It's been two whole days and Ashley hasn't once dropped by the office.

Yeah, I'm a bit off because I haven't seen her, okay?

Normally, I don't let women affect me like this.

But fuck, I think I fucking love her.

What am I talking about? I know I love her.

But I'm not sure what's going on with that girl.

I tried sending her a few texts but didn't get an answer.

When was that? I'm pretty sure that was two days ago. Because after that I stopped by her desk yesterday.

That's right. I came down from my 4th floor office all the way to her floor. But for someone who hadn't seen me in a while, she didn't look too happy when she finally did see me.

Instead it was quite the opposite.

She looked at me, her eyes shooting daggers at me.

"Do you have a moment to talk in the conference room?" I remember asking.

"I'm sorry, I have a deadline, but is there anything you needed?" Ashley answered back, very politely. And very coldly.

She knew just as well as I did that I can't stand out there in an open office and ask her what's going on. And hey, there's a chance with a closed conference room that maybe I could show her how much I missed her.

You know, like pull my cock out and stick it inside of her.

But no, nothing like that even happened. I mean, sure, maybe it's pushing it thinking of the whole sticking my cock inside of her yesterday, but what about just a kiss?

I know what you're thinking.

You're smiling to yourself and thinking of how the Wolf of New York is nothing more than a little lost puppy at this point, aren't you?

Yeah, well you know what I have to say to you when you fucking think that?

You really want to know?

Fine.

I think that maybe if you just asked her what was wrong and found out, maybe I could fix it. Because I fucking miss her.

I never really understood how much until yesterday evening when everyone was leaving work and I looked back on the day and realized how many times I was probably making a fool of myself by trying to talk to her.

And every time she gave me a look that started out with anger, then betrayal, then almost as if looking at me was too much she flounced away.

I mean, I don't usually go get coffee from the employee breakroom. I'm the owner of this place. I like to leave the peons with a place to congregate and think they have some control.

I went in there about nine times yesterday.

Each time I went in it was the same deal. Ashley was in there and she got quiet when she saw me. Her eyes looked at me like she absolutely hated me. Like the first day we met in the elevator. Then she looked like she was going to cry. And then to maybe keep me from seeing it, she ran out of the room, making some excuse.

I'm starting to think that something is very, very wrong.

And I'm going to ask her, right now.

We're in the employee briefing area—the same place they set up a podium for me to announce that I had just bought the magazine.

God, life was so much easier before I even met Ashley, wasn't it?

Maybe it was easier...but it wasn't happier.

That's why right now I'm walking around the room to Ashley.

She sees me approach and looks around her. She's next to that brunette. What's her name? Natalie, I think. She doesn't seem to notice me, looking at something on her phone. But Ashley's eyes go wide as I approach. She quickly looks left and then right, and I can tell she's wondering if there's any place she can run.

But there isn't. And if I'm going to have to do this in public, then fuck it. She's that important. I walk the last step toward her and lean in.

She's trembling in...fear?

I have this odd sensation to just yell BOO! and make her jump.

But that would just end badly for all of us.

Instead I whisper as discreetly as possible in her ear, "Ashley, what's going on?" I ask.

She rolls her eyes at me, but other than that stays silent.

"You've been avoiding me and I want to know why," I demand, but it's hard to demand when you're also having to whisper. "If it was something I did I want to know. You know that when you do things I don't like I tell you. It's called being honest with each other."

As I say the word 'honest' she darts her head toward me and her eyes flash in anger.

But I can see her try to control herself.

Finally she speaks.

"Let's talk after the briefing," she says simply, trying to make it sound as if that will explain everything.

I shrug. Whatever, I'm willing to do that. Besides, the room has pretty much filled up with people and a few of them are starting to stare at us. I'm not worried about them. If I choose Ashley as the woman to stand next to me, I expect them to fall in line. But I don't want her to get singled out any more than she's been, so I take a step away and head to the podium.

"Thank you for coming, everyone," I say and look toward the dais that has some of my notes. But, unlike the first time I stood here and addressed this group, I don't really need the notes this time.

No, I have them prepared, but I think I can talk pretty much from the heart.

"This magazine used to be great at one point," I tell the crowd and they begin to nod. "But sadly, it's not great now."

There are some gasps and I can see Ashley staring straight at me. She's waiting for something. But what?

Does she know?

But why would she be mad if she knew about the sale?

Whatever. Women are weird. If they weren't so distracting I'm sure life would be a lot less complicated.

Anyways, where was I? Right.

"One of the reasons I bought this magazine was to make it what it used to be," I say out loud. "So I purchased it through Kane Acquisitions, which is a publicly traded holding company. That means that I have a fiduciary duty to cut costs and increase revenue to maximize the value for the shareholders. The true owners."

People are beginning to mill around.

Some of them are turning white.

"But cutting costs usually means more than trimming expense account lunches," I say. "In the last few weeks it's meant layoffs."

Now people are shifting from one foot to another. I better start finishing up before they start getting very nervous.

“I’ve had to make some tough decisions and it’s meant that we’ve not only had to freeze hiring, but we’ve also had to let some of us go,” I say and people are starting to blanch. If I don’t finish soon, people might end up getting sick right here. “I think you’ll all agree with me that the morale of everyone has suffered. Am I right?”

A few people are nodding. Good, they’re still listening.

“I’m here to tell you that the people who have been laid off are going to be hired back,” I tell the audience without delay. I’m seriously worried some of them will faint if I don’t get to the end of my speech. “And to get around the fiduciary duty to Kane Acquisitions, I’ve decided to sell Blush magazine.”

Okay, people are confused. So I better add the last bit in.

“I’m selling the magazine to myself,” I say quickly. People are trying to follow along. “With the new owner being me, as opposed to Kane Acquisitions, I personally own the magazine and I personally have a responsibility to myself that I maximize revenues and cut costs…if I want to.”

I think some people are starting to get the picture of what I’m saying. Ashley is completely frozen.

“And with myself as the owner, I have no shareholders to report to, no expenses to justify, and no cost cutting targets to meet,” I say to the group. “We can make the initial investments needed to hire the best reporters, give out better salaries to retain top talent, increase the benefits package, and upgrade our equipment. We can set the stage to make this magazine great again. And then the money will follow.”

Wow, that was a lot to say in one sentence.

But people are understanding now and instead of looking like they’re going to pass out, the peons are smiling.

Oh fuck, I should probably stop calling them peons probably, shouldn’t I?

“I want you to know that I respect this magazine and the people that work there as a family,” I tell the crowd. “And that’s why I decided to sell it to myself. Because I’m taking a bet on our collective future. I hope you guys stick together and join me in it.”

It starts slowly, but someone from the back starts clapping.

Soon another joins in.

And another.

And then before I know it, the whole room is clapping for me.

As they should, actually.

After all, I’m the Wolf of New York.

Ashley is looking at me wonderstruck. I walk off the podium and up to her, but she’s already walking toward me.

“You sold the company…” she starts but I cut her off.

“To myself,” I tell her taking a step closer to her and looking down into her beautiful blue eyes. “So you don’t have to worry about your loyalty to your friends conflicting with your love for me.”

She gives a bit of a squeak.

Honestly, I was hoping for something more. But I give her a second.

“You’re not selling us apart to other people?” she asks again, as if unable to believe it.

“What gave you that idea?” I ask, genuinely puzzled.

“I saw your papers in the office the other day that had articles of sale…” she begins and immediately realizes what she’s saying and blushes.

“You went through my office?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.

I should have known it. Poor girl must have thought I was lying to her the entire time.

“I didn’t mean to, I just wanted to…” she says, but I stop her by putting a finger to her lips.

“I would never drive you away, Ashley,” I tell her, lowering my face to hers. “I love you too much.”

It’s like happiness courses through her tiny little body as she takes one step closer and nestles into me.

Ashley looks up at me, and smiles. “I love you too, Apollo,” she says.

And wouldn’t you know it, my cock feels her tight body pressed against mine and starts getting hard.

But I need to control it. What would the people around us who have stopped clapping and are talking amongst themselves say if they saw my giant boner?

“I love you more,” I say to her, trying to get my mind off the insane idea of throwing her on my shoulder and taking her back to my office to fuck her.

“I love you louder,” she says, smiling and reaching for my head.

Our mouths get closer, and we kiss, our tongues exploring each other.

Sure, there’s people around us.

But I don’t mind. It was our love that saved this magazine. So the least it deserves is a kiss, right?

I’m glad you agree.