We’ve been meeting every night after work for the last two weeks. He’s so insatiable, my body aches. My need for caffeine has grown from staying up and making love until the wee hours of the morning. I’m barely human when I go to work. His ass lays in bed instead of getting up and going into work, but I guess that is a benefit of owning the company.

I’ve come in extra early to meet with Mark to make some suggestions on different firewalls for a couple areas of our systems that need to be updated. It’s a constant process with hackers’ constantly learning new ways to infiltrate company records.

He is already in the conference room when I walk in. “I hope you like coffee,” I say, placing a Box O Joe on the table. I pour us both a cup and we start working right away.

“This is great. I’ll have these programmed into our system today. I’m really glad you joined our team, you’re such a good asset,” he says.

“Thank you. I really like working here. I’ve been meaning to ask you about this file in the computer.” I point to it on our list.

“Huh, I’ve never seen it before. It doesn’t look like a hack.” His brows are scrunched together.

“No, but it’s odd and the code repeats itself several times, but it looks like it’s sending information out. I haven’t been able to track it any further.”

“Do you want me to put a team on it?”

“No, I think I will let Mr. Blaze look at it.” I have to force myself not to call him Connor at work. “I know we have a meeting here with him today, I’ll bring it up then.”

We finish our work by lunch time and I run out to get a sandwich. Mid-text to Connor, I look up and see him entering the Kid Power building again. It’s an old six-story brick building with a single window at the very top. I’m tempted to follow him in, but if I do, I’ll be late getting back.

Are you going to make the meeting? I text him.

A few minutes later I get a reply. I’ll be there in a few.

I pick up my lunch and take it back to the conference room where eight other employees have already gathered. I take a seat at the end in the back and I quickly inhale my sandwich before the meeting starts.

Thirty minutes later, Connor joins us. He’s changed clothes from when I saw him going into Kid Power. He had on shorts, now his decked out in a suit and tie.

Mark finishes his part of the meeting and Connor stands to address us. I see a twinge of a smile of the edge of his lips. He rubs the palm of his hand across the table and I know exactly what he is thinking. I squeeze my thighs together to not let him get to me.

He talks about what is up and coming for the company, and the great job we have all been doing.

“Does anyone have anything to add or any questions?” he says.

“I do.” His eyes lock on mine. “I’m having an issue with one of the codes, edajsevivrus.”

He stands up straight and pulls at his tie. “That code is a non-issue,” he states flatly.

“But…”

His piercing glare cuts me off. “Non-issue, Ms. Beckham.” He dances around anymore questions and finishes up the meeting, briskly walking out and heading straight for his office.

I sit down at my desk and my phone beeps. “May I help you?” I say, pressing the speaker button.

“Come to my office, please.” It’s Connor’s voice.

“I’ll be right there.” This situation is giving off an odd vibe. He has never called me into his office.

I knock lightly on the door. “Come in, Reese.”

He doesn’t look at me when I walk in, but points to the chair in front of his massive desk. I sit down, crossing my legs and tugging my skirt over my knees. “Are you angry at me about something?” I ask.

His eyes finally meet mine. “No, not angry.” He inhales deeply. “I need you to forget you ever found that code. I admit, you have to be damn good at your job to have ever found it in the first place.” He clasps his hands together on his desk.

“What is the file attached to the code?” I’m very curious.

“That is none of your business.” He leans back, his stare still on me.

“It’s your file isn’t it?” I don’t back down.

“Again, none of your business.”

“Are you doing something illegal?”

He sighs. “You need to forget you even found it.”

He’s not going to budge, which makes me want to know more about it. Obviously he’s hiding something that he doesn’t want me caught up in, which means it’s probably illegal. I’m not sure how I feel about that. I’ve really fallen for him quickly and I thought I was getting to know the man under the suit. I stand. “Whatever you say, boss man.” I turn on my heels to leave his office.

“Reese, don’t let this be a thing between us. It has nothing to do with you and me.” His voice has lost its intensity. I don’t want it to come between us. It’s hard to separate my work from personal relationship with him. “How about you and Jewels come over to my place for dinner tonight? I’ll have some steaks delivered.”

I smile back my concern. “Okay, I’ll call Jewels and let her know.”

Connor leaves shortly after I settle back into my office. He smiles at me as he walks by my window, but doesn’t stop.

I pull out my cell phone and call Jewels. I don’t tell her about my meeting with Connor, but invite her to join us tonight. She is all too happy to accept – she’s been dying to get to hang out with him. Jewels is sweet, but very protective. Having a one-night stand is one thing, but a full-blown relationship is another thing entirely for her.

“This place rocks!” Jewels says, putting down her purse, “And the limo ride was sweet.”

“Thanks for sending a limo,” I kiss him on the cheek. He’s casually dressed in a pair of loose-fitting jeans and a snug black t-shirt. His hair is damp and a little unruly. All signs of tension in his face from earlier have vanished.

“The steaks just got here. Can I fix you ladies a drink?”

“Do you have any red wine?” Jewels asks.

“Yes.” He picks up a bottle and shows it to her. “How about you? A beer okay?”

“Yes, please.”

As soon as we sit at the table, Jewels starts grilling him. “So, have you been married before? Do you have any secret babies? Do you have any brothers I might swoon over? And just exactly how rich are you?”

I swallow hard trying not to spew my beer all over her. “You don’t ask someone that!” I scold her.

“What, which part?” I know she’s teasing, but I’m not sure Connor does.

“It’s okay. No, no, no, and very. I hope I got those in the right order,” he chuckles.

“Too bad on the brother part,” she winks at him.

The rest of our evening was spent with the two of them picking on each other like brothers and sisters do. Connor was a little disappointed that I wasn’t spending the night, but I feel like I’ve been neglecting Jewels and really wanted to get her opinion of him.

“So, what did you think of him?” I ask as soon as we are back at our apartment.

“I really like him. He’s funny, sexy, and he seems to adore you.”

“But do you think it’s all a little too soon?” I plop down on the couch.

“The question is, what do you think? I don’t think there is any set time table on how long it should take to fall for someone.”

“I really do like him, but I feel like there is this other side to him that either I don’t know or he doesn’t want me to know.”

“Why do you say that?”

“He doesn’t come into the office much and he doesn’t talk about his day. Like what he does to fill his time. I’ve seen him go into this place called Kid Power. He doesn’t have kids. What would he be doing there?”

“Have you asked him?”

“No. I didn’t want to seem like the nosey girlfriend or that I was spying on him. I’m not even sure that is what I am to him.”

“You’re the one that wanted to keep the two of you secret,” she laughs.

“Then there was this thing at work today. I asked him about this code I discovered and he told me to forget that I ever found it.”

“Oh, now that sounds interesting.”

“What if he’s doing something illegal?”

“Honey, I think you need to trust your gut on him.”

I lay down and put my head in her lap while she strokes my hair. “My gut says he’s a really good guy. Everyone at work loves and respects him. Do you know he pays for each of his employee’s two-week vacations wherever they want to go? He also pays for employees’ children to go to college.”

“Sounds like I need to work for him,” she giggles.

“How could someone that sweet be bad?”

“I don’t think he’s bad, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have secrets.”

“But what if I could help him with whatever he’s gotten into?”

“I’m sure Connor Blaze is more than capable of dealing with anything.”

“I’m sure he is, but I’m worried.”

“Then talk to him.”