Enter Player Name: Riley

Noah greeted me with a kiss when I met him in front of his car. 

It always caught me off guard when he did that. I was apprehensive about PDA, since I was still unsure that I wanted to let my brothers know of what was happening between Noah and me. But, after the baseball game, Noah became more and more daring. He would grab my hand here and there. Sneak a kiss or a spank when no one was looking. The thing was... as the days went on, it was getting harder and harder to resist.

"Are you ready to finish setting up those computers," I asked once he pulled away. I was sad that I couldn't help him last time. So I told him that if there was still anything left to do on Monday, I would help after work.

"Yeah, I finished most of them, so it shouldn't take too long. I'm excited to show you the office, though." He smiled, opening the passenger door for me to his slick black car.

"I'll have to see if your computer building skills are up to my standards." I winked as I sat down on the passenger's seat.

It was a quick drive over to midtown. Noah must have a flower up his behind to have been able to snatch up such a prime location for his first business office. I remember looking at the prices once for my job and it made me question my existence. 

The building was crafted from an old thick white stone characteristic of the olden days, back when cars did not roam the streets. While the outside looked like it belonged in a black and white picture the inside was a sight of the future. Everything like it would fit better in a high-rise building made of transparent glass.

Noah's hand tightened around me as he guided me to the elevator. Once in a while, placing a kiss on my cheek as we waited to arrive on the 23rd floor. 

I was surprised by the sight that greeted me. I expected something a bit grander. The room remained mostly undecorated; only the bare essentials seemed to have been placed inside. Four desks barely filled one-third of the main space, three of which had a computer sitting on it. At the far right, was a single individual office, which had its own desk. It looked far more pristine than the others, yet still quite simple. Other than the occasional whiteboard, much was still missing to make space feel like an office.

"So, what do you think?" Noah's excitement resonated through his voice. He walked to the center of the room and held his hands up, like a salesman. He said, "I know it's not much yet, but I have high hopes for this space. Money has been a little tight, but I'm thinking that once some start pouring in, there can be four more desks on that side. A nice little gaming area at that end where everyone can socialize."

He tapped his finger on his head. "Oh, that's right!" He rushed over, grabbed my hand, and dragged me to the lone office at the left of the room. "This is my office. I want to leave the back wall empty. It will be the place where I hang the different gaming titles we develop."

I tried to place myself in his shoe, and, suddenly, the atmosphere felt different. I stared at the barren white space and it splattered with colors. All the possibilities that these empty walls could offer, I saw it all in his eyes. 

"I think it's amazing." I kissed the bottom of his chin and my heart fluttered when his dimples appeared. I continued, "I can't wait to see it transform into the office of your dreams."

His smile instantly widened. "Riley, I can't thank you enough for your help." He grabbed hold of my hands, and said, "This office means so much to me. But with you, it will be the experience of a lifetime."

His lips inched closer. I bit mine in anticipation, remembering the slow and sensual motion of his tongue. His hand snaked into my hair, making it harder to process his words. His proclamation seemed to hold far more meaning than meets the surface. But I was far too busy pleading silently that he would pull my hair back and ravish my neck.

"I am happy to be part of it, too," I whispered between heated breaths.  At first, his kisses were slow, just barely gracing mine, but then turned demanding with every nibble of my teeth. I smiled against him as a wicked thought slipped into my mind. "You want to know what is one of my dreams?" I asked in between touches.

"What is that?" he grunted.

I pulled away from him and walked over to the front of his desk. My fingers gently graced its hardwood surface as I sat on it and opened my legs. I moaned as I said, "I have always had a fantasy of being fucked on a desk."

Noah's shoulders flexed like a soldier readying for battle. He stalked closer — a wolf eyeing his prey. Each step dragged out the moment allowing me to grow wetter. "I am at your service to make all your dreams come true."

His lips crashed into mine once more. This time far more hungry. Noah's hands wandered down my back, tugging at my shirt, but before they could reach their destination, the sound of the elevator opening turned him to stone.

Noah's mother stepped out of the elevator. 

Ms. Jane's posture was rigid. Her hands angrily clawed at the bag in her hands, threatening to puncture holes into it. Noah almost threw me off the desk and walked to the office door. Thankfully his large form provided a shield as I frantically flattened my blouse. Despite our haste, we were not fast enough to avoid the disapproving look that adorned his mother's face. We awkwardly made our way out of the office.

"Mom! What are you doing here?" Noah asked.

"Ms. Jane, it's a pleasure to see you," I added.

"I have been calling you repeatedly, I need to talk to you." Her eyes cut deep into me. She glared back at Noah, ignoring my presence.

"I don't think we had a chance to formally introduce ourselves last time." I extended my hand, and despite my drumming heart, gave her a full and welcoming smile. "I'm Riley. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Jane. Noah has told me so many great things about you."

"I wish I could say the same about you." Ms. Jane's words were a classy slap on the hand.

My eyes widened and I took a self-protecting step back. Was this about the night of the party?

Noah grabbed my hand and stepped between us. "What's going on?" His jaw tensed. "Why are you treating Riley so rudely?"

"Well darling, are you going to tell him, or should I break the news?" Ms. Jane spatted out.

I forced my feet to remain still, despite how much I wanted to back away. "I'm sorry, Ms. Jane, I am not sure what you are referring to," I said, hoping she would offer an explanation. Instead, she dug into her Dior purse and drew out a folder. She smashed it against my chest.

My fingers trembled as I opened it, hoping to understand her source of anger. What I saw inside made my heart crumble.

I stood there.

Frozen in place.

Feeling like a boa constricted around my heart and it was about to burst.

Memories that I thought were buried deep in my past, reared their ugly head. It was all there, taunting me from the pages in my hands. A stain on my life.

"Riley? What's that?" Noah asked. Concern laced his tone.

My eyes snapped up to his face. It hurt to stare into his green eyes. What would he think once he saw it? I stepped back, away from his outstretched hand. My hands clenched the folder tight against my chest. Each nail pressed tightly against the hard folder cover as if trying to cut into the pages themselves. As if they would bleed out the ink and erase my past.

"You will do well to stay away from my son," Ms. Jane commanded. Standing tall over my diminishing stance.

I felt so small. I wanted the ground to swallow me.

"You are out of line, mother!" Noah screamed, shielding me from her words. But it did very little to protect me from the shame festering in my stomach. I wanted to disappear.

"I thought you were smarter than this, Noah. This girl is nothing but a gold digger and a whore."  Ms. Jane's eyes bled red as she pointed at me. "I want her out of your life immediately."

I wanted to scream at her. Tell her she was wrong. That those pages were a moment of weakness. But each time I tried to speak, the words jammed my throat closed. If I spoke. If I acknowledged it. It was like speaking my past into reality. And I wanted to forget it. Erase that one moment of desperation.

"There has to be a misunderstanding. This is Riley we are talking about here. She is nothing like that." Noah innocently defended me.

"Why don't you show him those pages? Too ashamed your ruse is up." Ms. Jane rubbed her forehead. "Thank god Cynthia brought those papers over. Who knows how far this little snake would have dug her fangs in?"

Noah turned towards me, his hand stretched out once more. But my hands are glued to my chest and I couldn't will myself to show him. I don't want to see his gaze change. Change from admiration to disgust.

"Riley, please just show me. Whatever it is, we can talk about it." He moved closer and grabbed the folder in my hands. My nails motionlessly clawed away at the paper as he pulled it out of my grip. I watched in horror as he opened it.

He took a step away from me as if the information smacked him back."What is this?" He asked. But I was not sure if the question was directed at his mom or at me.

"Cynthia was worried about you. So she hired a private investigator, and he found her profile picture on a sugar daddy site. He was able to match some of the information on the profile to her. This girl is nothing but a gold digger."

"Riley?" He asked, ignoring his mother's words and focused on me. But my gaze had already fallen to the floor.

"If you know what's good for you, you will stay far away from my son." Jane's threat was stern. Every word held like a knife ready to strike. "I'll make your life impossible if you don't."

My vision blurred. But. I told myself. Screamed. Don't cry.

Noah's expression turned into pure anger. "That's enough, mother! You don't get to decide any of that. I would appreciate it if you would leave."

"Don't tell me after this, you still want to be with this woman!" She screamed.

"I am an adult mother. I will handle this myself," Noah said, a vein in his neck bulged out in anger.

"To hell, you will. You can't even be trusted enough to find a decent woman by yourself. I indulged you enough already. You either stop seeing this woman, or I will make sure this is the last you see of this office."

Noah halted. "What would you even be able to do? I got this place on my own, so as if you could take it away." Noah stood proud at his words, but uncertainty twisted into his words.

"Do you think the building manager accepted your low rent offer out of the goodness of his heart?" She clicked her tongue and narrowed her eyes. "Please tell me that you are smarter than that, or your business will soon be in ruins."

Noah fell silent. His hand shook by his side. His green eyes wavered over the office and I saw his dreams break in front of me. The excitement from before, extinguished by a single mistake in my past.

I bit my lip but forced myself to meet her unwavering hate-filled eyes. "Do not worry, Ms. Jane. You won't see me again," I gritted through clenched teeth. I rushed and gripped my bag, avoiding Noah's gaze as I moved.

"Riley. Wait!" Noah called after me. He ran, chasing me to the elevator door. His hand held my wrist tightly, preventing me from entering.

I turned and gripped his hand. I took a second to feel the smoothness of his palm. It would be the last time I would hold it. I looked up, and my heart crumbled as I looked into his pleading eyes. "Noah, this was a mistake." One by one. I unwrapped his hand from mine.

My heart broke when the elevator doors closed and again...

I was alone.