My alarm clock goes off at 8 a.m on the dot, but I refuse to acknowledge the blaring noise coming from it. Not a second goes by and I let out an overly dramatic groan. I should have been up two hours ago, yet I don't think I could face anyone just yet. I hated that I thought about Darren almost every second of the day, for the last four days. When he came to my apartment that day, I was shocked to see him. My first thought was he would accuse me of stalking him at his place of work. Or probably accuse me of wanting to sleep with him to advance in the company. Yet he did none of that—he came to apologize. That held a lot of weight whether he knew it or not.

Of all the people in the world, I didn't think Charlotte Tucker would call me to make sure I was okay. After she reassured me that the job was mine, she told me I can start Monday morning at 9 a.m sharp. I guess if I had an ally at work I should be fine. The blaring sound of my alarm continues to fill the silence in the room, quickly shutting the damn thing off I get out of bed.

Slowly making my way to the shower and stepping beneath the warm flow of water, I need this. As the Queen Hilary Duff said, let the rain fall down, I'm coming clean. Today I will do great. I will not let the fact that I slept with my new boss change the way I work and how I act. Moving around my room after the shower I see I don't have that much time to sit and play with my makeup. Good thing I picked an outfit out the night before. Gathering my long black locks into my hand, I try to go for a sleek-looking bun, but I can tell it looks messier than anything. Oh well. I don't have time to perfect it.

I walk back into the familiar building and stop at the receptionist's desk. Crap should I ask for Darren or Charlotte? I go with the latter, letting the receptionist know and she gives me a funny look. I glance around did I walk into the wrong building. The company's name is literally hanging up behind the desk, so I know I'm where I should be.

"Do you have an appointment?" she asks. I don't know if she is scowling at me because her ponytail is too tight or just because. "Mrs. Tucker doesn't get many visitors." Odd.

"Well, I'm more of an employee than a visitor. If you give her a ring she would know who I am." I make it a point to glance down at the phone.

"You see here is the thing. Mrs. Tucker doesn't have an office here. Maybe you are looking for Mr. Tucker, but seeing as he doesn't get any female visitors I'm not sure I can help you. I could call someone else, but—"

"Fine call Darren." I snap. This is getting on my nerve already. I wanted to ask why the CEO of the company wouldn't get female visitors. The receptionist gives me a look of disgust.

"You mean Mr. Reed?"

"Yeah, I guess. Just tell him Al—"

"Ms. Alexander, I see you made it on time." Charlotte stops at the desk holding two big bags of Starbucks. "Good morning, Deborah."

"Good morning Mrs. Tucker. Ms. Alexander wanted me to call you, but—"

"It's alright, I forgot to mention to her." Charlotte smiles and then gestures for me to follow her. "I do apologize about that."

"About what?"

"I don't have an actual office here anymore. After I gave birth to my twins Chase thought—can you press that." She gestures to the elevator button and I quickly do so, waiting for her to continue the story. "Thanks. Well afterward Chase, my husband thought it be best if I become a stay-at-home mom. With a lot of protest from myself, I thought he would cave in, but he had an army with him and while I do love the guys they can be a bit much." She smiles at me.

I just nod my head as if I know what she is talking about.

"Right, well I'm glad you decided to come work here. You will not regret it. I wish I could tell you it will be smooth sailing. But with every company, it has its moments. The guys are going to go public soon with the company so there will be some long nights. I hope you will be okay with that?"

I nod my head, not trusting my voice at the moment. I don't know if she knows exactly just how far Darren and I went. But if she does she doesn't say anything, nor does she hint at it. I'm grateful for that. Getting off the elevator, I continue to follow her. If anyone knows where they are going it will be her.

"I will show you to your office and Jon Kennedy will be arriving shortly to show you around the company. Whatever you do just laugh at his Kennedy joke, it's cringe but just laugh." She sighs. "He will treat you so well afterward." We near an office and she lets me know this is it. Wow.

"Is this really mine?" I look at her in amazement.

"It is. Don't tell Darren I told you this, but he went back out over the weekend and redecorated. If you tell him I told you I will deny it. He'll believe me too." She smiles like a little kid. "You have my cell number...if you need anything just shoot me a text. I'm barely here anymore—momma duties, but if the guys give you a hard time you tell me and I'll have all their asses. I got a mean right hook."

What? A mean right hook? She doesn't look like a fighter. "Right, well thank you again Charlotte. It means a lot to me. I will definitely put your number to use if need be." We exchange goodbyes and I enter the office with a wide grin on my face. Seriously this office is amazing. I have a city view at that. The attention to detail in this office is impeccable. If I didn't know any better Darren peeked into my apartment and saw how I liked it. The color palette of navy, gold, and emerald was perfect. Walking over the emerald couch that is pushed against the wall, I plop down.

"Oh my gosh, this is perfect," I say melting into the softness. "I could sleep here all day."

"I would hope not." A voice says, making me jump up. I turn to the door and a middle-aged man, muscular built with sandy blonde hair stands in the doorway. I fix myself, counting down from five to control my breathing. "Sorry to startle you." He smiles, his pearly whites. "I'm Jon Kennedy, not the president, but speaking of John Kennedy. JFK was one of the most open-minded presidents. It really blows my mind how great he was."

He looks at me and I stare right back. I couldn't possibly laugh at that. Who the fuck says something like that? Jon raises an eyebrow at me and I do the same. He clears his throat. This is so awkward.

"Listen, it wasn't funny." I shrug. "Like at all. If anything it was offensive. You shouldn't go around making those jokes." I walk closer to him. "Please tell me you don't make those jokes around other employees, if so I'm surprised you still have a job."

His eyes widen. Now I did it. I should have just listened to Charlotte and laughed. I really need to get myself in check. I can't go off at the mouth anymore. I'm no longer the unemployed 25-year-old. I'm working for a Forbes fortune 100 company. I can lose my job before it even begins. Damn it I really love this office. What Jon does next catches me off guard. His laughter fills the room and I stare in shock, what the hell.

"Told you." Charlotte walks in still holding the Starbucks bags. "She is the best. She will be fine."

"I apologize for laughing, Ms. Alexander. No one has ever told me off before. Well, no one but Charles of course. My name is Vincent. I'm one of the founders of the company and I also oversee the marketing and photography." He says trying to keep his laughter in check.

"We really do apologize. It was just a little test to see if you can stand up for what you believe is right and not go off what someone tells you." Charles looks apologetic. "The last person we had in this position, couldn't stand up for herself and Darren can be a bit much and som—"

"Sometimes he doesn't think straight and might make some bad judgment cal—"

"Vincent!" Charlotte huffs. "Alsie, what we're trying to say is sorry. Hope you can forgive us and Darren will be with you shortly. If you need anything you can dial four on the phone and it will patch you through Caroline. She is Darren's assistant but for now until we find you your own...you two will share her. Come on Vincent."

I watch as they walk out and without Charlotte asking, Vincent smiles taking the bags from her. I see these two are close. I wonder if she is really close with all the guys. If so I need to really see how I can get through to Darren if he is making bad judgment calls. The last thing I want is to be a part of a team whose leader is on the edge. Then again I could try to call my stepsister seeing as her family portrait is hanging up in my boss's office. I still can't believe it.

Selena and I don't get along we never had. My mother passed away when I was only ten and my dad remarried and I was stuck with an evil stepmom and two evil stepsisters. Selena and Stephanie are twins and they're seven years older than me. I thought having two big sisters would be a dream, but everyday they reminded that I was nothing and that my mother didn't love me, that's why she killed herself.

I thought it was the truth for so long. When I turned fourteen my day told me my mother actually passed away from cancer. I was relieved that she didn't kill herself, but I felt so much guilt that I thought my mother would kill herself to get away from me. That day was the nail in the coffin when it came to how I really felt about the twins. I hate them, everything about them. Once I turned eighteen I moved out. I saved enough money over the years and my mother left me a trust fund so that helped a ton too. I never looked back. I spoke to my dad from time to time, it was better that way.

"Knock knock." I mentally shake my childhood thoughts away, looking over to see Darren standing in the doorway. "How do you like the office?" he seems nervous.

"Oh, I love it. So what's on the agenda today?" I look him over and can't believe that he must have been the guy Selena was going to marry. My dad told me she was getting married to some big shot, but he called off the wedding and wanted nothing to do with Selena or my niece Zoey. I haven't met Zoey but I hear she is an adorable little girl. I wonder if Darren has been keeping in contact with Selena. Does he even care about his daughter?

"Are you listening?" he eyes me.

"Uh yeah, you said we're meeting in five?" I guess.

"Wrong, follow me. We have to prep for a meeting. If you need to grab your things, my office is four doors down. When you see Caroline then you know you made it. Ah, you probably don't know who Caroline is. Just look for the sassiest lady wearing a red top today and my office well be right across from her." He nods walking out.