Dirty choices

The traffic was unbearable. I could feel the tension in my shoulders as I gripped the steering wheel tighter, the sound of honking horns and the screech of brakes around me almost drowning out my thoughts. Every second that ticked by felt like it was mocking me. Late. I was late for the most important meeting of the month. And it was all my fault.

I glanced at the clock on my phone again, swearing under my breath when I saw it was already 8:32 AM. The meeting started at 8:30. It's going to be 3 till I arrive, 30 minutes late, and I knew Xavier—Mr. Vale—wouldn't be happy. He will kill me.

God, Xavier. Just thinking about him made my pulse spike. His name alone sent heat swirling in my veins, my stomach flipping with a hunger I could never quite control. And understand. He was my boss, and yet... I dreamed of him in ways I couldn’t stop. It was everything about him that drove me wild. The way he walks like he is the king of the d*mn place. (Well he is) the way he sometimes smirks when he gets his way.

The way he looks around his eyes— cold, silent, dangerous, like he is holding back storms behind those eyes. He barely looks at me, but when he does, God help me, those eyes are lethal.

I was so distracted by the thought of him, I barely noticed the traffic light turning green until a car behind me honked. I slammed my foot down on the pedal, but the damage was done. I was already late. And I was walking into the conference room just as the presentation was over.

My heart dropped into my stomach as I saw him.

Xavier.

He was standing at the head of the table, exuding that calm, powerful energy that always made me feel like I was standing on the edge of something I couldn't control. His broad shoulders filled out his perfectly tailored suit like it was made for him, the crisp white shirt stretching across his chest, emphasizing the sharp lines of his body.

His eyes... those damn eyes. Steel gray and unreadable, yet there was something in them. Something burning. Something that made the air feel thick with tension.

I could feel my heart thudding louder as I walked into the room, every step a loud reminder that I was already screwing this up.

I took my seat at the far end of the table, not daring to look up at him. I could feel his gaze on me, though. Always on me.

"You're late, Miss Raymond," Xavier’s voice cut through the air, smooth and clipped, with an edge of something sharp underneath. I could hear the slight disapproval, but there was something else. I couldn’t quite place it, but it made my blood run cold. Everybody in the room I didn’t notice till now was looking at me.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. “The traffic was—”

I couldn’t even finish my sentence before he interrupted me. His eyes locked on mine, as if daring me to lie. And I knew... he wasn’t interested in excuses.

“I don’t care about traffic, Ava,” he said, as he moved towards me around the table. His voice was deep, almost commanding, my name. Every time I hear my name on his lips, the world stops spinning. “You’ve been with me long enough to know how I operate. When I say a meeting starts at 8:30, it starts at 8:30. Do you understand?”

I swallowed hard, my breath catching in my throat. The room felt too small. His gaze was piercing, and I felt every inch of his attention like a physical weight on my skin.

Every time his eyes flicked over me, I could feel the heat rising in my chest, down my neck, pooling lower.

Stop looking at me please. That was a lie. I wanted nothing but him looking at me. It's just the wrong time and the wrong place.

I clenched my thighs together, trying to ignore the way my body reacted to his proximity. He was standing so close to me now, towering above the table. I had to look up to meet his gaze, and when I did, I saw it. That flicker of something dangerous in his eyes. He wasn’t angry. No, Xavier wasn’t angry. But he was something else. Something that sent a sharp thrill down my spine. Or am I imagining it?

"I don’t like tardiness," he continued, his voice low, measured. "And I really don’t like being distracted." He just meant you interrupted the meeting, you damned fool.

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I swallowed, trying to calm my racing heart. "I... I wasn’t , I just—"

“Let's get back to the meeting. Josh, you got anything to add’’ just like that—he went back to his chair. Not giving me another glance. I am sitting here, heart beating like a drum, and he is out there paying full attention to his work.

My breath hitched. I wanted to punch his ridiculously hot face. God his face, sharp jaw, hazel eyes and God his lips. I stared at him, taking him all in like this would be the last time I would look at him. My sitting arrangement was so comfortable to eye fuck him. If they don’t turn to the opposite from where Josh is standing, they won’t look at me gawking. My eyes went to his body. His broad shoulder sleeves rolled up just a little, showing ink. I wanted to see his art. What I wouldn’t do to see that tattoo.

The room felt impossibly hot, like the temperature had spiked by a hundred degrees. I could feel the heat of his body even from across the table. My legs tensed, and I fought the urge to squirm.

It was all getting too much. I think he felt my eyes on him. He locked eyes with me. I breathed out what I didn’t know was holding

"Ava, are you okay?" Xavier’s voice was like velvet, smooth but edged with something darker. I was feeling like I was in heat. Like my body was going to explode. He stood slowly and took a step closer, as if he wasn’t close enough already. I couldn’t handle it, and my chest tightened. My heart was hammering now, and I didn’t know how to stop it. “I am sorry, but I need to use the restroom,” I said, standing up and running to the door.

I could barely breathe. His proximity was too much. Every muscle in my body was taut with anticipation. I splashed water on my face hoping it would wash whatever it was I was feeling. I put water all over my chest.

Cool down you bitch.

My blouse was wet and I didn’t care. I unfastened the first 3 buttons.

What the hell was happening? He was my boss. He shouldn't be making me feel this way. But everything about him made my body betray my mind. The worst part is he never led me. He just acted so fucking professional around me, so I don’t know where this madness was coming from. Am I sick?

“Ava are you okay?" I heard him before I saw him. The door opened like it had been kicked by foot.

I froze. My entire body went still at his words, a jolt of heat shooting straight to my core. He strolled in with worry in his eyes.

“ Hey, this is the ladies room,” I blurted

“What?” He was close to me now and we were alone. “ I don’t care," he said, sounding annoyed.

“What's wrong?” he asked again and I just looked at him silently. Scared if I open my mouth I will say what I am thinking, and that is him bending me over this cou__

“Are you sick? Is that why you were late?” He put his hand on my forehead, checking my temperature. I scooted back no don’t touch me. He was so fucking close already I wanted to take a step back, but my ass was already touching the sink counter.

“ What's going on?” he asked again. He opened his mouth slightly as if he were about to say more, but instead, he took a slow, deliberate step closer. I could see the muscles in his arms flex as he moved, and I had to fight to keep my breath steady. My fingers gripped the edge of the table, and I could feel the sharp edge digging into my palm.

Xavier stopped right in front of me, hovering over me, so close that I could feel the heat radiating off his body. His nose almost touched my head. God, he was tall. He was fucking huge. His gaze dropped, flickering to my lips, then back to my eyes. The air between us thickened, the tension so heavy that it felt like it might snap any second.

“ Tell me what this is, Ava,” God stop saying my name. Please stop saying my name.

He leaned in, his voice barely a whisper. "Tell me what you want, Ava."

“Please stop saying my name,” I said, barely a whisper.

He looked surprised for a second. His lips twitched, and I saw a little smirk at the corner. Fuck me, I clenched my thighs. He caught the action immediately, his eyes snapping down. And coming right back to my boobs which I have unbuttoned before. His gaze stopped there, looking at my chest, which I am pretty sure he was getting a good view of, but I didn’t try to cover up. His lips parted a little.

His gaze came back to my eyes. But it was darker. He never looked at me like that. “We can arrange a nickname if you want,” he said, and somehow he was closer. I felt his breath.

My pulse skyrocketed, and before I could even react, he straightened, taking a step away from me. He put his hands in his pocket. His broad shoulders moved with that effortless grace that made my stomach twist. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. I felt the cold

“You can go,” he said coolly, detached, as if nothing had happened at all.

But it had. It had. My body was trembling, my mind racing. I wanted to scream at him. Anything. But all I could do was look down, nod and walk out of the room.

I run. I ran from there. Like I needed it to save my life, what the hell just happened? I walked to my desk.

When the door clicked shut, I shrunk on my chair. I was so in trouble.

Xavier didn’t come back to his office that day. And don’t get me wrong—I was fucking glad. Because now he knows. He knows that I’m all hot and bothered for him.

What the hell am I supposed to do now? This isn’t right. There’s nothing normal about this. He’s my boss.

My head throbbed from the stress, and panic twisted in my chest. How am I going to face him again? Should I just start looking for another job?

That last thought made me breathe—like really breathe. It was probably the smart thing to do. I grabbed my purse and bolted to my car. It was closing time anyway, and I needed to get the hell out of there.

I called Diego as soon as I started the engine.

“Wrong time, baby. I’ll call you back,” he answered, his voice rushed.

There was no way. I didn’t care if he was balls deep in someone.

“You home?” I snapped.

“Uh… n—No,” he stammered.

“Good. I’ll see you