I get a text, it's from Jason.

J: Hey want to get dinner tonight? :)

Weeks have gone by since the party and it's as if nothing happened that night. Neither of us have acknowledged it, even though we hang out all the time.

I feel like I'm being led on. I don't feel like I'm being treated like a regular "friend." But at the same time, it's not like we're actually dating. I'm just in a weird limbo between friend and girlfriend.

I've definitely fallen for him, I don't want to ruin our friendship and confess my feelings though. What would I even expect to come out of doing that? He's still going on dates with other girls, and hits on them when I'm out with him.

Is this even better though? It feels as if I only have two options.

Stay around, keep him in my life like I desperately want him to be, but get hurt.

Let him go, even though it feels like it'll hurt even more.

K: Sorry, no thanks.

I'm tired of getting my feelings hurt.

"Meeting adjourned, thanks for coming," I announce, dismissing our event committee.

Katie and Lincoln are standing to the side, chatting. I'm glad they're on better terms now. Something's been up with her lately though, she's declined the last four times I've asked her to hang out. Maybe she's PMSing or something.

I wait till Lincoln and Ray leave to talk to Katie.

"Hey Katie, are you free on Friday afternoon?" I ask. I know she is, her last class finishes at 3 pm.

She raises an eyebrow, "Why?"

"I was going to give Belle her first tour of my parent's office. I thought you might want to come, she misses you."

Her expression softens and she laughs a little, "I guess I can't say no to that, send me the address later."

I knew she wouldn't be able to resist.

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Belle and I wait in the lobby for Katie. She's having trouble staying still, bouncing on her chair and marching around the room. "You're going to tire yourself out before we even get upstairs kiddo," I say.

She giggles, and climbs onto my lap. "Ok Jay Jay."

We wait a little bit longer, until we see Katie come in. "Katie!" Belle hops off my lap and runs over to Katie who crouches down to hug her.

She takes Belle's hand and comes over to me. "Jeez this is one of the nicest office buildings downtown," she murmurs as her eyes roam around the lobby.

I nod as we step into the elevator, "My parents own it, we only use the top twelve floors though."

I show them around the office. Most of the working areas are open concept, my parents didn't like the idea of sticking people in cubicles. Katie seems impressed by the interior designing. Belle is shy and clings to me, a lot of the employees try saying hi to her.

I show them the lounge and café. "I can't believe there's an entire floor just for leisure," Katie says, looking around.

"Yeah, it's pretty nice," I grin, plopping Belle onto a beanbag chair.

I get Belle a cookie from the café. I come back to see her chatting with Katie.

"...should just tell him!" I hear the end of Belle's sentence.

"Should tell who what?" I ask, with a grin.

"Nothing." They both say, smiling at each other.

I raise an eyebrow, "Alright girls, let's head up to my office."

__________________

I unlock the door and we go in. It's pretty sleek and modern, everything is mostly white with some black marble accents. My shiny gold name plate sits at my desk, "Jason Larsen - Director of Operations."

Belle goes over and sits in the large leather chair at my desk. I stand next to Katie who's looking out the floor to ceiling window behind my desk. She looks like she's deep in thought. "Nice view," she mumbles, in an absent minded tone.

"Pretty nice view in here too," I flash a smile at her. She doesn't turn or say anything. "Are you alright? It seems like you've been avoiding me lately," I say, touching her arm. I feel her slightly stiffen.

"I'm fine, I've just been busy studying for finals," she mumbles, without turning to look at me. Being ignored like this stings a little, but I'm sure she'll snap out of it soon. She walks away from the window and laughs at something. I look and see Belle, fast asleep curled into a ball in the large chair.

"I guess that was a lot of walking for a four year old," I chuckle.

I walk back over to Katie, who has returned to the window. I take a step in front of her, placing myself in between her and the window, she still avoids looking at me. I place a finger under her chin and tilt her face upwards. With the bright light from the window, I notice for the first time her eyes are actually hazel.

"You have beautiful eyes," I murmur, holding her cheek, and she bites her lip, "are you sure you're alright?"

She nods, and I wrap one of my arms around her waist, pulling her closer to me. Her eyes widen and her face turns pink.

"I've been swamped at work. Sure would be nice to have an assistant, some cute girl," I wink at her. She giggles.

I check my phone, it's getting a bit late. I pick up Belle and leave the office, and as I'm about to lock the door, I see a door open at the end of the hall. My parents and one of their clients exit the meeting room.

"Oh shit," I whisper, "Katie go go go, don't come out," and nudge her back into my office. She looks very confused but obliges, and I shut the door.

"Jason?" Mom calls, as she and Dad come down the hall.

Oh god I hope they didn't see Katie. I don't want them to see her and get the wrong idea. "Hi honey, what are you doing here?" Mom asks.

"Oh hi Mom, hi Dad. I thought Belle might want to see the office," I reply trying to look as calm as possible, "but she got a little tired."

Dad takes her out of my arms. "We can take her home now. Would you like to come over?"

"Oh it's OK, I have plans tonight," I say.

Mom gives me a concerned look. "Are you ok Jason? You seem very tense."

Of course Mom can always read me like a book. "No I'm fine, don't worry about me," I shake my head quickly. She seems doubtful but I guess she decides not to question it.

Dad looks at a document he's holding. "Oh by the way, I'm going to need to grab that employee performance data sheet from you, could we go into your office?"

I panic. "That document? I-I can't, it's at...home."

They both look very confused. "Why on earth is it at home Jason?" Mom asks.

"It, er, was getting late so I brought it home to finish it," I stammer, "don't worry, I'll bring it to you on Monday."

They nod. "Alright son we'll see you next week."

I breathe a sigh of relief, until Belle stirs a bit.

"Katie," she mumbles.

God dammit.

My parents look at me. "Katie? Whose Katie honey?" Dad asks her, but she's already fast asleep again.

"Just some character in a TV show we watched recently," I lie.

What just happened? I try to listen, it sounds like those are his parents. I understand as I slump against the wall. He doesn't want his parents to see me, I'm just some random girl.

It still hurts though, being someone's embarrassment.

I hear them leave, and the door opens. "Hey Katie," Jason says, coming in.

I don't say anything.

"Are you alright?" he asks, reaching for my arm. I quickly back away from his reach, as if his touch is poison. "Alright I know that was weird, it's just that, uh, my parents don't like it when I bring non-employees into my office. Just an, err, office policy," he shrugs sheepishly.

I know he's lying but I'm just too tired of his bullshit to deal with this anymore, "Sure, but Jesus Christ, at least treat me like a human. I'm not an animal you can just shove into a cage. I'm leaving."

I walk around him and start to leave but he grabs my arm. I continue facing away from him. He holds my shoulders and leans in to whisper, "I'm really sorry. Is there anything I can do to make up for it?"

I tremble a bit at the feeling of his breath on my neck.

"Anything," he says, so close that his lips brush my earlobe and I shiver, it gives me goosebumps and makes my knees go weak. His arms slowly slide from my shoulders down my arms, and then up my waist. Every spot he touches with those large smooth hands tingles. "You're so soft," he murmurs.

He leans forward and kisses my neck, and I gasp. He spins me around, and pulls me into a kiss. The kiss is aggressive and needy. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and he grabs my waist.

I want to pull away but there's something so intoxicating and irresistible about his kisses. My desperation to be this close to him takes over my mind, blocking out the little voice in my head telling me this is a bad idea.

He pushes all the paper and pens off his desk and lifts me onto it.

__________________

Jason opens the door a tiny bit and checks if anyone is outside. It's clear, and we exit. I re-tuck in my blouse and straighten my skirt. He adjusts his belt and re-buttons his blazer.

Why the hell did I just do that?

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Lord have mercy 😐

Thank you for reading!