When I leave breakfast with Hendricks, I know exactly what I need to do. He gave me back my job as CEO, but there is something more that needs to be done. If anyone asked me a week ago if I would go this route, I would have fought against it tooth and nail, but it’s amazing what a woman will do to a man.

This isn’t just about my career. It’s about Kylie Jordan, the woman who managed to change my life by being herself. I didn’t think I would ever trust a woman again, but she’s something else, and I need to make it right. I need to make it work for her, at least, even if I can’t make it happen for myself.

Hendricks is a reasonable man. When I told him how I felt about everything that happened and how it placed Kylie at a disadvantage, Hendricks didn’t seem very worried, even knowing what happened all those years ago with her mother. When I told him how I felt about her, he didn’t care all that much. When I showed him her work, he was interested. Everyone has something that tugs at their heartstrings. For Hendricks, it’s passion for your work.

Kylie is the definition of passion and dedication to her career.

I’m headed to Alamo Square Park where Hendricks’s assistant has gotten reporters from all the major news stations together. I have something I need to say to the masses. As the CEO for RidgeCo, I’ve appeared in public on behalf of the company often enough that this is the one place where I might be able to make a difference.

When I arrive at the podium, the microphones are set up, and a group of reporters, news readers and cameramen are clustered in front of it.

This isn’t my first rodeo, but for the first time, I’m nervous. It’s the first time I’m saying something this serious. It’s the first time I really care about how my speech is going to be received.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” I say when I step onto the podium. Mics and recording devices are shoved in my direction. “Thank you for coming here on such short notice. As you all know I’ve been CEO at RidgeCo for a few years, now. Recently, I was involved in allegations of a sexual nature. Whether these were true or not, it jeopardized my career and that of a woman that was involved as well.”

“Who is she?” someone asks.

“Kylie Jordan is a new project manager. I hired her to join the team, and from day one she did everything in her power to make the project run as smoothly as possible.”

“We heard about the scandal,” another reporter says, “are the allegations true?”

I take a deep breath. This is it, the moment of truth.

“Yes,” I say. “They are. But it is through no fault of Miss Jordan, and if anyone should be punished, it’s me. She insisted that it was wrong, but I’m too stubborn for my own good. The truth is…” I hesitate because I’m about to make a confession I’ve only recently admitted to myself. “I’m in love with her. When you know, you know, and it’s impossible to stay away from someone.”

A murmur ripples through the crowd, and I see pens scribble on paper at a furious rate.

“Does that mean that company rules can be broken for the pursuit of love?” someone from the back asks.

I shake my head. “Absolutely, not. Which is why I’m resigning as CEO of RidgeCo.”

Chatter erupts, and I give them some time to wrap their mind around the news. Truth be told, I’m still working on accepting my decision.

“What will happen to her?” someone asks.

“That’s all,” I say because I don’t know how to answer all the questions. Kylie isn’t speaking to me. When I step off the podium, I take a deep breath. No matter what happens now, I think I did the right thing.

And that’s all that matters, even when it’s a little late.

I get in my car, and I’m on my way home when my phone rings. Kylie’s name pops up on the caller ID, and I can’t believe she wants to speak to me, now.

“Can I see you?” she asks when I answer. It’s more than I bargained for.

“Of course,” I say. “Come over to my place.”

“I’m already at your place,” she says and hangs up.

I step on the gas to get home as soon as possible. I’m thrilled she wants to talk to me face to face. When she walked away from me in the lobby, not even looking over her shoulder at me, I was sure I would never see her again. The idea ripped me apart.

When I park my car and walk to the front door, she’s waiting for me. She’s dressed in jeans and a tank top with ballet flats. Her hair is pulled into a ponytail, and I realize I’ve never seen her this casual. RidgeCo is a top-notch company, and she looked put-together even when she was a receptionist.

She’s beautiful like this – her raw beauty shining through. I like this so much more than all the jewelry and makeup and dressy clothes.

“Thank you for seeing me,” I say when I reach her. Her arms are folded over her chest like she needs to physically hold herself together and I can’t tell the emotion on her face.

“I got a call from Mr. Hendricks earlier,” she says. “He’s offering me my job back.”

I’m relieved. I needed Hendricks to do this, and he came through for me. He’s a solid man.

“I’m so happy for you,” I say. I know she had a difficult past and that money is more of an object than it should be. I am relieved that she as her income back, now.

She hesitates. I unlock my front door and hold it open for her, letting her step in first. She does so without thinking about it twice. After we’re inside the door, and I close it, I turn around to find her with tears in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I saw you on television, earlier,” she says. “I heard what you said.”

“I hope you know that I mean it,” I say.

She swallows and nods. The first tears spill over her cheeks.

“I know. I didn’t think you felt that way about me. I mean, after everything we did.”

I shake my head and put my hand on her cheek. “Darling girl, you’ve managed to crawl under my skin when I least expected it. I am in love with you.”

She smiles, and more tears roll down her cheeks.

“That’s why I’m here,” she says. “I heard it, and I want you to know something.” I look into her eyes, and they’re drowning in tears.

“I love you, too,” Kylie says.

I don’t know how it happened that this woman became as important to me as she is, but my heart warms when she tells me she loves me, too.

I pull her close to me and kiss her, my hand on her cheek. Her body is pressed flush against mine, and I can feel every curve, from the swell of her breasts to the curve of her hips. But that’s not what it’s about right now. I want to be with her, and not just for sex. I want her to be my girlfriend. By some miracle, ten years after my heart was ripped out and spat on, I fell in love again.

She puts her arms around my neck, and I wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her even closer. She parts her lips and my tongue slides into her mouth. She tastes familiar, and I realize that this feeling – with her tongue in my mouth and her body pressed tightly against mine – is home.

I pull her into the living room, and we collapse on the couch in a tangle of limbs. We make out like teenagers, feeling and touching carefully as if we’re unsure if the other will break. Her kiss is different – gentle and passionate and so much more intimate than it’s ever been before – and I think it’s about the emotion behind it. For the first time, I feel what it means to truly love someone.

My hand roams her body, because I can’t help it. She’s so hot, her curves are pressed against my body and I wanted to touch and love every inch of her. This is more than about sex – although sex with her is fucking fantastic. It’s about being with her. It’s about our connection. It’s about loving her and knowing that she loves me back.

Of course, I can’t help but get hard. Her body is pressed up against mine, and I’m kissing her. Our kissing becomes more passionate, more urgent. She gyrates her hips, and I know she can feel me. She grinds against me, and I’m overwhelmed by the need to be inside her.

I break the kiss and take her hand, leading her to my bedroom. I want her, and I want her now. When we’re in the room, I lay her down on the bed and crawl over her, kissing her again. I work my way down her, moving her clothes here and there to plant kisses on her bare skin in a trail down her body.

I undo her pants and peel her jeans down her legs one by one. When I’ve gotten rid of her pants, I run my hands up her smooth legs. She’s got the sexiest legs I’ve ever seen.

Her panties are next to go, and I slowly move them down her legs as well. I drop them on the floor with the jeans.

I spread her thighs with my hands and kneel between her legs. I dip my head between her legs and lick her pussy lips.

She’s already wet. Her scent is intoxicating, making me dizzy and when I drag my tongue up her slit, her taste is sweet, the taste of sex.

She gasps when I flick my tongue over her clit. I pay attention to her clit for a while, flicking my tongue over her. Then, I close my lips over her clit and suck. She cries out. I know she loves it when I do this. I push a finger into her, and she gasps, squirming against my mouth and my hand.

I want to keep doing this to her, but I want to be more involved, too. She’s half-naked and half-orgasmic. I want both of us to get there all the way. I let her go and peel the shirt I wore to the press conference off my body. I get rid of my pants and my boxers.

When I’m naked, Kylie is, too. She got undressed when I did, and she’s naked on my bed.

“God, you’re beautiful,” I say.

She blushes. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to the red flush on her cheeks. She’s so beautiful when she blushes and when she smiles. When she does anything. And she’s so sincere.

I crawl onto the bed again, straddling her but the wrong way around so that her head is between my legs. I dip my head again and lick her pussy. She gets the idea without me telling her we’re going to do sixty-nine. She takes my cock into her mouth, and I have to concentrate to lick her and have her suck me at the same time without affecting how well I’m taking care of her.