November came and went, and soon the month of December was upon them. Ashley approached her finals, the last tests of her college career, with her usual intensity and drive. When the last one was finished, she arrived back at the house and collapsed on the leather living room couch, wishing she could know her grades right then and there.

"Why are you just lying there?" asked Olivia when she arrived back from school.

"I'm done with my classes," said Ashley.

"You're done with school? Like, forever?" asked Olivia, her voice carrying a tone of disbelief at the idea that school might someday be over.

"Yep. Like forever."

"Wow. Lucky."

Anxiety formed a tight knot in her stomach over the next few days. But slowly, her grades came in. A…A…A+, they were exactly what she was hoping for.

But to her chagrin, as soon as the final grade was turned in, an A- in her European History class, the elation of finally, finally finishing her courses was replaced by concerns about the issue that she'd been putting off thinking about for nearly a month: that of the night with Scott.

She alternated between feelings from one minute to the next. She'd feel anger at him making such a bold move in one moment, then regret for not letting him do with her what he clearly wanted.

I can't be a virgin forever, she thought, closing her laptop and making her way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. But to go all the way like that with my boss? After a night of pizza and bowling?

She knew that fantasizing about her first time was silly- her mind always seemed to conjure the cliché images of champagne, a setting sun, and a bed covered in roses. But she didn't think that, at the very least, losing her virginity to a man that she was in a committed relationship was beyond the pale.

Her coffee was soon done, and she took a slow sip of the steaming drink as she considered this, not to mention what she might do with herself now that her college career was over.

"Hey," said Scott, entering the kitchen and tossing his Italian leather briefcase on the counter of the kitchen island.

"Hey," said Ashley.

Even I get this stupid cold professionalism between the two of us is getting old.

"I, uh, finished my classes," she said, offering the sort of personal information that she'd been keeping to herself since that night.

"Really?" asked Scott. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks."

"So, what's next for you?" he asked, leaning against the counter.

"Haven't thought that far ahead yet," she said. "If it's OK with you, I wouldn't mind continuing this, um…arrangement."

"That's perfectly fine with me," he said. "You've been a real asset. To me and Olivia."

Ashley felt her face go red.

"Well, we'll have to do something special for dinner tonight," he said.

"Oh no, nothing fancy. Mexican actually sounds perfect."

"Mexican it is."

Scott poured himself a cup of coffee and spoke as if remembering something.

"Oh, I forgot to mention: there's a Christmas party this Friday. It'll be the usual bigwigs you've met before."

"Sure, that sounds great," said Ashley. "But I think I've gone through my extremely limited collection of fancy clothes."

"Not an issue; why don't you and Olivia go for a shopping trip tomorrow? Get something nice to wear, buy her some ice cream if she starts whining," he said with a sly smile.

"Oh, you don't need to be buying me clothes like that," said Ashley.

"It's my pleasure," said Scott. "Besides it's only fair that if I'm having you play the ‘rich guy's fiancée' act I at least help you dress the part."

"You know, when you put it that way, I can't help but agree," she said with a smile.

* * *

It was the night of the party, and Ashley had just finished putting on her new dress. It was a red cocktail dress that showed off just a hint of leg, along with a matching pair of clear heels. As she turned in the mirror, looking at her bare shoulders and few inches of cleavage, she wondered if she was dressing perhaps just a bit too sexy for a work event.

I'm allowed to show off what I got, she thought, a devilish smile playing on her face in the mirror.

Geez, the next thought quickly followed, I'm letting this ‘engaged to the hottest bachelor in town thing' go to my head.

She walked out to the living room, where Scott was waiting for her, a cocktail in his hand. He was wearing a dark suit with a crisp, off-white dress shirt and a dark green tie that gave him just the right amount of holiday cheer. His eyes went wide as his gaze settled on Ashley.

"You look amazing," he said, the words almost blurting out of his mouth.

"Thanks," she said. "Can you, um?"

She gestured to the zipper on her back.

"Of course," he said, finishing his drink and walking over to Ashley.

As soon as he stepped behind her, a surge of heat rushed through Ashley's body. Her heart rate increased and her breath quickened as he placed a hand on her shoulder. As he dragged the zipper slowly up her back, his finger grazed her skin, another rush of something flowing through her body. At that moment, all she could think about was his large, strong hands on her, caressing her skin and bringing her body close to his.

"Let's head out," Scott said, snapping Ashley out of her reverie. "There's a subtle but important difference between ‘fashionably late' and ‘rude late'."

Ashley forced a smile on her lips as the gooseflesh faded from her skin.

"Yeah, let's go."

After a brief drive, the two arrived at a palatial home in the Mission District. It was a Spanish-styled house with a tiled roof and beige exterior, a black-wrought iron fence separating it from the rest of the almost outlandishly large homes on the street. Cars were parked out front, and valets dashed here and there, dipping into the fleet of luxury cars pulling in front. Ashley watched as glamorous men and women stepped out of the cars and began walking towards the house.

Crazy how these parties are just a part of my life now, she thought.

After the driver dropped them off in front, Scott took Ashley's arm into his and walked through the doors of dark, rich wood and into the beautiful entry hall of the home. The floor was tile, the walls were the same beige as the exterior, and portraits of serious-faced men and women in 19th-century garb were hung on the walls. Aside from the electronics and holiday lights, the place seemed to Ashley like a home from another time and place.

"Looks like your dress is already a hit," said Scott over the Christmas music that filled the space.

Ashley was confused at first, but saw quickly what he was referring to: nearly every man nearby had noticed her, their reactions ranging from furtive glances to the sort of open-faced stares intended to be seen.

She shook her head in amusement as she scanned the crowds of wealthy partygoers, all dressed in tasteful holiday finery with subtle red and green accents.

"And It looks like I'm not alone in that department," said Ashley, noticing the young women hanging on their rich husband and boyfriend's arms casting seductive glances at Scott.

Scott chuckled; Ashley noted once again how used to female attention he was.

"Shall we make the rounds?" he asked.

Ashley nodded with a smile, and they were off.

After an hour or so of chatting with various Silicon Valley bigwigs, Ashley noticed a familiar face in the crowds: Regina. Decked out in a skin-tight, pine-colored gown, she was looking glamorous and seductive as ever. Ashley spotted a blandly handsome man at her side, and surmised that this was the man that Regina had referred to as her fiancé. Ashley's face reddened as she spotted Regina; she didn't want to get sucked into another dramatic conversation with her quasi-friend. Thankfully, Regina acknowledged Ashley's presence with nothing more than a tight, prim smile from across the room before returning to her schmoozing.

A bit more time passed, and Ashley felt the need to get some fresh air. She left Scott to his networking with Michael and some other men and women, and walked up the spiraling staircase to the less-populated second floor. She found a quiet balcony, and stepping out, was presented with a beautiful, sweeping view of the western half of the city. She stayed out here for a time, sipping her wine, listening to the soft strains of the Christmas music, the air cool on her skin.

Time passed, and checking her watch, she was surprised to find that a half an hour had slipped by.

Scott must be wondering just where the hell I went off to, she thought, making her way back into the house. She took position on the stairs that allowed her to overlook the majority of the first floor and scanned the crowd. But she couldn't find Scott.

Heading back down into the crowd, she found Michael and asked him where Scott went off to.

"Oh, that girl…the redhead. She pulled him away from us, said she had something important to talk to him about. Somewhere on the second floor, I think."

Ashley's eyes went wide.

Regina! What's she trying to pull?

Ashley downed her champagne and made a hurried dash towards the stairs, her face hot with anxiety. She weaved through the smattering of people and, after a time reached the end of the hallway. There were a dozen doors, and as Ashley looked them over, she realized she had no idea which one Scott and Regina were behind, if they were even still up here.

Then, she heard a lilting laughter, that same laughter she'd heard dozens of times before; it was the soft laugh that Regina employed when making her move. And it was coming from behind the door to her right.

"Hey," she heard Scott say through the door.

Ashley approached the door with trepidation. Reaching for the handle, she felt her stomach tense at the thought of what might lie behind it.

More laughter sounded.

Taking the cool, metal knob into her hand, she opened the door carefully and quietly.

She couldn't believe what she saw next.

It was Scott and Regina, alright. Scott was sitting on a chair across from the bed, and Regina was sitting on his lap, her legs open on top of him.

"I think I know how to make you feel better," Ashley watched her say, her slim finger moving through Scott's blond locks.

It was all Ashley needed to see. Her vision a blur, she made her way back down to the first floor, and, snatching a glass of wine off of a server's tray, rushed out of the house. All she wanted in that moment was to make her escape before anyone could see her cry.