Thanks for reading so far. I am hoping you're enjoying the story. While writing, I seem to have fallen in love with Sean and Bex and rooting for them to be together. I will keep you updated what comes out of my mind.

Here's the next one – a biut longer than Chapter 3 - enjoy!

Chapter 4

His brow furrowed in confusion. Still reeling from the news of her resigning, she threw him yet another curve ball.

"What?" he thought, rather stupidly.

He pinched the bridge of his nose and sat down next to her.

"I didn't expect to have the conversation like this, or ever," she said, her face half hidden from him.

He continued to be silent allowing her the space to breathe and just be.

If he were to be honest with himself, he was in a state of shock himself. Was he truly this blind when it came to women or was it just this woman.

He could see she was holding herself still, and he was once again close enough to see her pulse race at the base of her throat.

He kept his thoughts to himself and waited for her.

After a beat,

"Sean…"

"Bex…"

She looked at his from the corner of eye. Her face was all flushed.

"I should go. I didn't mean to put you in this position. This is my problem, not yours. I am so sorry."

"What for?" finally asking the question he truly wanted to know the answer to.

"Sean….please," she said softly.

He stayed quiet.

Without looking at him she said, "They're all probably waiting for you inside. I have kept you way too long. I'll book a taxi to the hotel."

"No. I'm going to drop you back." he said with an authority that she recognised would not stand to be questioned.

In the next moment, she felt his presence beside her, patiently waiting for her to rise on her own. She wanted to insist on doing it herself, but deep down, she knew she longed for a little more time in his company before everything came to a close.

He walked at her side and lightly touched her elbow to guide her to his rental. As he usually did, he opened the passenger side and helped her inside first and walked to the driver's end and seated himself. She automatically brought her arm up and her hand rested on her cheek, half covering her face. She suddenly felt way warmer than before.

They continued in silence for what seemed like hours. He leant forward and fiddled with the radio and chose a random station to pump some sound in the car.

Pulling up in front of their hotel, he handed his keys to the valet, while she waited for him to join her on the steps to the entrance.

As they walked toward the lifts, he half turned and asked, "Would you join me in a nightcap, we can go to the bar."

Not having the heart to refuse, she said, "Sure, I just need to freshen up a bit."

His face remained totally unreadable as he nodded.

"I'm happy to wait. Shall I order you a G ?"

"Yes please, thank you."

She didn't know quite what to expect but knew they needed to talk. They had a perfectly nurtured friendship within their professional roles, and she couldn't just leave that in tatters.

"So let's get on with it Bex," she steeled herself mentally, squared her shoulders and walked into the bar.

As her eyes swept the room, she couldn't find him anywhere. After a moment, an attendant approached and informed her that the gentleman she was looking for was seated at a table in the private lounge, hidden just behind the bar.

He glanced up as she entered and rose to pull out a chair for her. He had picked a quiet, softly lit corner of the lounge where they wouldn't be disturbed. His gaze briefly traced her figure, her dress gently embracing her curves, as it always did.

"Had she changed?" he thought at the back of his mind. She did seem a bit more relaxed than earlier at the pub.

"Cheers." he murmured quietly, clinking their glasses together.

After a beat, "Bex, will you never look me in the eyes again?" he asked softly, a silent request for her to lift her face.

Dutifully, she looked up and smiled. How could she refuse this man anything?

Her gaze felt like a punch to his gut, and all rational thoughts seemed to leave his mind. She had bared her soul to him and expected nothing in return. Wasn't it time he admitted that he had thought about a moment exactly like this? Where they could be equals, in more ways than one. A world where he wasn't her boss, and they were just a man and a woman who found each other terribly attractive. And what would be so wrong about that?

"Have I lost you already?", he asked instead, holding her gaze steady.

"I'm right here, Sean," she answered softly. "I'll stay till you find a replacement and I meant what I said, I won't let you down.

"I'm finding it difficult to care about work right now," he admitted grudgingly. "And you could never let me down," he finished, his eyes uncharacteristically averted.

She took a sip to her parched throat.

"So, what did he care about right now, if not work," she thought to herself, but couldn't bring herself to ask this out loud.

They were sat next to each other, knees almost touching. In their previous world – she already thought about a before and after her revelation – there would be a comfortable spark fuelling their working relationship, joined with quick banter and laughter, and joy in each other's company. Was that a thing of the past? She was afraid of the answer.

"What's on your mind?" he asked, his voice taking in a deeper tone.

"Not much," she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper. A warm tingle spread through her stomach and before her mind could catch up, she leaned into him and rested her cheek to his. As he moved into the embrace, she turned her head just enough to press her lips to his. The kiss lasted only a few seconds, but she lingered in the moment, searching his eyes as she pulled away.

She barely had time to catch her breath before they both leaned in again. He had set down his drink placing her glass on the table, his hands now free. Her fingers traced the curve of his shoulders, brushing against the hairs on the back of his neck, urging his mouth closer.

His hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer, and at some point during the kiss, she found herself sitting beside him on the plush sofa. She pulled back slightly, a smile playing on her lips as she met his gaze. She was half sitting on his lap and realized how much she liked the sensation. Slowly, her fingertips traced the curve of his jawline, then the line of his lips. Their eyes locked again, and it was clear to both of them where the night was heading.

"Would you like me to let go?" His breath was warm, his fingers holding her gently, a soft whisper between them.

"Only to walk with me to the lift," she replied, her voice firm with the certainty they both shared.

That was the decisive Bex he had come to know and lo…his brain froze for a millisecond.

"What was that about?" he shook himself mentally as they both stood up.

She straightened her dress where it had ridden up her thighs. She had changed her clothes; he registered dimly at the back of his mind. And there was a sultry scent about her that he hadn't realised until then. He knew he stood no chance against whatever was happening between them, and, also, because he didn't want to fight it.

Thank you for reading.

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