"I think I'm screwed."

"I hope so. Otherwise I have no idea what we just did."

I laugh and slap his arm playfully. "I didn't mean that type of screwed. I meant that I probably fucked up all my chances of getting that scholarship. It's not that important now that my mom said she'd support me again, but still."

"You never know. You could still get it."

"I took two weeks off claiming I had 'mono'. Everyone's already had to cover for me. Aghh, just I don't know. I've got a meeting with Mr Sommer's this morning about one of your new developments, then a Arts and Humanitarian class this afternoon. I really wish I could skip this whole law school thing already."

"I could-"

"Nope, babe, I appreciate you, and I love you, but not happening." I finished tying up my hair and begin to walk out to the breakfast bar. There Maria prepared french toast and a various array of fruits. "Good morning Maria."

While she hid it well, the smirk in her voice was apparent when she replied, "Good morning Ms Langa."

I smile at her and then turn my attention back to Jacob. He's staring intently at his Iphone, and his brows furrowed into a 'v' shaped. "Fuck," he mutters almost mutley. Without taking his eyes off of his phone he gives me a peck on the lips and says, "I'll be right back baby."

"You okay?"

"Fine, fine. Just eat something please, you never eat enough."

"I'm not hungry."

"Eat Emma."

"No," I say sternly.

"You infuriating woman. Please just eat some food," he's takes his eyes off of his phone and stares me down. Not wanting to start an argument, I roll my eyes, and pluck a single grape of the platter and put it in my mouth, showing him a large sarcastic smile. When his eyes gleam with danger, my smile quickly falters and I divert my attention back to Maria. I'm startled when all of a sudden Jacob barks, "Reynolds!" as he answers the phone. I turn slowly and he turns his back to me. As if that will stop me from hearing. "I don't care. Just get fucking rid of it...no, it must be rid of...that fucking scumbag, I don't even care, just do it." Like that he ends the call roughly and joins me at the bar, eyes blazing into the side of my head. With an eerie calmness, he says, "Emma. I've noticed that over the two weeks you've been gone, you've lost too much weight. Please eat some food. For me."

"I'll eat food if you tell me what your phone call was about," I counter. Maria gasps at the challenging way I speak to Jacob and she scurries out of the room. Taking on a feather light tone, I say, "Baby, no secrets. Remember?"

He sighs frustrated, and runs a hand through his perfect blonde hair. "Fine. Eat," he orders. Placing a slice of the toast on my plate and some strawberries, he starts to open up. "That was Peter. He found some lowlife hanging out around the apartment with a camera. Paps. He got a shot of you arriving and was going to print it. Unless I gave him half a million for the photo."

"Oh My God!"

"Idiot. He would have gotten at least a quarter of a mil more if he sold it commercially."

"You paid it!"

"Baby calm down, it's fine, that photo's not getting out."

"It's not the photo I'm worried about. You just spent half a million dollars."

"It's no big deal," he reaches to stroke my arm but I pull away from him still shocked.

"Emma, listen to me." Big hands curl around my upper arms, the laser focus of his slate eyes beam into me and the stern line of his brow is serious, urgent. "I don't ever want to see you too scared or uncomfortable to ask me something. I don't care what it is." It's a heart gripping plea – unrelenting, unflinching. "I'm not losing you again."

I press my face into his chest and breath him in. "I love you."

"Me too."

"I do have to leave," I check my phone, "8 minutes ago."

"Peter can give you a ride."

"That's alright."

"Oh, sorry, I worded it wrong. Peter is driving you to the office."

"No thank you."

"This isn't up for debate Emma. There is press breathing down my neck about everything, from that photo in Phoenix to current business plans, plus some insane women who will not stop following me. Your having security whether you like it or not."

"Not."

"What?"

"Weather I like it or not. I said not. I don't like it and I won't do it."

"Your safety is non-negotiable."

"Your right about two things there, except you're missing a few words in between. My safety, my business, and that is non-negotiable."

"Emma, please try an understand where I'm coming from."

I grumble. "How about I borrow one of your cars, which I know for a fact is tracked, and no Peter."

"How about you get in one of the cars I own and let Peter drive you?"

"I'll go take a drive and consider your proposal." I getup from the bench and walk towards the elevator hastily. Grabbing my purse on the way out.

He joins me waiting for the elevator and I can sense his eyes shooting daggers at me, and my inner voice cheers me on. When we enter he says "Your going straight to the office?"

"Yes. I promise."

"As in from point A to point B. No stops."

"Yes," I say through clenched teeth. "I'll get a cab-"

"I think I've been beyond reasonable. Your taking one of my cars."

"But if someone sees me driving one of your really snazzy cars, I'll stick out like a sore thumb. 'Hey everybody look at me. See my really rich boyfriends car?'"

"Baby. I don't want to get to a point where you realise it's too late to get security. I'm not saying secret service. I'm asking for 1 or two incognito guys or girls."

I purse my lips and think. "Ok. 1 guy-who I can dismiss if I want. Agreed."

"Deal."

I sigh as I realise that that round goes to him. "I'll see you at the office Mr Reynolds." As if on perfect cue the doors to the private elevator open to the garage. Jacob walks me to the service exit, where I leave. "Bye," I murmur.

--

When I arrive Felix is ecstatic to see me. "Emma! Welcome back!"

"Hi Felix," I respond matching his eagerness. I initiate a hug between us and he stiffens slightly. Okay?

"Are you back now? For good?"

"That's the plan."

"Did you get all the documents okay?"

"Oh My Gosh Yes! You bloody godsend. Thank you so much for that."

"It was no problem, but for the record, Grayson missed you."

"Ummm-"

"I mean, Jacob was-excuse me- but an absolute dick while you were gone. I swear Grayson was looking for the cure to your mono just to get you back quicker. I mean, the man makes purchases like a demon."

"I know I read the reports. In the two weeks I was away he made 165 million right?"

"Yep, if it wasn't for the pay Grayson was receiving, I don't think he would have handled Jacob with as much dignity."

"That bad huh?"

"Asshole with a capital 'A'" He took a long pause and a tentative breath before saying, "Tell me if I'm prying, but are you two still...like...like are you-"

"Together?" Remembering our agreement from this morning I reply, "No." For a moment an associate calls for his attention and so I divert mine to my phone. One missed call and 5 tests from Jacob.

Did you arrive safe?

I see that you're in the building, glad you got there okay.

Answer your phone when you get a chance

I haven't heard from you, I see that you are okay, but you know I worry. Please respond or I WILL send Peter to check on you.

I'm 2 minutes away now from the building. Either you respond now, or I will seek you out before the meeting. I love you.

I roll my eyes at the persistence that man has. I type in a quick response 'I love you too.'

--

The contracts are passed around the table for all of us to sign and review. It's a basic NDA that protects both Jacob and Ava, with their upcoming business project and all. I look at my phone and Jacob types,

You don't need to sign this

I don't mind. Professionalism remember. Work boundaries.

I know, I just don't want contracts in our relationship

This isn't our relationship tho, it's work.

NO, our relationship is 27/7, work comes second.

This time I don't respond to him. I pick up my pen and start to read over the contract in front of me. As I assumed it was a stander NDA. Jacob slightly glares at me once I sign the papers, but for the better part of the meeting, I just ignore him. Once the room starts to disperse, I start to chat with Felix about what I missed. When he started to recount when a temp started printing 10,000 instead of 10 copies, all the partners were pissed, becuase there was a massive meeting after and other documents needed to be printed. He started laughing heartily at the memory and soon, and his laugh infected me into my own fit. I notice Jacob start to make his way over to us, and I shake my head sternly signalling for him to go away. When he reaches us, he removes Felix hand that I hadn't even realised had rested on my shoulder, and looks at me angrily. 'What the hell did I do?'

"Hello Mr Reynolds."

"Emma," he nods and pulls me in to kiss my cheek. The gesture catches me off guard and leaves me shocked. What happened to under the radar! "Would you care for some lunch?"

"Sorry Mr Reynolds. My colleague and I are swamped with work at the moment." What is he playing at?

"I'm sure I could ask your boss to spare you an hour. I settle for half even."

"No thank you Jacob," I say this time with a bit more force.

"Emma-"

"Mr Reynolds, Emma is a very headstrong person," Felix smiles at me kindly, "if she said she's busy, with all do respect, I don't believe you'll be able to change her mind."

"I have to head over to campus anyway so I better going." I interject as an attempt to rescue Felix from Jacobs murderous glare.

"Do you want a lift?" Jacob and Felix asks me simultaneously.

"I mean if your heading over there Felix I'd love one. Only becuase I know you have work in this building Jacob and I'd probably have to ride with Peter-"

"It's fine Emma," he responds clipped and practically storms out of the office.

When I walk into the lobby, Jacob is at reception and I leave Felix's side to say goodbye. But as I get closer I notice him quite obviously flirting with the receptionist. I mean why wouldn't he? She's basically Ava 2.0, I little less tall, and features a little less sharp, but she has a face that suggests a child-like innocence. His eyes meet mine and then look away casually, it was as if he had looked at a stranger instead of his girlfriend. "Whatever," I mumble and stalk quickly back towards Felix, who looks at me questiongly.

Trying to quickly justify something I tell him, "My friend said she was leaving something at reception for me. But apparently she didn't so we can go now."

"Do you want to stop for lunch on the way?"

I ponder that for a moment. Would Jacob be okay with that? I mean, it's just two friends having lunch. What the hell am I thinking. He doesn't control who I do and don't have lunch with it. It's just lunch. Right? "Sure."

--

"I'm glad you're back Emma. It has been painstakingly boring without you here. There are only so many conversation I can have with Lisa about her kids."

I laugh with genuine glee. With Felix things were easy. Constantly bliss. Often just normal. But normals okay. "Glad I'm back too."

"Honestly when you left, I thought it had something to do with me, so we are friends still?"

"What! No. Oh my God No. You were like the only good thing in my life then!" Didn't he know we were friends. "Not Friends," I mumbled to myself, still confused how I could have made hi think that.

"Or not," he mumbled, looking embarrassed.

I smiled teasing him. "Well, we can try, I suppose. But I'm warning you now that I'm not a good friend for you." I waited for his response, torn in two - wishing he would finally hear and understand that I value him, I knew that if we weren't friends It would kill me. How melodramatic. I'd known him for half a year and yet turn to him as one of my closest friends. "Sorry I gave you the wrong impression when I left."

"You say that a lot."

"What?"

"Sorry. You have nothing to apologize and yet you say it really frequently."

"Well. I'm a mess. Thoroughly stuffed up, on a molecular level," I said, too intense again. "I'm still waiting for you to believe it. If you're smart, you'll avoid me."

I really don't want him to leave. But I know our relationship is complicated.

"So," he said slowly. "As long as I'm being...not smart, we'll try to be friends?"

"That sounds about right." We both chuckle softly, and divert our attention to the sandwitches that now sat in front of us.

"What are you thinking?" he asked me.

I met his gaze. "I'm trying to figure out your angle."

He held the smile on his face. His perfect features contorting slightly as a displeasing thought popped into his head. "And are you having any luck with that?" he asked lightly.

"Not too much," I admitted.

I chuckled looking slightly relieved. "What are your theories? Won't you tell me?" he smiled encouragingly.

She shook her head. "Too embarrassing."

"That's really frustrating, you know."

His complaint sparked something in me. Her eyes flashed and my words flowed more swiftly than usual. "No, I can't imagine why that would be frustrating at all - just because someone refuses to tell you what they're thinking, even if all the while they're making cryptic little remarks specifically designed to keep you up at night wondering what they could possibly mean...now, why would that be frustrating?" He frowned at me, upset to realize that I was right. He wasn't being fair so I went on. "Or better, say that person also did a wide range of confusing things - from hitting on me, to being slightly indifferent towards me, to being one of my closest friend and for looking at me like-like you shouldn't." It was the longest speech I'd ever said to him.

"You've got a bit of a temper, don't you?"

"I don't like double standards."

He laughed.

"What?" I demanded.

"Your boyfriend seems to think I'm being inappropriate with you - he's probably debating whether or not to have his goon come break up our fight." I look behind me, and sure enough across the road is Peter standing stiffly next to the bentley.

"I don't know who you're talking about," I said in an icy voice. "But I'm sure you're wrong anyway."

"I'm not. I told you, most people are easy to read."

"Jacob and I aren't back together," I said taking on a sadder tone.

"But you want to be?" he asked seriously.

YES! I love him! "No."

"Aren't you hungry?" he asked.

"No." I eyed the empty wrappers in front of him. "I don't really like food that much" I said. Truth is I love food. I'm just not a huge fan of the cost of food.

"Okay. I guess if you're finished we can head." i go to pull out my wallet, but he snatches the bill and pays before I can even protest.

"Thank you."

--

The next time I looked at the clock it was 5 pm. I sat at my desk, busy at work, while Felix sat at Leah's bussing himself with his own work. I checked my silenced phone. 8 missed calls from Jacob, 13 texts and an email. "Sorry. Do you mind if I take a call real quick?" I said, interrupting the prolonged silenced.

"Sure," he shrugs.

I go out into the hallway and call him back. The phone answers on the second ring, "Rey Enterprise Holdings, this Riley how can I help you?"

"Hi-um- I was just wondering if Ja- I mean Mr Reynolds was available."

"Mr Reynolds is in a meeting right now. Who should I say is calling?"

"Emma."

"Emma Langa?"

"Yes?" I say timidly.

"I'm putting you through now."

"Oh no thats okay if he's in a me-" But it was too late.

"Hello?" he responds gruffly.

"Sorry I tried to tell her that I could just call you back-"

"Well you got my attention now so what do you want."

"I'm sorry I didn't know you were in a meeting."

"Are you going to make a point, or are you just trying to embarrass me again?" he responds, his voice cold as ice.

"Sorry I- You know what. I'm not sorry. When your ready to talk to me without being a complete dick. I'll be here. Maybe." I end the call and head back into my room angily.

"What's up?" Felix swivels around and asks me concerned.

"Just a complication," I respond absentmindedly.

Slowly, he moved his hands to my face and held it securely in his palms. "They're the worst. Aren't they?" I stopped breathing then; worried something was about to happen that shouldn't. He hesitated, but he continued to stare at me with hunger in his eyes now. So many emotions raged through me at once, confusion, ecstasy, reluctance, fear. He began leaning closer to me, until our lips were only an inch apart. He closed his eyes. I paused when I could feel soft lips on mine. Every centimeter he moved closer to me, a new emotion would flit through my body sending shivers of regret and pain down my frozen veins. I don't want this! Why aren't I stopping myself.

I had lost control, I could feel it. He continued to lean in, until the very tips of his lips brushed lightly against my supple warm ones. He pressed a little harder to my lips until his lips were moving against mine. Our lips only parted for a second at a time, and each time I caught my breath. I was breathing heavily now. Suddenly, he moaned in pleasure and his arms came up around my neck. I now pushed against him fiercely. But he knotted her hands in my hair and pulled me closer. To someone else his mouth would be warm and inviting. But to me, it's all wrong and disgusting. He parted her lips breathing heavier.

I clenched my teeth and then I froze. He didn't let go, he continued to clutch herself to me. I want to let go, I wanted to bring myself far away from him. I couldn't let this continue, NO THIS IS A MISTAKE, I yelled at myself. This time with much more force I push away. What the hell have I done?