Clara was staring at a bunch of slogans hoping that one of them would jump out at her as the one she should pitch. She had run a few by James but he didn't like any of them so she found herself back at the drawing board. It was Tuesday night and she needed to have something put together for Thursday to show Donna. Think, think, think. She started flipping through her notes, hoping that something would trigger an idea, but nothing. How could this be happening? She had been so sure of herself every time she was with James, but now she was feeling lost in a sea of thoughts. She picked up her phone and started typing a text.

Clara: Hi. Are you free right now?

She waited for a reply and it wasn't long before it came.

James: Yeah. What's up?

Clara: I know it's late but I was wondering if I could do some brainstorming with you?

James: Absolutely. You want to call or do you want meet?

She knew that she could likely accomplish what she wanted with a phone call, but she wanted to see him.

Clara: Could we meet at your office?

James: Sure can.

Clara: Great. I'll see you in 30 mins.

James: See you soon.

She packed up her notes and quickly changed out of her yoga pants and into jeans before she called an Uber. She stood out front waiting for the car, trying to justify her reasons for going to see James, but the truth was she just wanted to see him again.

When she arrived outside James' office, she was surprised to see his door was slightly open. She was just about to push the door open more when she heard someone on the other side say her name.

"Just be careful with Clara, James." A female voice spoke and Clara was sure that it was likely River.

"I am, River. I haven't crossed any lines with her." he answered.

"I think that you might be getting dangerously close to doing that and you need to remember the reason as to why you're back here. Don't let some pretty young girl turn your head and make you lose sight of that."

What was the reason he was here? Clara had asked him before, but he didn't answer her, which she never really thought about again. However, there clearly was some reason why he came back to the UK. Clara continued to listen to see if she could find out any more information.

"I haven't," he answered annoyed. "I'm well aware of what's at stake."

"Are you? Because I'm starting to think that you're thinking more with the wrong head."

"River! That's enough," he stopped her. "It's none of your business what happens between Clara and I."

"It will be if I have to fix a problem later on."

"You may fix a lot of problems for me, but Clara won't be one of them. Now will you get the hell out of here."

Clara stepped away from the door, not wanting the pair to know that she overheard them. What kind of problem would River have to fix if she and James did get together and what was at stake if they did? She waited a few minutes before she knocked on the office door.

"Come in," James yelled.

She pushed the door open and saw that River was just putting some papers in a bag and putting her coat on.

"Hi," she said as she entered.

James looked up from his computer and gave her a charming smile that made her feel welcomed.

"Hi," he replied. "You remember River, right?"

"Of course," she answered. "Nice to see you again."

"You too. Perhaps some time we can actually spend more than a couple of minutes together," the older woman responded as she picked up her bag and walked towards the door. "James, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Aye," he responded as he got up and went to sit on the couch.

Clara watched River leave and wondered again just how well these two knew each other.

"Busy woman," Clara said as she took out her notebook.

"That she is. Off to maim more men for sure."

"You and she ever, you know?" Clara asked curious to know the answer.

"Ever what?" James asked back, clearly knowing what Clara was getting at but wanting to see if she would actually say it.

"Mix business and pleasure?"

"I told you I don't do that, Clara," he replied.

"Just thought maybe there was a reason for the rule and that reason was her."

He eyed her before he spoke, and Clara felt like he was reading her. Like his eyes were some kind of scanner and he was going to be able to determine her deepest darkest secrets.

"There has never been anything between River and I and there never will be. She is not who I'm interested in."

They stared at each other for a moment, Clara feeling the heat rise in her the longer she held his gaze. She had no doubt that if it weren't for this campaign, James would have been tearing her clothes off of her and bending her over his desk and she was beginning to think she would let him.

"Okay well, now that we've established that, I have some ideas I want to run by you."

"Fire away," James said as he stretched both his arms across the couch.

Clara went into her ideas, trying to gauge his reaction to different ones and get a feel for what he might be more interested in. So far, she could tell he wasn't really into any of her slogan ideas until a thought hit her.

"What about this, there's a couple on a first date, a family enjoying a day at the park, an elderly couple sitting near the river. All of them enjoying Mondasian ice cream, creating memories and making stories." She saw James sit up and lean forward, and she knew he was intrigued. "Each one has a different tag, something like happiness in every scoop, a

story in every scoop. You know something along those lines."

"I love it," James said. "I knew you'd get there eventually."

"You really like it?"

"Needs some tweaking, but yeah. It's good."

"Great. Now I just need to go home and start putting together my presentation and flush some of these ideas out."

She bent over and started picking her papers up off the table and when she did, she didn't realise that she had given James a clear view down her top. She heard his breath hitch and looked up to see his mouth slightly open and his eyes glued right to her chest. She stood up, which caused him to look away.

"Like what you saw?" She asked.

He looked at her and gave her a devilish grin. "I'm curious about your tattoo. Any more?"

Clara had gotten drunk one night while she was in Sydney and gotten a tattoo of a small red heart on her left breast. She wished now she had never done it, but it seemed like a really good idea at the time.

"Maybe, maybe not." She answered being coy.

"That sounds like a challenge, Miss Oswald," James said as he got up and walked towards her. "Would you like me to try and find out one day?"

God, the more time she spent with him the harder it was for her to fight her feelings. She really did want him to find out that she had two more and both were in places that she would have to have a lot less clothes on for him to find.

"Maybe, maybe not." She gave him the same answer.

"You know, you might be playing hard to get, but I can tell that you are practically undressing me with your eyes."

Little did he know that she really didn't have to try hard to imagine him naked.

"Oh, you think so," she responded. "The same can be said for you."

"Yes, it can." He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "And you'd be right."

He was so close to her that she could smell his cologne, a musky scent of leather, spice and a hint of rose. It was almost intoxicating, drawing her in to him. She knew she should step away, put some distance between them, but she didn't want to.

"James," she whispered.

"Tell me you want this Clara. Tell me you want it as badly as I do."

His warm breath tickled her ear and that sensitive spot right behind her lobe that she loved to have kissed. She wanted him to just move a little closer and press his lips onto it. If she finally admitted what she had been fighting, would he? Would he break his rule for her? He stood back up and looked her in the eyes.

"Gotcha," he said. "Your mind might be trying to fight this, but your eyes are full of so much desire Clara. You can't deny what your eyes are telling me."

She took a step away and turned to grab her bag that was on a chair.

"I really need to get home and work on this." She was trying her best to keep her composure, but the truth was that he had just aroused the hell out of her and she needed to get far away from him before she did something she shouldn't.

"Don't go. Have dinner with me?" James asked.

Clara pulled the strap of her bag over her shoulder and took a step closer to him. She could tell that he wanted to have control of the situation, but that it was killing him that she wouldn't give him a straight answer.

"I think you and I both know what will happen if we go for dinner. I have a lot of work to do and nursing a hangover will not help."

"Fine, no wine then. Just dinner," he was pretty much pleading with her and she knew that she had the upper hand now.

"I really can't. I need to get this done, since this asshole client I have moved up his launch."

"What a jerk," he grinned at her.

"He really is." She took a step towards the door and then turned to look at him before she left. "But I am looking forward to when this is all done so I can finally do more pleasurable things."

He gave her that devilish grin again. "I'll see you Friday."

"Friday." She returned his smile and walked out.

Clara was pacing around the boardroom, feeling incredibly anxious. She didn't know why because she felt very confident with what she had put together and was pretty sure that James was going to like it, but perhaps it was River that she was worried about. She seemed like a very tough woman and one that might be difficult to please. Donna came in to check on her and to see if everything was ready, then gave her a few minutes to gather her thoughts before she brought in James and River.

Once everyone was seated Clara jumped right into the presentation and didn't stop until it was done a half an hour later. She had tried her best to not look at James too much during, because she knew the effect he had on her and if he gave off any expression that said he didn't like it she may have faltered. She was now standing there holding her breath waiting for a response.

"Clara," River said. "I have to say I had my doubts at how good James thought you were, but he wasn't wrong. I really like the direction of this. Emotions and stories that make the ice cream a part of our family almost. It's very wholesome and I think just the image we are going for."

Clara let out a sigh of relief. Her job was far from over, but at least she had made a successful pitch, now it was just putting it all into action.

"I have to agree with River, Clara. This was very good," James added.

"Thank you, both."

"Great work, Clara," Donna said and Clara smiled at her then looked at River and James. "Would the two of you like to follow me to my office so we can finalize the deadlines and contracts."

"Go ahead you two. I'll catch up in a moment," James said. "I just need to check my messages."

Clara noticed the look that River gave him just before she followed Donna, clearly knowing that he had just lied.

"Well done you," James said as he stood up and walked towards her.

"Thanks. I really couldn't have done it without all the help you gave me."

"Nonsense. This was all your idea. I just merely told you what I liked and didn't like."

"Well regardless, thanks," she smiled at him.

"So you feel like celebrating?" He asked.

"Honestly, I think I just want to go to bed," she answered.

"Well, we could do that too," James grinned at her.

Clara looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Sleep James. I'm exhausted."

"Oh okay then. We'll save the celebrating for when everything is done." He winked at her.

"Don't you have some contracts to go sign?" Clara urged him, knowing the direction this conversation could go and not wanting to have it at work.

"I do." He moved towards the door. "But first I wanted to see if you might be interested in going to a charity dinner with me next Saturday. I really don't want to go alone and would love if you'd come with me."

Clara thought for a moment as to if this was a good idea. She knew that she should probably say no, but at the same time it might be fun to attend an event like that with him.

"I promise to keep it strictly professional," he added obviously seeing her hesitation.

"Why do I not believe you?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Don't know. I've been nothing but a gentleman around you."

"Yes your hands have been, but the words out of your mouth on the other hand, not so much."

"Okay, I promise my hands will remain professional. Can't say what devious activities my mouth has planned though. It kind of has a mind of it's own."

"You're a very bad influence mister."

"So I've been told. Is that a yes then?"

"It's a yes," she smiled at him.

"Great! I'll call you later this week and finalize plans."

She was sure that this was likely a mistake, but she would be lying to herself if she didn't admit that she was looking forward to it and couldn't help but wonder just how devious his mouth could get.