A/N: Thank you all so much for reading, following and to those who have left me reviews :) the support is wonderful, thank you :)

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That Evening.

Knocking on his Queens suite door Joseph's heart broke for her, as once again he had no choice but play messenger for his King. Seeing the door open and the most beautiful woman in the world appear before him, wearing a dress that matched her eyes made it a whole lot worse for him.

"Joseph, good evening." She beamed and walked over to the sofa.

"Good evening," He smiled, following her inside and closing the door behind him before turning back to her as she slipped on her shoes. "You look amazing tonight." He said smiling across at her as she looked down at herself.

Smiling, she looked back up at him "Thank you," She said, watching him look around the room "Now, what can I do for you?" She asked.

Seeing the candles ready to light, the table set for two, and two glasses ready to be filled he looked down a moment before looking back up at her. "I..."

"Joseph, what is it?" She asked, walking over to him.

"All I request is that you don't shoot the messenger..." He said, seeing the smile drop from her face.

"He's not coming, is he?" She asked and watched as he shook his head "And he called you to ask you to tell me, instead of doing the decent thing and telling me himself." She said and looked towards the dinner table.

"I'm so sorry," He said watching her slowly walk over to the sofa, taking a seat for a moment.

"I should of known he would cancel..." She chuckled lightly and looked up at him "That's just typical of Rupert!" Looking down at the coffee table as she began crying.

"Oh hey," He began, hurrying to sit beside her as she covered her face with her hands. "It will be okay." He said softly, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. Pulling her to him, he took hold of one of her hands as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Well there goes the dinner I had planned." She cried, wiping away her tears "I think i'll just go to bed."

"You have to eat." Joseph said and watched as she raised her head, looking at him. "Let me call chef and ask him to bring it up for you." He said, standing up as she looked at the table.

"Joseph, I..." She began while looking up at him "I just want to go to bed now, Rupert cancelled our anniversary dinner together... I'm really not in the mood anymore."

"And like I said, you have to eat. I'm not going to let you go to bed without eating, you will make yourself sick." He said, standing beside the phone as she watched him.

"Alright, as long as you stay with me." She asked.

"If it means making sure you eat, then alright.. I will stay." He said giving her a small smile before picking up the phone, dialing down to the chef as Clarisse watched. And a moment later, he turned back to her "He's on his way." He said, giving her a smile before pouring them a drink.

After they had eaten, Joseph poured them another drink each before watching Clarisse pick up her glass to take a sip.

"Thank you for staying," She said, placing her glass back down as she looked across at him.

"It was my pleasure." He smiled, putting the bottle down before picking up his glass. "Rupert missed a delicious dinner tonight."

"Oh, well it's his loss isn't it?" She said, watching him take a sip of his wine.

Placing his glass down, he glanced back up at her "Yes, sorry to say it is." He nodded.

"I just don't know what's got into him lately," She began while resting her arms on the table "Sorry, you don't want to know about this.." She said and picked up her glass, drinking some as Joseph watched her.

"We are friends, aren't we?" He asked and watched as she lowered her hand, nodding "Then I am here, a shoulder to cry on, someone to talk to." He said, leaning forward and rested his arms on the table.

"Really?" She asked, watching as he nodded.

"I know he doesn't appreciate you, and treats you badly sometimes." He said, watching her put her hand over to her glass, turning it slowly at the base.

"I know," She said shaking her head "He doesn't tell me he loves me anymore, he doesn't even tell me I look nice anymore, like you do. You take notice of what I wear, you tell me I look nice, and you're just my friend, he's my husband and he can't even tell me that." She said averting her gaze to him. "When I saw him this morning, he didn't seem interested at all. And when he left, he just kissed me on my forehead." Sipping her wine, she looked back up at him. "I try so hard, all the time and it just feels like it's for nothing." She said sadly, standing to her feet.

"Like I told you before, he doesn't deserve you. You can do so much better than him, Clarisse." He said, watching her walk over to the windows. "And if I'm honest, any man would be lucky to call you his wife, his girl, his love." He said, turning to look over at her as she stood with her arms folded.

"Like you, you mean?" She asked, turning her head to look over at him.

"I'm sorry?" He asked, shaking his head in confusion while standing to his feet.

Turning, she watched him walk over to her stood by the windows. "Joseph, the maids know everything.. remember?" She said, looking up at him.

"What exactly do you know?" He asked, looking into her eyes.

"Enough to know that all those compliments you give me everyday have more of a meaning then you let on." She said and unfolded her arms, letting them fall down at her sides.

"Well this is embarrassing." He said, looking down.

"Why?" She asked, stepping forward as he looked up.

"That you know about this," He said softly, looking into her eyes.

"Well, dont be embarrassed, it's ok. Yes, I would of liked it more if you had told me this yourself.. but it's ok." She said, watching him. "How long?" She asked.

"Since the first time I saw you," He whispered while putting his hand up, brushing a bit of her hair back behind her ear before looking into her eyes "I think you are the most beautiful woman in the world and it kills me that Rupert treats you this way." He said, a hint of anger in his voice "Why didn't you leave him all those years ago, when he cheated on you?" He asked.

"Honestly?" She asked and watched him as he nodded "Mainly, because of the boys, and, well I didn't want that evil woman to win. If I left him, then she would of won." She said, watching him look away while lowering his hand. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why?" He asked, looking back at her as she nodded. "You're a married woman, Clarisse... you're my friend, my Queen.. you're my boss." He exclaimed, watching as she laughed a little.

"Yes, there is all that I suppose." She smiled up at him.

"What did you think when you found out?" He asked.

"How could this be true, he's my friend? I'm his boss, I'm a married woman this can't be happening to me." She answered "But over time, the more I thought about it the more I found I had feelings for you too." She said softly.

"Really?" He asked and watched as she stepped closer while putting her hands up, cupping his face as she pressed her lips to his. A moment later, they pulled apart and just stared into each others eyes, both their hearts pounding as Clarisse lowered one of her hands onto his chest, her other remaining up, cupping his cheek as she ran her thumb gently over his lips before resting it on his chin. "Clarisse..." He stopped, feeling her finger on his lips to shh him.

"Don't say anything," She whispered before wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him again as he wrapped his arms around her.

And as the kiss became heated, he walked her backwards causing a moan to escape her lips when her body came into contact with the window frame. Tilting her head to the side, Clarisse bit her lip as Joseph kissed his way down her neck to her shoulder blade, his arousal growing.

"No no no, what am I doing?" Joseph exclaimed while stepping back, putting his hands up on top of his head as Clarisse looked on, trying to catch her breath. "You're married." He said, looking back at her.

"Joseph, I want this..." She whispered, stepping in front of him "I want you, I want this to happen." She said, reaching up to kiss him again.

Pulling back a moment later, Joseph rested his forehead against hers. "Rupert's going to kill me." He whispered.

"No he won't," Clarisse said, looking into his eyes "He doesn't even have to know." She whispered and kissed him, before they looked into each others eyes once again. "But if you want to leave, you can." She said and watched as he stepped back.