My head felt like it'd burst with the pain I was experiencing when I woke up the next morning. I tried to remember what I'd done last night and when I remembered it, my head spun again.

"Yes, you scoundrel, I have fallen for you too and as much as I want to kiss you, I don't know how to."

What the hell did I say? Someone tell me, I didn't say that. I didn't say any thing! Oh Bloody hell! What did I f*cking do?

I held my head in my hands trying to think what the hell actually happened. I couldn't think, no matter how hard I tried.

I'm f*cking dying, aren't I?

Oh, God! Did I really confess my feelings to him? God! What must he think of me now? I bet he is horrified!

No. No. No. Think more, Ari!

I strained my brain as hard as I could, trying to think of something that I hadn't screwed up! I couldn't think of anything. I felt like I was going to faint.

All my brain could muster up was how Sienna made me drink, then we cheered and then... blank, every-f*cking-thing blank followed by the sentence that shall not be repeated again.

I groaned pushing my face in my hands. How am I going to face him now?

But I didn't commit a sin.

He also has feelings for me but-

But I'm terribly embarrassed. God! What if I did kiss him in my drunk state?

Oh, God!

I groaned as I decided to go out of home and run to my house, God knows how I'm going to face him but the only thing I know is I'm not ready to do that now.

As soon as I set my foot on the floor, my eyes caught sight of a note. I couldn't help but get surprised to see the messy handwriting.

"Good afternoon, Arielle"- I looked at the clock and sure enough the time was 2:07 pm."With the amount of alcohol you had, I'm sure you will be having a hangover, I've set brunch and medicine for you on the table placed beside the bed. Take the medicines only after you have your food." I looked and sure everything was in place." Then come to the office, we need to talk about last night." My heart plummeted in my chest as I reread the last words over and over again. "I'm waiting for you, amore - N"

He's waiting for me. He wants to talk to me. But, I can't make myself talk to him.

But I can't just leave him like that. He won't let it go like that.

I grunted as I made my way to the washroom and did my business. I took a quick shower because If I stayed longer I'll think more.

Shower thoughts suck sometimes!

I stepped out of the bathroom and saw my reflection in the mirror. I was redder than a cherry tomato. The same bloody sentence revolved around my brain like a hamster on a wheel.

My phone rang and my heart's pace quickened. He must have put it on charging, I thought as I walked to the nightstand and picked it up.

Mama.

My heart calmed a bit, thank God it's not him.

"Ari", Mama's cheerful voice echoed in my ears."I'm sorry for disturbing you, child." I was quick to say no making her beam even more. What's up with her today?

"That's lovely." She paused as if she was going to say something else but decided not to. "Okay. I'll see you." She swiftly ended the call and my mind boggled more.

I sighed as I literally swallowed my food, the habit I have when I'm tensed about something and then swallowed the medicine, my mind again wandered to his note.

We need to talk about last night. I'm waiting for you, amore.

Damn it! What am I supposed to do now?

"Don't fear my child.", Mumma's words rang in my ears again. I grimaced imagining the embarrassment I'd be going through when I face him.

But either today or tomorrow, I'll have to.

I think tomorrow sounds better.

But again, it always does.

As I thought about how I'm going to talk to him, the gadget in my hand rang again and this time it was him.

The man in front of whom I embarrassed myself awfully last night. I looked at the screen and my heart started to beat faster.

Damn you, Nicolas f*cking Arnold.

Okay here goes nothing.

"Amore.", his smooth, deep voice echoed in my ears as my breath left and my heart rate spiked."Where are you?"

Where am I?

"Amore, Is everything fine?" he questioned, the concern visible as clear as crystal."What's wrong?"

Come on Ari! Say something, any-goddamn-thing.

"I'm coming back, a.."

"No-" My answer came in a blink."I'm... I'm okay. You... you don't need to come. I'll.. I'll come to you." I mumbled like a complete moron.

And boy did I cringe listening to my own words.

"The driver is waiting for you down. Come soon." He articulated."I'm waiting for you." There goes the sentence that burned a hole in my skin like the sun.

"I'm coming," I said softly. I could feel my cheeks reddening with every step I took out of my room.

As I got down, I could see an Audi parked out in front. My heart thundered loudly as the driver greeted me with a friendly smile saying how Nicolas told him to drive to his office.

So basically there was no way out of this today.

Time runs in one motion and my heart's pace quickened as the driver turned off the engine and opened the door. "We are here, Ma'am."

"Please call me Ari and thank you." I smiled at him nervously as my heart pounded harder seeing the building.

I walked inside, all pairs of eyes on my movements which was not a new thing since it happened daily.

As I said, this was the most embarrassing day of my life. I swiftly turned to my left and just when I was about to walk inside the private elevator, another woman came and we bumped into each other, the coffee she was holding, spilling on my hand and on our blouse." What the--oh my.", she shrieked as she looked at me as if I was some ghost.

"Oh my... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you." she apologized profusely as she quickly took my hand and checked for any injuries."I'm so sorry."

"Oh no. It's fine. I'm okay." I tried to ignore the sudden burning pain as I saw her eyes tearing up. I can't see someone crying due to me. "Don't sweat it. I'm okay."

"Please let me put on some ice or stuff. I really feel bad right now." I smiled at her kind heart."No need, really. I am okay."

As she tried to say anything more. Ryan, His secretary caught my sight and came towards me with a smile."Sir is waiting for you, Miss Summers." There goes my heart.

Behind me, I heard the woman gasp. I turned to see her staring at me wide-eyed."You... you are Miss Summers?"

I think, I am.

"Why?", Ryan looked at her sceptically and then turned back to me."Did anything happen Ms Summers?"

Before I could answer, the woman beside me began to cry uncontrollably. "I can't believe it's you. Oh, God! Why me? I think I'm dead today." I was horrified at her outburst.

"It's okay. Please don't cry. I'm okay." I tried to calm her but her wailing only seemed to intensify.

"What did you do, Lilly?" Ryan asked, suspicion swimming in his eyes.

"I-", the Lilly girl started but I interrupted her."Nothing. Nothing happened. I just spilt my coffee on my hand accidentally and she's feeling bad. She's such a sweetheart." I lied as her tears stopped and she looked at me in surprise.

"Oh, I hope you're okay, Ms Summers."

"I'm good. It was as cold as ice." I gave a warm smile to her and then walked inside the elevator and before I knew it, I was standing in front of his cabin.

"What the f*ck do you think I'm?" his voice boomed as he spoke loud enough that it reverberated through the building. It seemed he was very angry at the moment. I looked at Ryan in disbelief as he ushered me to walk inside.

What did I ever do to this man, God? Why does he want me to die so soon?

Already my heart is hammering inside my ribcage thinking about the last night and now he wants me to go inside when clearly he doesn't seem in the mood to talk.

"No, it's okay. I'll sit outside." The secretary shook his head and urged me to walk into his cabin but I didn't budge. In the end, he sighed in defeat and called his boss.

There's no way out of this today, Arielle Summers.

"What is it, Ryan?" His authoritarian voice echoed through the phone."You know, I'm busy."

"Uh, sir-" He gave me a look"-it's Ms Summers."

"She's here." His domineering voice softened and the next moment I heard his voice, "You all can leave but within this week I want the work to be done."

The door to his cabin opened and five men came outside, a wave of relief washing over them as if they had just come out of a death trap. They looked at me and within a second they were thanking me as if I was their damn saviour.

"Thank you so much, Ms Summers. If you'd not come in time, the boss would have killed us with his questions." The man said as he gave a relieved smile.

"I swear to the heavens above, at every slide of the presentation he kept on throwing questions. Good Lord! Thank you so much for sending you." another added.

"What is happening over here?" His voice came and my heart skipped a beat as if it was a bomb that just exploded. He arched his brow as his grey-eyes shot in my direction.

Five of them sprinted away as if they just heard a gunshot, followed by Ryan who gave me a fatalistic look.

"Come, Amore." He grabbed my burnt hand making me let out a hiss but I quickly covered it up with an awkward cough and tried to act like nothing happened.

"All okay?", he frowned as he looked at my face, worry pooling in his eyes. I nodded way too swiftly, damn me and my fast-paced heart that's making me all nervous.

He looked at my wrist and then to my face and then back to my wrist. "How the f*ck did it happen?" he hissed, his voice low and deep, his eyes cold and grey like a hurricane. He quickly made me sit on his chair as he rushed to the washroom."Sit here."

I rolled my eyes at him being all hyper. He took a seat beside me as he grabbed my hand and started patting it gently with the dampened cloth. "Who did you save this time?", he asked as he gently patted my hand, "How did you get hurt, amore?"

"So..." I started as he scrutinized me with his gaze." I was just coming to you, you know since of course, you asked me to, not that I wanted to." He raised his eyebrow as he pulled the chair towards him. "You're making me nervous."

His serious demeanour changed into a playful one as he smirked at me. "You weren't nervous when you asked me to kiss you yesterday, huh?" My cheeks reddened as he smiled leaning closer to me.

"Do you remember everything that happened last night?", my voice came raspy and breathless.

He smiled more as if he was enjoying my discomfort. "Everything.." he started as his mouth trailed down, he looked like he wanted to kiss me but his lips just brushed against mine."Did you really mean what you said yesterday?"

"I-", my words died as he turned the chair so that it was against the desk, he got up and entrapped me by keeping his palms on either arm of the chair. My head leaning back on reflex.

He bent closer and heat rushed through every part of my body as if I were a volcano about to erupt. My heart felt like it was going to explode. I was so close to him and his eyes were so mesmerizing. "Tell me, Amore.", he breathed as he leaned over me"Tell me you mean those words?" he whispered as he caressed my neck with the back of his hand. The feel of his lips against my cheek made me shiver in an instant. His soft breath tickled my cheek and I closed my eyes, I couldn't lose contact with him.

A surprised gasp left me as I felt his lips on my bare shoulder. My eyes reopened and before I knew it, I had let it out ."I do."I felt like I was being swept away into a whirlpool. "What do you mean by you do?" He asked as he nuzzled my neck. He made me feel like he could read my mind and my heart was beating faster and faster.

He stated as he breathed in my neck, "Say it, Amore."

He looked into my eyes as he pinned me to my place."Say that you love me." The intimacy felt like I was trapped in the middle of a hurricane. It was all I could do not to let it out."I-" I said, my voice raspy as it was caught up in the emotion.

My heart felt like it was going to blow up and as soon as he whispered those words, my mind flashed me a new image.

"Isn't it obvious?F*ck! I'm in love with you. I've been in love with you from the moment I saw you hugging Kia and from the very day, I've been falling for you harder and faster. I love you, Arielle Summers, so f*cking much."

"I do," I whispered as I turned his face and pressed my lips against his. It felt like I could never get enough of him. He tasted like a mix of coffee and chocolate, they were my favourite combination."I love you."

After what felt like a lifetime, he pulled back as he rested his forehead against mine, a soft smile on his lips."Jesus Christ! I can never get enough of you." He rested his hand on my cheek "Do you know how much I wanted to kiss you yesterday? It took every f*cking inch of my self-control."

My heart felt like it was going to explode. He really did respect the line.

I couldn't help but bury my face in his chest."Hey.. what's wrong, amore?" He asked as he stroked my back lovingly. I shook my head as I fought off the urge to cry.

"Thank you so much." I smiled as he caressed my face." I thought I forgot my first kiss."

"I wouldn't let us." He smiled. And that's when did I realize it was not only my first kiss, it was his first kiss too.

"As much as I had plans for our first kiss. I don't mind seeing my clumsy Amore's bold side."

That Nicolas F*cking Arnold!

***