I walked in to my office, happy to finally be back. I sighed in contentment as I closed the door. Going through the closed cupboards, I found a box with my stuff that I was flipping out about and emptied it, putting all of Ashley's things in.

I fixed up everything about what was out of place and sat down. Technically Ashley had till Tuesday afternoon, but I wanted to get a head start on the next week's edition.

Jan walked in then. "Rhea! Welcome back. Did we finish everything that you needed to do?" She asked me, placing a small box of letters on the table.

I nodded and smiled, but the truth was, I came back with more than what I left with.

"I'm in front of my studies, I feel recharged." I grinned as I went through the box of letters. "Thanks Jan."

Jan left my office and I saw Ashley out in the main room talking to someone. I quickly looked down, but he must have seen me because he knocked on my door, coming in.

"Did you pack all my stuff already?" He asked, a smirk on his face.

"Yes. It was too boyish for my liking." I jabbed as I pretended to read a letter.

"Yeah, but now, it's like, look at me and my vagina."

I raised a freshly waxed eyebrow at him. "It does not."

Ashley just grinned and I knew he was baiting me up. I turned to the door when I heard another knock.

"Luke." I greeted. "I didn't know you were still here." I'm sure he said he had to go back to Perth yesterday.

"Hey, yeah. I was wondering if we could talk." Luke told me before turning to Ashley. "Alone."

Ashley took the hint. "That's cool. I'll be out there." He closed the door behind him, letting us have our privacy.

"I'm going to Perth in about four hours." He said as he looked at his watch. "But when I return in a couple days, I want to know, this, our relationship we have, do you want more?"

I raised my eyebrows, intrigued. "More?" I breathed out. I was only thinking of this the other day.

"Have a couple days to think about it." Luke smiled at me. The door barged open and Ashley was back.

"Sorry to intrude on your private moment, but someone is here, insisting on seeing you Rhea." Ashley grinned.

Ashley stepped in, making Luke move to the side and then in came Ryder.

I stared wide eyed at the three men I've had sex with in the past month all look at each other than me.

I groaned, closing my eyes, dropping my head on to the table.

"Is everything okay?" Luke asked.

"Yeah." I spoke as I looked at them all again. All three were different as could be. Different colour hair, eyes, skin tones. I don't know how I found myself attracted to any of them, but I did.

"What's wrong?" Ryder asked. "Are you feeling ill?"

"I'm fine." I snapped at him. "What are you doing here?"

Ryder shoved his hands in his pockets. "I wanted to talk to you, in private."

I waved my hand at them all. "Join the queue."

"Luke." Ryder said to my boss.

"Ryder." Luke returned, both staring daggers in to each other.

"Ashley." Ashley stated, making both men turn to him. "Sorry, thought we were greeting each other."

"Oh god." I groaned. "Right, all three, out." I said standing up.

"But apparently, we all need to talk to you." Ashley grinned, enjoying this moment.

I wasn't enjoying it. "Luke, was there anything else you wanted to add?" I asked him sweetly.

"Huh, no."

I turned to Ashley. "I don't give two damns what you want, get out."

"This is still my office as well for another day and a bit."

"Out!" I growled.

Ashley grinned even more, leaving the room, leaving just Luke and Ryder with me.

"Actually, Luke. This is about mine and Rhea's son." Ryder gritted out.

Luke turned to me. "I'll call you later."

"I'm sorry." I grimaced before turning to Ryder, who shut the door. "What about Rowan?"

"Oh, nothing." Ryder smiled as he sat on the small couch.

I groaned again as I sat down. "What do you want Ryder?"

"Have you told Luke yet?"

"About what?"

"New York."

I let out a large breathe of air. "Not yet. I'll tell him when he comes back."

We both sat there in silence, waiting for the other to talk.

"Is that what brought you here?"

Ryder just grinned. That's when I remembered, Ryder has Rowan.

"Where's Rowan?" I asked as I got up.

"He is outside with your assistant. Sasha."

I moved to the blinds, peeking through them. "Sasha isn't my assistant. She is a friend."

"That's the other man you slept with, isn't it?"

I turned away from my blinds, staring at Ryder. "Yes. I had sex with Luke." I murmured.

"I'm not talking about Luke."

I scrunched my face up, putting a hand on my desk for support. "What are we? Friends?"

Ryder pulled a sour face.

"Ryder, it's none of your business. We are separated. How many times must we do this?"

"So it's just fun for you?"

I opened the door, calling to Rowan. He looked up at me and smiled. "Momma!" I kneeled down, accepting a hug from him.

"Are you being a good boy?" I asked him as he nodded.

"Daddy take us to zoo."

"Wow." I gave him a kiss on his head. I looked up at Ryder. "You should go."

"You didn't answer my question." He said darkly.

I sighed out, taking Rowan's hand and shoving it in Ryder's. "I'm not discussing this right now."

"Because you dragged Rowan in here."

I stepped towards my side of the desk, looking at Ryder, smiling. "Exactly."

Ryder grinned at me, holding Rowan's hand. "This is a dangerous game you are playing."

"Who said I wanted to play?"

Ryder left, a grin on his face as Ashley came in.

"What now?" I groaned out.

"So, that's the ex husband?"

"Yes. What do you want, Ashley?"

"I was going to ask, since I'm going tomorrow, maybe one last, play?" Ashley grinned at me.

"Ha!" I laughed at him.

"I was more confident before I saw your ex." Ashley laughed as well.

"No!" I squealed out. "Besides, I'm kind of seeing someone."

"So? The whole office knows you're kind of seeing someone. We all know it's the boss."

"So, you thought you could squeeze an extra tumble with me?"

Ashley kept smiling, a boyish charm.

"I'm not asking you out on a date. I'm simply implying that we have a night of fun. But I don't feel like a duel by the way your ex husband looked at me."

"You're asking for sex." I stated, crossing over my legs.

"Yes."

"You're bold." I pouted, a small smile as well.

"That, I am. But the way I saw him look at me and Luke, to the way he looks at you, I'm out of the competition."

I stood up, resting my hands on my desk, leaning forward with a smirk on my face. "You always were, Ashley. But when I said, it's never happening again, I meant it. There is no way you'll be getting me to have sex with you again."

I think his face drooped a bit. "Didn't you enjoy it?" He quickly recovered.

"Yes, I did. It was exactly what I needed. So thank you for that, but that was all I needed."

"So, you used me?" Ashley chuckled.

I smirked more, shrugging a shoulder. "You could say that."

A lopsided grin appeared on Ashley's face. "I like that you've got spunk. Take care, Rhea."

I gave him a slight nod out of respect as Ashley left my office.

****

Dear Unsure Relationship

First, break it off with the colleague. There is only sexual tension there.

Second, talk with your ex, tell him what you want in your life. If it means not to be with them, then so be it. They need to understand that they are now just a parent, not a partner.

Third, talk with this person you are seeing, your boss. Tell him what you want out of your career, and how you want to earn it yourself, not have it given to you.

Sleeping with the boss is a dangerous thing. Your career is on the line with that one. Work out between the two of you, your career, and both needs.

As a mother myself, everything we do is for our children. Having a relationship with someone that's not your child's other parent can be hard.

If your boss becomes the type that insults you, threatens your job, then he isn't a good person at all. They should understand that they also put you in this position, not just yourself.

Listen to your heart, what is it trying to tell you? Having someone back in your life that you were sexually attracted to is a hard step, but one where you can say no to, or one you can accept.

Best of Luck, R.

I saved the document and turned the computer off, a small smile on my face. I left my work building, smiling. It's so good to be back at work. I didn't realise how much I missed it.

Since I didn't have a deadline this week, I had finished at three and went home to wait for Rowan and Ryder.

I'm constantly being told I'm good for giving advice, but I suck at taking it. So I decided to swallow my own medicine and assessed my situation that I had spiralled in to.

I like Luke. But I don't love him. I'm not in love with him. I just like him. The sex was good, not as good as Ashley, but I've burned that bridge, refusing to rebuild it.

Luke is offering me my own column in his paper. I have my own column at the magazine. But I'm not going to take the offer in New York. That, I am sure on. It's a great offer, but it didn't feel personal, talking to someone over the phone and radio waves.

Even the letters no longer felt personal. The amount of letters I went through today, I barely got a spark from most of them.

The more I thought about being a columnist, open and public as Rhea Matthews, the more the idea of being a columnist didn't appease to me.

Maybe I should finish my masters. Become a doctor in psychology. Finish up at the magazine, reject the newspaper offer.

I sat in the wooden lounge chaise on my front patio, a glass of wine in my hand as I stared out to the distant view. I ran a nail over my teeth as I stayed in my thoughts.

The reality of the situation is, Luke is a sweet man, but he hasn't exactly swept me off my feet, not including the job offers. He has given me flowers, balloons for Rowan, but that's about it.

I turned to the small table, on it, a small jewellery box containing the necklace Ryder bought me. I can't accept it.

I watched as a car pulled up in my driveway as I finished my wine and placed the glass down. Ryder got out and waved as he went to Rowan and let him out.

"Momma!" Rowan cried out as he held onto a new toy. "Monkey!"

"Hello baby." I squeezed him in my arms. "That's a cute monkey."

"Daddy buy it. He buy you too!" I frowned as I looked up at Ryder.

"No." He said to Rowan. "That's not what you were suppose to say."

Rowan frowned for a second before talking again. "I buy you something!" Rowan tried again.

I kneeled down to him, my hands on my lap. "What did you buy me?" I asked him gently. Rowan gave me the monkey and turned to Ryder, shoving his hand in his father's pocket before pulling out a box.

A small box. He gave it to me and I wanted to groan. A small velvet box.

"What is it?" I pretended to be surprised as I opened it up.

I gasped as my eyes focused on the small present. I had to lean back, my hand holding the chair so I didn't fall. I stood up and looked at Ryder.

"You took him to a jewellery shop?" I asked as I looked back at the ring. It was beautiful. The gold words, mum, on it, small diamonds at the start and end of the word.

"Well, he saw a cheap one in the souvenir shop at the zoo. But I told him it would break straight away, so I said we will go buy a real one." Ryder smiled.

I couldn't not accept this. "That's nice of you."

"Not me, Rowan." Ryder corrected. "Rowan bought the ring."

Rowan came back outside and took my hands. "I gave lady money and got this." He smiled proudly.

I was backed into a corner on this. I smiled down at Rowan. "It's beautiful, baby. Thank you." Rowan beamed at me before turning to his father.

"Go play." He said as Rowan ran off. "What's that?" Ryder asked as he pointed to the other velvet box.

"Something I can't accept." I told him as I picked it up and gave it to him. "I'm sorry, but I can't take it."

Ryder frowned as he opened it up, looking at the chain. "This is for you." He said in a flat manner.

"And I can't take it."

"Just have it, Rhea." Ryder said as he placed the box on the table and stepped on to the yard, heading for his car.

I watched, stunned as he got in and drove away. What the hell just happened?