Constance tried to stifle a yawn, but it came out anyway, and ended with the most unladylike full-body stretch.

Barely noon and she was hardly able to keep her eyes open.

It had been a long, restless night, one where she shifted between dreaming about Milo, wishing he was in her bed and then chastising herself for it, reminding herself that she needed to get the stupid idea out of her head and keep it out.

She’d finally fallen into a restless sleep when she reminded herself that she’d see Milo in the morning, and spend a long while with him. He didn’t text her like that unless he intended a full day. That thought alone was enough to get her out of bed and headed to the office mere hours after she’d left.

He’d stayed for all of fifteen minutes and been out of the office by 7:15.

She’d arrived on time, 6:58, to be exact, and after a brief conversation that was over before it had really started, he had donned his suit jacket and told her to forward any important calls to his cell.

And then he had been gone.

She scolded herself again for the undeniable excitement at seeing him, hopeful that this would once and for all remind her that she was simply an employee, and that lusting after him would only embarrass her.

“Delivery,” Pete, the mailroom clerk, said as he pushed his cart through the double doors that led to the CEO suite.

She smiled as Pete approached and stood to take the stack of letters from his hand.

Pete’s smile dropped as he looked at Constance, no doubt noticing the dark circles under her eyes. “You taking care, Connie?”

“I am, Pete. How’s Martha?” she asked.

“She’s good. Told me to tell her Connie to call sometimes.”

“I will,” Constance replied.

She never let anyone call her Connie, but Pete was nearly seventy and reminded her of her own grandfather, one of the only people she made an exception for.

She gave him a smile, hoping it conveyed energy she didn’t feel. Pete looked at her warily and then nodded.

“Take care. And don’t work too hard,” he said, waving as he went on his way.

“You too, Pete,” she said.

He pushed the cart away and Constance began to flip through the mail. She sorted those that required Milo’s direct attention and those that she could handle herself, and then headed into Milo’s office.

It was spacious, and together with the outside seating area, took up almost half of the building’s top floor.

Constance paused, taking in the sweeping city view, and then looked at the familiar surroundings, realized how she had spent more time here than she had in the house that she loved so much.

The thought was exhilarating because many of those hours had been in Milo’s company, listening to his warm, magnetic voice, soaking up his essence.

The thought was equally crushing because that time was only a reminder that she had nothing but memories to show for it.

She sighed as she began flipping through the envelopes. “Don’t be so dramatic, Constance,” she muttered under her breath. “You just need a good fuck to get yourself back on track.”

“Is that an offer, Constance?”