Over the next few days Madeline did little but eat, sleep and breathe the files she had been given by Mr. Windsor. She was determined to give honest and clear feedback to him but her thoughts kept getting deterred with images of him sweaty and shirtless…droplets slowly running down the hard grooves of his six pack.

"Ok I have got to get out of here" she said aloud to herself as she stood up from her desk. She gathered the files and her belongings and made her way to the bank of elevators. She hadn’t realized that everyone else had gone home more than an hour earlier and the office seemed eerily quiet without the general buzzing and chatter she heard day to day. As she was waiting for her elevator to arrive, she fished through her purse looking for her cell phone when a voice from behind startled her.

"I didn’t expect to see you here so late Miss Strickland." Madeline spun around and came face to face with Mr. Windsor, her files dropping haphazardly to the floor. "It seems I startled you again," he chuckled to himself. Madeline scurried to pick up the papers but he grabbed her arm in protest.

"No please allow me," he said as he gathered up her papers.

“I'm so sorry I just wasn’t expecting anyone to still be here, time just got away from me." Madeline continued to gather papers as she crawled on her hands and knees across the floor.

"Well there’s no need to apologize to the boss for working late," he said with a wink as he stood up. She gathered the last of the papers and began to get up when Bennet leaned down and put his hand under her elbow to help her.

"Oh thank you," she said as she took the papers he had gathered and picked up and put them safely in her bag. They entered the elevator silently, if not awkwardly and both proceeded to avoid eye contact.

"So do you have big plans tonight?" He casually asked.

"Um none that I can think of, just grab something to eat I guess" Madeline tried to keep her voice even and calm but her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her chest.

“That's a coincidence, I also was going to grab something to eat, how about you join me?"

Madeline spun her head around in record speed to meet Bennet’s gaze, her mouth was hanging open but she couldn’t seem to respond. He smirked as the elevator doors open and placed his hand on Madeline’s lower back to lead her out. She hadn’t given him a response but it didn’t seem to matter since he was leading her out of the building towards his waiting car.

"Good evening Mr. Windsor." Bennet’s driver opened the door of the Mercedes Maybach.

"Good evening Stuart, Miss Strickland will be joining me this evening. We’ll be going to RPM Italian. You like Italian?" Bennet turned to Madeline.

"Uh…what? Yes that’s fine.” She was still confused as to how she was going to dinner with Bennet Windsor but more importantly she was trying to think of any possible excuse to run!

"Great, after you," Bennet ushered for Madeline to climb into the backseat of the car but she seemed frozen on the sidewalk.

"Madeline? I’m all for taking our time but It’s January in Chicago so feel free to hustle into the vehicle." Bennet pushed her gently towards the car and even through her thick winter coat she could feel his touch on her lower back. She climbed into the back of the car as gracefully as she could and quickly readjusted her skirt. Her hands were nervously ringing the belt of her coat as Bennet slid in next to her, his scent wafting into the air as he settled into his seat.

As he made some quick small talk with his driver Stuart about his day and the traffic, Madeline took the chance to look him over. His hair was thick and the color a rich chocolate brown, as he spoke she watched him run his hands through it, something he did often. His jaw was defined and strong, sprinkled with the stubble of a five o’clock shadow and his eyes were a piercing green.

How is this guy even real?! He’s like a goddam Disney prince! She thought to herself. She was still staring at him intently when he turned to speak to her,

"Something on your mind?" His grin spread across his face at the sight of her staring. She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination but his voice seemed to drip with sensuality.

"So how was your day?" She replied a little too upbeat trying to mask her embarrassment, there was nothing she could do though to mask the flush creeping up her face. She picked at the lace on her skirt and tried to avoid looking at him directly.

"It was a good day, busy but now it’s better," he said casually as he brushed a piece of lint off of his coat. "I thought we could discuss your thoughts on the files I gave you in a more relaxed environment. I know it can be a bit of a mental block to speak freely when you’re in the confines of the office." Before she could answer they were stopping in front of the restaurant and Stuart was opening the backdoor.

She once again tried to gracefully "scoot" across the seat and swing her legs out of the door without flashing the world. Suddenly Bennet’s hand was grabbing hers to once again assist her. He pulled her swiftly, slipping his arm around her to usher her towards the front door of the restaurant.

"Thanks Stuart, I’ll text you when we’re wrapping up." He said over his shoulder as they scurried out of the cold.

"Good evening Mr. Windsor, I’ll show you to your table sir, right this way," a very prompt and well-dressed host ushered them to their table and gave the usual pleasantries.

"Allow me," Bennet said as he removed Madeline’s coat and placed it on her chair which he then pulled out for her. She wasn’t sure if she was more in shock or confusion at the politeness and gentlemanly behavior, she certainly had never experienced it before.

The dinner started a bit awkwardly, Madeline wasn’t sure how to engage or even what to say so Bennet did most of the talking. She wasn’t even sure what to order, why did her mind go suddenly blank?! It was like all of her abilities to function as a normal human had gone out the window around him. She looked up from the menu and nodded every so often, trying to listen to what Bennet was saying while simultaneously reading the menu over for the fifteenth time.

"Mr. Windsor, I just wa-"

"Please, call me Bennet." He said as he raised his hand as an apology for interrupting.

"Well, thank you…Bennet." Madeline said as a slight flush crept up her neck again. "I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate and recognize the opportunity you have given me and I promise I will not mess it up!" She said emphatically. He leaned back in his chair taking a long sip of his wine before looking her in the eyes and responding slowly.

"Madeline I have no doubt you’ll be amazing at this job and in life if I’m being honest. I haven’t gotten to where I am in life without being able to read people. There’s something in you that is refreshing and exciting and I hope I’m not speaking out of line here but I sure as hell hope I get to witness all of your abilities." Madeline wasn’t sure what he was talking about entirely but a nervous smile crept across her face. She quickly grabbed her wine glass and took a much needed drink as she averted his intent gaze.

With a little more wine coursing through her veins, Madeline began to relax, talking animatedly about the files Bennet had given her and where she could see the campaigns going.

Bennet sat back and listened to her input, smiling to himself at the passion and excitement he could see in her eyes as she rambled on nervously. The food was delicious and the wine was warming, Madeline could feel herself becoming more confident as the night went on.

By the time they had wrapped up dinner and Bennet was helping her into her coat and walking her to the front of the restaurant it was nearly 9:30pm.

"Thanks again Mr. Wi-I mean Bennet," Madeline quickly corrected herself. "I appreciate dinner, I didn’t realize how late it was so I need to rush to catch my train but din-"

Bennet interrupted her "Madeline I’m taking you home, I’m not putting you on a train in Chicago at almost 10 PM, don't be ridiculous. Come on you’re making Stuart wait again." He said with a smirk. Something about the way he spoke to her was very intriguing, if not exciting. He had such an air of confidence and authority but not in a pushy or overbearing sort of way.

The ride back to Madeline’s Lake View neighborhood apartment had the same cadence as dinner, talk about work and Bennet’s ideas for how he’d like to utilize Madeline’s talents more.

The car came to a stop in front of her place and Bennet hopped out to walk her to the door of her building. "I meant what I said earlier tonight. I’m excited to see how you develop in your career and where life takes you. Now be a good girl and get a good night’s rest, you have work tomorrow young lady." Before she could respond he turned and headed back to his waiting car and drove off into the night.

Madeline wasted no time pulling her phone out of her purse and sending an urgent text to Jazmine, "CALL ME ASAP!"

"Wait, wait, wait slow down…did he kiss you?" Jazmine asked.

"What? No it’s not like that Jaz he’s my boss! I just can’t believe he sees such potential in me and is giving me the opportunities that he is! I mean working on these files takes years of experience. This could completely change the course of my career!" Madeline was ecstatic about the chance to be given more responsibility and prove herself, the more she talked about it the less nervous she became and the self-doubt began to disappear.

"Ugh I still wish he would have kissed you. I know, I know it would be unprofessional but also so exciting! And don’t act like you would have protested because you have that crazy nervous chatter thing going on that you always do when you like a guy."

Madeline rolled her eyes, “It's just the wine and excitement. Yes he looks like something that was made in a lab or hand carved by the gods but he’s my boss, he is WAY out of my league and he’s kind of old for me. I think he’s in his mid-thirties already.”

Jazmine sighed, "Whatever you say. But seriously girl I am so proud of you and happy for you. You have earned and deserve this." The girls continued chatting about their day. Jazmine shared her entertaining and sometimes horrifying tales as an ER nurse and how life was going now that she was living with her boyfriend.

"So gym tomorrow? I’ll be a little late because I have to run an errand after work but please let Damon know I’m still coming."

"Will do Jaz. Ok I am exhausted so I need to get to bed, I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good night." Madeline almost told Jazmine the weird thing Bennet had said about being a "good girl" but figured she shouldn’t even bother because she’d read into it and turn it into something that it was definitely not!