**Just because I love ya'll so much!! Here's a bonus update  - yes there will STILL be an update on Friday as well! Please don't forget to leave a comment and let me know what you think!**

Roxie's POV

I can confidently say that the relationship Ezekiel and I have developed over the last month was one of the weirdest I've ever been involved in.

For starters, we had become scarily good friends. I'd discovered that he and I have the same sense of humor and tend to agree on a decent number of topics. He used to have a tendency of letting his hands wander whenever I was near him - which was almost always when I was inside the Rouge building - but that habit faded the closer we became. Even during the time when he would touch me, it never got out of hand - something I was deeply grateful. Sometimes he would grace me with light, teasing touches or strokes every now in then because he thought it was funny when I squirmed in discomfort.

At first, our typical seating arrangement had been the same as the second night I worked in his VIP lounge; him sitting on the love seat with me positioned on his lap. After about two weeks and a deep heart-to-heart one particular night, I started sitting next to him instead.

I was surprised he didn't throw me out on my "beautiful ass" when I'd poked fun at him for not spending a night away from Rogue for the last 38 days (yes, I counted and yes, he did make fun of me for it, but the specific number was crucial for making fun of him).

When I'd grown concerned that he didn't have anyone else in his life to be spending his long nights after work or on the weekends with, he scoffed and laughed at me before saying, "I have plenty of people I could be spending my nights with, but I choose to be here blowing my money on you."

"Wow, I feel so honored," I had shot right back, making him laugh.

"You know what I mean. You've helped me out a fuck ton when I've been stuck on designs that I just couldn't seem to finish. My business and the empire I've built is my passion. After all the help and all the jokes you cracked to make me laugh when I've been particularly stressed out, I want to help you pursue what you're passionate about, too," he'd said with a genuine smile. The comment had made my cheeks blush a bright hot red color at the time, unsure of how to take the compliment.

During that one night we'd spent just talking about our lives, he asked me about my past; how I'd ended up where I was, where I wanted to see myself in ten years, things of that sort. I'd gone off on a tangent about putting myself through culinary school and how cooking had always been the one thing I'd loved more than almost anything. My 'almost' had intrigued him, which led to me shutting down and refusing to share more - until he offered me a thousand dollars to spill the beans, so I did. That was how he found himself comforting me as I sobbed into his shoulder an hour later. I told him about my mother, how my father had written me off, and the situation with Jedrek and Tori (though without mentioning names. I wasn't sure who Ezekiel knew through club affiliation and didn't want to risk causing an issue - if Waylon had been here before, who was I to say Jedrek hadn't?).

He'd told me the words I needed to hear that night; "I've known you less than even a fraction of the time he has, and I already know that you're a special woman. Fuck him if he's dumb enough to throw all that away."

The help he was talking about with his designs actually had to do with the blueprints he'd brought in one night. It was a 'stay quiet and just provide quiet moral support' night, but I wasn't able to help myself. When I saw the fucked up layout of the room he was trying to decorate on his 3D computer software, I had to step in. I asked to see the hardcopy of the blueprint and immediately noticed some major red flags in the way the actual building structure was set up. I wasn't sure how in the hell the architect in charge had gotten away with it, but I immediately took a pencil and started sketching a layout that made much more sense in regards to where all the plumbing and heating-slash-cooling aspects were placed throughout the building. I also helped in making the entire floor plan flow much more naturally than it would've before.

Ezekiel had looked at me in sheer amazement before demanding to know where I'd learned all that I had. I told him the truth; it'd all come from watching Jedrek (referred to ask 'my-ex') for countless hours and asking questions that - at the time - I thought were pointless. I hadn't realized it, but I guess the answers really stuck with me even after all the time that had passed. Something else I'd come to realize was that Jedrek always had a different way of approaching layouts than anyone else - something all of his professors used to comment on back in his college days.

Well, it turns out, those structural changes were exactly what Ezekiel had needed to perfectly pull the entire project together and finish things on his end. The client had been so happy, he'd signed Ezekiel on for all of his other buildings. It ended up being a multimillion-dollar contract that enabled Ezekiel to start discussing plans to expand his business and take things global.

He always said I was the genius behind that deal, but I vehemently denied his claim. All I did was fix some idiots mistake - which is exactly what I told him.

"That idiot is one of the best architects in this country," he shot back, "yet you, someone who claims to have very little knowledge about any of this-" he'd gestured towards his laptop and all the papers spread out in front of us "-just completely undermined his ability and work in maybe five minutes."

I'd just shrugged off the praise, always having been uncomfortable with such attention since I was little. The next night, I'd awoken to find a massive amount of cash deposited into my bank account from Rouge. When I had called Milo up to mention the error, he said it was a non-refundable bonus from Ezekiel.

"For your future endeavors" Milo had explained with mirth. While I was thankful Ezekiel was taking such interest in my dreams of culinary success, I wanted to get there all on my own.

With that being said, I worked damn hard every night and let the exponential amount of money sit safely in my account, just in case...

**

"So what's this bullshit I hear about you leaving tomorrow for two weeks?" Ezekiel asked while passing me his empty glass. We were in the VIP lounge as per usual. He had unloaded a hoard of papers onto the coffee table in front of us minutes after coming in tonight and had been pretty silent thus far. I sat next to him and looked over everything - a request of his - as he went through various stacks of paperwork. I only got up to fill his glass whenever it ran empty or get him something to eat when he got hungry.

Despite how close Ezekiel and I had continued to become after spending so much time together, and acknowledging on multiple occasions that we were much better off as friends than anything else, something I never thought would happen in a million years did. I couldn't help but shift uncomfortably in my seat as thoughts about that night two weeks ago bombarded me.

The new bartender in the main lounge was testing out a few drinks that were going to be specials tonight and had asked me to try one. He wanted to make sure it tasted alright before our doors opened. Not thinking anything of it, I'd drank the entire thing - in my defense, it had an amazing kick to it.

Come to find out, the damn thing was loaded with booze. It had practically knocked me on my ass twenty minutes into my shift. That night, Ezekiel just so happened to get plastered as well in celebration of gaining another very influential investor. My mind had been so fuzzy, that after a certain point, I was convinced that I was seeing Jedrek's face instead of Ezekiel's.

One thing led to another and I found myself on my knees happily sucking Ezekiel off all the while picturing Jedrek in my mind. When everything was said and done, and Ezekiel was struggling to find his composure, the reality of what I'd done had hit me. I felt like a disgusting, cheap whore. It wasn't just because I was technically being paid for the lewd act, but because Ezekiel had no idea the only reason I'd sucked him off was because I had been picturing my ex-boyfriend in his place.

When Khloe - who I've since moved in with - and I got home that night, I started crying the second we stepped into our living room. She wasn't surprised about the blow job - which left me shocked - but rather about the rest of the situation. She'd rocked me back and forth on the couch like a baby while repeatedly telling me to stop feeling so guilty, that I needed to let it go and let myself be happy and have fun for once.

"I know you feel awful, but Ezekiel never has to know why you actually did it. He can remain blissfully unaware, chalking it up to bad decisions while intoxicated. Besides that, just tell him that you weren't in your right mind and that you don't want it to screw up your friendship. I have a feeling he'll probably be feeling a similar level of discomfort after he's sobered up. With how close you guys are, I'm sure he'll want to move past it and forget it even happened, too," she'd said. I let her words soothe me as I processed everything she had said. I knew she was right. In order to keep what we had going, talking to him about what'd happened was a necessary evil.

I was thankful when he and I went to lunch the next day and agreed that it was a major lapse in judgment for the both of us and that it was horribly weird to even think about. In the end, we decided to just sweep it under the rug and forget it even happened. Even though I've come to terms with it, I haven't been able to completely forget it just yet.

I was abruptly pulled out of my thoughts by Ezekiel poking my side. Oh, right. Me leaving. I sighed in annoyance just thinking about having to attend that dreaded fucking wedding.

"It's for my step-sister's wedding, remember?" I said.

"Yeah, but why are you heading up there so early?" he asked, confusion lacing his tone.

"I'm being required to go a week early as per my father's recent request-slash-demand so that I'm able to attend both the wedding shower and the wedding," I grumbled, letting my disdain be heard. "He called me last night and tried to talk me into staying for another week after the wedding," I confessed.

"What did you say?" he asked, knowing where my dad and I's relationship currently stood.

"Nothing. I just laughed at him and hung up," I snickered. He rolled his eyes at me.

"I'm going to miss you, Roxie. How am I supposed to go such a long time without seeing you?" he questioned dramatically. I laughed at his antics before giving his cheek a few playful smacks.

"You must think I'm oblivious to all the tabloids that are written about you," I remarked.

"Yes, but you know for a fact that ninety percent of them are baseless rumors," he shot back with a single raised brow.

"Well, regardless, I'm sure you'll have no issues with Elizabeth keeping you company just fine while I'm away. That or you'll find another supermodel from God knows where to keep you company," I rasped out knowingly. "Besides, it won't seem like that long considering you're leaving here soon too for a business trip of your own. Or did that one already slip your mind, grandpa?" I jeered. He sighed deeply before nodding and throwing back the last of his scotch.

"Don't remind me. Half of the damn company is run by absolute idiots," he grumbled, "and I think the head boss knows it, too." I giggled at his statement before nudging his side.

"Are you going to tell me where it's at now? Or are you still on the whole 'keeping shit a secret' thing?" I asked. He pretended to zip his lips and throw away the key. I groaned in annoyance before crossing my arms.

"Fine, be a shit head all you want," I grumbled.

"It's top secret. I don't want any of the other company's catching wind of what I'm doing," he explained before patting my knee.

"Well, for what it's worth, I'm sure it'll all work out," I insisted.

"You're just saying that because you're tired of hearing about it without knowing the details," he chuckled. I wasn't going to refute what he said because he was actually right. I wasn't even able to get any info out of his closest men - whom I've come quite acquainted with as well seeing as Ezekiel's conducted many business meetings here since I've been working for him personally.

"You pay me to listen," I retorted back.

"Touche," he said with another chuckle, "but also not necessarily true, either," he murmured while giving me a challenging look. I flicked the tip of his nose and pushed myself off the couch, grabbing his empty glass from its coaster as I went.

"Yeah, yeah," I mocked. "Anyway, would you mind if I took off a bit early tonight? I still need to pack and get my life together before I have to go back to the depths of hell," I joked. He chuckled softly before checking the time on his ridiculously-expensive watch.

"I could use a break. Did you eat? Or are you down to grab a quick bite and I can drop you off at your place after?" he asked. My stomach grumbled seconds later, pretty much answering his question for me.

"Food first it is. I was thinking Chinese - I've been craving it for a few days. Thoughts?"

"Only if we get it at that one place I showed you last Sunday," I retorted, my mouth already watering at the thought. It then occurred to me how truly close Ezekiel and I had become. I took a step back and just stared at him, realizing that he was one of my closest friends even outside of work.

If only I wasn't so hung up on another man...

I think he and I could've maybe been more.