I come very early this morning, because I was restless. I couldn't sleep last night. Rosie Palm and her five sisters couldn't do much. I was (still am) so hard now. Madeline kept messing up with my brain. So I gave up trying to sleep at 4 am and hit my in house gym to burn some energy. Here I am at 7 am in the office.

I walk to our latest gym section in Hall Industries. I asked Mike to conduct this ASAP, because I still remember Madeline and her sexy yoga outfit. The gym is almost done, Mike said in a week we can use it, and I already asked the HR to send a blast message about the gym, so Madeline wouldn't enrol in the gym class.

I walk to my floor and go to the employee cafeteria. Sarah once gave me the protein bar from there. I didn't stock it in my office. So, I'm just going to grab one from there. There is a woman standing there making a coffee. Her back is facing me. But I'm sure it's Madeline. Why is she here so early? Normally my employee arrives around 8 am.

I check her outfit. Normal. Finally! She will let me focus on my work today, instead of working with my creative dirty fantasy about her.

She turns around with her coffee and jumps when she sees me. "Oh my god, Ethan!" and her hot coffee slosh to her chest.

I curse and come to her, take some napkins and help her. "You okay, Sweetness?" I still trying to help clean up the coffee from her delicate skin.

She doesn't answer me. I look up at her face, and she flushes.

"Sweet..." suddenly I realize my hand is on her chest. And I realize her outfit... What. The. Fuck! I take back my words. From her back I saw a long loose white pants and a white blazer. BUT, she doesn't wear any tank top inside, it's just her bra. Even though the bra covered her whole breast, but still. This close, when her blazer gaps open, I can see her stomach from my height.

I take her to my office and lock the door. I spin around to face her. I can feel my rage building inside.

Madeline bites her lips. She knows I'm furious with her. "Are you provoking me with your outfit?" I ask her while striding close to her. She keeps taking a step back until her back touches my desk and she gasps.

"I ask you once again, are you trying to provoke me with your outfit?"

She inhales deeply, and damn, my eyes are drowning to her breast again. "What if I do?" she retorts bravely.

"Go change your blazer, Madeline Parker. You can't wear that. There are too many coffee stains. I have some t-shirt in my room." I take her wrist and pull her to the room. Close the door behind her.

I take a deep breath and sit down on the couch. This woman really knows how to push my button. I rake my hair, trying to compose myself.

Madeline comes out from the room wearing one of my t-shirts. It's too big for her, but she looks cute with it. She puts the hem inside her pants and rolls the sleeves to her elbows.

"You okay?" My voice is softer now. I stand up and come close to her. She nods, her eyes looking at me. We just stay like that, looking at each other. I really want her, but I'm afraid. What if...

She raises her hand and touches my cheek softly. "I miss the way you call me Sweetness," she whispers. "I miss the way you kiss me, Ethan." She looks at me deeply.

I miss you, Sweetness. I miss you. It hurts to see you but cannot touch you. But somehow I can't utter the words out.

"I'm ready for you. For us. Are you ready for us?" she whispers. When I don't answer, she leaves me there, closing my office door quietly.

***

Just because I'm a coward, so here I am in my office, staring at Madeline. I inhale deeply and close my eyes. Will she stop provoking me with her outfit? Is she going to find another man after this? I know I will regret it if I let her go. God... help me!

Suddenly I hear Madeline's laugh. I open my eyes and she is laughing with Braden Starck. Hollywood notorious playboy. What the hell! Why is he here? I call Madeline desk. She picks up. "I need a cup of coffee," I order her coldly.

"Sorry?" She looks confused, her voice surprised.

"Bring a coffee to my office now, Ms. Parker." I hang up. God, only Madeline can make me act like a child.

I glance at her desk. She is still there, talking with the playboy. Worse, Braden Starck touches her shoulder. I almost get aneurysm. I call her again. "To my office now, Ms Parker." I hang up even before she can answer me.

This time she moves to my office, saying her goodbye to Braden Starck with a hug. What the fuck? She opens my office door and looks at me. "Do you need something, Ethan?" she asks, while coming closer to my desk.

"Where is my coffee?" I ask her and in that moment Anna, my admin, comes to my office with a cup of coffee. What a shitty time!

Madeline raises an eyebrow at me. After Anna leaves the office. "Do you need anything else from me, Mr. Hall? Except a cup of coffee?"

Wise ass! "Apparently yes, Ms. Parker. I need you to follow up our Paris project. We are having some construction at Ie Chateau Dubois. Check on it and come back to me with the details."

"Now?" she asks me, surprised.

"Now Ms. Parker," I say curtly

"But it's midnight there," she says in disbelief.

"I believe you can call and wake them up. Because I see you have too much free time to entertain your guest."

"Are you kidding me, Ethan?" She glares at me.

"Do I smile?"

She opens her mouth, but nothing comes out.

"I need the update before COB, Ms. Parker. Thank you." And I dismiss her like an asshole boss.

"What an asshole," she mutters under her breath and goes.

***

Did you know that somehow, some women's dress just made to torture your life? Like the one Madeline is wearing today. It's not the most revealing and daring dress. The pink strapless dress wrapped around her perfectly. The hem is around her thighs, the colour is matching her blonde hair. She's wearing her pink stiletto so my eyes keep drowning in her long leg. The worst part is, this morning she came to my office with that dress, strides in like a vixen. I watched her tits bouncing. Simple dress, but in her, it is almost illegal. I was furious when I remembered we had a meeting with some of my business partners. Most of them are men. I would kill them if they'd drool over her. When the meeting time came, I took my extra t-shirt from my room for Madeline. I would force her to wear it. But when I came out of the office, Madeline was wearing a fancy blazer that covered most of her top. She looked at the t-shirt in my hand and raised her eyebrow. Why does she always win this battle?

And now here I am in a meeting with my crazy thoughts. We already finished the meeting, but we're still lingering here chatting while eating the snack. I'm talking with some of them. But my peripheral vision keeps following Madeline. One of my business partners, Evan McLean, set his eyes on her from the beginning. I realized he's studying Madeline more than once.

Madeline politely talks to him, but he is too close to her. He wants to get her into bed. Fucker! I excuse myself from the conversation and deliberately walk towards them with a drink in my hand.

"So, dinner tomorrow?" Evan asks her.

"What?" Madeline blinks.

"I'm asking you for a date, Mads," Evan smiles at her. "You do realize you mesmerized me from the very beginning, don't you?" What a lame line.

"Sorry, Mr. McLean, but I don't think it's appropriate for us to have dinner," Madeline says politely. Good job, baby!

"Oh c'mon. Your boss wouldn't mind. He is my friend. Trust me, he wouldn't mind." I'm not your friend. We're just a mere business partner, McLean.

Madeline laughs and shakes her head.

"Just a dinner. I promise you will not regret it." He leans closer and kisses her cheek.

I see red. I come to them and take Madeline's hand. "I need a minute with you Ms. Parker." I pull her with me outside the meeting room, signaling Mike to handle the rest.

We go to the other meeting room, and I close the door hastily.

"Ethan, stop!" she pulls her hand. I glare at her and she glares back at me.

"Why'd you let him kiss you?" I ask furiously.

"Excuse me Ethan, but I'm single. I can let anyone to kiss me," she retorts.

I come to her and pull her waist to me. "Are you going to let him kiss you like I did to you, devour your mouth and your breasts like I did to you?" I whisper into her ears and she whimpers.

I kiss her furiously. I don't know how long we are kissing, but the next thing happens so fast.

Madeline pushes me. Her hand flies to my cheek, hard, and it stings. "Don't kiss me just for your ego, Ethan Hall! I deserve better than that!" She screams at me and runs away. But I saw the tears leak from her eyes. If the slap hurts my cheek so badly, her tears hurts my heart even more.

Fuck! I open the door, intend to run after her. "Ethan!" Someone calls me and I turn around. It's Evan McLean.

"Evan."

"I'm sorry I didn't know she is your..." He waits for me to fill it.

"My girlfriend. She is my girlfriend," I say to him. And I mean it. I have to stop being coward before I regret it. And I need to tell Madeline now.