Wow! Thank you all for the kind words from the BrandonxBloom and TecnaxTimmy stories I posted. Your enthusiasm just makes me want to continue to write and it makes me happy that you are all enjoying the fun and smutty stories that I have created. I have a lot of fun doing them!

As mentioned before, I am in grad school so I am sorry for the long period between updates. I am now on winter break until the 25th of January so expect a barrage of smut coming your way, unless my cat decides to be a butthole and climb on my computer while I try to work haha. Also, I appreciate all of the suggestions that I get and I will try to do all of them. That being said, I really write stories when I get an idea in my head for them or when I get excited about something. Usually I can see the story in my head and get a feel for the characters. Basically, when I can start to daydream about a story with a couple, that is when I start to write. It's one of my little quirks that comes with being autistic haha.

I also enjoy reading your criticism because while I like writing and I will write whatever and however I want, I do want to become better at it and over the years, I feel that I have definitely improved. I know that there were a few in the reviews and PMs that thought Tangled was a little disjointed but that was mainly because I was writing it during Finals week. I tried to do some editing to catch continuity errors that I forgot about due to writing off and on as well as editing for flow but I guess it wasn't good enough.

Anyways, I wanted to write this story in celebration of the new year, I certainly hope that it is better than this past year! This one is also going to be a longer one so buckle up!

Flora and Helia- The Assistant

Rubbing his pale hands over his slender face, Helia groaned as another woman walked out of his office. Who knew that hiring a new PA would have been so hard? She was the third person that he had interviewed today and she was just like the other two from earlier that day and the other ten from that week. A shitty resume that they tried to hide behind makeup, high heels, and tight outfits. He was running an office, not a strip club. He didn't care what you looked like, just as long as your work was good.

Helia took a sip of water before he stood up to go tell his current assistant, Eldora, to send in the next candidate. Eldora had been with the company since his grandfather founded Saladin Financial back in his thirties. She was like a third grandmother to Helia but she was getting old and was past due to retire. Helia had been trying to get her to retire for years but both knew that deep down, neither knew what either would do without each other. She was like a breath of fresh air in the competitive and cold world of financial management and consulting.

Opening the large wooden door, Helia looked out and saw Eldora sitting at her desk, configuring schedules and ordering supplies for Helia's office. Oh, Helia mused, she ordered the nice pens.

Clearing his throat, Helia looked down at the old woman, "Ellie," his name for Eldora, "is there anyone else?"

Eldora spun around in her chair and smiled up at Helia before putting on her reading glasses and picking up her clipboard.

"I don't see anyone listed, dear."

"Great, if I have to interview another brainless bimbo, I think I am going to jump out of the window." Helia groaned.

"Don't do that, I don't think anyone wants to see your insides on the sidewalk. And I sure as Hell ain't cleaning it up."

"Fine, no jumping out of windows," Helia chuckled, "but I will complain to you about it."

"I would rather you jump out the window." Eldora quipped back, earning her an eye roll from Helia.

"You are lucky that you are on your way out or I would fire you."

"You know that you wouldn't do that to your dear Ellie." Eldora smirked before she turned around back to the computer screen.

Helia scoffed as he folded his arms and turned back around to head back into his office. However, before he could take a step, a soft voice called out to him.

"Excuse me," Helia groaned as the voice interrupted him.

"What?" Helia angrily turned around.

When he turned around, he was met with bright green eyes and tanned skin. Her hair was the color of honey and caramel and it was pulled up into a ponytail, her bangs falling gracefully into her face. Her lips were a pale pink and she was dressed in a pink turtleneck sweater and gray work pants. She wore a pair of gray flats.

"I am here for the interview." the woman replied, her shoulders slightly hunched, afraid of what Helia's response might be. "Am I in the correct place?"

"And who are you interviewing with?" Helia sighed, hoping that the sooner that he could help her, the sooner that he could get back to his work.

"Mr. Helia Saladin. I am interviewing for the Private Assistant position. Am I in the right place?"

Helia groaned. Great, another interview. Sure this woman wasn't dressed provocatively but she certainly seemed too timid to be in the corporate world. She wasn't going to be a good fit and he could tell just by the short interaction he has already had with her.

"Eldora!" Helia shouted over his shoulder, causing the tan woman to jump back, "I thought you said that I was done with the interviews."

"Correct," Eldora confirmed, "there is nobody else on the list."

"Oh..." the woman sighed, "I just...I do have a confirmation email of the interview from an Eldora Windsor."

Pulling out her phone, the woman showed Helia the confirmation email. Upon seeing that she did in fact have an appointment for this day and time, Helia narrowed his eyes in annoyance and shot a glance at Eldora.

"It appears so. I apologize..."

Stretching out her hand and turning her lips into a smile, "Flora, Flora Moreno-Cortez."

"Right," Helia looked down at the woman, her teeth a glistening white against her pink lips and tan skin, "well, we can step into my office and we can get the interview started."

Flora adjusted her bag over her shoulder as she followed Helia into his large office. The walls were a dark wood and there was a large window that covered a whole wall, looking out onto the streets of Magix. His desk was situated right in front of the large window. On the walls, there was a shelf that had awards that the company had won and Helia's various degrees and accolades. Flora looked around and saw that it looked like a standard office.

Taking a seat in one of the large chairs in front of the desk, Flora reached into her bag and pulled out a black folder. She opened the folder and pulled out a resume, the paper stiff and the writing organized. Helia took the resume from her and took a seat at his desk.

Helia glanced down at her resume and saw that she had quite the experience from someone of her age.

"Says here that you worked as an assistant for Shields and Associates?"

"Yes, sir." Flora smiled, "I worked as a PA for their marketing director, Brandon Gray."

"Brandon Gray? And I assume that I can use him as a reference?"

"Of course. I didn't leave the company on bad terms."

"Why did you leave?" Helia questioned, leaning forward onto his desk.

"It was time for something new."

"And what makes you think that something new is here at Saladin Financial?"

"I don't." Flora replied as she glanced up at Helia as she nervously played with her fingers.

"Nothing about that response is making me want to hire you." Helia chuckled as he leaned back in his large leather chair.

"I know," Flora sighed, "but I am a hard worker and I know that I have a lot to bring to the company."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-four."

"You're young." Helia remarked.

"I like to think that I am energetic and open to learn." Flora quipped back to Helia's surprise. While she might be shy and meek, Flora was quick with her words. Helia smirked and rubbed his jaw in appreciation by the young woman's wit. She might have been young but he had taken over as CEO only three years ago at twenty-six, a young CEO by any account.

Looking down at Flora's resume, Helia glanced back up at Flora and gave her a smile.

"Your resume is impressive, graduating top of your class at Alfea is commendable. For those reasons and because frankly I am tired of interviewing others, I am willing to offer you the position of my personal assistant. I am a busy man and my schedule is hectic, do you think that you can handle it?"

"I believe so."

"I expect you to be here promptly at 7am and you may be expected to stay until the late hours of the evening as I have calls with other companies from all around the world. You will also be responsible for making sure that I have everything for my day and for meetings. Now, I am not a demanding man but I like things done in a certain way. Every Sunday, I will send you my personal schedule and I expect it to be incorporated into my business calendar by Monday morning when I get in. You are not expected to work on Saturdays or Sunday morning, you will do what you want then. Eldora will be able to fill you in on the specifics. Do you have any questions?"

Inhaling, Flora shook her head.

"Shall I bring you coffee and breakfast every morning? Mr. Gray asked for me to bring him coffee and a bagel every morning."

"I am perfectly capable of getting my own coffee and breakfast." Helia chuckled.

Flora grinned.

"You may leave now. Eldora will be able to get you situated."

"Am I starting now?"

"No," Helia stood up from his desk, "just a few onboarding papers to sign. You will start tomorrow."

"Yes," Flora stuck out her hand and the warm smile came across her mouth yet again, "thank you so much. You will not regret it."

"You better hope I don't." Helia reached out and shook Flora's hand.

"I will have to tell, mamma and pappa." Flora squealed, causing Helia to frown at Flora's giddiness. Her giggles did not bode well for his trepidation over her age.

Helia cleared his throat and directed Flora to the door of his office, "I will see you tomorrow," Helia opened the door, "do not be late. We will have our first meeting and then you will spend the day shadowing Eldora."

"Yes, sir."

Flora walked out of the office and headed towards Eldora's desk. Expecting Helia to be behind her, she turned around and saw that he was still at his office door.

"Ms. Windsor," Helia called out for Eldora, "Fiona has been hired on as my PA, please see to the onboarding process."

"Oh, um, it's Flo-" Flora tried to correct Helia, however he closed the door to his office before she could finish.

"Congratulations, dear." Eldora smiled up at the flustered Flora as she pulled out a stack of papers.

Flora sighed, "Thanks."


Flora looked at herself in her bedroom mirror as she smoothed out her black pants and dark green blouse. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail and she exhaled.

"Well, Coco," Flora looked over her shoulder at her cat who had taken residence on the edge of her bed, "today is the day. Wish me luck."

Coco stretched out and gave Flora a tired glance.

"You play nice with Amarok." Flora scolded the indifferent cat, "And don't even think about trying to sneak into the pantry."

Flora grabbed her work bag and her thermos of hot tea before she ran out of her small apartment and down the stairs where she ran to the metro to catch the early train into the Magix City Center.

Arriving at the large building of Saladin Financial, Flora made her way through the main lobby and showed the security guard her new badge. Her picture was clear and the badge still had it's glossy finish, a telltale sign that she was indeed a new employee. The security guard nodded and allowed Flora onto the elevator where she made her way up to Helia's office.

"Good morning, Flora." Eldora greeted from behind her desk.

"Good morning," Flora smiled as she made her way to the desk, "am I late? Mr. Saladin said to be here by 7."

"No no, dear," Eldora waved dismissively, "you are right on time. I just thought that I would get here early so that I could get everything set up for you today."

"Oh, thank you."

"I've also made a fresh cup of coffee if you would like some."

"I brought tea," Flora held up her pink thermos, "will I have to make coffee in the morning?"

"It is not part of the job description but I have taken on the responsibility as nobody else in this office seems to make a good pot, no matter how hard I have tried to teach them."

Flora giggled, "I am sad to say that I am not too great myself at brewing coffee but if there are any tea drinkers, then I am their girl."

"Sorry to say that I don't believe that there are any tea drinkers. Coffee is stronger and much preferred. But maybe you can convert a few people to your cause."

"Or I can learn how to brew coffee from you."

Eldora smiled and nodded, happy to take on the young woman under her wing.

As Eldora was showing Flora around the slowly filling office, Helia walked in with a cup of coffee in his hand and wearing his usual navy blue suit.

"Good morning, Ellie. Farrah." Helia nodded in greeting.

"It's Flor-"

"Are you ready for our meeting?" Helia asked as he walked past Flora and Eldora and headed towards his office.

"Yes, Helia." Eldora smiled, "I was just showing Flora here the layout of the office and who is who."

"Great." Helia took a sip of his coffee, "Bring her in when you are done."

Helia escaped into his office, closing the door behind him leaving Flora and Eldora alone to their own devices.

"Is he always like that?" Flora asked, upset by his carelessness when it came to her name or feelings. "He has yet to call me by my actual name."

"Oh Helia is a little scatterbrained like that. It's the first day, give him some time."

"I suppose."

"And if he keeps doing it, let me know and I can knock some sense into that boy."

Flora laughed, "That won't be necessary. I think that you are right, I will give it some time."

"Come," Eldora placed a hand on Flora's shoulder, "I will teach you how to brew a suitable pot of coffee and then you can have your meeting with Helia."


There was a knock on the large wooden door of the office as Helia looked up from his laptop.

"Come in." He called out.

The brass knob of the door turned and Flora slowly stepped into the office.

"Well get in here," Helia sighed, "I don't have all day."

Flora nearly jumped in her skin, "Yes, sir."

Quickly shutting the door behind her, Flora briskly walked to one of the two large chairs in front of Helia's large desk. She took a seat and tucked one side of her long bangs behind her ear. Folding her hands in her lap, she looked up at Helia and did her best to hide an impending blush when she noticed Helia's storm blue eyes gazing down at her.

"I trust that Eldora has walked you through the filing system that we use here at Saladin financial."

"Yes, sir."

"And how I like my schedules to be organized."

"Not yet, sir."

"See to it that she teaches you right away. Like I said, I am a particular man."

Helia narrowed his eyes towards Flora as he emphasized the end of his sentence. Flora wasn't sure if it was a reminder or a threat. Either way, she felt herself growing hotter and hotter under her boss's gaze.

"I will." Flora exhaled a breath that she had been holding. "Sir." She added on for good measure. She pulled out a pen and small notepad from her bag as Helia went on with her duties for the rest of the day. Helia watched as she wrote down everything that he had said in beautiful script, flowing so effortlessly from her pen. He paused slightly when she brought the pen up to her pink lips and then in between her teeth.

"Don't chew on your pens." Helia scolded, "It is not professional."

Flora brought the pen down from her mouth, "I'm sorry."

"And it will mess up your teeth."

"Yes, sir."

"I shouldn't have to scold you on such a childlike behavior."

"I'm sorry."

"And stop apologizing, it makes you look weak."

"I'm so-" Flora caught herself, "Yes, sir."

"Did they not teach you anything at Shields and Associates?"

"Come again?"

"Look," Helia leaned forward onto his desk, his arms folded underneath him, "I hired you because your resume is impressive and because you didn't walk into my office looking like you were trying to trap me into a prenupless marriage and then give me with a few kids to appear normal to the outside world all the while I'm fucking some younger sidepiece and you resent me for ruining your body and taking away the best years of your life."

"Sir?" Flora's eyes widened.

"Meaning, that you looked professional enough and you looked eager for the position. You were also quick on your feet when I interviewed you yesterday. Albeit a short interview."

"Um, thank you?"

"Don't make me regret hiring you. Do not waste my time."

Flora gulped as she looked up at the pale man with the dark features.

"Y...y...yes, sir."

"That is all for now. Eldora will help you." Helia stood up from his desk to walk to the door.

Flora turned around in her seat and looked up, "Is this all that I have to do today?" indicating to her small notebook. Flora walked to the door where Helia had his hand on the door knob.

Opening the door, Helia smirked as he looked down at Flora who carried her bag over her shoulder and held the small notebook to her chest.

"I am sure that you will find other ways to be productive, Laura. If not, you may leave early and I will see you tomorrow morning."

Helia shut the door, leaving Flora yet again without an opportunity to correct him on her name. She grumbled as she stared at the large wooden door, wanting nothing more to knock it down and give her a piece of her mind. How hard was it to remember Flora? Good thing he didn't need to remember her full name.

"How have you managed to work with him for so long?" Flora tightened her ponytail as she sat down in a chair next to Eldora's desk.

"I worked for his grandfather first, Helia knows not to mess with me if he knows what is good for him." the chipper old lady responded.

"Do you have any tips on what I can do for him to take me more seriously? Heck, even get him to remember my name?"

"It will come in time, dear. He's honestly one of the better CEOs that I have seen though because he is also young, he has to make himself look big and bad. Don't worry too much about it."

Flora sighed. If this is what she had to deal with, she didn't know how much longer she could take.


A few weeks passed and there had been barely any improvement in Flora's professional-or personal for that matter-relationship with her knew boss. He had complemented her once on her coffee brewing skills but that was as far as it had gone. Flora had been set up with a desk next to Eldora's where Flora's work was growing as Eldora's was shrinking. All part of phasing Flora in and phasing Eldora out.

Flora was filing away electronic files of Helia's into the database when the door to his office opened and Helia stuck out his head.

"Cora, I need to speak to you." Helia remarked.

Flora groaned and rolled her eyes before she stood up and followed Helia into his office. She pulled her long hair into a bun and sat at her usual seat in front of Helia's large wooden desk.

"You don't have plans for New Years Eve do you?" Helia asked.

"Um, not really. Just going to visit my par-"

"Great." Helia interrupted much to Flora's chagrin, "You will be accompanying me on a business trip to Solaria."

"What?"

"We will fly out next Wednesday. I will meet you here at the office and then we will travel together to the airport. Please coordinate with Eldora to make sure that everything is packed and in order before that time. You are dismissed."

Flora's green eyes nearly popped out of her sockets. How could he say that so casually? The only time that she had ever left the country was to attend the wedding of her tio when she was in college and had to travel to Linphea. She had saved all the extra money that she had and now she was just going to go on a free trip across the sea? For free? Even though it was for work, she knew that she would have some free time. At least she hoped to but with Helia, she was doubtful.

Exiting the office, Flora returned to her desk and slumped down.

"Oh no, dear. What happened?" Eldora asked in response to Flora's forlorn face.

"Nothing, just that I guess I have to tell my parents that I won't be able to make it this year."

"Does Helia know?"

"No," Flora threw up her hands in aggravation, "because he won't let me get a word in edgewise! All he does interrupt me or scold me like I am some petulant child. I have worked here for three weeks and he still hasn't called me by my correct name!"

Eldora sighed and decided that it was best not to belabor the point of that it will get better, seeing that the young woman was growing more and more frustrated. She was a smart girl and did not want her to get disheartened by the man that she had known since he was a baby. Eldora knew that deep down that Helia was kind, generous, and attentive. She also knew that he was a tough nut to crack and took time for him to warm up to people. Eldora was just shocked that he had talked to Flora at all and not just emailed her memos.

"You know what you need," Eldora smiled at Flora, "a shopping trip."

"Shopping? You sound like a friend that I had back in college."

"Well your friend is a smart man or woman. I always find getting a new outfit or two to help me when I am in a funk."

"I don't see how shopping will help me with my situation with Helia. Unless I can buy him a new personality." Flora scoffed.

"Oh come on, it will be fun."

Flora sighed, "I don't have very much money."

"We'll take the company card."

"Eldora!" Flora shouted before she snuck a few glances around the large office to make sure that other people were not paying attention to her outburst. "We can't do that."

"Sure we can, I have been doing it for years. This company has so much money that they never notice when a few hundred dollars goes missing every once in a while."

"That's stealing."

"Fine," Eldora conceded, "we will just say that it was a business expense."

"Really?" Flora lifted an arched eyebrow, skeptical of Eldora's reasoning.

"Maybe one of the reasons that Helia does not take you seriously is because of the way you dress."

Eldora gestured to the outfit that Flora was wearing. Her usual gray work pants, gray flats, and today she wore a large dark blue sweater.

"What's wrong with the way that I dress?"

"Nothing, but it doesn't exactly scream Personal Assistant to a CEO of a Jackpot 500 Company."

Flora looked down and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"I guess you're right."

"You'll find that I usually am." Eldora chuckled as she shut down her computer and put on her coat and purse.

"We're going now?"

"Of course, I hate being cooped up in this office."

"But what about-"

"Helia, dear." Eldora opened the door to his office and called out inside. Helia looked up from his laptop and at the older woman at the door. "I am taking Flora out. Onboarding stuff. We probably won't be back today."

"I wasn't aware that there was out of office onboard-"

"We'll see you tomorrow, dear!" Eldora waved behind her as she shut the door to Helia's office. Turning around to Flora, she smiled and gave a short and firm nod.

"And that's how you do it." Eldora chuckled, "Hurry up and grab your coat, we have a lot of work to do."


Helia arrived earlier than usual to the office the next day. He looked over to the pot of brewed coffee and filled mailboxes.

Good, he thought, she's here.

It's not that he did not enjoy his new assistant. It's just that she was...forgettable. She was quiet, timid, and there was a constant look of a childlike wonder on her face that just made her young age that more apparent. Again, not that he minded any of it, it was just different than the strong and fierce woman that Eldora had been his entire life. Helia was used to being the youngest, the one with the most to learn. Now with his new assistant, that wasn't the case.

However, she was smart, worked hard, and there was something kind of cute about her. But in this world, smarts, hard work, and cute were not going to cut it. One needed to be firm and unafraid to speak their mind.

He knew her name was Flora. He saw it on her ID card, when he submitted paperwork to payroll, and the countless times he saw it on her resume when he had hired her. The first time he had called her by the wrong name, it was an honest mistake. However, the other times, he wanted to know if she would grow the balls to correct him and not be interrupted. She was too nice. She would get eaten alive. This business trip would either be her saving grace or the final nail in the coffin. As it stood right now, she was a sheep about to be thrown into a den of hungry lions. She was going to be eaten alive.

Walking past the desks to his office, he looked down and saw that Eldora was at her desk but Flora was not.

"Good morning, Ellie." Helia unwrapped the blue scarf from around his neck. "Where is Flora?"

"Oh so you do know her name?" Eldora rolled her eyes.

Helia scoffed, "Is she here or not?"

"She is," Eldora answered as she turned back around in her chair, "I think she went to refill the coffee."

"She isn't over there." Helia indicated with her head.

"Oh, I think I saw Karel Richardson talking with her."

"What did Richardson need with her?" Helia asked.

"I don't know? I am not around her 24/7."

Helia gave a soft humph, "Well when she gets back over here, let her know that I need to make some calls. You can send her in though."

Eldora nodded her head in understanding as she returned to the work at hand and Helia entered his office. He hung up his coat and scarf then making his way over to his desk. He unbuttoned his suit jacket and draped it over the back of his chair, leaving him in only a white button up shirt.

Pulling out his phone and opening his laptop, Helia dialed the number to his teleconference and began his work.

Outside of his office, Flora returned to her desk with a smile on her face and a piece of paper in her hand.

"What is that look for, dear?" Eldora asked.

"Mr. Richardson gave me his number." Flora beamed.

Karel Richardson was Head Counsel of Saladin Financial and Flora was shocked how he had taken such a sudden interest in her. He was quite reserved and barely talked to anyone in the office.

Eldora could have asked why the sudden interest but she knew it was due to a little retail therapy the day before. More like a style intervention. Today, instead of her usual baggy sweater and pants, Flora wore a tasteful emerald green wrap dress that hugged her body and came down to her knees. Instead of flats, Flora wore a pair of heels, emphasizing her long legs. And her hair was left down and curled, as per the style suggestion of Eldora. However, she wore a scrunchie around her wrist, just in case.

"Are you going to indulge him in a phone call?" Eldora asked with a smirk on her face.

Flora blushed, "I...I...I don't know. I am just happy to maybe have a potential friend in this building."

"What am I?" Eldora narrowed her eyes, "Chopped liver?"

"No," Flora quickly protested, "you are a friend but you will soon be gone and it will be nice to know that I will not be alone."

"While that is a comfort to know, I don't think that Mr. Richardson had friendship on his mind."

"Oh..." Flora looked down at the folded up piece of paper.

"No matter," Eldora put a smile on her face, "the day awaits and Helia is expecting you in his office. He is on a call so I would suggest not making too much noise when you enter."

"Oh, okay." Flora replied, hoping that she would be quiet enough as to not disturb him.

Inside of the office, Helia was talking with a representative from the Linphea branch of the company.

"I think that we should be meeting with Radius Bank in Solaria and we can discuss reports then." Helia spoke into the phone.

"-Do you think they will go along with it?" "-Of course." "-Not a problem." "-Do you think that our database could handle that?" "-I can get IT on that. You just focus on aggregation."

Hearing the door to his office open, Helia gave a quick glance over but had to stop and do a double take as his mind momentarily went blank.

Standing at the entrance of the doorway and quietly making their way in was none other than Flora. At least he thought it was her. Was he dreaming? No, Paulo Campana was still talking in his ear. It was really her walking towards him, her long tan legs on display as well as her chest in that low cut dress. Her hair framed her soft face and Helia didn't know what to think.

"Sorry, Campana," Helia spoke into the phone as he watched Flora take a seat in her usual chair, notebook and pen in hand, "can we finish this call later?"

"Do you want me to go, sir?" Flora whispered as she used her thumb to point behind her to the door.

Helia shook his head, "Alright, Campana, I'll chat with you later."

Hanging up the phone, Helia placed his full attention onto the woman who was sitting in front of him. However, no matter how enticing she looked, she was still the timid assistant that he was used to.

"Sorry I am late." Flora angled her head down.

"You're lucky I had a call." Helia leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed and his white shirt stretching over his muscles. Muscles that Flora hadn't noticed until now, and boy did she notice them. "And what did I say about apologizing?"

Flora looked up, her green eyes meeting blue, "I got caught up in a conversation with Karel Richardson."

"Richardson?" Helia lifted an eyebrow.

"Yes," Flora responded, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly as she remembered the interaction, "we got to talking about the nature trails at-"

"While I am sure that the conversation was enlightening, this is a place of business and as my assistant, I expect you to work with a certain level of professionalism."

"Am I not allowed to have casual conversations with other people in the office?" Flora asked as she crossed her arms over her chest, pressing her breasts together and giving Helia a glimpse of more than he thought he would ever see.

Not with Karel, Helia wanted to say.

"You are, however, I expect you to behave with dignity and professionalism."

"Pretty rich coming from someone who can't even get my name right." Flora mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

Helia stood up in his chair and walked around to the front of his desk. He looked down at Flora who was doing all she could to avoid his gaze.

"Look at me." Helia commanded, "Now."

Flora lifted her head and glared into his eyes.

"What did you say?" Helia asked again, more firmly.

Flora mumbled.

"Speak up."

"I said," Flora uncrossed her arms and dug her nails into the armrests of the chairs, "Pretty rich coming from someone who can't even get my name right!"

Helia smirked, good.

"You sit there about to lecture me about professionalism when you can't even show me the basic respect of even knowing my name!" Flora shouted.

Helia's smirk widened and his eyes darkened as Flora grew more and more bold

Flora shot up in her chair, her face mere inches away from Helia's as she looked up at him, "My name is Flora Esmerelda Rocio Moreno-Cortez! Daughter of Rhodos Silvio Juan Moreno and Alyssa Lucrecia Catalina Cortez-Aguilar de Moreno and you, Mr. Helia Saladin, will show me some respect!"

Helia's eyes widened, he wanted fire but never meant to enrage her this much. But it's like they always say, play with fire and you are bound to get burned.

Who knew that this timid wallflower had all of this energy. Her cheeks were red and her green eyes were burning with rage. He had never seen a woman so beautiful when she was angry. Had she always been this beautiful?

Her chest heaved up and down against his and Helia did his best not to look down, staring straight into her eyes as she was glaring into his. It was now a matter of who would break the silence first. He could sense her anger starting to die down in anticipation of him breaking the silence.

"Flora-"

"Was that so hard?" Flora cocked her head to the side. "It's really not a hard name to remember."

"I apologize if I came across as rude." Helia replied, still keeping her gaze locked into his.

"You didn't even get to let me finish telling you that I had plans to visit my family during the holidays. Luckily I had enough notice to cancel the tickets last night and get a refund but telling my parents two weeks before I was supposed to be there for the holidays I couldn't make it..." Flora's voice began to waver, "I haven't seen them in years."

Shit.

"I didn't-"

"What?" Flora looked up at him with glassy eyes, "You didn't know? Of course you didn't because in the near month that I have worked here, you have barely let me talk about anything unless it was a 'Yes, sir' or 'No, sir'. I...I...I was just so happy that somebody in this office that isn't going to be leaving actually wants to be my friend."

"I don't think that Karel wants to be friends with you."

"He seemed friendly."

"Flora," Flora was shocked at how nice her name was coming from his mouth, "Karel Richardson is a dog."

"What?"

"He hits on all of the pretty interns and assistants." Helia rolled his eyes.

"I have been here for three weeks and he never talked to me before. If he were going to hit on me then he would have hit on me already. I think that he just wants to get to know me more."

Flora tried to rationalize Karel's actions but Helia was growing impatient.

"It's because you came to work in something other than a baggy turtleneck and he can see how fucking gorgeous you are." Helia blurted out.

Flora stepped back, "I...I...no..."

"He only wants to get you in bed." Helia rubbed a hand over his face. How could she be so clueless to how beautiful she was? Even he was blind to it until today. He thought she was cute but something happened between yesterday and today and the way that he saw her changed. Not just physically but he saw a glimpse of the fire that was inside of her and he wanted to feel that fire again, but in ways other than rage.

However, Helia did not expect tears to come from her gorgeous green eyes.

"I thought," Flora sniffled, "I thought that he was interested in me as a friend. I thought that I was finally going to..."

Helia didn't know how to respond so he stood there.

"All my friends moved away after college, my family lives across the country, and...I thought I was finally finding somewhere I could belong and maybe have a friend."

"Did you not have friends at Shields and Associates?" Helia questioned. Flora shook her head silently in reply.

"I really didn't have the intention of making you cry, Flora." Helia sighed, "I am sorry. You can take the rest of the day off."

"No," Flora looked up at Helia, "I have a job to do."

Helia smiled, "While I would commend you on your dedication to your work, contrary to what you believe, I do care about my employees and I wouldn't want you to work if you are-"

"I said that I am staying." Flora straightened up and wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.

Helia gave a curt nod and walked over to the small shelf that held his awards and degrees before pulling out a glass and filling it with water.

"Here," Helia held out the glass for Flora, "drink this. Sit down and pull yourself together before you head out."

"Thank you."

Flora took the glass, her warm fingertips brushing past Helia's cool hands. A shiver went down her body and she slowly sank back down into the large chair. Helia walked back to his desk chair and sat down before opening his laptop and resuming his work.

The room grew to a tense silence, the only sounds coming from the keyboard as Helia typed. Flora took a sip of her water and began to look around the office. She had never noticed the faint chips in the wall or the potted monstera in the corner of the room. She looked ahead and saw Helia deep in concentration at his work, his brow low and his lips pursed. Everytime he pulled away from the computer to type something after reading, his right eyebrow would quirk up. She never noticed that he was ambidextrous, writing with both his left and his right hand. Helia looked up and Flora quickly averted her gaze.

Her eye was caught by a painting that hung on his wall. Standing up to get a closer look, Flora made her way to the painting.

"What are you doing?" Helia asked, his attention still focused on his work.

"I never noticed this painting." Flora remarked as she looked closer at it.

The painting was a forest scene. A depiction of a clearing in a forest surrounded by tall trees of various greens, the sunshine breaking through the gaps. The dew on the grass sparked and the grass blades were well defined. If not for the texture of the dried paint, Flora might have mistaken it for a photograph.

"Oh yeah," Helia glanced behind him before returning to his work, "not many people do."

"It's quite good." Flora said, "Very good actually. Do you know what they used for a canvas? Seems very organic, fern leaf? The lines follow the grain beautifully adding to the painting's lifelike appearance."

Helia froze, "Nobody has noticed the fern leaf before."

"What was that?" Flora asked over her shoulder.

"I was just saying that I wouldn't have pegged you for an art critic."

"Well," Flora turned and smiled in Helia's direction, "if you had taken the time to learn more about me, you would know that I love art."

"Yes, I know, I have been an ass of a boss." Helia groaned as he stood up from his chair, joining Flora in front of the painting.

"H. Tanaka. I don't think that I have heard of him." Flora squinted to look at the small signature at the bottom of the painting. Helia chuckled. "What's so funny?"

"H. Tanaka is me."

Flora spun around and knocked into Helia's chest. She jumped back and her face had a deep blush.

"Tanaka?"

"My mother's maiden name." Helia replied.

"You're just messing with me." Flora giggled nervously.

"No," Helia's face became serious, "art has been a hobby of mine for a long time."

"Well, you are quite good. Maybe you can make me something." Flora smiled.

"Not going to happen. I haven't painted since college." Helia ran a finger over the picture frame, sweeping away a thick coating of dust.

"If not for me, then for Eldora before she leaves."

Helia shrugged, "She would prefer books."

"Either way," Flora shrugged before turning back around, "you should start painting again."

Helia gave a smirk, looking down at Flora, glad that her back was turned to him so that she would not see.

Finishing her water, Flora walked back to the small shelf where the glasses were and placed the glass down.

"Well, I better get back to work."

Helia made his way back to his desk, "I suppose you should. You are looking a lot more put together."

"Mr. Saladin," Flora looked back at Helia.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for listening."

"I'm sorry that it took me so long."

"Mr. Saladin?"

Helia inhaled and exhaled in slight aggravation, "Yes?"

"Don't apologize," Flora walked over to the door and placed a hand on the knob, "it makes you look weak."

The door shut behind Flora and Helia was left chuckling to himself. Whoever told her that was an idiot.


It was early in the morning, too early for the trains, as Flora rode on the silent bus to the office. She had her pink suitcase packed and her passport in hand as she rode to the office.

"Going somewhere for the holidays?" the bus driver asked.

"A business trip." Flora replied.

"I am sorry to hear that. This time of year should be spent with family."

"That was the plan," Flora sighed, "but you know how work is. And plus, my parents didn't mind and they are excited for me."

"Are you excited? I hope that you are going with good company." the bus driver looked back in his rearview mirror, waiting for Flora's response.

"I am excited. I've never been to Solaria."

"You are going all the way to Solaria?" the bus driver gave a low whistle, "Now I really hope that you are in good company. Such a long journey to be with miserable people."

Flora smiled to herself, "I don't mind the person I will be with."

And she didn't. Since her outburst with Helia a few weeks ago, their professional and even personal relationship had become stronger. Helia ended all of their morning meetings asking her questions about her personal life. She told him about her time at Alfea, about her sister and parents, about her life growing up in Linphea. She even indulged him about holidays during her youth and even her time at Shields and Associates. He would smile as she talked and asked follow up questions. Dare she say that he actually looked interested and enthralled by what she had to say?

"I certainly wish you and your companion safe travels." the bus driver nodded.

"Thank you."

The bus pulled up to the bus stop in front of the Saladin Financial office. The large building looked so different in the dim light of the dawn but she looked up and saw a light shining from a window, Helia's office window. She felt her heart begin to race as she grabbed her bag and made her way into the building.

The elevator dinged and Flora stepped off and into the empty office. She made her way to Helia's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Helia called out from behind the door.

"It's just me are you rea-" Flora looked up and saw Helia leaning against his desk checking his phone wearing a tight dark gray sweater and black pants, very different from his usual crisp suit, "-dy?"

Helia smirked, "Is there something wrong?"

Flora blushed as she snapped out of his trance, "I just don't think that I have ever seen you so casual before."

"Is that so?" Helia put his phone in his back pocket and stood up straight. "I like to be comfortable when I am flying."

"I guess that makes sense." Flora reckoned. "You could have told me that though. I am not too familiar with flying style."

Helia looked at Flora's outfit. Her new style becoming more and more familiar. She wore a tight, tan, turtleneck shirt with a pair of sleek black pants.

"If you would like to change, you are more than welcome to."

"I think that I will be okay," Flora smiled, "these pants are stretchy."

Helia chuckled, "Well we will be traveling by PJ so you will be able to stretch out and change if needed."

"PJ?"

"Private jet." Helia replied nonchalantly and Flora's heart dropped to her stomach.

"A what now?"

"Why do you act so surprised?"

"While private jets might be a usual occurrence for you, remember that I grew up in rural Linphea. I am not used to such fineries."

"You're my assistant now, get used to the business perks." Helia clapped his hand over Flora's shoulder in a friendly gesture. She winced under the pressure of Helia's hands but blushed under the contact.

"We better get going," Helia grabbed his suitcase, "we don't want to miss our flight."

Flora rolled her eyes as she walked out of the office with Helia, his talent in art and not in comedy.


"Just breathe, Flora." Helia leaned over from his seat on the leather couch to place his hands on Flora's knees.

Flora was hunched over, on the verge of a breakdown. While she had flown before, she was never good at it. The smaller plane led to more turbulence and more room for worry and panic.

"I am trying." Flora spat back as she did her best not to hyperventilate. "I am sure that Eldora is a lot better at this than I am."

"Don't worry about it. If it makes you feel better, I am afraid of dogs."

"Really?"

"No, but you can think of me running away in terror from your dog if it will make you feel better."

Flora let out a soft laugh as she did her best to focus on something other than the hunk of metal thousands of feet in the sky.

Helia grabbed her hand in his and pulled her close to him. With a bump in the turbulence, she fell into Helia's lap. She snapped up, her face a deep shade of pink.

"I...I...I'm sorry." Flora stammered as she looked up at Helia.

Helia merely wrapped his arms around Flora.

"What are you doing?"

"You stopped hyperventilating when you were in my arms."

"Probably because I am distracted by how inappropriate and unprofessional this position is." Flora shot back.

"Would you be offended if I said that I liked this position?" Helia smirked.

Green eyes widened as she examined Helia's face for any kind of teasing or malice. She became concerned when she saw none. While she might have developed a small crush on her boss in the past few weeks, she wasn't going to risk her job over an inappropriate and most likely unrequited feeling.

"Mr. Saladin..." Flora's voice was breathless.

Helia cleared his throat and lifted Flora up to place her down on the leather couch, removing her from his grasp.

"That was," Helia cleared his throat again, "uh, that was not okay for me to say."

"Yeah..." Flora still looked up at him with wide eyes. She had hoped that he had meant it and that he would hold her the rest of the way there. While his body had been cool, she had never felt so safe and warm as she had felt when she was in his arms.

"I didn't mind it." Flora added, her voice quivering with nervousness. Well, she thought, there goes my job.

Helia had been stunned into silence, he hadn't expected the sweet Flora to respond in that way to his forward advances. He was stunned even further when Flora had crawled back into his arms and placed her head on his chest. The plane shook again and Helia instinctively wrapped his arms around Flora as her body tensed. Her breathing became labored once again and Helia ran his fingers through her hair, much like his mother had when he woke up from nightmares as a child.

Soon the sounds of deep breathing could be heard coming from Helia's chest. Angling his head, Helia looked down and saw Flora's beautiful face softened by sleep. His hands kept stroking her hair, going further to sweep the hair from her face. Her head fell in her sleep and her head was now resting on his lap.

Deep breathing and meditation learned in college was Helia's only saving grace in avoiding poking a sleeping Flora in the eye with a stiff cock.

"Shit." Helia hissed as he tried to focus his breath.

They had already crossed a professional line with this intimate position, he wasn't about to scare her with his sexual attraction to her. However, as hard as he tried, he couldn't fight his body for much longer.

Carefully lifting Flora's head, he moved from beneath her and placed her head under a soft pillow. Helia retreated to the small bathroom where he grabbed his cock and continued to pleasure himself, bright green eyes and full pink lips at the forefront of his mind.


The plane finally landed and Flora woke up, Helia shaking her as he prepared to deboard.

"Are we here?" Flora asked, her voice slightly raspy from sleep.

"Yeah," Helia smiled, his hand still on her shoulder, "you can sleep more when we get to the hotel."

"No work?" Flora asked as she sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"No," Helia stood up straight, "but we will have an early morning. It's near 10pm here in Solaria. So it would be wise to get sleep to acclimate to the time difference."

Flora's lips turned up into a soft smile as she raised her arms to stretch, her shirt lifting to reveal a toned stomach much to Helia's delight.

"Yay." Flora tiredly exclaimed.

Helia and Flora grabbed their bags and made their way to the white private car waiting for them outside of the airport. Climbing into the car, Flora found herself nodding back off to sleep. Helia gave a breathy chuckle, wondering how the young woman could sleep so much. He had to admit that flying also wore him out and when he got to the hotel, Helia would not be far behind her in joining her in sleep.

They reached the hotel where Helia and Flora grabbed their bags and went to check in. The hotel receptionist gave Flora and Helia each their door key and directed them to their rooms. Their rooms were separate but connected by a door that could be locked and unlocked through either side. Helia naturally took the larger of the rooms but Flora didn't care as long as the bed was comfortable and the shower water was warm.

When Flora opened the door to her room, she nearly fell over. It was HUGE! How could Helia's room be any larger than this? There was a large sitting area with two white couches, a large bed in front of a large window, and the bathroom was huge. A shower on one side and a large bathtub adjacent to the shower. Of course there was the standard toilet and a large sink with a light up vanity. She had to see Helia's room now.

She knocked on the door connecting the rooms.

"Yes?" Helia asked as he unlocked the deadbolt and opened the door.

"Are you sure that you took the correct room?"

"I believe so, why do you ask?"

"This room is huge! How is your room any bigger?"

The habitually polite tan woman barreled through Helia and into his room.

It made Flora's room look tiny.

"No way."

The bed seemed to be twice as large as Flora's, the sitting area larger and with a kitchenette. She ran around the corner and looked into the bathroom. The shower looked as if it could hold multiple people and she felt as though she could really stretch out in the tub. She ran inside and sat in the empty tub. Yup, she could honestly sleep in the tub if given a pillow and blanket.

"I guess if I can't find you then I better check in here first." Helia remarked as he leaned in the doorway.

"Is it bad that I find it comfortable?" Flora asked as she looked back at Helia.

"No," Helia chuckled, "though I think your bed might be more comfortable."

Flora climbed out of the tub and walked past Helia and out of the bathroom. She placed her hand on the door knob of the door connecting their rooms.

"I will see you in the morning, Mr. Saladin."

"Helia."

Flora hid her face as she blushed, "Good night...Helia."

"Good night, Flora. Sleep well."

Flora retreated into her room and closed the door. Neither side locked the door.


The next few days seemed to drag on as the time change and the work caught up with both Helia and Flora. Both retreated to their separate rooms every night after a quick dinner. Flora had gotten to know some of the big players in the Saladin branches and at Radius Bank. The warm weather and bright sunshine were a welcome reprieve from the gloomy winter of the busy city of Magix.

On the night of the 30th, there was a knock on the adjoining door. Flora was fresh out of the shower and in her pajamas, hair wet. She opened the door anyways.

"Good evening, Flora. I am sorry to disturb you so late." Helia stood at the doorway.

"Good evening, Helia. I was just getting ready for bed. If you were to come five minutes later, I probably would have been asleep."

Helia smirked, trying his best not to look down at Flora who wore a pink tank top and tight black shorts. Her tanned legs looked more enticing than ever.

"I just wanted to tell you that while it is a holiday tomorrow and we are not expected to work, the board of Radius Bank has invited us to their New Years Eve party tomorrow."

"A party?"

"More like a dinner, drinks, and a bunch of stuffy people in finance." Helia nervously rubbing that back of his neck.

"Both of us?"

"Well, I was invited but naturally as my companion and assistant I was hoping that you would accompany me."

Flora giggled as she leaned against the door way, opposite from Helia.

"Are you asking me out?" Flora teased.

"If that's what you have to think to say yes, then I am asking you out. To a business party." Helia shrugged.

"Oh, it would definitely help me sleep better at night." Flora countered with a smirk.

It was now time for Helia to tease, "So you think of me at night?"

Flora's head and body turned a violent shade of red.

"Good night, Mr. Saladin."

"Good evening, Ms. Moreno-Cortez."


Helia sat in the lobby of the hotel waiting for Flora to emerge from her room. Ready for the party. His leg bounced and he hadn't been this nervous since he took his high school girlfriend to the prom. But this was not the prom, this was not high school, and this was not Krystal. This was Flora and a corporate New Years Eve party. He had to be on his best behavior but with Flora, he didn't know if he could be.

Flora had gone shopping with her time off with the heir of Radius Bank, coincidentally a friend of Flora's from college. He had no idea what she picked out for the evening but she looked good in everything, even the baggy sweaters she used to wear.

The sound of clicking against hard floors brought Helia's attention to the source behind him. Turning on his heels, Helia came face to face with Flora, looking the most radiant that he had ever seen her.

She wore a shimmering golden dress. It was tight on her skin and was held up by two thin straps, perfect for the tropical Solarian heat. The soft skin of her breasts was pushed up into the dress, making Helia's eyes shamelessly focus on her chest. Averting his eyes, he noticed her hair was up in a large bun of curly tendrils, pieces falling haphazardly around her head. Her eyes were lined in soft black, bringing out the striking jade colors of her eyes.

There was no way that Helia was going to be able to behave.

"Sorry it took me so long. Eldora wanted photos sent to her before I left."

"Flora you are...you look...uh, ready to go?" Helia stammered.

Flora did her best to suppress a laugh at Helia's discomfort. Stella said that this dress was known to do that to men. Flora might have mentioned to her Solarian friend that she was wanting to have an effect on Helia.

"I am." Flora answered, taking Helia's arm and walking out to the car to head towards the party.

The Radius headquarters was filled with people from the financial world and all of a sudden, Flora began to feel self conscious. She felt like she stuck out in the sea of black and silver. Was there a theme that Stella didn't tell her about. She also observed that she was the youngest guest, most of the other men and women at least in their late thirties.

"Hey," Helia gave Flora's hand a light squeeze, "you'll be alright."

"I have never been around so many important people."

"Did you not go to company parties at Shields and Associates?"

"No," Flora shook her head, "I was just an assistant."

Helia frowned, "Well, just be yourself."

"What if myself is not good enough?"

"It will be and if anyone gives you grief, let me know and I will cease to do business with them."

"Mr. Saladin..."

"Helia."

"Don't say that." Flora scolded.

"Why not."

"Because I know you don't mean it."

"What makes you think that? I don't make a habit of saying things that I do not mean." Helia's face was serious.

Flora's breath caught in her chest. He wouldn't, would he?

"Flora!" Flora heard a voice call out to her. She turned around and saw Stella, her college friend calling out to her from across the room.

"Go ahead, mingle." Helia whispered down to Flora. Flora glanced up and smiled at Helia. He placed a kiss on top of her hand causing Flora to freeze until Helia let go of her hand and Stella approached as Flora watched Helia retreat into the crowd.

"Oh he is smooth." Stella teased as she found a spot to stand next to Flora. "I can see why you like him. And he is easy on the eyes. Good for you!"

"Keep your voice down," Flora harshly whispered into Stella's ear.

"Flora, for both of us, you have to make a move on him tonight."

"He's my boss, Stella."

"And? You like him?"

"Yes."

"And you have a feeling that he likes you too?"

"But what if I am wrong?"

"What if this building blows up and we all die in a fiery explosion?" Stella scoffed, "You won't know if you don't try."

"I could lose my job if he doesn't feel the same way." Flora lowered her head.

Stella reached out to a server walking around with a tray of champagne glasses, taking two and handing one to Flora.

"If you are rejected and lose your job-which I doubt will happen-I will talk to Daddy about giving you a job at our Magix location. Or maybe put in a word for you at Linphea Accounting."

"Even if I have job security, I don't think I could handle the rejection." Flora replied sadly.

Stella looked over Flora's shoulder, "I think that you will be fine."

"What makes you so confident?"

"Helia has not taken his eyes off of you all night. He actually looks kind of weird standing in a group of businessmen and just looking at you when he takes sips of his champagne. What a weird guy. Are you sure that you like him?" Stella cocked her head to the side as she took a sip of her champagne.

"Stop starting!"

"Sorry, Flo. But if I had a man looking at me the way that Helia is looking at you, I wouldn't be afraid of anything other than where he should kiss you and where he should cum."

"STELLA!"


The night carried on uneventfully. Flora had spent most of her night talking with Stella along with other members of the Radius board and staff who Stella had introduced. They had all been warm people, much like the land in which they worked. They commended Flora on becoming so successful for her age, stating that becoming the assistant to the CEO of a company like Saladin Financial was a feat in itself. That Helia must have really seen something in her. Flora blushed at the accolades.

Throughout the night, she would sneak glances at Helia who dazzled the room as he talked with all of the top industry people about anything from stock prices to racing results. She admired the way his eyes scrunched up and wrinkled in the corners when he laughed. How his longer hair framed his face and brought attention to his high cheekbones.

However, Flora was growing tired and she had enough of being apart from Helia. She wanted him alone. Especially before the clock struck midnight.

Flora made her way over to Helia who was having a conversation about market speculations with a few members of the Radius board.

"There you are," Helia grabbed Flora's hand, "have you met, Flora Esmerelda Rocio Moreno-Cortez?"

Flora had never heard him use her whole name and she was even more surprised that he had even remembered it.

"I don't believe we have." one old man said. "And she is?"

"My assistant."

"You brought your assistant? I would have expected you to bring another member of your board." another old man questioned.

"I knew that I could get the deal made myself." Helia replied.

"Ah, I see. Well done, my boy. She is quite something if I may be frank." the first old man remarked, nudging Helia in the ribs.

Helia's face dropped, his arm wrapping around Flora's waist, "I am afraid that I don't know what you are talking about."

"We all do it, Saladin." Another man said, "Leave the missus and bring the secretary. You lucked out that she is so young, she must be a lot of fun."

Helia's blue eyes grew dark and stormy, "That is not the nature of our relationship at all. And you would do well to keep your mouth shut about things that you do not know about. Ms. Moreno-Cortez is a smart, qualified, diligent, and capable-"

"I bet she is quite capable." the group of men erupted into laughter. Helia could feel Flora tremble in his arms.

"Aw, don't cry, sweetheart." one of the men reached out to brush a tear from Flora's face, "Damn, that's some smooth skin."

"I bet that ass is smooth too." The laughter continued.

"Helia..." Flora whimpered as she clutched Helia's arm.

"And a warm, tight, little cu-"

Helia cut the man off when his fist hit the side of the older man's jaw. Helia paused at what he had done, grabbed Flora's hand, and dragged them out of the party.

"Helia..." Flora called his name as he dragged her out of the large building and outside to the car. He all but threw her in the car before he got into the other side and yelled at the driver to go.

"I...I...What did I do?" Helia gripped his hair in his hands, pulling at the dark strands. "I don't punch people? I don't even kill bugs. I just punched an old man, a potential business partner."

"Helia, breathe." Flora calmly tried to calm Helia down, her own tears beginning to subside.

"Flora, I...I...I..."

Flora grabbed Helia's head in her hands before she angled his face so it was facing her.

"Look at me!" It was time for Flora to give the orders. "Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Everything will be okay."

Helia focused his breath and focused on his meditation techniques. His hands covered Flora's that were on his cheeks. His dark blue eyes softening under her warm gaze and calm touch.

"You're going to be alright."

"I fucked up this whole trip. Radius Bank won't do business."

"You stood up for me." Flora countered weakly. "You punched him when he said those awful things about me. Thank you."

"And I would do it again."

Flora smiled as she removed her hands from Helia's face, taking away the warmth that they brought.

"And I would have done the same."

Helia closed his eyes and took in one more deep breath. When he opened his eyes, he realized just how close he was to Flora, their faces mere centimeters apart from each other. Noticing their close proximity, Flora leaned back. The car came to a stop and Helia looked out of the window, realizing that they were back at the hotel.

Making their way up to their rooms, the business couple stopped outside of their rooms, the silence palpable.

"I'm sorry that your night was not what you had planned. Maybe I shouldn't have come." Flora slumped.

"None of what happened tonight was your fault."

"But if I wasn't there, none of those things would have been said and you would have clenched the deal."

"All that showed me is that those men are people that I don't want to go into business with. You actually saved me a lot of trouble." Helia laughed half-heartedly.

"Just doing what any good assistant would do." Flora shrugged.

"Yeah..."

There was a moment of silence before Helia spoke up, "I actually have something for you. In the room."

"Something for me?" Flora was in disbelief as Helia pulled out his key card and swiped it to open the door. Flora followed Helia into his room where he marched over to his suitcase and unzipped the dark blue bag.

Flora stood beside him as he pulled out a rectangular shaped object covered in red wrapping paper.

"I know that you canceled your plans to see your parents over the holidays on account of my inconsiderate ass. I thought that you would like...that you deserved...I wanted to give you a present. As a way of saying sorry and that I might not always show it but I appreciate everything that you do and I am glad that you came into my life. I mean, glad that you came onto the Saladin Financial team."

"Helia, you didn't need to." Flora beamed as Helia gave her the present. She sank down to the edge of the bed and held the gift to her chest. Helia sat down beside her.

"I did." Helia smiled, "Now open it, I want to see your reaction."

Flora glanced up at Helia through her eyelashes as she carefully began to peel back the red wrapping paper. The paper fell from the object and Flora revealed a small 8x11 painting of what Flora recognized as the Water Stairway from Linphea. She ran her fingers along the edge of the painting, taking in the rich blues of the water and greens of the grass. Her hands paused when she saw H. Tanaka scrawled in the corner of the painting.

"Helia..."

"I just hope that I was able to-"

"It's beautiful." Flora gasped as she covered her mouth in disbelief, "I love it."

"I'm glad," Helia gave Flora a tender look, "I was worried that you wouldn't."

"C...c...can I hug you?" Flora asked as she shyly looked toward Helia for a response.

What a dumb question, Helia thought, of course she could. Though the business ethics Gods might argue against it.

"Of course." Helia answered and Flora wasted no time throwing her arms around Helia.

Strong arms wrapped around Flora's back as Helia held her close. She didn't want to let go of him and Helia was hard pressed to relinquish his hold on her. She was soft and warm, her hair smelled of vanilla and orange blossom.

Flora pulled away when the sounds of bangs and loud music was heard from outside of the hotel. She smiled at Helia, "Happy New Year, Mr. Saladin."

Helia raised his hand to cup Flora's cheek and jaw, her hair tickling his fingers.

"Helia."

Flora swallowed, "Helia."

Helia brought his head closer to Flora's until his lips grazed hers, allowing her to decide whether she would push away. Instead, she pushed in further, pressing her lips firmly to Helia's.

Wrapping her arms around Helia's neck, Flora pulled herself closer to Helia. Mouths began to move against one another until one of them opened their mouth, deepening the kiss. Who it was didn't matter. However, Flora found her senses becoming overwhelmed with the taste of cinnamon and Helia was inundated with the taste of peaches.

Helia wrapped his arms around Flora's waist and brought her closer to him so that she was not flushed against his body. The warmth radiating through her and causing his heart to race.

Flora pulled away, "I...I...I am sorry. I got carried away."

Helia scoffed, "Stop apologizing so much."

"You are my boss and we shouldn't have..."

Helia froze, "Did you not want to?"

"Yes...I mean no...I mean...I wanted to. I've wanted to kiss you for sometime now."

"Then why did you stop?"

"Did you not want me to?" Flora questioned.

"Does it seem that I want you to stop?"

Flora stammered, "So you have...you want to...want to with me?"

"Ever since you came into my office in that sinful green dress and decided to tear me a new one. Nobody had ever yelled at me like that."

"Really?" Flora's green eyes brightened.

"Like I said, I don't make it a habit of saying things that I don't mean."

Flora blushed as she looked down.

"What now?" Helia asked, placing a finger under Flora's chin and bringing her face up to meet her gaze.

"I would like to continue."

Helia's face lit up at Flora's request and before she had the chance to add on any kind of doubt, he crashed his lips onto hers. They moved with purpose and a hunger that Helia had never experienced before. A moan slipped from Flora's mouth and Helia felt the blood rush to his already aching cock.

Flora returned her arms around Helia's neck and gently fell back onto the bed. Helia's arms settled beside her head, holding himself up so as to not crush Flora under his weight. His sweet, beautiful, fierce, kind, strong, delicate Flora. Although not officially his, he would do whatever he could to make that possible. This is if she wanted it.

Wasting no time and admittedly getting a little ahead of herself, Flora began to push away Helia's suit jacket and began to pull at the knot of his tie. Helia though was not without haste as he peeled the straps of Flora's golden dress away and slipped down her dress past her bare breasts. As his fingers grazed the soft mounds, Helia moaned and Flora trembled.

"Sorry," Helia realized that he might have gone too far. That was until Flora reached up and returned her lips to Helia's and used her hand to place Helia's hand onto her breast.

"Please, Helia." Flora pleaded into Helia's mouth. "I want you."

"Fuck." Helia huffed as his hand massaged her breast. "Anything."

Flora arched her body into Helia's as she slipped her hand in between their bodies and began to undo the buttons of his white dress shirt. Helia pulled Flora's hands away and ripped open his shirt, the buttons flying in the air and clanking unceremoniously onto the floor of the large hotel room.

Greedy hands began to trail down the large expanse of Helia's muscular chest and Flora felt her center begin to throb. She needed him and she hoped that he was willing to give her what she wanted.

"Flora..." Helia moaned, "Flora, wait."

It was now Helia who pulled away, Flora's expression a mixture of hurt and disappointment.

"Have I gone too far again?" Helia looked down at Flora's worried face.

"No, not at all. I just..." Helia hesitated, "I just wanted to let you know that if you ever want to stop, please let me know. Though admittedly that the further we go, the harder it will be to stop."

"I don't want you to stop. I want you, Helia Kazuya Tanaka Saladin."

Where did she learn his full name? Eldora, Helia reckoned.

"I am going to want you for more than tonight, Flora. Not in the sense that a boss would typically utilize a beautiful assistant but because...I really do like you."

"I really like you too. I am yours." Flora smiled sweetly up at Helia.

"And I am yours."

Helia returned his lips to Flora's, carrying on from where they left off.

Flora lifted her body the best that she could as Helia pulled down the golden dress. He paused when he realized that Flora was not wearing any undergarments.

"Flora?"

"The dress was tight and..."

"And?"

"Stella..."

"Tell me," Helia's eyes went dark again, but this time with lust, "now."

"Stella said that if all went to plan that not wearing undergarments would work out in my favor."

"Well you can tell Stella that she is correct." Helia growled as he brought his mouth down to Flora's chest, eliciting a gasp from behind her soft and swollen lips.

Helia's mouth traveled further south as he placed kisses on her sternum, ribs, stomach, and hips before pausing.

"Not tonight." Flora grabbed Helia's face and returned her lips to his.

"Are you sure?" Helia asked, "I can if you want me to."

"I just want you inside me, Helia. Please." Flora began to grind her hips on Helia's crotch, still covered in his black suit pants. She left a wet spot as she dripped along the cloth, feeling his hard cock begging to burst free.

Helia reached down and undid the buckle of his belt before he made quick work of his pants and-unlike Flora-underwear. Now, both were completely nude and exposed to one another.

Flora could feel Helia's hard member as they ground their bodies against each other as they became lost in their kisses. Her legs instictually opened as Helia's hips absentmindedly lined up and began to grind with Flora's dripping sex.

"Flora, I..." Helia's voice was stained.

"I'm ready." Flora panted, "Helia, I'm ready for you."

That was all Helia needed before his hips stilled and he grabbed his cock. Looking down, he nearly came just looking at Flora's wet pussy, the moisture making it glisten.

"Shit." Helia cursed.

"Is everything alright?" Flora asked.

"Just looking down at you almost made me cum."

"Oh..."

Helia gave himself a few pumps before he quickly lined himself up to Flora's entrance and slowly moved his hips, pushing into Flora.

Flora's head fell back as Helia slowly filled her up. Her muscles clenched around him and Helia groaned. Fuck she was tight.

"Does it feel alright?" Helia had to ask as he glanced down and saw that Flora's face was contorted into an expression of discomfort.

"Perfect." Flora moaned.

"Good."

"Helia,"

"Yes?"

"Fuck me."

He didn't need to be told twice.

Helia pulled out slowly and pushed back in, a moan escaping Flora's mouth. The sound was like music to his ears. He moved his hips back and forth, slowly building up speed. He wanted it to feel good for Flora but he also wanted to last.

"Faster, Helia." Flora moaned. Helia began to snap his hips harder and faster. The sound of slapping skin and moans filled the hotel room as Helia moved faster and faster into Flora. Her moans became more breathy and ragged.

Helia pulled out and Flora was set to protest until Helia quickly flipped her around, causing Flora to let out a squeak.

"On your hands and knees." Helia commanded, "Please."

"Because you said please."

"Are you giving me sass?" More of Helia's dominant personality slipping out.

"Maybe..."

Helia didn't respond. Instead, he gripped Flora's hips and plunged straight into her. She gasped at the sudden pressure and her walls tightened around him.

"Fuck, Flora." Helia had to catch his breath, "Don't do that."

Flora giggled in reply and slowly began to rock her body back and forth, sheathing Helia's cock inside of her along the way.

"Oh, God..." Helia's head fell back. He began to move his hips to match her movements. Helia looked down and saw that every time their bodies met, Flora's ass would bounce as a result, sending his mind into a near tailspin. This woman was going to be the death of him.

He watched as her ass bounced and he did his best not to slap her ass. He didn't know if he was allowed and he was not going to test it their first time. She said that she was his but that still did not guarantee another time in the future. He didn't know what he would do if he couldn't have her again.

Helia began to feel the familiar tightening in his sac as Flora's moans became louder and louder. He could feel her walls begin to tremble and knew that she was about to come. His hand reached around her body and found her swollen clit. Pressing his fingers and rubbing, Flora yelled out in pleasure, her breathing becoming more and more labored as he rubbed.

"Helia...please..."

She sounded so desperate.

"I'm close." Helia announced when he could find the air to talk and breathe at the same time. "Where do you..."

He didn't need to finish his question for her to understand.

"My back...on my ass...fuck, Helia, anywhere." Flora moaned as she dropped her head into the mattress.

Helia kept moving his fingers along her clit, her words swirling through his head. He would cover her in his cum if he could but for now he had to make a decision and he had to decide fast.

"Helia...I can't..." Flora breathed as she felt her body begin to constrict within itself, her core tightening and the sweet release of an orgasm begging to escape.

"Helia...Helia...Helia..." Flora chanted his name, "Oh no!"

She clenched down on him and Helia had all plans to pull out and come on her back but feeling the result of her orgasm, Helia spilled inside of her with a final thrust and a grunt.

"Oh shit," Helia panted, "I'm sorry."

Flora didn't respond, her body limp and her mind a blur.

"Flora?"

She could hear him call out to her but she was nowhere near being on the same plane of existence as he was. But she had to come back to reality.

"Yes?"

"I um, I um..." Helia couldn't bring himself to say it in fear that she would be mad. He slid out of her and ripped a pillowcase off of the myriad of pillows on the bed to wipe the cum and vaginal juices from his cock. He looked down and saw the white cum seep out of Flora's entrance, both erotic and shameful. She was going to hate him.

"What?"

"I uh, came in you. I am so sorry."

Flora looked over behind her shoulder before turning onto her back and wrapped her arms around Helia's neck. He slowly lowered himself next to her on the bed and soon was spooning her. Still waiting on her response. But for now, he would enjoy being close to her.

"It's okay." Flora sighed, sleep beginning to overcome her senses.

"Are...are you sure?"

"I told you anywhere and I meant it."

Helia tensed.

"Don't worry. I'm not some slutty secretary who is going to trap you into a loveless and prenupless marriage while I watch over the kids and you fuck the young slut on the side."

Helia cringed at knowing that he had said on her first day when he just saw Flora as some plucky twenty-something.

"I can't believe I said that."

"You know what you want."

"I am a particular man." Helia tightened his grip on Flora, "And I particularly liked what we did."

"So did I." Flora turned around in Helia's arm to look at him. "And for the record, I have birth control...inside me..."

"Oh," Helia's eyes widened and then narrowed, "that's great to know."

"You old perv." Flora slapped Helia's chest.

"I'm only five years older than you..."

"Still old."

Helia sat up in the bed and swung his legs over the edge.

"Where are you going?" Flora asked.

"This old perv is going to go take a bath. Care to join?"

Well here is this one haha. THIS is now the longest story in the V&P Collection (42 pages whoops). I hope my fellow FloraxHelia lovers are happy. This story kind of went a lot of different directions in my head but this is where we landed.