin.

"Were you thinking about me, Vanessa?" Jesse asked, stepping closer to my desk with an almost teasing look on his face – teasing in a way that made the room temperature seem to rise about thirty degrees.

I took a few big gulps of my coffee, the hot liquid burning my tongue, but I didn't care. My mug was something to hide my face behind and that was all I wanted at the moment.

"No," I answered a little too quickly. "What would make you think that?"

Jesse's smile melded into a smirk and a sudden wave of heat rushed between my legs.

"You look nice today." He dodged my question and his eyes dipped down to take in the view of my cleavage for just long enough to raise goosebumps all over my body. "I just thought I'd stop by and see how you're settling in. Do you need anything or have any questions?"

His expression quickly went from sultry to business-y and he leaned forward, resting his palms on the edge of my desk, eye level with me. I noticed the top three buttons on his shirt were undone, and some twisted, brazen part of me wanted to press my lips to that little dip in his collarbone.

"Do you ever wear a tie?" I blurted out and then wished I could shove the words back into my mouth. "I mean... uh..."

Jesse gave a low, sexy chuckle and brushed his hair back, standing up straight again. His muscles strained against his shirt as he moved and I watched him venture over to my coffee bar and pour himself a cup. He added a small amount of French vanilla creamer from the mini fridge below. It was the only creamer in there for now, and I'd made a mental note to add my favorite flavors when I found time.

As he stirred his coffee, he told me, "Until you've customized the office to your liking, you're welcome to the bar in my office, if French vanilla isn't your thing..."

His offer was kind and sounded professional and not at all inappropriate for the workplace, but somehow I found myself reading more into it. I wasn't sure if he'd meant for me to read into it that way, but I'd taken it as him saying he wouldn't mind having me spend time in his office. And then I'd let my mind do a little too much wandering into what that would entail...

"Thank you," I managed, clearing my throat awkwardly, and then I remembered the reason he'd come into my office. "Oh, um... I don't have any questions as of right now, but thank you for checking in. I think I'm settling in pretty well."

On his way out, Jesse flashed his dazzling smile again. "Well, I'll be around in case you need me for anything."

Oh, how I hoped I'd find an excuse to need that man...