I sneak glances at Alsie as she nibbles on her pen top. For the last three hours, she has proven not only to me but to the other members of the finance team, why she deserves to be here. Every problem Kevin threw at her she solved it and gave more than one solution too. Alsie didn't look like the type to work in corporate America, but then again she didn't look like the type of woman who demanded a guy in a club to give her a baby either. My mind flashes to that night. I'm not going to lie that night has kept me up plenty of times.

"Mr.Reed?"

"Yes, you all can head to lunch," I say not looking up from the papers in front of me. "We can resume tomorrow morning. After lunch just work on any other tasks or projects you may all have."

The team talks as they gather their things and leave.

"Umm, Mr.Reed?" My eyes snap to Alsie. She is still here. I expected her to leave with everyone else. Is she not hungry? Her laptop is still open and her papers once held are neatly stacked on the side.

"Yes?"

"Are you ready for lunch?" She looks down at her watch and then at my face. "I—never mind."

She closes her laptop and moves quickly gathering her things. I stand up and fix my blazer. No one on my team has asked me to lunch before. I watch as she bites down on her bottom lip and it sends a jolt right to my cock. I adjust myself clearing my throat.

"Where would you like to eat?" Sliding her laptop in her bag she looks up at me with doe eyes. Damn it. Can this woman be any more perfect? "I know a good Italian place a few blocks down. Do you like Italian?"

"It's one of my favorites." She smiles.

I gesture for her to leave out first. Fuck.

"Lunch?" Everett says walking out of another meeting room. I don't need him tagging along. That's the last thing I want.

"Yeah, Alsie and I are about to head out."

"Cool, I'm starving." Everett pats his stomach. Tameka walks out of the room next looking at Everett; lust is evident in her eyes.

"I can give you something to eat." She winks and Everett rolls his eyes at her.

"Tameka we talked about this a thousand times. I do not want anything sexual with you. Why are you so inappropriate?"

Watching Everett and Tameka's work relationship has been one of the hilarious highlights of the guys' and my life. Everett has finally met a girl that matches him a little too well. She graduated college a year ago and landed a job here. Everett loves her whether he wants to admit it or not. I think the age gap is what gets him riled up the most.

"I made spaghetti. Why do you always think the worst? I'm starting to think you want to sleep with me. I'm always down for a good time, daddy." She smiles at him.

"Alsie, I think this is our cue to leave. You two have a good lunch." I place my hand on her lower back escorting us to the elevators. "Enjoy your spaghetti," I say over my shoulder, and Everett groans.

"Are they always like that?" Alsie asks stepping into the elevator.

"Unfortunately, yes."

Alsie doesn't say anything else and neither do I.

Entering the restaurant it's rather busy, but Antonio is a friend of mine. He escorts Alsie and me towards the VIP area. Settling us down at a booth. I don't know why, but I'm watching Alsie take everything in. She has a damn good poker face. I don't know whether she likes it or not. Hell, why am I so concerned if she does or doesn't. Picking up the menu she scans everything and for the first time since we sat down, I see a flicker of emotion.

"You can order whatever you like. Lunch is on me."

Looking up she just nods and directs her attention back to the menu.

"How do you like it so far?" I ask. This awkward silence is too much.

"Nothing like I expected. I do love that everyone is so well-informed and is a team player. However, between you and I—I don't think Kevin likes me that much." She whispers, a smile tugging at her lips. "I mean he was purposely making up stuff and asking me what to do next. If I didn't need this job, I would have told him off."

So she did notice it. Impressive.

"I'm sorry, I would like to ask you a question...not work-related."

"Sure?"

"Mr. Reed, ma'am are you guys ready to order, or shall I come back?" Antonio places two cups of water on the table before pulling out his notepad. Alsie eagerly tells Antonio what she wants and when I think she is done so I can order, she asks for another entrée. Shyly she looks my way when she's done. I give Antonio my order and we're left alone again.

"So what did you want to ask me?"

"The baby situation?"

"Right, about that. I honestly didn't know why I said it. My mother—well my stepmother has never pressured me to have kids and I honestly don't know why I said it. It could have just been the liquor talking. No, I know it was the liquor talking." She rambles.

"Oh."

"But that night was amazing...I don't regret it...I would do it again." She slaps her hand over her mouth as the realization kicks in on what she just admitted.

I chuckle, looking down at my water. "I would love to do it again too, but we work together."

"Oh no no no...I didn't mean—were you dating my sister Selena?"

The smile wipes off my face and I look at her.

"Your sister? Selena Marshall is your sister?" I don't know what is worst. One of the best fucks I've had was with my ex-fiancée's sister or perhaps I hired my ex's sister or here's the kicker I want to fuck my ex's sister over and over and over again. Alsie looks at me with wide eyes; I think her problem is she rambles when nervous. I don't think I was supposed to know about this. Well not now at least. " I asked you a question?" I exhale deeply.

As she nods her head, I stand up. I can handle a lot of shit, but this I just couldn't do. Did Selena send her sister to fuck with me some more? Was cheating on me and Zoey not being mine wasn't enough? I find Antonio near the front of the restaurant telling him to charge my card. I wasn't going to eat with Alsie after this, but I did tell her I would pay for lunch.

Should I go back and tell her I'm leaving? Antonio hands me back my card and without another thought, I leave. My blood is boiling and I don't trust myself at the moment. How the hell did I go from not dealing with any drama over the last seven years to finding myself in some deep shit? Now I know to keep my distance from Alsie unless it is work-related and even then I don't think I want to be near her.

I enter my office heading straight for the portrait on my wall.

"Caroline!"

"Yes, boss?"

"Good afternoon," I remember to say. "Can you have someone throw this out immediately?" I hand her the portrait.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, just get rid of it now please." I leave out the office back to the meeting room. Burying myself in work is the only way not to think about it. I'm halfway through the first stack of papers when the meeting room door flies open. Charles is the first one inside followed by the guys.

"What the hell happened? Caroline told me you wanted the picture in the trash. Is everything okay? Did she reach out to you? I knew I should have kicked her ass when it first happened. I don't know why you guys stopped. Who cares if I was six months pregnant these hands weren't. What happened, Darren!?"

"Nothing, it was just time." I lie. Everyone knew what a mess I was when Selena broke the news Zoey wasn't mine. I drank every day. Morning afternoon and night. For months. I hit rock bottom the family I thought I created was snatched away from me in a blink of an eye.

"Are you sure?" Chase pulls Charles into his side, soothing her. I envy their relationship. All the guys and I do, but we know when it's our time it will happen. "If you need to take a vacation—"

"I'm fine." Everyone's eyes are trained on me. "You fuckers are making me uncomfortable." I try to joke. "Look just go back to work, I'm fine. Now leave. I don't want Alsie coming back from lunch to see all of you in here, grilling me."

"Say the word and we will let Charlotte Mayweather loose." Everett jokes.

I let them know once more I'm fine. Reluctantly they leave, but Charles comes back in, turning my chair around to face her.

"You let me know if you want me to fuck her up. I'm ready. I stay ready Darren. This mama bear is so ready. Like really re—"

"Cupcake, come on. He gets." Chase rolls his eyes pulling her out of the room.

At least I know one woman in my life that's not blood-related who would never let me down.