Beth made sure to not be late again.

The following week passed by slowly, and for that, Beth was greatful. She wrote down everything Rick said, even when he laughed. Beth knew it would only take one screw up to get herself fired from her dream job. The pressure to do well had never been so high, and if it weren't for some encouraging words from Rick and care packages from her parents, she wouldn't have lasted through.

It was Saturday night, and she was ready to go home and catch up Law and Order: SVU. The conference call that was only supposed to last one hour turned into a two and then three hour ordeal for Rick. By 9:00pm, he was sipping on his second glass of whiskey and taking another tylenol. He swore that that week had been the hardest. Even though the call took longer than planned, Beth decided she would stay. People had been trickling out since 5:00, and it was now just the two of them. Beth busied herself with scheduling and making sure everything was in order for when she came into work on Monday. She had no idea what she would do with her day off the next day, figuring she'd most likely stay in and write some.

Beth was just about to fall asleep at her desk until she heard Rick's door open. When he looked up and saw that she was there, a small smile graced his lips.

"Annabeth, I didn't expect you to still be here." It was like his smile was infectious. Beth felt her lips curve into a smile, sleep suddenly the last thing on her mind.

Beth sweetly replied, "Well I couldn't leave you here all lonesome. Besides, who'd be here to pick up any calls?" Rick chuckled.

"Well, you've worked two hours overtime. I suppose I owe you one," he looks at the clock for a second and then back at her, "I've wanted to check out Logan's, the new local bar, for a while now. Would you do me the honors of accompanying me?" Beth blushed, taken aback at his sudden interest in her. Well now that she thought about it, it wasn't that sudden. Before she read anymore into it, she quickly willed herself to stop thinking that way. He was her boss, nothing more. This was just a friendly gesture.

"I'd love to."

Two drinks in and Beth was feeling less than great.

Rick chuckled at how she fumbled with her words, talking nonsense. It was obvious she was new to this whole drinking thing. When the bartender asked her for her ID, he soon found out that she had only turned twenty-one 3 months ago. Beth quit drinking for the night and settled on sipping on some coke.

"So," Rick started, "what's your story, Ms. Annabeth?" Beth, feeling a little more confident, rolled her eyes at his words.

She exasperated, "Please, only my Grammy calls me that. You can call me Beth," Rick nodded, "But as for my story, it's like one of them Taylor Swift songs, ya ever heard one?" he didn't care to answer, "Well 'just a small town girl tryna make it in a big world'. This is my dream job. Livin' in the city an' working for a big time person like yourself." Rick smiled genuinely. As Beth was slowly coming down from her buzz, she only semi-registered his kind gesture. She continued on, "So what about you, Mr. Grimes? What's your story?" Rick sighed.

"Well, for starters, outsid'a work, please call me Rick. During hours I'm your boss, after I'm just that guy at the bar who happened to be lucky enough to talk to you." For a second, Beth swore he was flirting with her. No way, she thought. No way a guy like him could want a girl like her. Once Rick spoke again, her attention was quickly focussed back on him, and his perfectly chiselled chin, she added. "My story ain't much. 'born and raised her. Married once; worst decision of my life, believe me. 'don't get to see my kid that much. 'can't really completely say I don't like it. I'm more married to my work than anything." Beth could see where he was coming from. A man like him didn't seem like a man who'd wanna grill every Friday for his family or play football out on his lawn on Thanksgiving. Beth felt her heart ache a little, feeling sorry for him.

Beth didn't know much about men like that, or how their train of thought worked. All she knew that men like that aren't the ones you wanna bring home to mama or the ones you'd wanna fuck with.

Beth scowled and said, "Well that ain't much to say about your life." Rick scoffed at the naivety of that statement.

Rick said, "Oh, really? I'm sitting on a multi-million company, and you say that I can't say much about that? Beth, I could have any girl I wanted. I could buy out an entire concert. Psh, and people say that happiness can't be bought." Beth rolled her eyes.

"You're a selfish, egotistical prick if that's what you really think." Rick smirked.

He smugly said, "What? Have you forgotten I'm payin' for your drinks and that I'm your boss?"

Beth sweetly said, "I thought after hours you're just a guy lucky enough to talk to me." Rick couldn't help but break into a smile. A firecracker that one is, he thought. Her boldness caught him off guard but turned him on at the same time. He remembered how badly he wanted her and how she drove him crazy, wearing those short skirts and tight blouses. Rick downed another swig of scotch and breathed in.

He dropped the subject and said, "So what about your family? What do you they think about you moving to the big ole' city?" Beth shrugged.

"They supported me, sure. They didn't really think much of me working for you because of...well, all of the you know." Rick's brow went up.

"No, I don't know." He genuinely had no idea.

Beth cleared her throat and said, "Well after your divorce, all the magazines and stuff said you were, well, sleepin' around. They were just worried I'd get all caught up in that mess, because of how young I am and how good lookin' you are. I guess they don't think much of my judgement." She frowned, remembering the fight she had with her dad, Hershel. He believed in her faith, but after her last relationship, he wasn't too sure.

Beth had dated a guy named Zach for about a year before she moved to the city. During that time, she almost gave her virginity away to him in the barnyard until Hershel had caught them together. She was embarrassed, but most of all ashamed of what she had been doing.

It flew over her head when she indirectly told him he was attractive, but Rick caught it. He smirked against the glass and finished off his drink.

He said to the bartender, "Another round, for the both of us."

A/N: Thanks so much for the positive responses! I'm so glad y'all like it so far. The next chapter will be up relatively soon. Reviews definitely motivate me to write faster. If y'all have any ideas as to where this could go, please please tell me! I have a general direction where I want this to end up, but nothing definite. I'm open to anything. Again, thank you for all of the reviews, favorites, and follows! xoxo sreii