This morning, I woke up in his arms.

But now, I’ve been in the office for merely a few minutes, and the phones are going fucking bananas. It’s not even 8 a.m. yet.

Normally I can’t wait to get into the office…but with Will in my bed, even I can admit that it was a struggle this morning.

But this job…I love this fucking job. For the first time in my life, I can really flex my steel and be myself. I kicked ass all the way up the corporate ladder, and I never once backed down. And now I’m here, the pace doesn’t slow down—fuck no.

It hits high gear.

For a couple of seconds, the phone is silent and the memory of Will sleeping comes up in my mind.

Waking up in his arms and breathing in that clean man scent first thing in the morning was divine. He sleeps deep, so untangling myself wasn’t difficult, and I found myself staring at him.

Awake, he’s a non-stop cock. Dick doesn’t even start to describe it, because his dick is at least worth two average dicks. Maybe more.

But sleeping…I don’t know. He looked kind of sweet.

Tousled hair and sweet dark eyelashes falling against his cheeks. Without those icy wolf eyes and quick shit-eating grin, I could almost think he was innocent.

I’m glad the phone rings again as I have a laugh at myself.

Fix your fucking perception, girl. See things as they really are, not how you want them to be.

Not long after 9 a.m., two dozen roses come waltzing in, all white and pink. The deliveryman gets all ‘wink, wink’ with me, but I laugh it off.

“It’s probably just a client.” I take the card to check after signing the board.

It’s from Mr. Paxton, a short note to let me know yesterday afternoon his profit margin tripled, and if I hadn’t convinced him to keep his account here, he would’ve missed out.

This makes me feel fierce, really puts the fire in my belly.

I work straight two hours without noticing the time and would keep going—if I hadn’t been interrupted by another delivery boy.

I stride up from the desk feeling a bit pissed now. I’m not a fucking princess in a tower waiting around to be rescued. I don’t have time for this shit.

These roses are all red, the darkest most intense red I’ve ever seen. I pick out the card, and my heart stops in my chest as I catch the words.

To show my appreciation—my wife fucking deserves it.

-Will

Everything seems to stop now, like there’s silence all around me. I look at all the roses starting to gather, and for a moment, I can’t think.

His wife.

I know he’s joking, but still…

I’m just too fucking lucky. The big office, the stupidly rich clients, kick ass apartment…and a field of fucking roses in my giant office.

I don’t think I’ve ever been satisfied this way before, and I’m honest enough with myself to know, the sex is a huge part of that.

Phew. I need coffee.

My mind is wandering all over the fucking place.

I walk swiftly out towards the coffee machine, dropping a note to the secretary to contact billing on behalf of the Paxton account. If he tripled his margins, we need to increase the fees.

The coffee room is blissfully empty, and I grab a muffin and a very strong coffee. I eat standing up, pacing a little.

I’ve been sitting for the last few hours, and maybe with a little food, caffeine, and blood flow, I’ll be able to stop thinking about how vulnerable Will looks when he’s asleep, with those wolf-like eyes covered by sweet dark lashes.

Stop it, Kat! Fuck!

I jump as the door darkens and almost spill my coffee.

“Oh, here you are, Kat,” Sarah announces, all smiles as she walks into the room. She’s a cold one—I don’t think any expression on her face is ever real.

Eyes and smiles are all carefully calculated. It’s a trait I admire.

I remember thinking in the interview that if I can be half as good as that, I’m golden.

“Are you here to congratulate me on the Paxton account?”

She makes coffee for herself, licking the spoon deftly as she crosses the room to stand next to me.

“Maybe I should be. But that’s not why I’m here, though. I just want to check in, see that everything’s going well. It was a tough decision for a new CEO here; I know I made the right choice. I just want to see how you’re feeling. I know your work is good, the profit margins show that!”

She laughs, inviting me to warm up to her.

I’m not sure I want to give in. She’s Will’s sister. She’s still kind of my boss.

There’s something very dishonest about her right now, even while she is smiling and giving me big puppy sympathetic eyes.

“Yeah, I’m good,” I say, looking at my coffee like it’s something special. “It’s been a good start today—that’s why I like the work. I don’t have to think or feel.”

“How’s Will today? Have you seen him? I saw the roses in your office.”

I get that icy twist in my gut that has never failed me. Step carefully, it says.

I look her right in the face, and there it is, plain as day, behind her warm smile, her eyes are calculating.

She doesn’t give a fuck how I feel. Her plan was for me to run the company, and then she could fuck Will off and make more money while she quietly swept him and his boyish tactics under the rug.

“I saw him this morning. He’s not coming to work.”

“Ha!” she exclaims. She throws her head back, rolls her eyes, then steps close to me, conspirator-like. “That’s a first.”

“You sound impressed.”

“Look honey—I just want you to know Will has a reputation. When it comes to women, his attention span isn’t as long as his cock. I admit I put him up to that bet, but I was hoping some older baroness or duchess would buy him and get him out of my hair for a few months while he gallivanted her foreign fields and fucked her maids. Will needs a break—and I thought this would give him one. I never thought a real woman would be interested in him…”

She trails off, not looking at me, and I think the bitch just put me down so slyly I don’t have a comeback.

“Thanks for the advice,” I say.

My voice comes out deep and smooth as I straighten myself up and put my empty cup down on the counter.

I didn’t get here by faking this fucking game. I knew in the interview I was going to have to have confrontation with her sooner or later.

“I thank you for thinking of my emotional welfare,” I assure her, grinning sweetly. “But it’s totally under control. Just like the company. Make yourself busy by all means, or have another coffee. You did hire me to run your company…and your brother, apparently. I can assure you—I have both completely handled.”

A little shot of my own, if she wants to imply I’m stupid.

She fucking hired me. That sword cuts both ways.

In the short walk back to my office, I feel lost. There’s a deep sinking inside and so much doubt. It’s not something I’m used to feeling.

I haven’t spoken to Will all day. Not since last night’s sex, actually.

Maybe I’ll call him, just to hear the tone in his voice. He looked at me last night in a different way, but what the fuck do I know, really?

I’m not a fucking wallflower. I’m going to call him and straighten this shit out.

As I sit down, the phone rings. I see the calls piling up as the little lights keep coming on and flickering at me.

I’m too busy to call him.

I love this work, and I throw myself into it, trying not to think about the growing worry inside that is making me frown at my beautiful roses.