Hi everyone, thank you so much for all your kind feedback on this story, and I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to update. I've been fiddling with this chapter for ages, and I just couldn't seem to get it to work. Hopefully you guys enjoy and will continue to follow the story!

As Michelle chatted away about her day, Carla held her phone under the desk discreetly typed out a message to Peter.

I'm sorry :(

Carla felt awful that Peter had clearly planned something special for the two of them and it had been interrupted by Michelle. She then felt a stab of guilt over her unreasonable resentment towards Michelle and her bottle of wine. She was just trying to do a nice thing, she didn't know she'd interrupted precious alone-time between Carla and Peter, because Carla hadn't told her to truth about their tentative reunion. Carla didn't like to think of herself as the kind of person who blew her best friend off for a man, but deep down she knew she was exactly that kind of person.

"So, what's his game then?" Michelle asked suddenly, startling Carla.

"Who?" She asked innocently.

Michelle scoffed, "Who do you think? Mr Expensive Cheeses. What's he up to?"

"I suppose he just wanted to do something nice." Carla shrugged.

"He's already done something nice remember? He bought into the factory. I thought the rest of it was strictly business?"

"It is." Carla insisted.

"So why is he bringing a picnic to the office?"

"It's hardly a picnic." She replied unconvincingly.

"Carla, he brought a blanket."

"He's lending it to Roy." It sounded even more ridiculous than when Peter had said it.

Michelle rolled her eyes, clearly not convinced. "Ok."

"Look Michelle. He went out to buy food and this is what he brought back." Her eyes fell to the spread she and Michelle were currently working their way through.

"You know he's trying to win you back." Michelle spoke through a mouthful of cheese.

"So, what if he is?" Carla replied.

Michelle swallowed, "Is that what you want?"

"I didn't say that. But if he wants to buy me expensive cheeses, I'm not going to say no, am I?"

"I just think it's risky, that's all. If you want your business relationship to work, you should probably nip that in the bud."

"I'm sorry," Carla snapped, "I didn't realise you were such an expert in business."

Michelle's nostrils flared, "I didn't say I was. But I'm certainly an expert in watching you make bad romantic decisions."

"Do you know what? Thanks for the wine, but I actually do have a lot of work to do." Carla stared at her defiantly.

This wasn't how she'd wanted the evening to go, but she wasn't going to sit here and listen to another lecture from Michelle, not when the alternative could have been spending some quality time with Peter.

"Suit yourself." Michelle stood, her jacket back on. "You can finish that." She pointed to the half empty bottle of wine, before turning and walking out the door.

Carla sighed. She didn't want to burn bridges with Michelle over Peter, she knew she was only looking out for her. But unfortunately, she was getting a little too close to the truth and Carla still wasn't ready to come clean. She texted Peter again.

Where are you?

Me Dads, why?

I'll meet you outside the back gate in 5 minutes.

Five minutes later Carla found herself leaning against the wall opposite Kens back gate waiting for Peter to appear. She'd thought summoning him like this would be exciting, but now she felt a bit silly. She could've just asked him to come back to the factory, but she was worried Michelle might still be lurking. Suddenly the gate opened, and Peter stepped out, a bemused smile on his face.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I wanted to personally apologise on behalf of Michelle for ruining your plans." She smiled seductively at him.

"Oh really?" He stepped towards her and she leaned in for a kiss. He pulled away after a moment and smiled fondly at her. "You certainly managed to ditch her quick, I only left about half an hour ago."

"We had a row." Carla told him, rolling her eyes.

"What about?" He asked with concern.

"You." She said simply.

"What about me?"

"Well, the food you brought didn't exactly scream 'two colleagues working late' did it?" She grinned at him.

"I suppose not."

"And she definitely didn't believe your blanket story."

Peter laughed, "Well it's a good job she didn't see the candles, then she really would've been suspicious."

"You brought candles?" She asked softly.

"I wanted it to be romantic, candles are romantic, aren't they?"

Carla leaned in and kissed him again. It wasn't like her to be wooed by cheesy gestures, but it had been a while since she'd been on the receiving end of any sort of romantic gesture, even if it was just a picnic at her work-place.

"Well candles or no candles, she's on to you."

"What did you tell her?"

"That you were trying to be nice."

"Well that's true."

"She thinks you're trying to win me back and that I shouldn't let it get in the way of our 'professional relationship'."

Peter didn't respond, and Carla didn't think there wasn't much he could say. There was every chance their personal relationship could affect their professional one. She moved away from him with a sigh, biting her thumb anxiously.

"Maybe we should just come clean." She said.

"Are you sure that's such a good idea?" He asked.

"You've changed your tune, you wanted me to tell her this afternoon." Carla narrowed her eyes at him, confused by his sudden U-turn on the matter.

"I know, but I've been thinking about it and I think you're right, I think we should keep things low-key for the time being."

She eyed him suspiciously, "why the change of heart?"

"Honestly?"

"Honesty is a requirement this time around Peter, yes."

He rolled his eyes, "you're going to think my reasoning is selfish."

"Just tell me."

He let out a sigh, "I really want the chance to win you round, without any outside interference."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, Carla. If you tell your friends and family that you're thinking about taking me back, they'll try and talk you out of it."

Carla mulled over his words and decided his reasoning was rather selfish.

"I've got my work cut out for me as it is," He continued. "And I agree that we need to do this on our own, before involving anyone else in our business."

"Good to know you don't think I'm capable of making my own decisions."

"Oh come on, you know that's not what I meant."

Not wanting to fall out with a second person that evening Carla softened her stance slightly.

"Peter, have you ever known me to be influenced by other people's opinions?"

"Well, no, but…"

"I already know people won't approve, I know exactly that they'll say, they'll call me a mug and say you're bound to cheat on me again." She said bluntly, "That's why I wanted to be certain this would work before I subjected myself to it."

Peter touched her cheek softly. "You don't deserve comments like that."

Carla shrugged. "I'm used to people talking about my personal life."

"Well you shouldn't have to be."

"Listen," She moved his hand away from her face but kept hold of it, "I'm not going to let other people's opinions influence anything. If I want to be with you, I'm going to be with you, and everyone else will just have to stuff it, ok?"

"Ok." He smiled.

"I should go, but I'll see you in the morning."

She chanced one last kiss before watching him head back through the gate into his Dad's backyard. She did wish she could just come clean to her friends and family, but there was still that niggling doubt in the back of her mind telling her that getting back with Peter was a recipe for disaster.

The next morning Carla was back in the office, putting the final touches to the contract that Brad Thomas would be arriving to sign any minute. Peter was busy making her a coffee and Carla was trying to think of creative ways to keep him out the office during the meeting. It wasn't that she didn't want him to be involved, it was just that Peter had never met Brad before, and Carla wasn't sure how he'd take him. She had known Brad professionally for years, and they'd always had a flirtatious relationship. It had always been strictly business on Carla's end, and though Brad had tried to get her out for dinner several times over the years, she'd always declined, claiming she wanted to keep their arrangement strictly professional. But keeping Brad on the hook had proved to be good for business, Brad kept sending work Carla's way because he liked her, so Carla allowed the flirting, and occasional inappropriate comment to continue. However, she wasn't sure Peter would be too happy about it and was concerned he would fly off the handle at the first off colour remark that came out of Brad's mouth.

"Here you go." Peter said as he placed her coffee in front of her. "What time is this guy getting here then?" He asked.

"Any minute." Carla replied.

"What do you want me to do?"

"There's not much you need to do really, it's just a case of him signing on the dotted line and then going on his way. You can stay out on the floor with the girls if you want?"

"Well I think I should be here to greet him, don't you?"

Carla opened her mouth to respond but before she could the door to the office opened and Brad swept into the room, followed by a harassed looking Sarah.

"Can I get you a coffee Mr Thomas?" Sarah asked him.

"No thanks love, too much caffeine gives me the shakes!" He laughed raucously and Carla winced, Brad was quite a lot to take and she knew Peter wasn't going to like him one bit.

"Carla!" He boomed, walking towards her with open arms.

"Brad!" Carla accepted his hug before pulling back and moving towards Peter. "This is my business partner Peter Barlow." She said with a forced smile.

"Nice to meet you Peter," They shook hands. "Let me ask you something. How do you get any work done with her around?" Peter laughed good naturedly, no stranger to men making comments about Carla in his presence.

"Give over Brad." Carla quickly said, eager to get Peter out of the room. However, her plans were thwarted when Brad continued to 'banter' with Peter about 'the other pretty girls in the factory' and 'working with knickers all day'. Sensing Peters discomfort Carla tried to steer the conversation back to the contract.

"So, shall we get this contract signed?" She asked.

"Yes, lets." Brad responded, taking a seat next to her at the desk, Peter stood by the window, his arms folded.

"Carla said the two of you go way back?" Peter asked.

"Oh yeah, I've been sending business Carla's way for years." He winked at her.

"And I've always been very grateful Brad."

"Well, I've never been able to resist her." He aimed this comment in Peters direction, Peters jaw tightening. "I was thrilled when I heard she was coming back, the other owners have been fine, but I like something nice to look at during a business meeting, do you know what I'm saying?"

Carla didn't dare look in Peter's direction, she just prayed he'd be able to bite his tongue until after Brad had left.

"Well it's been lovely to catch-up with all my former clients since I've been back." Carla said diplomatically.

"I'm your favourite though right?" Brad asked with another wink.

"Of course." Carla replied, her smile tightening.

"Can't get her out for a date though Peter, I've been trying for years."

"I don't like to mix business with pleasure." She replied.

"That's not what I've heard." Scott joked and Carla had to refrain from rolling her eyes.

"I'd better go check on the girls." Peter said coldly before leaving the office.

Carla sighed watching him leave, she could worry about Peter's reaction later, right now she had a deal to close.

Twenty minutes and several inappropriate comments later Carla breathed a sigh of relief as she waved Scott off, pleased that the meeting had gone well, and Peter had stayed out of the way. She took a deep breath and tentatively headed back to the office, unsure of Peter's mood. He was leaning against the desk when she entered, and she immediately closed the blinds, not wanting the staff to witness the potential storm that was brewing.

"All sorted?" Peter asked stiffly.

"Finally." She replied, exhaling as she sat down and took off her heels. As she rubbed the soles of her feet, she studied Peter's demeanour, she'd been expecting him to kick off as soon as she entered the office, but he hadn't. She could tell he was angry though from the stiffness of his posture, she wondered if she should bring it up or just wait for him to let it out.

"How are the girls getting on?" She asked.

"Good." He replied, "We'll have to give them the brief now that he's signed on the dotted line."

"Yeah." She replied.

"So, is fluttering your eyelashes how you get all your deals?"

There it was.

"Peter, you know how it works."

"Even with creeps like him?"

She sighed, "Yeah, he's a creep, that's why I keep him at arm's length."

"Carla you went drinking with him the other day!"

"It was a lunch meeting! There's always alcohol at lunch meetings, you know that."

"Is that why you didn't invite me? Because you didn't want me to see him leering all over you?"

She put her shoes back on, feeling somewhat at a disadvantage barefoot.

"Which answer would you prefer?" She asked him, "That I didn't think you'd want to be around the alcohol? Or that I thought you'd kick off at Brad?"

He folded his arms, "Well neither answer is brilliant for my self-esteem to be honest."

"Peter, I know he's a creep, I've been dealing with creeps all my life, most women have. Do I like the comments he makes? Not particularly, but it comes with the territory. And crucially, if he overstepped, I wouldn't do business with him anymore."

"Well I doubt he'd carry on making his creepy comments if he knew you were spoken for."

"Am I spoken for?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Well, we're, you know…" Peter was suddenly flustered.

"We're what? Dating?"

She watched him fumble for his words, aware that the strength of his emotions outweighed their current romantic situation.

"I know we're just dating at the moment," He began, "But you're also my ex-wife, and it's weird watching other men leer all over you."

"When I agreed to this partnership, I told you that our personal lives mustn't impact the business."

The last time they had worked together, Carla still looked at Peter through the rose-tinted glasses she'd worn ever since she'd fallen in love with him. His affair had brought her crashing back down to earth, and whilst they were tentatively rebuilding things, Carla was determined to never allow herself to be blindsided by Peter again. Thing's that she may have let slide when they'd previously worked together just wouldn't fly this time around.

"Regardless of our personal situation." She continued. "I can't have you getting angry at clients on my behalf. In this factory we're strictly business, no matter what is happening between us on the outside. Can you deal with that?"

Peter sighed, "I just want what's best for you."

"I know you do." She smiled at him, "And what's best for me in here is if you let me handle clients my way."

Peter gave a rather unconvincing nod.

"Look Peter, I know that you worry about me, but I promise I can fend for myself."

"It's not you that I worry about, it's blokes like him."

"Well if it makes you feel any better, now that the contracts signed, we won't be seeing much of him. But next time we do see him, you have to promise you'll bite your tongue." Peter opened his mouth to protest, "Promise me." She said firmly.

"Fine, I promise."

Satisfied, she gave him a quick peck on the lips before re-opening the blinds.

"We can't keep closing these," she shook her head, "The girls will start to wonder."