tepped out into the soft grey light of a Chicago morning, crisp and cool, wit

Sunglasses on, dressed in black, built lik

and opened the back

ed, dragging my suitcase

nce. "Like a

e when you pret

e sworn I saw the corner of hi

side to side. My back cracked like bubble wrap. One week, six meetings, two club de

re

to the highway. I didn't need to chec

nd answered the call. "You do

Aaron's voice, smooth and amuse

d back against the headrest. "Then why are

l closed, which, by the way, it did. The seller

yours, Mr. Ch

t, Nathan. You don't

up attracting drunk tourists in Hawaiia

to help burn

cal

n, naturally. He'd punched someone for calling him a bas

uilt cities. More or less. Our friendship was rooted in chaos, loyalt

as fly in to start the renovation plans. You'll l

't do

's why you're

n't had a relationship last long

d. "So? How was the

good. The property in Scottsdale is ready for permits. Miami's settled. That dic

you sound like you need a

oulder. "But I'll settle for my o

he office today? I figured you'd spend the

een gone a week. Ana's probably already p

misse

"If I don't show up, she mig

know she runs your li

cur

call with the New York team in ten. Just wanted to say con

nks,

too, swe

ne wen

os, but reliable chaos. Always had been. And business with him always worked

gain. We were only a few m

e t

y eyes, I couldn't help the faint, automa

get back

know he's sharp, a little intense, and expects results, but they admire him for it. Let's revise the scene to reflect that. Here's the updated version

of Harts Construction & Real Estate,

owledgments that said he's back. I didn't need to say a word. One week

ar. Re

garage to one of Chicago's top real estate and constructi

the private elevator. The new receptionist-a girl with

, Mr. Harts.

a polite no

like I'd handed her a

s let the city in, bathing the space in natural light. The whole design w

a fitted blouse that somehow screamed both elegance and don't test me. She was re

're

minutes ago. You

ust punc

over to take the tablet from

, legal's going to talk your ear off about zoning revisions, and Jameson

. "Didn't we alr

ks you'll change

scanning the screen. "Alrigh

the boardroom, she

ve got a new assi

ed. "A

-Alex needed an assistant. Fresh

aduate intern with a shaky r

hiding a smile. "He's..

s further. The boardroom d

hey were afraid of me, but because they respected what

h a calm nod. "M

e a few replies,

of the table, set the tab

rust we all came with s

ss, but they also knew I didn't waste time with drama. If you w

lways l

hy they

se they w

uilt something real-and I e

ed-not tense, just focuse

rned their place here, and they knew

s for Q3. Chicago projects are outperforming the Midwest average b

d. "And the p

n. "Thanks to the push fr

hat in writing. Ana, fla

r fingers were already flying

ir, scanning the room. "Let's talk about the Scottsd

"But we adjusted the schedule. Shifted sub

qua

sed," he sa

hat way. I don't do c

their head off, but because they knew I'd follow through on e

me on it, and I didn't

I should know a

g up the software again. I raised a b

That's i

let's wrap. I've got two weeks of backlog to dig through,

e out the door. Ana joined me without missing a step,

meson off software su

d the Dallas investors sent a

w it

ate the dar

ondering why you we

ocked in. I could feel the city humming through the windows,

amn good to b

e a distant echo as I stepped inside the quiet, familiar space. I hadn't been here in a week, and the desk was cov

er chair. The familiar weight of the work pressing down on me was almost comforting. I grabbed the first file off

ttom of the stack, so

ie Moore – Assistant

adn't signed o

et immediately stood out. The contract inside was unsigned, a

tely wandered.

how he was looking for a fresh start, how he needed an opportunity in a reputable company. It wasn't something I typically did, but Miss Victoria wa

cularly in the executive department. So, I'd decided to let Charlie work directly under Alex. It was a practical solution-plus, Alex was more than capable of mentoring so

membering Miss Victori

a friend. He needs this. You

but with Miss Victoria, there was a certain... understanding. And with the company so b

eks that made him look... cute. He had these soft features that reminded me of someone who might've spent too much time in front of a computer screen, but there was something

sat just a little too low on his nose. I imagined him adj

d be easy to rile up, I tho

. Charlie Moore. I still wasn't sure what to think about him. But I

d my phone off the desk and quickly placed an order for lunch: sa

oked out over the city. The calm that followed the storm of last week's trip was almos

ffice door was so

as it creaked open. Alex must'v

d, my eyes still scanning the

I heard it-the sound of somet

me the

ches. A crush

limbs awkward and tre

h

head bowed, hands trembling slightly as they hovered near the spi

curiosity repla

d?" I asked, wa

dn't

if standing up might tri

freckles, red hair mussed, skin pale with a furious blush blooming acro

r his chin. "Hey," I said quietly,

I saw

panic. Lashes too long for someone that awkward. Pink lips par

ike that-I

u

heeks. I imagined those lips wrapped around my cock. Those eyes looking up at me while he choked on i

to blink th

didn'

tle ass arched out perfectly, just waiting for my palm. I could already hear the gasp he'd make when I landed the first slap. Co

dd

cing the images down. "Y

ning. "Y-Yes s-sir... I– I–I

o fucki

ter? That shy

I wanted to own that voice, wanted

s as he took them from me. He adjusted them quickly,

ing lower. "You're not going to st

on his slacks. They didn't hide the tre

ry, sir. I-I did

mir

is jumpy, or i

rror, and then dropped again i

... I m-mean, y-yes

and closed like he couldn't decide whether to apologize aga

d a litt

okay to breath

oked

back a

unless I'm

hat pink in his cheeks spread all

rf

right?" I asked, sti

not trusting hims

alking bundle of nerves and the newest obje

lunch yet and I alr

-but not for

back, just to

l and see what other shades of red he could turn. But if I scared him off n

nce,

ogies as he picked up soggy sandwich wrappers and a juice-soaked napkin. His

y. I c-can-I can

," I said.

he floor like he was expectin

through my ha

stand up and breathe bef

arted everywhere but my face. One hand nervously adjust

ought. He pushes them u

was...

, moving back to my desk. "You didn't crash

e an awkward hiccup than a re

ce. Hands clasped in front of him, eyes trained on some distant spot on the carpet. His tie was crooke

picture just made me want t