This is where things go wildly off course

My computer dings and I check the clock. Five minutes is not a bad response time. I haven't reached out to Kai too often – it's not like there's a lot we have to talk about – but since the scare two weeks ago that resulted in me crawling out of a window, I've been keeping him reassured that things are going as planned.

Except for my last message.

I have decided that you've suffered the burden of our secret long enough and I am serving notice: as of this Saturday, you will be released from your duties of "fake boyfriend." If there are any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to keep them to yourself.

Thank you,

H

I open his reply, eager despite myself.

No questions. No concerns. Take care of yourself.

Best,

K

I don't know what I was expecting. Maybe something a little...more?

I shake my head, chuckling to myself and turning back to my work. Pathetic. But he rescued me and I'll never forget it. From now on, if I ever hear anyone saying a bad thing about Kai Hiwatari, I will stand up and let them know they couldn't be more wrong. I can't say the specifics of my knowledge, of course, but I won't let that stop me. Not after everything he's done.

The lunch hour ends and eventually, my so-called co-workers start trickling back to their desks. I see Brooklyn's orange-red hair over the top of the cubical walls and try not to let his presence disturb me. As he comes down our aisle, his fingers dance over the tops of the chairs. They pause when he gets to my chair and I wait, suspended in anticipation.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

Each tap felt like an earthquake.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

And then he's gone, finishing his stroll to his window cubical where he'll spend the rest of the day watching the sky.

"Oh, hello little birdie,"

I hate him.

The office lulls into its usual rhythm and I drown in my focus. My inbox is seemly never-ending and occasionally my phone rings with people and their questions. After five years, my explanations are as simple and concise as they can be, but it still feels like the distraction takes too long.

At 4:30, my phone rings again. Strange. I'm surprised any of them are still working hard enough to have a question.

"Hilary," I answer.

"Hil, when do you get off of work?"

My eyes shift back and forth as I catch up to what's happened. I was expecting a co-worker. Instead, I hear Emily's voice.

"What?"

"What. Time. Do. You. Get. Off. Of. Work."

"Okay, no need to be rude," I sigh. "Technically, five. But I have a lot to do. Why?"

"I need you to come to a company dinner tonight,"

I blanch. "Um, no."

"Look, Michael is sick and I have an extra place setting. And you know I can't ask Queen. She'd laugh me out of the country."

"Can't you go alone?"

"No. This is for charity and I paid for the plate. Hilary, just please come up here."

"You're two hours away, not even considering rush hour. Even if I leave right when I get off, I still wouldn't make it there until after seven."

"That's fine. The event doesn't start until eight and that means food won't even be served until 8:45 at the earliest."

"I don't know,"

"Hilary, you can't abandon me like this,"

I'm not abandoning her. If anyone is, it's Michael. But try explaining that to her.

"Fine. But I have nothing to wear. My work clothes aren't exactly company dinner-worthy."

"Let me take care of that, just get up here."

Then she hangs up. Why can't people say good-bye like normal? That conversation takes up almost the rest of my time. There's no use in starting something if I'll only have to leave in five minutes.

"Have a good night, Hilary," Brooklyn says as he walks past.

"Yeah, you too," I mutter back. Maybe he's right and I shouldn't feel so bad about leaving this early. I shut down my computer and pack my things. The elevator is crowded with all the people leaving at once and they talk over each other. I crave my silent ride. Once outside, I divert from my usual course and head for the trains. My feet ache, but the train is so crowded that I have no choice but to stand. I grip the bar, leaning against it for support.

How do I get myself into these situations?

Why didn't I use my fake boyfriend? Technically, I still have him until tomorrow. I could have said we have a date. Stupid.

Emily is waiting for me at the station when I get off.

"I see I'm going to have to do your make-up too," she mumbles when I get into the car.

I don't bother to respond to that. Of course, she's going to have to redo it. I don't use a lot for work and it's been eight hours.

Back at her house – which is gorgeous and big despite it being just the two of them, all that baseball money – Emily immediately hustles me upstairs to her bedroom.

"Don't think I didn't see Michael lounging on the couch with ice cream. I thought you said he was sick?"

She waves her hand. "He's got a headache. You're here already so there's no going back. Here, put this on,"

She passes me a deep, forest green dress. "Um, Emily? I appreciate it, but this dress..."

Emily is beautiful. Her long red hair and big blue eyes set her apart from most others. Even when she wears glasses and a lab coat, she is a sight to behold. My brown hair and brownish eyes don't hold a candle to her. The only thing I have on her is height. I'm already a good five inches taller. To add to that, I wear heels while she prefers flats.

"You'll be fine,"

I look again. The hem would barely reach my mid-thigh. While I don't have a problem showing a little skin, the sharp dip over the cleavage will have me paranoid all night.

"Hurry up, Hil. I still have to do your make-up and it's almost eight."

Giving up, I strip out of my work clothes and step into the green dress. It rides up pretty high. I try to make it longer by pulling it down as I sit in front of her vanity mirror. After I stop struggling, she sets to work.

"You know," Emily says, "I've always been envious of your complexion. It's so easy to work with."

She brushes some powder over my eyes. "Uh-huh,"

"And your legs, they're so long and lean. For someone who doesn't work out, you've got amazing calves."

"I walk to work every day,"

"Oh, that's right," she laughs. I open my eyes to catch her expression. Surprisingly, it's softer than I expected. "My point is, this dress? It does all the right things for you. You may even catch someone's eye tonight."

Weird. It almost sounds like she's rooting for me. "Well, I wouldn't want that. I have a boyfriend."

"Yes, Mr. Kai Hiwatari. Amazing. How did you guys meet again?"

"In the elevator," I say quickly. That's the truth but it's also the only thing I've prepared to say about him.

"You already told me that, but I want the story. Come on, Hilary, spill."

She's gently pulling a brush through my hair, separating it into sections and I wonder what she's planning on doing with it.

"I always work late and usually the building is empty. But suddenly he was there. In the building with me, on the elevator with me. And we just sort of...clicked."

I'm doomed. My crush is in full-blown overdrive. My heart is pounding at the scenario I've crafted even though my head knows it's all a lie.

"Was there a steamy elevator scene?"

"Ew, no!" I laugh, smacking her arm lightly. "There're cameras all over that building."

"Too bad, I bet it'd be great."

I groan. "Emily, stop."

"You're blushing at the thought!" She says, looking at me in the mirror. "You really like him, huh?"

"I'm blushing because you're embarrassing me." I have to avert my sight. I'm afraid that if she sees my expression, she'll know everything. She's smart like that.

"Okay, I think you're ready."

She's right. This shade of green isn't the best color for me but I am fortunate that my hair and complexion go with almost everything. The job she's done with my make-up is dark and makes me look...seductive. I narrow my eyes. Yes, this Hilary, whoever she is, could definitely demand some attention. Emily's also curled my hair into soft waves around my shoulders.

"Now move so that I can do mine."

I get up from the chair so that she can have the best light. She tells me there are a matching clutch and shoes by the bed and I find them, slipping on the strappy, thin heels. I'm used to high heels from work, so these actually are a little low for me. After the shoes, I transfer the contents of my bag to the clutch and stand before her mirror. The make-up, shoes, and clutch bring the whole look together, and for a night I'm someone other than Workaholic Hilary.

Moments later, Emily is standing in front of me in a dark navy dress that hides her little bump nicely and brings the focus to her blue eyes.

"I never got to congratulate you," I say, motioning towards her stomach.

Her hands drift down, smoothing over the dress. For the second time that evening, she appears softer than usual. Maybe motherhood will be good for her. Then her face contorts as she whispers, "It's weird, right, Hilary? Yesterday we were kids and now we're starting families and dating famous CEOs."

"Right," I nod, reminded again that she's in a different stage of life than me. "It's weird."

"Do you...do you want to feel it?" She motions toward her stomach.

I start. "Is there something to feel?"

"Well, no. Not yet. To be honest, it creeps Michael out, so I've just been alone in this."

"Oh, well," my words fall between us. I hadn't considered what could be happening behind the superior smile she always shows the world. My hand reaches out as I step closer. It settles over her swollen stomach. "Weird," I whisper. Because it's all so very real.

She nods. Taking a deep breath, she puts that smile back in place. "Ready for dinner?"

"Ready,"

The drive to the banquet hall is better than the drive to her house. We talk easily about her job and the charity that is being sponsored tonight. Her boss, Judy, has picked young athletes from disadvantaged families.

"It's very typical of her. She likes athletes but you can't sponsor rich kids."

"Interesting,"

"But she's the best in the industry and I can't imagine working for anyone else. I've learned so much from her already, about being a woman in the business world. And now I'll learn about being a wife and a mom in the business world too."

She pulls into the parking lot and up to the valet. As she goes to unbuckle her seatbelt, I put my hand out to stop her.

"Emily," I say as firmly as I can so she knows I'm serious, "you're a rock star. And a rocket scientist, or whatever it is you do here. You're going to be the best businesswoman slash mom slash wife of a professional baseball player that there's ever been."

She sighs and smiles. "Thanks, Hil. I needed that."

We get out of the car and head into the venue. There's soft music playing while the crowd mingles. We're a little late, arriving closer to 8:30 than 8:00 p.m. and Emily immediately gets drawn into a conversation with her associates, leaving me alone. I smile at those who pass by and take the appetizers going around on trays. I can't believe how hungry I am once the tiny morsel hits my tongue. I almost go to follow the staff around until Emily can show us to our seats for dinner.

"Hilary," Emily calls, waving me over. She motions for me to follow her while we head to our table. "You know, you've been really nice coming up here at the last second. I can't thank you enough for what you said in the car,"

I feel bad for all the sour thoughts I had towards her on the train ride up. Maybe she just needed a girl around to care for her a little bit. It can't be easy dealing with a husband who isn't as excited for the next stage in their lives. "That's what I'm here for,"

"Yeah," she smiles sweetly, "which is why I now kind of feel bad about this."

We reach our table and it takes me a moment to process what she's talking about. There are two chairs left open at the five-top. In one chair is a stylish blonde woman who I assume is Judy, Emily's boss and mentor. She's slim and sleek, her mouth curved into a practiced grin.

Next to her is a blond man, younger than the woman, a charming spread of freckles across his nose. He's leaning on the table, his hands under his chin to prop up his head with the most warming smile of all present at the table.

And I can say that truthfully, because on the other side of the blond man is a darker figure, his posture perfectly straight. Halfway to his lips is a glass of icy water, frozen in midair.

"Kai," I say. It's the only word I can think of. I can literally feel my mind spinning out of control. Fires are starting. Circuit boards are misfiring. Everything is crashing. I'm toast.

I notice a drop of condensation fall to the white table cloth.

"Oh, do you guys already know each other?" The blond man asks, blinking at me in delightful surprise.

"Max, silly, they're dating," Emily says as she sits in the chair next to Judy. Leaving the only open seat between her and Kai.

"Really?" Judy asks, examining me with an unsparing eye.

"Emily," I hiss because regardless of our dinner companions, that is still a secret.

She lifts her gaze to me. "Whoops,"

"Kai The Sly strikes again," this Max person laughs. "How long have you been holding out on us this time?"

He's finally put his drinking glass down. Looking at me through lowered lashes, he smoothly pushes his chair back and stands. "If you'll excuse us,"

I'm still frozen and it isn't until he puts his hand on my back to guide me through the crowd that I'm able to move.

"I want you to know I had no idea you were going to be here," I whisper to him. I can't believe this is happening. "I didn't even know I was going to be here until four hours ago."

"I believe you," he replies, nodding to another person while still leading me away. We get out of the banquet hall and into the less crowded lobby. Still, for privacy I assume, he leads us even farther down the side halls to the least crowded area.

"What should we do?" I ask once we're alone except for a few people milling about.

"I don't think we have a choice," he answers. His voice is deep and curt. Like me, he's probably already played out the various options, which are admittedly limited, and has settled on the one that's the least dramatic. "Besides, you did say I was off boyfriend duty tomorrow. I guess I still have some slack to carry,"

I look up at him, wondering at the humored tone he'd picked up. His eyes, more reddish than brown at the moment, shine at me and there is a playful bend to his lips.

"You're not mad?"

"I'm irritated," he muses. "It's not how I planned on spending my evening. But what good would fighting it do?"

"I guess the good thing is that we're still supposed to be a secret, so we don't have to act like a couple,"

"True, but if we don't act like we're at least attracted to each other, the people at our table might start to wonder. Especially your Emily."

I roll my eyes at being reminded of her. I bet Michael wasn't even sick. It's clear to me now that Emily planned this, probably from wanting to see how we act in each other's presence because she can't believe I'd be able to catch him.

Which is true, of course. But she's still annoying.

"That won't be too hard, right?"

"Hmm?"

He smirks. "Acting like we're attracted to each other? You won't find it too difficult?"

If I'd been drinking, I'd have choked. Instead, to cover my state of shock, I laugh. "Don't worry about me. I don't think I'm the one with the difficult job here,"

"Oh now, Hilary," he chuckles darkly, "don't be so hard on yourself."

I have to review the words in my head to realize I said it'd be difficult to find me attractive.

"I meant your acting, of course," I hurry to correct. "You know I've never really seen much emotion from you. Are you sure you're not a robot?"

"Of course that's what you meant," he agrees but just like before, I can tell he sees right through my lies. "Let's get back before they think I've kidnapped you into one of these empty rooms."

What would we be doing in an empty room?

OH.

"Great, I'm starving," I cheer instead, falling in step with him. As we walk through the lobby, a man shouts out.

"Hiwatari! Look here,"

"Don't look," Kai whispers to me but it's too late. My head turns just in time to be blinded by a flash.

Notes: Hello! Thank you for reading and keeping up with me. Please let me know what you think! Have a wonderful week, see you next time - konix