Hey, guys! Sorry for the delay Inspiration hit so I legit wrote this last night and proofread it a few times throughout today. I hope you like it!

Let me know what you think!

Chapter Sixteen: An Office Affair

He had run out of coffee in his office, and though he wouldn't usually wander down to the lower levels, everyone would surely be home by 3 o'clock in the morning, as he had sent them off as soon as he could because of the incoming blizzard. Soul had stayed behind to finish up some paperwork but ended up falling asleep on his couch. He was thankful that he had brought his bag with him straight from the airport, as the weather outside seemed to indicate that he was stuck here for the time being. He sighed as he decided to take the stairs; the lights had been flickering on and off and he didn't trust the elevators. He knew that there wasn't much in the break rooms for a few levels down; most of the employees on the top floors didn't take too many breaks and their coffee was probably gone, seeing as that was all they ever drank. He continued down about six or seven floors until he finally decided he had gone far enough, only noticing that he had inadvertently chosen the floor that Maka was stationed on after he exited the stairwell. He walked down the dimly lit hallway to the break room where he found her picture hanging over the words 'employee of the month'. He smirked; of course, she was.

He entered the break room to find the lights on and he stopped in his tracks. His eyes were wide as he met the mossy orbs of the subject of his affection. She stood there with a steaming mug in her hands as she stared back at him. She squinted her eyes and shook her head, blinking profusely as if she were trying to wake herself up. He should have taken the chance to step back out of the room and make a run for it. He would have never thought that she would be here at such an hour … perhaps she had made the same mistake as he had after deciding to work late.

One of her hands lifted from the mug and rubbed the bridge of her nose as not to smudge her makeup. She opened her eyes once more, not being able to believe who was in front of her. She hadn't seen him in almost a month, regrettably because of her own nervousness at returning to his apartment on her own accord - not that there was any other way she could visit him after dumbly parting ways without any contact information at all. So, she was elated to see him after all of this time, but … why was he here?

"Soul …" she breathed.

"Maka." Soul smiled back at her, his anxiousness lifting slightly as she set the mug down and stepped forward with her arms outstretched for a hug. He pulled her in greedily, his arms holding her firmly as he picked her up and spun them around a few times. In that moment, his worry lifted off of his shoulders, the thought of how she would react to him being her boss lost in the adorable giddiness of her laughter as it graced his ears.

"Soul," she giggled. "What are you doing here? How did you even get into the building? You're not secretly a business burglar or something, are you?"

"No," he laughed, his hands ruffling her hair. He had really been hoping that she wasn't going to ask the inevitable question so quickly, but he knew better. He cringed slightly, knowing full well that she wasn't going to be happy when she found out that he was her boss, especially because he had known since the very first day they had met and never told her about it. He could admit that he was mildly terrified of how she might retaliate ...

"Then how? I never thought that I would see you here. You don't … you don't work here, do you?"

"I, uh, I kinda … do, yeah." Soul cleared his throat as a concerned look overtook her features.

"... nothing happened to your company, right?"

"Uhh, nnnope. It's," he gulped. "Doing very well." He knew she was going to figure it out any minute now and that, when she did, he would need to duck for cover.

"Then why did you get a jo ...b … no way." There it was. "This is your company? Are you fucking kidding me?" Hm … he had never heard her cuss before. Not a good sign. "You own the company that I work at? Eater Corporation belongs to you?" Yeah, she was mad. Her glare felt like fire against his skin, burning him with shame as her face became an agitated red. He could almost see the smoke fuming from her ears.

"Soul!" She yelled, scaring him out of his guilt laced stupor. "Answer me!"

"Yeah, I mean, yes."

"Yes?"

"Shit … I'm so sorry I never told you, Maka … I just-"

"Save it. I can't believe this …" She wasn't looking at him, her hurt gaze avoiding his at all costs. She grabbed her mug and sidestepped him to the door, the memory of his laughter that first night when she had told him that she worked at Eater Corp. She had found it so odd at the time, but now it was all making sense, except for the whole him not telling her that he was her fucking boss. The fact that she hadn't figured it out until now on her own was almost laughable; looking back, she saw so many signs pointing to this conclusion and yet … how mortifying.

"Maka, wait. Please, let me explain."

"Shut up," Woah. "You don't get to say anything right now. Leave me alone."

"Maka, I didn't do it to keep the truth from you. I kept the truth from you because I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable around me while you were there."

"Oh, is that so? Then why didn't you bother to say anything when I left to go home? I think I would have understood why you hadn't told me then, but now? We've been working in the same building and it's been almost a month! You've probably had countless opportunities to have told me, but instead, I find out by what I assume to be an accident." He nearly stumbled by the statement. She was right; he had been so worried over how mad she might have been having been told that he kept the truth from her while she had been staying with him, but after that … there was no good reason to have kept himself at bay. The only factor that he had neglected to account for in all of his overthinking was that she had been yearning to see him just as much as he had her - he hadn't taken those particular feelings into consideration and he felt like a fool for it.

Soul quietly followed Maka back toward her desk, hands in his pockets, brows scrunched together as he ground his teeth together. He was upset at himself, but … a little less when it suddenly dawned on him that she could have very well stopped by his apartment at any moment if she had really wanted to be reunited with him. The fact that she hadn't and was now blaming everything solely on him for the past few weeks to have gone by without them seeing each other seemed like she was holding a double standard. Although he had messed up and done her wrong, he wasn't totally to blame for their lack of communication. He didn't want to go playing the blame game and risk worsening their current circumstances, so he didn't want to mention it … but the thought got him thinking: why exactly hadn't she stopped by or even so much as left a note? She was currently pissed beyond belief because he hadn't contacted her sooner, but she had the means to do that as well.

"Stop following me. I don't want to talk to you right now." She sat down at her desk as she said it, her face turned away from him. It was a nice, tidy space; the entrance to her cubicle facing toward the window. He heard her rummaging through something as he leaned lightly against the cubicle wall, her small desk light the only thing that brightened up the place. She soon stood with an armful of clothing and toiletries before shoving her way past him without a word. Sighing heavily, he went to follow her only to find that she had halted and was now glaring at him with full force. "I told you to stop following me, didn't I?"

"You did."

"So? Why are you still here?"

"Because I didn't agree to stop following you." He could almost see her anger take over as her chest began to rise and fall faster, her nose twitching, nostrils flaring, and her eyes pouring malice. He chanced a step forward only to have her turn from him. Her feet didn't move, but she refused to look at him any longer. "Maka, I would like to talk about this … Please. I can't just … I won't just walk away."

" … I need some time to calm down. I have to cool off before we have this discussion, so just … wait. Please." She began to walk away again and Soul almost made an attempt to follow her once more, but it was probably best to give her the space she needed, even if only for a short time. He watched her leave the room before pulling out the chair from the neighboring cubicle to sit in front of the window. He stared hard at the wall of snow blanketing the city. 'What a way to reunite,' he shook his head, spinning in his chair slowly as he awaited her return.

A half an hour could feel like years when put into a certain situation, and Soul had found himself in one. His head hung back as he stared up at the ceiling, counting the tiles as he pushed himself from window to cubicle at a crawl. He sighed and closed his eyes, reaching up to rub the subtle headache beginning to form. For all his worry, he felt like a complete idiot. He should have told her about all of this on that last day together - perhaps that would have made it less sullen. Sighing once more, he jumped when the sound of her footsteps neared, having him sit up straight as she approached. Her face was now bare and she had changed into a pair of dark grey sweatpants and a matching hoodie, both hanging off of her in a way that reminded him of the times she wore his clothing. He smiled and he stood, now looking down at her. His smile vanished as quick as it had come, however; the subtle hints of her tears showing themselves clearly to him, as he had seen it before. Her eyes were barely bloodshot, her nose red. She wouldn't return his gaze, less out of anger and more out of fear that he would figure her out, though he already had the moment he saw her face. It was all he could do to hesitantly take a step forward, reaching out as he watched for permission to hold her. She didn't back away nor did she move to embrace him, so he lightly touched her elbow in an attempt to console her.

"Don't," she said through a sigh. She didn't pull away or push him back, which urged him to take another step closer.

"Maka … I'm sorry." Her eyes closed, a single tear gliding down her cheek as she let out a shaky breath. A hand came out in a fist to hit at his chest with no real vigor, pulling back only to plant a soft pat against him again.

"I just don't understand … why didn't you just tell me? Did you hope not to ever see me again?"

"No," he all but seethed, grabbing both of her elbows and pulling her to him with a jolt, Maka dropping her belongings to scatter about their feet in the process. "You have no idea how much I wanted to see you again, but … I'm your boss; I have to think about how it might look."

"Fuck how it looks, you knew exactly where I was this entire time!"

"You knew where to find me, too, Maka!" She stared back at him, eyes wide at the statement. He was right, she most certainly did. She couldn't say anything to rebuff or deny; they both knew it. "You know where I live! I invited you back! I waited and you never came! How was I supposed to take that?" She attempted to free herself from his hold, but he refused to release her.

"Stop …"

"I have the means to get in contact with you, that's true, but as the CEO of a company, I would be abusing my power to look into your file for such a thing. I couldn't very well just walk in here and be all, 'What's up, Maka! Remember me from that time I saved your life and we spent an amazing few weeks together alone in my apartment? Well, surprise; I'm actually your boss!'"

"Then why didn't you tell me that last day together?! Why continue the facade?!"

"Because I forgot, okay?! Stupid me saw you leaving and I didn't want you to go! All I could think about was you. I just - I … " His heart was racing a thousand miles a minute and he didn't know what to do. He had never felt like this before, not once in his entire existence.

As they stood there, chests heaving, breath mingling, Soul felt love. He loved Maka, a woman he barely knew but had been drawn to from day one. She was ice and fire and everything in between and she made him feel so many new things. He acted a fool when he was with her, but felt like the strongest man alive when that smile of hers lit up her face. It was odd; he used to curse love, believing he had known it well, but this and that were polar opposites - they couldn't even compare.

"You what?" came her quiet inquire, as they had stood unmoved for quite some time, Soul unrelenting grasp still around her elbows. He convinced his body to finally let her go as he stepped back, a small fear blooming in his abdomen. He turned and sat back down in the chair, turning to stare back out the window to soak in his revelation. "Soul?"

"I'm sorry. I need a minute to think." She stood for a moment before bending down to pick up her things and disappearing into her cubicle, exiting with her chair to sit alongside him. Their focus was directed out at the storm as they sat in silence, time slipping away from them. Finally, he turned to her, expression serious as he grabbed hold of her armrests to turn her to face him.

"I apologize; it wasn't right of me to spit that in your face. I had gone back and forth on whether or not to contact you, but … my insecurities got the better of me. That's not an excuse, I just-"

"Soul," she stopped him, squeezing his hand lightly to grab his attention. "I'm sorry, too. You were right, I could very well have stopped by your apartment at any time. I was also absorbed in my own insecurities and couldn't bring myself to just do it. I also shouldn't have tried to put the blame on you, it was childish and uncalled for. I … I'm just happy to see you again." A sigh of relief escaped his lips as he pulled her closer, leaning forward to hug her.

"Me, too." They sat in a comfortable embrace, Soul rubbing her back as he did often when she had been stuck with him. It soothed her further, making her relax into him, her forehead resting against the nape of his neck as her small hands gripped the cloth of his shirt.

After a few moments had passed, Soul finally managed to tear himself away from her, with much difficulty on his part.

"Would you like some hot chocolate?" she asked, startling him slightly; he hadn't expected that.

"... That sounds good, actually." She went to stand and he followed; she moved awkwardly around him, a small smile twitching into place as his eyes unabashedly stared as he moved to pursue her. Ever so slowly, they made their way back to the breakroom where Maka opened the cupboard and pulled out two mugs and hot cocoa mix. Soul could still see the tension in her back, her movements restricted and somewhat hesitant. Even after they had made up, he knew that there were things on both of their minds that needed to be addressed, but the overwhelming urge to keep the peace had them silent.

"So …" she began, catching his immediate attention - not that she hadn't had it already. "Why are you here so late?"

"Shipment mess up, a rather large one at that. You?"

"Accounting issue, most likely over the same problem. We were charged three times what we had ordered."

"Sounds about right. I was made aware before my flight home this morning that someone 'accidentally' added a few extra zeros to the order number."

"So it seems …"

… Soul hated small talk, it implied that they were trying too hard to cut through the silence. Even as strangers in his apartment, he had been able to chase her about in a silly game of tag. Was the sudden unease simply because they were in the workplace? Or worse, because she now knew what he had dreaded: that he was her boss?

"Is it because I'm your boss?" The words slipped from his lips before he could even give it a second thought, meeting her surprise with his own.

"W-what?" Ah, what the fuck. He had already asked the question, right? Why not take the leap and just have the stinkin' conversation; it was bound to happen soon anyway, whether they liked it or not.

"Is this … stiffness because I'm your boss? Is it because I kept the truth from you?"

"... I'm not sure what you mean, Soul."

"We're awkward. Don't pretend you don't feel it." She stared at him for a moment before dropping her gaze to think it over.

"I suppose … I'm just kind of taken aback by everything. I'm so happy to see you again; I've missed you, but … I'm not sure how to act, I suppose. It's true that you being my boss does change things, quite dramatically from my standpoint. I don't want to be viewed as …" Her eyes widened before she whipped back around to put the mugs of water into the microwave, beeping in the time and starting it.

"Viewed as what? How would others view you because of this?" He wasn't comprehending, he needed more from her.

"It's nothing. It's only based off of my own assumptions …"

" … What assumptions?"

"Nevermind."

They had just had a fight, had just made up from said fight, and Soul had a feeling that they would have another one if this were to keep up. He stepped closer, his fingers tracing lightly down the side of her arm. She almost melted into his touch - almost - until the microwave signaled the completion of their heated water. Maka quickly took them out and stirred in the cocoa mix. She was avoiding the topic, not because she didn't like him, but for some other reason.

"Maka-" She grabbed both of the mugs and retreated toward the door, seemingly set in not having this conversation with him. This was too much stress for Soul to ignore, however; he finally got her back, they had made up and everything should be better now, but she was being distant. He followed her quietly, observantly, as she set the mugs down on the floor next to the office chairs. Disappearing into her cubicle for a brief moment only to reemerge with a fluffy blanket. Even in the dim lighting, he could see the slight stain of red on her cheeks as she sat down in her chair, spread her blanket over herself, and picked up her mug. Soul went to sit, taking the offered mug from her as he did. They both sat sipping hot chocolate, staring out at the snow blanketing the city once more. He wasn't sure where to go from here, the tension was only rising and he didn't know what she was thinking.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked finally, a sigh of relief leaving his lips at the sound of her voice.

"Of course." He turned to her, his steaming mug coming down to rest on a knee. Without meeting his gaze, she took a deep breath and let it out.

"What really happened that night I got drunk?"

Well … he hadn't anticipated that. Maka could be so daring when she wanted to be. His eyes blinked, expression blank before he coughed awkwardly. She obviously hadn't believed him when he had said that nothing had happened, which of course had been a lie … he wasn't exactly proud of it.

"Uh, …" clearing his throat, he began to shift uncomfortably.

"Oh, come one …"

"What?"

"I know you're keeping something from me. Just spit it out!"

"Alright!" His hands went up as he jumped from her slight outburst, cocoa almost spilling on him. "You kissed me, okay?" … Shit. Soul's head turned toward her, face contorted like he had made a huge mistake. There was a reason he had kept that from her, too; he didn't want to embarrass her in fear that she would draw back. Not something you want a potential romantic interest to do, but … she was already beginning to do just that the moment she had found out his identity, especially in relation to her own. He found her with eyes wide, brows lifted as she all but stared at him.

"Oh …" Wait … what? Was that it? That's all she was going to say?

"'Oh'?" He couldn't help the feeling of slight irritation that welled up inside of him in reaction to her response. All of that worry and strife on his part about how this would affect her and all she said was 'oh'? … Huh. She remained silent, apparently deciding to go back to staring out the large office windows at a big, white storm over continuing the conversation that she wanted to have. "Really? That's all you've got? 'Oh'? You've gotta be kidding." He huffed mildly, turning his chair in flabbergast as he looked away from her.

"What do you want me to say?" He swiveled back around to took a closer look in his state of disbelief and was rewarded with the view of her blushing cheeks as she tried to hide her embarrassment. Ah, that was much better. He smirked as he went to tuck her hair behind her ear. She jerked, turning her face further from his sight.

"Are you upset?" He stood to step around her seat, popping into her vision only for her to gasp and twist in the opposite direction.

"No…"

"Then what's wrong? Why won't you look at me now?" He shouldn't be teasing her, he really shouldn't, considering the fact that her embarrassment was one of the main reasons for not telling her in the first place, but ... she was just so adorable. Soul moved to make the same attempt to see her face. She stood this time, her hands covering herself from his view as she tried to move around him. It was poor planning on her part, as she had trapped herself between the two chairs that they had been sitting in, the window behind her, and he wasn't going to let her pass. He put his hands on either side of Maka, thoroughly confining her. "Are you sure you're not upset?"

"I'm not. Just let me through."

"Don't wanna."

"Soul …"

"I would like to finish this conversation, so …" A sigh escaped her, held behind her hands as she hid herself, her head sagging in slight defeat. Soul reached up to tug at a wrist to get a glimpse of her burning flesh. "Maka, … I didn't want you to be upset, so I didn't say anything, but now that you know, I think we should talk about it."

"I'm sorry … I'm honestly not upset, at least, not with you. I'm just … really embarrassed …"

"Why? You don't even remember, right?"

"..."

"Right?"

"I thought it was a dream," came her muddled reply.

"So, … you do remember? All of it?"

"Yeah…" Soul felt his cheeks begin to warm up as he let go of her wrist. It was really too bad; Soul couldn't find it in him to be as cool as he had dreamt the day she had left. There were no words coming to his mind. "I'm sorry," she sputtered, her bright red face partially showing itself. "I don't know what I was thinking. I shouldn't have forced myself on you like that … when you obviously didn't want it."

"No, Maka … that's not why I pushed you away." Soul found his hands holding her forearms tenderly, his thumbs rubbing comforting circles.

"Then … why?" She had this look of extreme defeat and confusion, her eyes tearing up slightly.

"Because I didn't want you to regret it. Believe me, I wanted to kiss you back, I just want you to be completely conscious of it when it happens." When it happens. They sat in silence once more as Maka thought it over. She unconsciously began to shift back and forth, nibbling at her thumbnail all the while. Soul was just watching her, a small smile forming over his lips.

"So, …" she began suddenly. "You did want to kiss me?"

"Yes." His reply came without hesitation, without waver.

"Do you … now? I-I mean, do you still … was it just then or, like, was it just in the moment? Would you … want to now or anytime in the future, like-"

"You're cute when you ramble," he chuckled, making her blush deepen. His hands left her arms, both landing on the cool, thick glass behind her as his body slowly hunched over her. "I wanted to kiss you before then; I wanted to kiss you at the time; I want to kiss you now."

"Now? Like, right now?" He nodded in reply, his eyes never leaving hers. Neither of them moved as Maka felt her heart begin to race; the thought that Soul actually wanted her in that way was something she hadn't predicted, always having crushed the hope that she had. After all, why would such a handsome, intelligent, successful, authentic and genuine man want her? She could picture it, sure, but she couldn't convince herself that it was a viable outcome.

Her breath hitched as she was brought back from her thoughts, those eyes of his igniting something else in her entirely. Her head was leaning back against the window, his height making her have to tilt back considerably just to maintain eye contact. She wasn't sure why she was, though; his stare made her nervous, it made her heart pound - ridiculously so.

"Right. Now." Her view was soon parallel to the walls as Soul leaned forward, his forehead making contact with the glass as he smirked down at her. She watched as he seemed to slowly get closer, his neck craning downward in what seemed like an uncomfortable manner until his forehead tenderly connected with hers, a chill sweeping through her as his skin had absorbed the cold from the glass.

"Really?" she whispered, her hands absentmindedly grasping the material around his abdomen, wrinkling his dress shirt.

"Very much so …" Soul decidedly teased her, using his nose to nudge against hers; his breath to race along her pale, freckled skin; his icy fingertips to trace along the nape of her neck as he slid her hair behind her shoulder. She was magic, the kind you only ever dream about. For such an enchanting creature to truly exist and to be here, right here, in front of him, was like a gift.

Maka sighed, her head falling slightly to the left as she shivered in response to his cold caress. Before he knew it, Maka had lifted herself up on her toes, leaving a chaste kiss upon his lips. His slight surprise shown on his face as she went back down. He couldn't hold back the smile that overtook his face as he stood to his full height once more, his head swirling in a sort of manly, though, gidish manner. He licked his lips before looking back down at her, his teeth toying with his bottom lip. His eyes seemed to almost glow, like sparks were attempting to ignite behind those pools of wine. She felt his hand encircle her wrist before he turned, tugging her gently so she would follow him. He grabbed her overnight bag off of her desk and guided her to the stairwell only to turn and lift her over his shoulder.

"S-Soul! I mean, M-Mister Evans, what are you- where are we going? No, I mean, urgh! Put me down!"

"The elevators aren't safe, so we have to take the stairs."

"That doesn't mean you need to carry my like thi-" Maka gasped when she felt his hand cradle her upper thigh tightly as he began to make his way up.

"It's about eight more flights to my floor, so sit tight and don't struggle. It'll be faster this way." Soul began taking two steps at a time, all the while making sure not to swing her around too much so that she wouldn't be too uncomfortable. Maka didn't let out a single word as he seemed to all but run up the stairs, her focus on that of his hand's position too strong to think about anything else. He probably didn't even realize what he was doing to her, as per usual … he never did. Maka could feel the pit of her stomach begin to heat up as his hand slid a little higher, his grip a little tighter. She subconsciously squeezed her thighs together in an attempt to keep her lust under control. He was always able to set her ablaze.

They reached his floor much faster than she thought, just as Soul had said they would. He took a large, controlled breath before continuing toward his office. He hadn't even broken a sweat in his haste, proof to Maka that he was in shape - well … that and she could feel the muscles in his back and broad shoulders. She was no stranger to getting lost in him or the things that he did, but it had been a while since she had had the pleasure and security that came with his hold.

He swung open the door and stepped into his office, turning and locking the door behind them because better safe than sorry. If Maka had been there without his knowledge, who knew who else could have been in the building. He set her down carefully, his eyes never leaving hers once they met again, even as he bent to place her bag gently on the floor. They all but stared at one another for a long moment, Soul's right hand coming up to brush lightly across her cheek.

"So, …" he began, a brilliant smile enhancing the glow of her face as he tucked a stray hair behind her ear. It was all he could do to marvel at her as she beamed up at him. How had he become so lucky?

"So."

Working on that next chapter for you guys now!

I made a twitter account under the same name if anyone would like to go follow me. Trying to decide if I should make a tumblr account? What are your thoughts?

Also! Huge news! I'll be going to South Korea for three months in September! I will probably start a blog. I will keep you all updated on the progress of it and when I have it up and running.

Please don't forget to leave me a review with your thoughts on this chapter! Tear it apart, guys, just don't be too mean lol.

Feels good to be back :) Missed you guys

Much Love~! K.T.