I sighed as the water poured on my face, then looked up at my reflection. My hair was down hiding the scandalous hickeys my one-night stand---who turned out to be my new boss---had given me. I blinked rapidly, my brown eyes wide with disbelief.
I couldn't believe I'd slept with my boss.
It was just sex---raw and unfiltered sex---and I had no intention of letting it happen again. I turned off the faucet and adjusted my dress.
'You're doing great, Aria. All you have to do is avoid running into him.' I consoled myself. It was a big building after all.
"Your phone's been ringing like crazy," Oliver said, when I came back into the office.
I glanced at the screen and turned it off immediately.
"Trouble in paradise?" he asked.
I ignored him and focused on my keyboard, punching the keys harder than necessary.
"Hey, Aria," Melody, one of my colleagues, called.
Melody was the office gossip—no secret was safe around her. That was why I liked to kept my distance.
"Some of the girls were saying they haven't RSVP'd for your wedding because you haven't sent out invites," she said.
I glanced at my phone buzzing loudly on the table. Mom.
"The wedding's been called off, Melody," I said.
Ignoring her gasp, I grabbed my phone and walked off to find some privacy. Now that she knew about it, it was only a matter of time before the entire office knew.
"Hey, Mom," I called.
"Aria."
My brows furrowed when I heard her voice. "What's wrong?"
She coughed loudly. "Just visiting the doctor's."
I gripped the phone tighter, fear clutching my heart. "Why? Everything okay?"
Mom was the only family I had left. I'd lost my dad when I was a kid and it had always been my mom and me. The thought of her being sick terrified me. I'd lost my fiancé and best friend all in one day. I couldn't afford to lose her too.
"Just a check-up, honey," she said.
I let out a sigh of relief. "Are you sure everything's fine?"
There was a slight pause.
"Yes, everything's okay."
"Aria." I turned to see Oliver waving me over.
"Mom, I gotta go." I hesitated. "Are you sure everything's fine?"
"Of course. Go back to work, honey."
I cut the call and approached Oliver.
"What's wrong?" I asked, seeing the look on his face.
"He's asking for you."
My eyebrows furrowed. "Who?"
"Mr. Brown."
"W-why?"
My throat tightened as I stared at him. I'd formulated an entire plan to avoid running into him at all costs. I was only filling in for Mr. James, my team leader who had an accident three weeks ago. I had no business with the big boss.
He shrugged. "Maybe he was impressed with your presentation."
I stared at the number on the elevator as it moved higher. The doors opened slowly and I stepped out.
"Do you have an appointment?" a woman, whose name tag read Gloria, asked.
"Tell him Ms. Scott is here to see him."
Her eyes trailed down my body slowly and I could feel the judgment in her eyes as she dialed a number. I pulled down the hem of my dress, trying to make it longer.
"Ms. Raymond's here to see you, sir," she relayed.
A pause. "Alright."
"You can go in."
I opened the door slowly and stepped in. The office was bigger than I'd imagined but that was to be expected. His jacket sat on his chair, his sleeves were rolled up as he read through some documents. There was a man beside him and when his eyes met mine, he gave me a nod.
"Leave us," Damien said to him.
He bowed and left, closing the door gently behind him.
I waited patiently, folding my fingers as I watched him work. His glasses sat prettily on his nose as he signed some documents. He looked different from the man I saw the night before.
"Give me a minute," he said.
I nodded, my heart racing. What did he want to say to me? Was he going to tell everyone about our night together? What exactly was his plan?
"Did you see my note?" he asked.
I paused when his eyes met mine, through his rimmed glasses. He looked hotter than he did last night. How the hell was that even possible?
He stood up and walked towards me. I took a step back when he got too close. I had to stay professional and reminiscing about last night was anything but that.
"Imagine my surprise when I saw you this morning," he said.
I stared at him in suspicion. "Did you know who I was last night? Was that why you…"
He chuckled. "I only found out who you were this morning."
He moved closer. "And remember, you were the one who came onto me."
That was true.
"Last night was a mistake," I said.
The most passionate, soul burning, sinful mistake I had ever made in my life.
His fingers grazed my cheek, itching towards my lips. "Was it?"
I grabbed his hand, stopping him. "Yes."
I held his gaze. "It's never going to happen again."
"Are you sure?" he asked.
I stared at his lips, at how full and soft they were. The moans that came from them and how they felt on my body as they brought me pleasure. I wanted to be reminded how they felt…but I couldn't.
I took a step back from him. I'd thought he was nothing like my ex but I was wrong. He reminded me too much of Drake. Like Drake, Damien and I were different; I was his subordinate and he was my boss. We lived in different worlds.
I was barely making ends to meet and drowning in debt, while he had the world at his footsteps. With one word, he could get me fired, rendering the years I'd put into my work useless. The closest I'd come to seeing an amazing view like that of his office was at Drake's house.
"It's never going to happen again, Mr. Brown," I finalized.
He nodded, stepping back. "Alright then."
I folded my fists. "Is that all, Mr. Brown?"
He sat behind his table an adjusted his glasses. "You can leave, Ms. Scott."
I nodded and turned towards the door.
"By the way…"
My hand paused on the doorknob, but I didn't turn back.
"Good job on the presentation, Aria."
I closed the door behind me quickly and giggled. I'd worked on the project for weeks, it felt good to be acknowledged for it. That meant there was a high chance of getting promoted. I squealed in excitement, when my phone pinged.
Melanie.
My smile disappeared when I saw the name. I was hesitant to pick the call but I knew she was going to keep calling.
"Hello, Melanie."
Melanie was Drake's mother and we had had a complicated relationship. I knew she never liked me, but I always thought if I could be a better girlfriend or fiancée, she'd grow to like me one day. Too bad that was never going to happen.
"Meet me at the café beside your office."
I stared at the blank screen after she cut the call and scoffed in disbelief. It was like her, always hanging up after she'd said her piece.
Turned out I had no choice but to spend my lunch break with my ex fiancé's mother. That should be fun.