"William's lawyer says we can counter file for the divorce, get a restraining order and open a domestic violence case against him. He seems very optimistic I'll win. He also asked how much I want for damages from him but I don't want his money. I don't want anything from him. I just don't want to ever cross paths with him again."

"I wouldn't want anything from him either and after everything's over, you definitely won't be crossing paths with him again. He'll be too busy rotting away in a prison cell."

"I really hope so." She released a breath.

"I'm sure of it."

"I have to go back in now, I'll see you later." I heard movement and assumed it was her standing from wherever she was sitting.

"Call me before you leave."

"I will, bye P."

"Bye," I said and the line went dead. I dropped my phone on the marble top of the restroom sink. I'd fussed all over Cecile this morning as she entered the cab that'd take her to Manhattan where William's lawyer's office was. The thought of her crazy soon to be ex husband wasn't distant on my mind at all. The fucker had to be arrested and put away immediately.

Recalling more of yesterday, William was another thought that popped up. He'd been absent at work all morning and afternoon. I should call him. I pondered on the idea for a few seconds more and picked my phone up again. I dialed his number and it finally connected after nearly five rings.

"My sister said everything's going okay with your lawyer."

There was shuffling of feet and what sounded like papers before his deep voice came through.

"Well hello to you too." He said and I saw how my complexion instantly turned flush through the mirror.

"I meant to say that." I said lamely then shook my head. Why was I acting like a fifteen year old again?

"Did you?" I imagined he was smiling now.

"Yes," I cleared my throat.

"Ambrose is top of his game and can handle almost anything. We could have called the cops yesterday but Richmond would have probably found a way around it and gotten released. A case needs to be built against him, one he won't be able to get out of so easily. You know, I never liked the prick."

"Didn't think you remembered much of him."

"There's a lot I remember."

I leaned against the counter, "like?"

"Like stealing Egyptian towels from their Malibu mansion." He said and I almost immediately smiled.

"The scented soaps too," I added with a laugh.

"Then there's the lake."

My laughter slowly stilled.

"The lake," I repeated and just as the images started to form in my head, he voiced them out.

"Skinny dipping in the lake."

We were unlocking memories we had no business opening. A pandora's box. More images from that summer years ago flashed through my mind and my body responded. I crossed my legs.

"I have to go now. Thank you again for helping out Cece the way you are, bye." I rushed out and ended the call without waiting to hear anything else from him. When I looked in the mirror, my whole face was aflame and my legs were still crossed.

***

"That smells amazing," I groaned placing my handbag on the couch.

"Thank you," Cecile smiled. "It's almost ready."

"How was the rest of the day?" I stood opposite her as she stirred something in a pan.

"Everything is basically in motion. We are waiting to hear from his side now. I-I want this chapter to be closed forever." Her hands wrapped around her waist then immediately let go. "Part of me is glad actually, glad my baby, that baby dodged a bullet." She laughed flatly.

"Cece-"

"Don't mind me, come taste this." She beckoned me forward and I obliged and entered the kitchen.

"Your cooking is still first class." I praised after tasting her soup.

"I bet you swallowed a bit of blood after saying that." She laughed.

"A little." I smiled.

"How was work?"

"Fine," I nodded.

"Did you see William? Pass me that spoon please," she said and I gave it to her. "Do you see him often?"

"He wasn't in today but I see him quite often, kind of hard not to, considering I'm one of his PAs."

"You're his PA?" Her busy hands paused and she stared at me wide eyed. "Mom never mentioned that."

"Because I never told her." I said slowly.

"You're in big trouble if she finds out then."

"Well she won't for now, will she?"

"I'm not the tattletale." She raised her hands.

"I wasn't the tattletale either."

"Yeah right. You told on me for every single party I went to and pretty much everything else I did as a teenager."

"Well you were pretty annoying." I defended.

"And you were plenty annoying, following me around all day as well."

"I don't remember it being that way." I shook my head defiantly.

"I'm sure you don't. Help me set the table."

We continued to bicker over who caused who more problems growing up while I set the table for two and only finally came to an inconclusive end when the food was served.

"I haven't signed the lease for the new apartment yet, but we should probably start boxing up a few things, I don't have much in here anyway." I looked around my less than minimalistic apartment.

"I think I saw your landlord on my way up this afternoon." Cecile said.

"Staggering stance, bad breath and a whole lot of gibberish?"

"That's it," she nodded, "only he was saying something about rent, murders and blondes, really creeped me out."

"The man is extremely creepy but we'll be out of here soon enough." I said and she smiled, nodding again before returning her gaze to her food.

"By the way, my stir fry totally tastes better than yours."

"Shut up Ophelia." She laughed.

***

"We've missed you these past few days Lilian."

"Save it Miss Duhamels, I heard you groan as soon as I walked in."

I smiled at the ever stern faced Lilian who arrived just seconds earlier, after being away nearly the whole week. Today was Friday and I was eagerly looking forward to the weekend even though it'd probably go by in the blink of an eye.

"You two are almost getting along, I love to see it." Heather beamed and Lilian cleared her throat while I maintained my smile.

"We will start today's lessons with how not to burn your boss with a hot cup of coffee." Lilian smiled in my direction and I sighed inwardly. There's the Lilian I missed so dearly.

Halfway through learning and discussing different office protocols with Lilian, William appeared, rounding the corner.

"Mr Illston, I thought you were not coming in today?" Lilian looked very surprised to see him.

"Something came up." He said shortly and entered his office. I hadn't seen him since Tuesday when the Richmond fiasco happened or heard from him since Wednesday when we talked over the phone.

I was still thinking along that line when my intercom buzzed.

"Come into my office." William vaguely said and the line immediately cut off.

I dropped the receiver and looked up at Lilian and Heather. "Uh, excuse me."

Lilian simply nodded and returned her attention to Heather. Entering William's office, I expected to see him sitting behind his desk; not pacing in front of it. He stopped as soon as I walked in and reached behind him to pick up a brown file. He held it out.

"The rent/lease papers and the keys to the apartment."

"Oh, thanks." I said and moved closer, collecting the file from him.

"How's Cecile?"

"She's fine. Saw your lawyer again yesterday. The restraining order should be ready this evening."

"That's good." He nodded. "I wanted to give you that. That'll be all."

"Okay," I slowly said and turned around to leave. A few steps away from the door, I stopped and changed my position to find him sitting against his desk, with his head a bit downcast. His behaviour was very odd today. Something was wrong. Dropping the file on one of the couches, my curiosity got the best of me and I slowly walked back to where he stood.

"Is everything alright?"

He straightened and looked up. His eyes showed slight surprise seeing me before a small smile broke through his tense features. His taut posture relaxed a little but his overall appearance still somehow remained unsettled and maybe tired.

"Yes." He nodded. I crossed my arms and he smiled again.

"I guess that mafia work is starting to get to me." He breathed out.

"That again?" I scoffed, not ready to contemplate whether he really belonged to an Italian mafia or not, again.

He chuckled lightly then nodding almost solemnly said, "yes, that again."

"I'm not falling for it this time."

"Didn't think you would."

The room fell silent again. I didn't know what to believe. I stepped closer to him. "Is it– are you really okay?"

"Are you really worried?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because." I shrugged.

"Because?" He smiled.

"Mmhm, just because. But you're smiling wider now. So I'm going back to work."

"Ophelia," his hand stopped me from turning. Staring straight into my eyes, he suddenly asked, "do you know what I really want to do right now?"

"No."

"I want to kiss you."

My stomach dipped.

"The truth is, I want to kiss you half of the time." He drew me closer.

I swallowed, feeling that thudding excitement reach my chest again. "That mafia work really has you messed up."

"Tell me about it. I keep forgetting and faltering these days." His fingers skimmed across my cheek and I thought: I'm faltering too.

"I bet," I started, pretending the caresses his fingers made across my skin didn't affect me at all, "this is all part of some game you've concocted up in that head of yours."

"Do you want it to not be a game?" His eyes locked with mine again.

I shook my head. "It has to be a game." Because what else could it possibly be?

"Good." He said but before I could discern the sincerity of his smile, his hand went into my hair and his lips touched mine. It was an instant reaction. I warmed all over, meeting him back with equal fervour. My wandering hands quickly got lost somewhere between his hair and nape while his moved over the curve of my waist and hips. He caught my bottom lip between his, teasing, biting and unrelenting.

A kiss with this man shouldn't feel this good anymore, I thought gravely as my hands moved from his hair and fumbled with the front of his jacket. I wasn't sure if my aim was to pull it off or pull him closer. Either was fine. His hands trailed down my waist until I felt one of his palms right underneath my dress and against my bare thigh. He squeezed and his mouth effectively captured the sound of my little moan. I continued pulling at his jacket but the sound of things rattling on the desk behind him immediately brought me down from wherever I was. I remembered where and who we were.

"William—" I placed my hand against his chest and broke away from his hold, "we are in your office and Lilian is behind those doors." I said breathlessly.

"Your concern right now," his fingers toyed with the buttons at the top of my dress, "is Lilian?" He chuckled.

"Yes and we shouldn't even–" the rest of my words were disregarded as his lips pressed against the side of my neck.

"We shouldn't what?" He whispered and the sensation involuntarily caused me to giggle. I felt his lips move against my skin in presumably a smile. I giggled again and locked my arms around his wide shoulders.

"Hey man," the door opened, "oh shit." The door shut as fast as it had opened while I jumped away from William like he was on fire.

"Hey you two." Mark stood there smiling awkwardly.

Kill me.

"Now no need to explain anything." He suddenly grinned. I turned to see William smiling as well and immediately glared at him, effectively wiping off the smile.

"Ophelia–" He started.

"Don't talk to me. Bye Mark." I said and practically ran to the door but didn't forget to carry the lease documents along.

"Why is your face red?" Lilian asked the second I stepped out of William's office.

"I flush easily," I quickly responded, "and the weather these days

is something else entirely." I shook my head dramatically.

"I hear we may be experiencing more heat waves than usual this summer." Heather sighed and I internally sighed in relief when the conversation centered around the unpredictable weather.

"What's that?" Lilian eyed the brown file I held.

"A lease for the an apartment in the Illston staff apartments, my current apartment–"

"I understand." She waved it off.

"Wait, you don't stay there too, do you?" I now felt a different kind of panic.

"I moved out the year before. Imagine the catastrophe it would have been, having you as a neighbour." She frowned.

"I don't even want to imagine it." I winced.

"The area is quite close to mine." Heather smiled.

"Nevermind all that. Miss Duhamels how is your weekend like two weeks from now?" Lilian asked.

"Free, I guess?"

"Good because you were the only available option left anyway. Mr Illston has a business trip to Chicago scheduled two weeks from now and will obviously need an assistant. That weekend is Miss Jack's anniversary weekend and I," Lilian cleared her throat, "have plans as well."

"A business trip?" I repeated.

"Yes, is there a problem?" She quizzed.

A weekend alone with William in Chicago? Of course there was a problem.

"Of course not."

"Good. So you will be available. We will start preparing for the trip next week. I have a briefing with some executives now, we will continue with our lessons later." Lilian said and left, completely disappearing from sight.

"Goodluck with that business trip," Heather smiled mischievously.

"Thanks." I answered weakly. I'll really need it.

***

school