He assisted me in the black SUV as I felt his hand still on my back keeping me in place. I wanted to hop out of this car ad run as far as I could, that kiss was something of fire and lust. The kiss was stemmed from the hate that lingered throughout the time I've known him. Our banter was the one thing that caused this moment of confusion, it created these moments where I felt my pride being set aside and my confidence shined through, which necessarily wasn't the best. Our hatred was still there, but maybe Avery was right the tension was too much to handle.

He climbed on the other side and all I felt was awkward, there was no talking, and just me giving him the weirdest looks.

I wondered what he thought of our kiss, was I a good kisser? Should I have used more lip, should I have opened my mouth? They should make a book about this.

I put our kiss on a pause as I decided to be confident, and show him that he doesn't defy me.

"Can you get me up to speed about our meeting", I adjusted my hair as I scooted closer to him so that we were sitting next to each other. Please tell me this would have not made you uncomfortable. He looked back at me for a second as he set aside his newspaper and pulled out his mac. He pulled up some spreadsheets as he went over the investments, my role in the company, and basically what I needed to do and what I could do.

"You understand this, right", he said after he had asked me to read in the car. In the frickin car. My vision was blurry and I had felt just like our road trips when I tried to be a smartass and read a book in the car.

"No clue, how do you even read in the car", I had asked hoping he would open up to me, instead of kissing me of pure lust, but now with feelings. How stupid am I?

"You get carsick?", he asked knowing the obvious answer, but I played along knowing the rules of small talk evolving into deep, thoughtful conversations. I was just waiting at the edge of my seat, waiting for whatever came next.

"Yeah, you don't", this time he laughed shining that billion-dollar smile. Bright, Fluorescent, Light shining at me and I felt like a princess. His laugh sounded sweet, genuine but it sounded like someone who hadn't laughed in a while, who needed that.

"When I was small my dad made me practice, saying it would prepare me for chaos, whenever I needed to jog myself up to pace on a new assignment, but the first time I threw up all over his car and he still made me practice in Avery's mini Barbie car", he said as I started laughing and couldn't stop. We were both cracking ourselves up with things we had never known, things we had never ventured or cared to know about one another. The other side of him was charming, funny and dare I say really really like able.

An hour went by as my hangover finally started crawling in. Nolan could see as he shut up and let me sleep. This confusing yet forward move in our relationship wanted me to run away, to hide from his attention. I enjoyed it but it would never be able to be honest with him, I would never be able to have that with him.

"Natalie", Nolan knocked on my shoulder waking me up as we pulled into the company's garage. I was leaning against his shoulder and instead of him pushing me away, he embraced it by pulling me closer but lightly shaking me to let me know we were here. He smelled of cologne, just like his pillow.

He opened the door as he stuck his hand out for me to grab, it was all for show, right? I grabbed his smooth hand and stepped out of the vehicle as we were escorted into the building. This building tall and elegant, was new to me, something I had never seen before. He opened the door for me as we stepped in and the whole audience in the lobby turned towards us. Eyes were on us as we walked in hand in hand, our bodies were close but not touching it was just enough for me to smell my favorite scent.

The eyes followed us as we entered an elevator behind the desk, we casually walked into the elevator as I felt I was walking the red carpet. As soon as Nolan looked up from the elevator doors, everyone looked away and resumed their work.

The elevator reminded me of our confusing kiss, he was nice, charming and sometimes rude and cold-hearted, but I couldn't ignore the fact that he was focused on me, something I hadn't had. He tugged at my hand and I was returned back to reality only to realize we were at the top floor.

"Sorry", I hushed so only he could hear what I had to say as we got closer to the area where the associates were standing.

He let go of me and went to shake hands with the associates, leaving me awkwardly alone. He obviously thought his silence had a way over me.

I was standing there for a while as I looked around and saw the room was filled with all men and I realized not a single woman was here, except me. As we took our seats I felt the stares to my blouse as I kept pulling it up.

Investments, and stocks and new products were discussed, and as soon as I said something the whole room shut up and was like 'yo she actually knows stuff' they stared at me like I didn't have the intellect to be here. That I couldn't have made my way here, without the man next to me, without all men to be precise. They were right, I was in this room because of the man next to me, but that doesn't mean I can't earn my spot on this very board.

After the meeting, I felt uncomfortable and unwelcome, so as the men yapped on and on about football and what their wives did to please them,I left. That's right I left, technically I was still working so I quickly went to the closest store I could find and bought sweatpants and a t-shirt. The one thing I missed was sweats, god I love them.

I changed quickly and walked back into work holding my dressy clothes in hand. I got the stares from the lady secretary's as they all wondered why I looked like I literally didn't care. It's cause I didn't, I was married and he couldn't divorce me so that's that.

I made my way back to his office and found a sofa with a blanket and so I picked a spot and sat. Golden Girls was on as I watched and laughed my brain off.

"Nat, when did you get here", he laughed as he saw me with his blanket and my newly bought sweats. He was probably wondering why I wasn't here instead of doing work.

"I've been here, ever since the meeting", he let out a gasp as he looked at the time.

"It's 7:45 pm that meeting ended 10 hours ago", he said in disbelief.

"You can't leave me in a room with men who talk about football and sex, did you expect me to stay there", I begged him as he almost looked sorry for me and he scooted me over and plopped himself next to me. He grabbed the blanket and reached for my popcorn as I slapped his hand away.

"I don't share what's mine", I said as he pouted looking quite upset.

"Good, I don't either", he said as he stared into my eyes as the show went on, he leaned in as I leaned in and our lips brushed against each other, so lightly, but ever so gentle. I wanted more I needed more and that could only mean one thing I liked him. He had this way of drawing me in that I couldn't resist. His behavior could be better, but relationships can change people, and I hoped he would change me.

"Mr. Clemente", a voice came behind the door as I blinked my eyes and felt a large hand over me and bundled in my neck. He squeezed me closer as I started trying to untangle myself out of him. The door handle wiggled as I hoped it wouldn't open. Luckily, Nolan had locked it beforehand.

I lied there with the man I may like and it was all quite confusing. He slowly started to wake up as I pretended to go to sleep, he locked eyes with me as he quickly released me from his grip.

"I'm sorry, we must've just passed out, together", he said recalling the events from last night. I remembered all so recent, after our vigorous kiss, I couldn't dare ask him what this meant so I kept quiet and he just leaned on me and we continued the show not even afraid of what happened next. He made me feel safe, something I had wanted to feel for so long. Soon enough after I turned the tv off and snuggled under him, I pulled the blanket up and got lost in his touch.

He ruffled up his hair as I wondered what we would do. Our hair was messy, and considering the office makes a note when we come upstairs, they would definitely know. If we went out together, the employees would only think about what happened, but didn't. He stepped into a closet or bathroom of some sort and came out in a navy suit, morning rush did suit him.

He handed me a burgundy dress as I could only imagine where and how he got this.

"Is this one of your one night stand trophies", I joked around as he looked quite serious and not amused.

"It's my mother, actually", he fixed his cuffs as I was surprised by his answer, it was a stunning dress.

"I'm sorry", I grabbed his arm, accidentally grabbing his bicep as he swung his head around staring at me straight in the eye.

"Good Morning, Sir", a perky blonde opened the door wearing a very revealing dress with her cleavage very tight. She handed him a coffee as she scaled me.

"Ma'am I'm sorry you're going to have to leave, Mr. Clemente isn't looking for a hooker at the moment", she said out of Nolan's ear length. Boy was she going to be a problem.

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