We spent the majority of what time we had left that day discussing our plans for the weekend, which seemed to get more elaborate with each passing minute. Then, afterward, I simply zoned out as my brain worked to catalog everything that had happened throughout the day. Quite a chore considering I hadn't even come to grips with the previous night. Then, before I knew it, Emily was wishing me a good evening and heading out the door.

I decided it was probably time I headed out too, so I gathered my things and gave one small murmur of thanks that the next day was Friday. When I stepped into the Pit, I saw that most of my coworkers were also ready to cross off the day and get that much closer to the weekend. The floor was desolate for only five in the afternoon and the disarray on people's desks made it look like they all left in a hurry. I was walking through a ghost town.

"Making a break for it too?"

I heard the rich roll of his voice from somewhere behind me. I cast my gaze over cubicle walls and potted plants to find Alec stepping out of his office with his own satchel, packed for a journey home, at his side.

His face was warm and golden in the setting sun that streamed in through the floor to ceiling windows lining our walls. His smile looked soft and friendly in that glow, even familiar. Without thinking, my lips reacted and my cheeks rose with a grin.

"It's been a long day, but a productive one. So I think rest is a worthy reward."

"Well, I just want to let you know your hard work has not gone unnoticed. You are deserving of a nice evening doing whatever it is you do to relax. I wouldn't have it any other way."

He strode — or more like sauntered, his steps slow and enticing — over to meet me. I felt both desperate to run forward to greet him and frozen by a spell he cast over me. In that moment, I realized just how fresh the previous evening's events were upon my skin as the heat of his body, the smell of the night air, and the glow of the stars flooded my mind and raised the hairs along my arms.

I was falling for my boss.

"Feel free to go whenever," he said, stopping a couple feet in front of me with a casual slouch and a grateful grin, "you don't have to answer this, but just out of friendly curiosity. How did your day go?"

He didn't ask how the pre-interview went. He didn't ask how things were shaping up with the team. He didn't ask how was work. He asked about my day and for some reason that made my heart skip with anticipation.

"It's been quite a day," I said, my voice breathless and my lips stiff with a smile. "It may take a bit."

"I'm in no hurry."

My heart jumped and I hiccuped back some air. Uncertain how to proceed, I looked to the ground and shifted the bag on my shoulder.

"Would you like a seat? I'll make some tea."

He motioned towards the sofas as he headed for the kitchenette. I gave him a nod and took a seat. While he heated up some water, I took in a few deep breaths. I had to register all the feelings coursing through me before I could even attempt to have a conversation. I simply didn't know what Alec's intentions were at that moment. If anyone saw us snuggled up on a couch, sipping tea and grinning like fools, we'd be marked for gossip. And wasn't that one of his fears? Or was Alec hoping that so long as the environment was the work place, he was immune from any speculation about possible flirtations? I knew he was smarter than that though and I determined with some finality that this little crush was one-sided and Alec was just being the friendly, caring boss that he was.

"So how are things?"

As if he sensed my conflict and wished to grant me some sort of closure on the matter, he handed me my tea and then took a seat on a completely different sofa. With my theories confirmed, I was able to take a breath and proceed with the conversation. I debriefed him about my encounter with Mariska, including her interest in the charity and my lack of anything to give her.

"Well, the charity has barely come into existence," he said, his words drawn out as he spoke to my concerns. He took a sip of his tea, his eyes cast to the side, watching the sunset through the windows. "I'm not sure what she expects us to have. If you need me to look into it..."

"No," I said, raising up my hand to halt his thoughts. "I'll work with what I got. Don't you worry about it."

"She's just trying to ruffle your feathers," he said, finally turning back to face me. A subtle smile graced his lips, but it was dulled further by the tired pull of his eyes. "That Mariska is as ruthless as they say. Are you up for it?"

"I can handle her. I don't think she's that bad, she's just trying to do her job like the rest of us."

"You'll certainly handle her better than me," he said with a light laugh that sent flutters through my stomach. "She eats guys like me whole. She needs a personality like yours to do any proper combat. You'll give her a good show and that's what she's looking for."

We continued to discuss my plans for the real interview until we finally exhausted the topic. Then I asked about his meeting with the ad firm and Alec had equally good news to report. Everything was on budget, on task, and on time. We both smiled at the comfort that came with the knowledge of simply being stable in the middle of chaos. Unfortunately, it's in those moments that the mind is the most quiet and poisonous thoughts slip in.

I covered my day up to the point of my return to the building, right before my encounter on the elevator. I cast a sideways glance as Alec sipped his tea and I wondered whether the matter really was something worth burdening him with. Everything was at peace and in a good state to be in right before the weekend, but I couldn't help but sense the trouble that Tamara Hudson wore upon her.

As much as I wanted to stretch that moment towards infinity, I knew it would only bite me in the ass later if I didn't mention what Tamara said.

"There is one other thing about my day that I should mention," I said with a sigh.

Alec set his mug down on to the table and turned to face me with his full attention. I took a deep breath and began.

I launched into a surprisingly lengthy description of what happened. Once the ball started rolling, the words just kept coming. I told him about her desire to keep our meeting a secret, about the executive's snooping, and about her rather rude closure to the conversation.

"I didn't think it right to keep you unaware of the execs looking in on you. But, it's not really a big deal, right? I mean, we're doing great and..."

Alec was silent, his head turned back towards the windows and his eyes unfocused. My words trailed and faded into the distance. His attention didn't shift and I wondered if he even knew I was still in the room.

"Is everything all right? Should I not have..."

Then he turned and a smile rested on his face. Though, it wasn't hard to see just how tired and reluctant it was.

"I knew the top floor would be watching me," he said with a shrug. "That's not surprising."

"Oh, okay..."

"But I didn't expect Tamara to behave like this," he said, his smile gone and the shadow of his furrowed brow darkening his eyes. "You should keep your distance from her Lex. She's no good to anyone, but herself. And know that she's got the position she's in for a reason. She's good at what she does."

Two very similar warnings in one day. I wondered just how this woman dodged my notice until now.

"Don't worry about me. I can handle whatever she can throw."

"Lex..." There it was. The informal use of my name. It sounded so rich and full upon his tongue, the low growl curling beneath it sent shivers up my spine and I couldn't bear looking at the pitying smile on his face. It was then that I recalled Tamara's comment about my use of his first name and the implication behind it. I felt myself growing smaller, my muscles tightening.

"We should go," he finally said, breaking the crushing silence of the empty floor, "and get that rest we said we would. I'll walk you to the station."

When I looked up, I found not even a shadow of a smile lingered on his face. Instead, he rose to his feet wearing a mask of stone. He did still walk me to the station despite whatever cold severity had settled over him. Unfortunately, what I had hoped would be that moment, the moment like Emily's in the tight confines in the supply closet, was dashed away in an instant. I wondered as we walked to the station in silence, if it was my bringing up Tamara that brought on this cloud over us. Or if it was the sound of his own voice, uttering my name with such affection, echoing in his ears and threatening his career.

***

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