Lily got off of the elevator on the twenty-second floor of Sandover Bridge & Iron with a briefcase and an arm full of papers. She smiled and nodded at the few faces she recognized. She had only been there for a week, and she had been so busy that there wasn't much time to get to know her fellow office workers.

She unlocked her office, room 2208B, and went inside. She sat her things on the desk then unlocked the door to the adjoining office, but left it closed. That was her boss' office, Mr. Dean Smith. She made it a habit to be in at least fifteen minutes before him to go through her morning routine and check emails so she would be ready for him when he came in. The life of an assistant. The fact that he wasn't a tyrant made it easier. He worked hard, and expected the same from her, but he was nice and didn't look down on her.

She knocked on the adjoining door at 7:30, knowing he would be there by then.

"Come in."

She opened the door, with several files in her hand. "Good morning, sir."

"Good morning."

"Here are the files for today's meetings, and the reports you asked for. These forms need your signature... and this is the draft of the letter to Mr. Walters. I just need your approval."

Dean took everything as she handed it to him. "What time did you get in this morning?" he asked playfully, his eyebrow raised. She simply smiled at him. "Thank you, Miss Marley."

As she walked back toward her office he called to her.

"I may need you several times today. Please leave the door open."

"Yes, sir."

She returned to her desk, which faced his door. She would be able to see right away if he needed her. He closed the door only twice. Once for a private meeting, and once to eat lunch. The door remained open the rest of the day, and her time was divided between the two offices.

As usual, they worked late. It was almost eight o'clock when Dean said they should call it a night. As he packed up, Dean walked into her office.

"Can you make sure that Mr. Brock gets that first thing in the morning?"

She took the file from his hand. "Which floor?"

"You don't know?"

"No, sir. I haven't learned everyone's names and offices yet, but I can look it up in the office directory."

"How long have you worked here?"

"Last Monday was my first day."

"Mine too. I assumed that they gave me an assistant that had worked here longer." He smiled at her. "Now I'm more impressed with you than I was before."

"Thank you, sir."

"Have a good night, Miss Marley."

"Good night, sir."

Dean left through his office. Lily locked the adjoining door, grabbed her briefcase, and locked her door on the way out.

The rest of the week went much the same way. On Friday, Mr. Adler, Dean's supervisor, came into his office. The adjoining door was open, so Lily could hear.

"Mr. Adler."

"Dean... Good stuff."

"Good stuff?"

"Big things. Good stuff." With that, Adler was gone.

"Good stuff," Dean whispered to himself.

Lily just smiled. Her boss was going places.

It was 6:00 pm when Dean stepped into Lily's office to hand her a stack of signed papers.

"Why don't you head home for the weekend?"

"I'm your assistant, sir... I leave when you leave."

"But I may be here later than usual tonight, and I'm sure you have some kind of plans on a Friday."

"None."

"Really? No hanging out with the girls, or even a date?"

She laughed. "Honestly, I haven't been on a date in years. No time, really. My life kind of revolves around my work."

Dean nodded. "I know the feeling." He let out a sigh. "Okay. Suit yourself." He smiled at her and walked back to his desk.

He wasn't lying about being late. It was a little after 10:30 when they packed up to leave.

"I'm sorry I kept you here so late."

"Not a problem, sir."

"Look, we're gonna be alone a lot, most likely, and I'm actually not to crazy about being called 'sir.' Call me Dean."

He smiled, and she returned it. "Then I insist you call me Lily."

"Fair enough." He grabbed his briefcase from his desk. "Do you need me to walk you to your car?"

"I'll be fine, but thank you."

He held up a piece of paper. "One more thing. I'm coming in tomorrow, and it would really help me out if you could pull these files and have them on my desk for when I come in."

"Not a problem," she said, taking the paper. "What time do you want me here?"

"You don't have to come in."

"With all due respect, sir..."

"Dean," he corrected, with a smile.

"Dean... You'll get things done faster if I'm here."

"Oh, I have no doubt about that." She obviously wasn't going to back down, so he gave in. "Okay. Nine o'clock."

Lily nodded and looked at the paper he had given her.

He started to leave, but turned back. "I have to ask," he said. "Why do you work so hard? Not that I'm not grateful, because you make my job a hell of a lot easier... I just see so many other assistants who come for a paycheck. That's it. None of them work these long hours with their bosses."

"My job is to assist you. I can't do that if I'm not here."

"But it's not like you're scoring points with anyone, except me."

"It's not about scoring points or getting credit. As long as you appreciate what I do, I'm happy. I'm here to make sure you succeed. If you succeed, I succeed."

Dean stared at her for a moment. "Well, you've impressed me again." He smiled and turned to leave.

"Good night, Lily."

"Good night, Dean."

Lily woke up that night from an intense dream. She and Dean were in a tangle of limbs and sheets. It all seemed so real, but he had seemed different. She had seemed different. She could almost still feel his hands on her.

"Well, that's not good," she said to herself. She tried to push the images out of her mind and go back to sleep, but it wasn't working. So, she gave into them, instead, letting them play through her thoughts as she drifted off again.

She fought to keep those images away the next day at work. She was failing. There were things about him that she was noticing now that she hadn't noticed before. Like when he took his jacket off, how nicely his shirt fit his body.

She was more than a little flustered. It was almost five o'clock when he asked for a thick file. She brought it and set it on the corner of his desk. As she turned to walk away, thinking of how attractive he looked concentrating on his computer screen, he said her name, and she jumped. Her hand was still lingering on the file, and it fell, papers flying everywhere.

"I'm so sorry," she said. She immediately stooped down to organize the papers.

Dean lowered himself out of his chair to help her. "Did I scare you?"

"Just startled me a bit. My mind was focused on something."

They both knelt on the floor picking up papers, trying to organize them as they went.

"Here," Dean said, "this graph goes with that report."

"Where's the Landerling report?"

They looked around and laid eyes on it at the same time. They both grabbed it, and Dean's fingers ended up on top of Lily's hand. They both hesitated, but Lily pulled her hand back, leaving Dean with the report.

"Sorry," she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She began sorting through the pile of papers again, but Dean didn't move. She was surprised when he gently, but quickly, lifted her chin and kissed her. Her lips parted, and the kiss deepened. She had finally dropped the papers in her hand when Dean pulled away. He stared at her for just a moment before standing and rubbing a hand over the back of his neck.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I don't know what got into me."

She moved to stand, and Dean held out a hand to help her up. She stood straight in front of him. "It's okay," she smiled. "Really."

She had meant to turn to the papers they had gotten back on his desk, but she just stood there, staring at his lips, thinking of how much that kiss felt like it did in her dream the night before. He must have realized that she wanted him to kiss her again, because his lips were suddenly back on hers. There was more heat behind it. His hands went to her face, slid down over her shoulders and down her back, pulling her into him. Her hands were on his chest. She slid one of her fingers between the buttons of his shirt to feel his skin.

Without breaking their kiss, Dean shoved the papers back onto the floor, leaving an empty space on the corner of his desk. He pushed Lily toward it and gently lifted her to sit in the empty spot. His hands pushed at her skirt, so she lifted herself enough for him to raise it. She shivered as his hands slowly glided back down her bare thighs, removing her panties. Her fingers undid the buttons on his shirt, finally giving her full access to his skin. Dean undid his belt and removed his pants just enough to free himself. He pulled Lily closer and leaned her back slightly. Her mouth opened as if to scream, but no sound came out. Her head fell back and Dean's mouth went to her neck. She whimpered as she came closer to losing control, her body beginning to tremble. With his final thrust, Dean's lips came down on hers again.

When they separated, Dean pulled Lily's skirt back down a bit before helping her off the desk. She adjusted her skirt, and, as he righted his pants, she buttoned his shirt for him. He smiled at her, and she couldn't help but blush. She had never done anything like that before.

She started to walk away, but Dean grabbed her hand.

"Why don't we get this file cleaned up... again... then go grab dinner?"

"Sounds good," she said with a smile.