"Wait? You took all these pictures," I said, stepping back and glancing over the gallery that was his apartment. "They're...they're beautiful."

"You really like them?"

"Absolutely. They're breathtaking."

"Well, thank you."

"Seriously, though, why are you pushing for some random VP spot at Quinto when you have a passion for this?"

"I wish I could say that I have every intention to leave Public Relations and to leave Quinto Technologies," he said with a shrug of his shoulders and a shake of his head. "I wish I could say that I enter photo competitions in secret and that I live an artistic double life, but unfortunately, it is about as mundane as it gets. Quite simply, my older sister is a marine biologist out saving whales; my older brother is an investment banker who negotiates multi-million dollar deals; one twin is a budding investigative journalist who is climbing the ranks in television's prime time newsrooms; the other twin followed my parents' footsteps and is expecting to get her doctorate in civil engineering this coming summer; and finally my youngest brother and sister are both in college with full scholarships and a promising future ahead of them."

"Middle child syndrome," I said with a sigh.

"Sure, why not."

"But, you didn't think photography was academic enough for your parents?"

"I'm sure that had I been a successful photographer whose pictures made it onto covers of scientific magazines and dazzled patrons in the most elite galleries and museums, then I would have fit in. But, there's a lot of struggle before reaching that point and I'm not sure I have the strength to withstand my family's impatience."

"Why Public Relations then?"

"Being a middle child, I got a lot of experience mediating between my hotheaded older siblings and my tenacious younger ones. Not to mention handling all the drama that was my twin sisters. I knew how to take the bad and spin it on its head. To get everyone to walk away feeling happy even if nothing was accomplished. I, however, didn't have the passion needed to drive forward with a PhD in Psychology or Sociology or something, plus I knew the money was in the corporate world anyway. So I looked at where my skills could be used there."

Alec sighed and I saw him age in the short span of our conversation. He looked longingly towards the kitchen and he gestured for me to take a seat on the couch. I acquiesced, though my eyes continued to follow him as he disappeared into the kitchen. I heard the click of some appliance and then the sound of water beginning to steam and boil. Some time later he emerged with two mugs of tea. He handed me a cup and though I left room for him on the sofa, he kept his distance and took to an armchair instead. He sipped his tea with a thoughtful expression that made me wonder if he even knew I was still there. I decided to just give him his space and I blew on my steaming cup while I sifted through my own thoughts.

I realized Alec just told me a lot about himself. I understood the strain that comes with trying to achieve other's expectations and I knew it had to be hard for him to admit to it. And though, there was probably still a lot about Alec that I didn't know, he did decide to share that much with me. I wondered how many people had ever heard his candid confession of his secret insecurities. How many had walked through his apartment and known that the photos on the walls were all his? Better yet, how many have lounged on his sofa in his robe? A part of me wanted to smile and a part of me was distraught by his choice to put this burden of knowledge on me. So I sipped my tea and settled my mind, while I clutched the robe closed just above my knees.

As the hot liquid slipped down my throat and warmed my chest, I looked over at Alec and found him watching me from over his glasses, his smile, light on his lips, hovered over his tea. I felt a blush rising to my cheeks when the doorbell rang.

Alec rose up and opened the door. I heard him greet his visitor, who burst into the room with a flourish of excitement.

"So glad to see you're vertical and rosy-cheeked." She then stopped, gave me a once over and her own cheeks burst with a giddy red. "And in a robe..."

"Good morning Emily," I said through gritted teeth.

"Here I was worried I'd find you hunched over a toilet with the look of death on your face, but it looks like you really didn't need my help. I'm glad Mr. Radcliffe has gotten you all straightened out. We're cutting dress shopping close as it is. Next time, try not to keep up with Cynthia. That woman has seen some things, I don't think alcohol fazes her anymore."

"From what I understand," said Alec with a playful twist of his lips, "it wasn't Lex that was doing the catch up last night. I hear she gave everyone else a run for their money."

"I could have kept right on going had it not been for the blackout."

"Such a trooper, I tell you," said Emily with a sigh.

I rolled my eyes at my best friend as she tossed me a little tote bag that I recognized. It looked just like the one I kept by my door for grocery shopping. As I poked around inside it, Emily turned to Alec.

"Thanks for taking care of her. I hope she didn't cause too much trouble."

"To say she hadn't would be a lie," said Alec with a light laugh. "But, I'm happy I could make sure she was safe and sound last night. It was worth the few rough bumps we hit."

"Thanks for grabbing my clothes," I said, eager to derail Emily before she went any further with this game she was playing.

"Of course. We couldn't have you smelling something awful while at the dress store. We don't need some snooty saleswoman throwing us out because you reek of alcohol and bile." She then turned back to Alec with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Sorry it took so long to get here with those clothes. Weekend traffic, you know, but at least the store isn't far from here."

I could tell by her impish expression that she was lying through her teeth and that she could have done this little side quest in half the time it took her.

"So you're buying dresses for the gala?" asked Alec.

"Yes," said Emily with a delighted hop. "Yes we are!"

She looked ready to burst and I felt a slight panic attack setting in.

"Do you have a suit, a tie...a date, yet?"

I popped up off the sofa and grabbed Emily's hand.

"Do you mind helping me?" I asked, dragging her towards the hall. "Alec doesn't have a hair dryer and I could use your help towel drying my hair while I dress."

"It looks pretty good to me."

"Well, I can feel it," I said with an unconcealed growl in my voice. "It's wet and tangled. Could use a good comb. Excuse us, Alec."

He gave us a little nod as I dragged Emily back to the bathroom. There I made Emily sit in timeout while I got dressed. She had thankfully packed a couple body sprays as well as enough makeup to cover up the black circles around my eyes. We were back out in the living room in no time.

"Feeling better?" asked Alec as he sipped a new cup of tea.

"It's amazing what clean clothes and a decent brush can do."

"Glad to hear it."

There. There he smiled that smile, the one that first drew me in. It was that smile that kept cutting through the ice I'd built up over my heart. However, whenever I thought of the charity and Alec's lie, a new chill blew in to encapsulate it again. Yet, the longer I spent with Alec the person and not Alec the boss, I found it harder and harder to be mad at him personally.

"Here, don't forget this." He handed me a frame with the photo of the autumn trees in it.

"Thank you," I said as I ran my fingers across its wooden edge. I had to fight the urge to run forward and embrace him. I wanted to tell him all was forgiven. That I wanted to run away with him to his cabin and leave this corporate drama behind us. I felt a pull at the back of my throat and my lips struggled to hold in the words I wanted to say. This time, however, I was thankful for the obvious glee that was spreading across Emily's face. When our eyes met, I snapped out of my reverie and placed the photo into my tote bag.

"Really," I said without a hint of the battle waging inside of me, "thank you for everything. I won't let myself get that drunk again."

"Well, hopefully you won't ever be given a reason to get drunk like that again."

My heart pulled and I urged my feet to send me to the door before I did something I would regret.

"Good luck dress shopping," he said. "I'll see you on Monday."

I murmured another word of thanks and just as my hand reached for the knob, freedom just a turn away, Emily jumped in with one last attempt to play cupid.

"Oh, quick question. What's your favorite color?"

I froze, unable to look back, though I had a very, very strong desire to strangle Emily.

"Blue," he answered. "Why?"

"Just curious. Your apartment, it's got some decorations and you know..."

My anger was enough to push me past my embarrassment and provoke me to turn around and see the confused look on Alec's face. However, I didn't get much time to study it. I grabbed Emily's hand and dragged her out into the hallway before she could do more damage.

***

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