Author's Notes:

I've submitted this little story for the Literotica 25th Anniversary Challenge.

I'm grateful for Literotica, which gave me my first platform to share stories.

Congratulations, Literotica, for 25 excellent years!

-=-

We're told, "Your perfect match is out there. All you have to do is open yourself to the possibility of love, and you'll find your soulmate."

That's a lovely thought, but it's an inherently flawed concept. A 'perfect' match? Who's perfect? We're only human, after all.

Finding a 'compatible' match can be difficult enough when your hopes and desires follow society's norms. Stray outside those boundaries, and your task becomes increasingly challenging.

Here's a funny notion: Soulmate status doesn't require perfection. Empathy, acceptance, and compromise strengthen relationships in ways no baseless expectations ever could.

-=-

This is a one-off story. There will be no sequel for this one.

All characters engaging in sexual relationships or activities are 18 years old or older.

********

Final Peace

********

Elaine Montgomery wasn't a pleasure to work with.

None of the other executives at the company conferred with her unless they had to. But as she was their in-house legal counsel, sometimes they had no choice. None of them invited her to lunch or any other social events. No one wanted her to join their table at company functions.

This shunning wasn't due to her being rude or sharp-tongued. She had a soft voice and was an eloquent conversationalist once engaged.

It wasn't because she neglected her personal hygiene. She was well-groomed, wore a subtle perfume, and her ebony hair, which reached the middle of her back in gentle waves, was freshly washed and gleaming every day.

It certainly wasn't because the twenty-eight-year-old was hard on the eyes. With her dark, luxurious mane of hair, dark chocolate brown eyes, high cheekbones, slim nose, and full sensual lips, her features drew the eyes. She was tall and lushly curved as well.

All these things would normally bring her attention and companionship, but she remained alone in her workplace and personal life.

Her peers made attempts to connect over the years, but one by one, they determined they wouldn't be around her if it could be helped. There was no malicious intent, and none held any ill will towards her, but they avoided her nonetheless.

Working for her was harder still. Executive assistants never lasted more than three months before they requested to be transferred or resigned.

The comments HR received during the exit interviews all pointed to the same complaint.

Elaine Montgomery was the least happy person they'd ever met.

She wasn't a complainer. She didn't whine, bitch, speak condescendingly or sarcastically, but every assistant assigned to her, by the end, desperately wanted to get away from her.

The more bubbly and enthusiastic the Executive Assistant was, the quicker they became demoralized. Nothing could break through the wall of melancholy Elaine built around herself. Everything seemed to disappoint the woman but people most of all.

She seemed destined to be alone.

-=-

Heather Duncan was the company's head of Human Resources.

She was also at her wit's end.

She was beginning to think it had become her sole task to find someone who could tolerate Elaine's unique method of torment.

Heather even spoke with the CEO about the possible economic benefits of just replacing Ms. Montgomery. That idea was summarily dismissed as the woman was singularly brilliant at her job, and the very thought of losing her was unthinkable.

Heather heard the message loud and clear and never brought it up again.

Her secondary purpose seemed to be finding positions within the company for the CEO's brood of children as they grew up and entered the workforce. All five of them had so far proven to be an epic pain in the ass. None wanted to actually earn their daily wage, and all thought they deserved to start at the top. She saw an entry in her calendar this morning from the CEO herself. Her last born, number six, was back from flunking out of college. Heather knew the CEO was pretty outspoken about how disappointing her son James was. She'd witnessed the woman browbeating the young man before the other execs at a party. That had been particularly embarrassing to see.

Heather pulled up a listing of open positions and frowned. Shit! There really wasn't anything she could place James into.

She jumped when her intercom buzzed.

"Yes?"

"Mrs. Davenport is here to see you with her son James."

"Thanks, Mary. Send them in," Heather sighed. Raquel was early, as usual. Hell of a way to start a week.

The stern expression on the CEO's face was her first clue that this wouldn't be a friendly visit.

"Good morning, Mrs. Davenport. Good morning, James."

"Good morning, Heather." The CEO aimed a frown at her son. "Speak up, James!"

The young man flinched, then turned his blue eyes to Heather. "Good morning, Mrs. Duncan."

She thought he had the loveliest eyes.

"James failed in the courses I signed him up for at university, so I hope you have something to keep him occupied," Raquel snapped, and Heather froze. She wasn't going to like this news, and Heather was worried about how she would take it out on her son.

Her expression must have made that clear as the CEO spoke immediately. "What about that EA position for Elaine?" Raquel suggested.

Heather blinked at the woman. "Work for Elaine?"

Raquel frowned. "Yes, she just lost another assistant, didn't she? I heard something about a blowout in the cafeteria."

Heather sighed and nodded. That was another black mark on her department.

"I'll leave him with you then." With that, Raquel left.

Heather looked at James, and he looked back at her, then looked down, unable to hold her eye. The HR chief felt bad for the boy, but she had her orders. She also felt sorry for herself at being saddled with yet another Davenport brat!

Normally, she would have one of her staff process him, but Heather did this one personally. She gestured for him to take a seat and brought up the interface for new employee intake.

Once she had all his personal information and had no other excuses, she stood and shook James' hand. "Welcome aboard."

He just nodded and looked at her with wide blue eyes. She reflected that he looked younger than his twenty-four years. Maybe it was his five-foot-five height combined with his slight build, pale skin, slightly longer blond hair, and the innocence in his baby-blue eyes.

"Okay, let's go speak with Ms. Montgomery."

James just nodded. She hoped his timid nature didn't hinder his ability to manage the position's responsibilities.

They went up to the top floor and to Elaine's office. The EA desk outside her door was empty, and all personal effects of the last victim—last EA collected and mailed to her home.

Elaine's door was open, so she knocked on the door jamb and smiled at the woman.

"Good morning, Elaine!"

Dark eyes looked up from her desk to acknowledge her. "Good morning, Heather." She looked expectantly at the HR chief.

"I'd like to introduce you to your new Executive Assistant, James Davenport, youngest son of our CEO."

Elaine just looked at her, so Heather turned and saw James was hidden behind her. She snagged his sleeve and pulled him into the doorway.

The young man seemed to lock up when he faced Elaine. Heather looked back to Elaine, who was staring at James curiously. The silence was becoming awkward.

"James, this is Ms. Montgomery. She's your new boss," the head of HR said, watching his face. His eyes flicked to hers then he bowed to Elaine. He bowed! Heather stifled a snort of amusement as his face flushed with embarrassment.

She looked to Elaine to explain away the young man's awkwardness but saw she was standing and coming around her desk. Heather saw an opportunity to leave and didn't want to spend more time on this. Frankly, she wanted to wash her hands of the whole mess.

"Well, I'll leave you two to it. Good luck!"

With that, Heather hustled away. She had real work to do!

-=-

Elaine stood before the young man and saw he was trembling slightly. She thought this was strange as she'd only just met him. She'd seen others behave this way, but only after working with her for some time. She wondered if he was going to quit on his first day.

"Do you have any experience as an Executive Assistant?"

"No," James said quietly.

She looked closer at him. "I'll need you to speak up, please."

Blue eyes flicked up to look into hers. "No, ma'am," he said with acceptable volume.

She smiled. "Better, but the ma'am won't do. You should call me Ms. Montgomery."

"Yes, Ms. Montgomery," he said quickly, almost eagerly.

She examined him again and saw him straighten his posture subtly, and his chin came up slightly. A strange sensation tickled the back of her mind at the edge of her awareness.

"This isn't the first time we've met, is it," she asserted as a memory surfaced of a party at the CEO's home.

His face flushed red, and his blue eyes flicked to her face. "We've met."

"Raquel had you working as a waiter at one of her executive parties at her mansion. You dropped a few flutes of champagne."

James' face burned as he recalled the humiliation of the verbal flaying he'd received from his mother before the gathering... before her. He nodded stiffly, and his eyes dropped.

She saw his discomfort and touched his arm. Immediately, his eyes lifted to hers.

"That's not how I treat those who work for me. I expect professional and courteous behavior, and you can expect the same from me." She caught a slight tremble in his arm, so she released it. He swayed slightly towards her, then pulled back.

Elaine gestured for him to sit at the desk outside her office. He moved to do so and glanced up at her once he was seated.

"You know how to use a computer and the suite of business apps?" she asked.

"Yes," he nodded.

She held his eyes. "The calendar application as well. We use that extensively," she stressed.

"Yes, I'm familiar with how it works," he confirmed.

"Good," she said with a smile, and one appeared on his lips as well, briefly.

"Have you used a multi-line office phone?" she asked.

"No," he said.

"The desk phone manual is on your PC's desktop. I expect you to read it and learn it. If you have questions, please ask me. Understood?"

"Yes, Ms. Montgomery!"

She smiled and patted his shoulder, and a wide smile appeared on his face. He immediately turned to the PC and opened the digital manual.

With a nod, she returned to her desk as she had work to do.

She was deep inside a vendor contract when she heard the phone ring on James' desk. She was about to call out that she had it when she saw the line stop flashing.

"Ms. Montgomery's office. May I help you?" James said with only the slightest wobble in his voice. She listened carefully.

"Hello, Mr. Trent. Let me check her calendar for you." There was a brief pause. "Wednesday the twenty-first, you said, at ten AM?"

Elaine opened her calendar as well and listened for additional details.

"I can give you thirty minutes at ten AM or an hour from two-thirty PM until three-thirty PM." James offered, still with a slight wobble, but she was pleased so far.

"Ten AM it is. Thank you, Mr. Trent. Goodbye!" She heard James take a deep breath once he hung up. The calendar entry appeared with the necessary information.

She stood and walked out to his desk. He looked up at her nervously. "You did very well on your first call," she said, and he almost glowed under her praise. "You took to our phone system quite quickly. Normally, I wouldn't make you take the calls in your first week until you understand the button options, but that went very smoothly."

"Oh! Did I overstep my bounds?" he gasped in worry.

"No, it's fine! You just surprised me. Keep it up!" She gave him a smile, and he relaxed once more. She returned to her desk, feeling a little better about his survival chances. He'd learned how to navigate their older and less-than-intuitive phone system and dealt with one of the line managers for her. So far, so good. She certainly found his attitude refreshing.

When lunch rolled around, Elaine left her office to stand before his desk. "I'm going to lunch—just to the cafeteria. The food is pretty good and not too expensive. I usually take an hour and take a walk after I eat. What did you plan for lunch?"

He blinked at her. "I-I didn't bring a lunch. I don't know where the cafeteria is. I've never been in this building before."

Elaine looked back at him in surprise. "Okay, why don't you come with me today so I can show you where things are?" He smiled at her and then picked up the phone's handset while punching in some numbers.

"You've reached the office of Ms. Montgomery. Please leave a message; she will return your call when she's available. Thank you." He pressed another button and then placed the handset back in its cradle.

Elaine smiled at the young man. "I'm impressed by how quickly you're mastering the phone system. Your predecessors all struggled with it."

"I-I get technology. I mean, I can usually figure it out pretty quickly, especially if I get a manual, and I remember patterns easily." He smiled at her shyly.

"Still, it's a really good start." She watched his face as she complimented him and could see how happy he was becoming. She tucked that away and led him to the elevators. The car was empty when it reached the top floor, so they got in, and she pressed the ground floor button. The building was only ten floors, but it was lunch hour, so the elevator stopped on every floor to let hungry people get on. James moved as the car filled until he found himself pressed against the side of the tall executive.

When the car stopped again on the third floor to let more people on, Elaine had enough.

"The car is full. Take the stairs or wait for the next one," she said with a firm tone. Conversation in the car stopped, and the people trying to push on immediately stepped back. As the doors closed, she looked to James to share a smile of disbelief. She wasn't expecting him to be looking up at her in awe. A little tingle ran down her spine. He quickly lowered his eyes as his face turned a delightful shade of pink. She felt a tremble run through his arm pressed against her side.

When they got to the second floor, the doors opened again, and the waiting staff took one look at the uncomfortable expressions on the faces of the silent occupants and stepped back to let the door close.

Finally, they reached the ground floor, and the people quickly left the car, letting Elaine exit with James close behind. The cafeteria had a large seating area at the back of the main floor. It also opened up on one side to a large patio with tables under umbrellas. When they reached the large chamber, they saw a long line of staff waiting. Elaine touched James' arm and indicated he should follow her. "Lunch is my treat today." His mouth opened and closed silently, then he nodded with a timid smile as his face flushed. Blue eyes watched her as she strode forward to a second counter, smaller than the main one. One of the kitchen staff rushed over to attend to them.

"I'll have a pastrami sandwich on light rye with mild deli mustard and a small garden salad with light Italian dressing." She looked back at James. "What would you like?"

Blue eyes scanned the menu boards, then went back to her. "The same?" he asked quietly.

She nodded and turned to the woman. "Make it two."

The kitchen worker nodded and rushed away to prepare their food.

James saw some people in the main line casting less than friendly looks their way. He looked to the executive, but she showed no sign of noticing.

"Do we have a new exec, or did one of the little people pick the wrong line again?"

James turned to look up at the smirking face of a blond man in a very expensive suit. Gold glinted from the chunky watch poking from the cuff of his jacket and from several thick rings on his fingers.

"Davin, try to pretend you can be civil," Elaine sighed. "James, this is Davin Gray, VP of International Sales." She gestured to James. "Davin, this is my new Executive Assistant, James Davenport."

Davin snorted. "They got you another assistant?!? I've only been with the company for nine months, and you've had at least four in that time! Good luck, kid!"

Elaine said nothing as she waited.

Davin's grin began to slip as he failed to get a rise from the woman. Something she'd said was percolating in his mind. Then his smile dropped away completely as the name finally sunk in. "Davenport? As in the CEO's kid?" he exclaimed.

"The same," Elaine said calmly.

"Nice to meet you, sir," James said, holding out his hand.

Looking distinctly uncomfortable, Davin shook it and glared at Elaine.

Their lunches were brought to the counter, so James moved to pick the tray up.

Elaine nodded to Davin and walked towards the cashier's station with a satisfied smile. She picked up two bottles of water from the cooler as James followed. She paid for their meals, led him through the patio doors, and found a table at the far side near the trees.

James set the tray down and looked around. "This is really nice!"

She smiled at his obvious delight. She realized he was very honest with his emotions. The phrase wearing his heart on his sleeve was definitely appropriate for James. She appreciated that as it made him easier to read. "Yes, I like to bring a book and read here during my lunch."

"Oh! Do you want to read it today? I could go back to get your book for you!" he offered.

"No, that's fine. Let's enjoy our lunch and get to know each other. We're going to be working very closely. It's best to get acquainted with each other's idiosyncrasies early on to determine if we can make this work."

Large blue eyes watched her, then glanced towards the cafeteria. "Mr. Gray mentioned you've had four executive assistants. I hope I can meet your needs—I mean, expectations!" he stumbled through his words, his pale skin pinking up.

She watched him squirm under her gaze and felt that odd tingle once more. She pushed that aside and smiled. "So far, you're exceeding my expectations, so keep it up."

His body language clearly showed the effect her praise was having on the young man. His posture straightened. His chin came up as a happy smile spread across his face. She looked closer and marveled at how baby smooth his skin appeared. Did he spend any time in the sun? She also loved how easy it was to see his embarrassment. The paleness of his skin displayed his flush so visibly.

"What were you doing before coming to work at your mother's company?" she asked.

His joy dimmed. "I was in college, but I failed my courses."

"What were you studying?" she asked.

"Mother enrolled me to become a lawyer," he said, looking down.

"You didn't like it?" she asked curiously.

His eyes became a little desperate as he knew she was a lawyer, and she could tell he didn't want to insult her. "It's not for everyone," she assured him, and his relief was evident. He shook his head timidly.

"What do you want to be?" she asked.

He looked into her eyes. "I want to be your Executive Assistant!" he asserted.

He startled a chuckle out of her then she saw he was serious.

"Did you ask for this job?" Elaine asked in surprise.

"No, I had no idea you needed an assistant when Mother brought me in and took me into Mrs. Duncan's office. Mother suggested it," he insisted.

Elaine nodded as she leaned back in her chair. "You must have some aspirations greater than Executive Assistant."

He shook his head. "Unlike my brothers and sisters, I never really gave it much thought. I got excellent grades in school, all A's, but I've never had any specific goals for my future. I'm more of a day-at-a-time person. All the ambition must have gone to my siblings. Of course, my Mother got the lion's share."

She smiled at him for opening up to her. He grinned happily in return.

"If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" she asked.

He shook his head to indicate he didn't mind at all. "I'm almost twenty-five."

She raised an amused eyebrow. "Almost?"

His face warmed up again. "My birthday is coming up soon." The smile disappeared. "Mother insisted I make something of myself before I reached that age. It seems I'll disappoint her again."

They turned to their meals and made happy sounds as the sandwiches were very good.

They talked about their favorite music and books and discovered there were some mutual interests.

She noted he'd gone a little quiet and was squirming once more. "What is it?"

"The party where I dropped the champagne glasses... I want you to know I appreciate that you didn't laugh or look at me with pity. You were the only one who didn't." He looked up from the table surface into her eyes.

She recalled the moment and how disappointed she'd been with her coworkers. She couldn't change them if the issue came from the top and she liked her job. She had felt sorry for the young man, but she was careful not to let it show and make things worse for him.

She nodded to him now, and he smiled and returned to his meal.

"What do you do for fun?" she asked as she finished her salad.

"I play the stock market," he said with a little smile.

She looked at him in surprise. "Really? This is fun to you?"

A little smile of satisfaction appeared on his face. "Yeah. It started as a way to get back at my oldest brother, Garrett, for being such a jerk to me, but I began to enjoy it. I mean, not enough to make a career out of it, but it feels good to beat his investing performance, even if he's unaware of the fact. Garrett thinks he's the Wizard of Wall Street, but my portfolio always out-performs his." He saw her curious gaze and shrugged. "He invests larger sums with each transaction because he gets a larger paycheck, but the net value of my investments is higher. More importantly, my average return is double digits while his remains below ten percent. He takes reckless gambles. That's going to backfire on him one day. Hopefully soon. Did you know he wanted to be the investment manager for this company? Mother's smarter than that. He doesn't come home very much since she told him no. I don't mind that."

He suddenly looked at Elaine in embarrassment. "I'm sorry for airing this dirty laundry about my family. That was rude."

She shook her head gently. "Not at all. It's part of who you are, and I want to know the man I'll be working with."

A shy smile spread across his face, and he squirmed a little under her frank gaze.

"I don't recall Garrett working at the company, but I do recall meeting your other siblings," Elaine said.

He nodded. "Yes, I have another brother, Peter, and three sisters, Mary, Lynda, and Olivia. Each has spent time working here, but none stayed for very long. They're all running their own businesses now. Not well, but they're trying."

"And then there's you," Elaine said with a smile.

He smiled a little sadly. "Yes, the Drifter, as Garrett calls me." Elaine raised an eyebrow, so James quickly explained. "As in drifting along with the breeze, making no effort—"

"You said you got A's in school. That doesn't say no effort to me," Elaine asserted.

He nodded shyly. "Garrett's definition of effort means performing to Mother's level. Launching a new business initiative directly out of college and conquering all challengers. Dominating the business world."

She nodded and fixed her eyes on his. "Is that what drives happiness?"

James froze as he felt himself being drawn into her dark eyes. "N-not for me. I'm not dominant in anything." His eyes widened in embarrassment the moment the words left his lips.

James stood suddenly, collected his food wrappers, and began to stammer. "I-I have to use the m-m-men's room. I'll see you upstairs? Thank you for lunch!" Eyes were turning in their direction as his face flushed with heat. He bowed to her and then hurried away as she watched in surprise.

Eventually, conversation around her picked up again, though Elaine caught glances in her direction. She wondered if she'd frightened off another assistant. She returned to her meal and, with a sigh, wished she'd taken him up on his offer to get her book.

Once she'd finished, she cleaned up and went to the front doors to head outside to begin her walk. Instead, she found herself turning back and taking the elevator back upstairs. She wasn't sure why she skipped her walk, but she smiled to herself when she saw James at his desk on the phone. He glanced up at her as he spoke.

"Yes, Ms. Wallace. Could I ask you to hold for a second? Thank you." He pressed the button and looked at Elaine. "Ms. Wallace is calling to ask about the vendor contract she sent you yesterday.

Elaine smiled. "Put her through," she said as she walked past his desk into her office.

James smiled in return and pressed the hold button once more. "Sorry, I'll put you through to Ms. Montgomery now. Thank you. One moment." He looked to see Elaine was moving behind her desk before he pressed the transfer button. She gave him a pleased nod as she picked up her handset. Before he turned away, she caught the look of happy satisfaction on his face. She found herself smiling and then turned her attention to the call. It was going to be a busy afternoon.

-=-

Heather Duncan sagged back in her chair as she finished reading an email from one of her informers. There'd been another event in the cafeteria with Elaine Montgomery and her latest assistant. The poor boy had apparently jumped to his feet and rushed away from the woman, his face beet red.

She snorted in frustration. He'd probably run back to Mommy.

Damn it! It wasn't fair! Elaine would just have to hire her own assistants from now on! It couldn't be HR's responsibility to constantly hire victims for her to destroy! Heather got to her feet and marched down to the elevators. Her blood began to boil as she thought about all the time she'd wasted trying to make this woman happy!

She went up one floor and charged down the hall to barge into Elaine's outer office with a full head of steam.

She stopped suddenly as James smiled at her from the desk outside Elaine's office. His smile quickly dimmed, seeing her expression. "May I help you, Mrs. Duncan? Is everything all right?"

Her mouth opened and closed silently. She saw Elaine on the phone in her office, stand up, and come around her desk to close her door.

Heather struggled to regain her composure and took some deep breaths as James watched her with concern plain on his face.

"I'm sorry to disturb you. I just needed to check with Elaine on something, but I can see she's busy," Heather said hesitantly.

"Yes, she has a very full calendar. I can schedule an appointment for you if you'd like?" he offered.

"No, no, it's fine. I'll just speak with her later," she said with a smile. "So, how is your first day going?"

His face lit up with a broad smile. "Really well!"

Heather nodded with a smile of her own. "That's good news. Okay, well, I won't disturb you any further. Have a good afternoon!" Heather said as she beat a hasty retreat.

As she walked back towards the elevator, she scowled. She almost made a fool out of herself because of that misleading email. She found herself taking the elevator down to the sixth floor, where the sales department was.

Heather spotted Lindsey chatting and laughing with a group of four sales coordinators and headed in their direction. She wondered if Lindsey was laughing at how embarrassed she'd made the head of HR.

Her informant spotted her coming and glanced nervously at the others.

Heather forced a smile on her face as she stopped before the group. "Hello, ladies! Lindsey, might I speak with you for a second?"

Lindsey was wearing a stiff smile, too, when she nodded and moved off to a small meeting room. The others watched curiously as they closed the door.

"What are you doing?!?" Lindsay hissed once they were alone.

The anger Heather's embarrassment was driving would not be denied, and she flared. "What am I doing?!? What are you doing sending me fictitious reports of Elaine's new assistant fleeing the cafeteria in tears!" she snapped.

Lindsey leaned away from Heather's angry body language and the volume of her voice. Then she glanced nervously at the walls of their tiny meeting room. She lowered her voice as she responded. "Keep it down! These rooms aren't soundproof!" She frowned at the exec. "I didn't send anything fictitious! He looked like he was about to cry as he rushed away from Ms. Montgomery!"

"I just got back from speaking with him. He was all smiles and told me the day was going really well! Not a tear in sight. His eyes weren't even red! I went there ready to defend the boy, and they looked at me like I was mad. It was damn embarrassing!" she hissed.

Lindsey immediately became defensive. "It's not my fault he knows how to turn the waterworks on and off so well!"

Heather looked closer at the woman, trying to determine why she'd put her in such an awkward situation. Something popped into her head. "Is this because I didn't give you Cindy's window seat after you reported her leaving early week after week?"

Lindsey gasped and nervously looked to the window next to the door, but she couldn't see her coworkers. They must have gone back to their desks. When she looked back at Heather, she had anger in her eyes. "I sent you what I saw today, and I earned that window seat! I work harder than anyone here!"

"I told you, seating is assigned based on seniority! That's company policy!" Heather snapped back.

The two women glared at each other as they caught their breath.

Heather finally realized she was handling this less professionally than she should be. Her embarrassment had gotten away from her and led to poor decisions. As she cooled, she realized she really shouldn't have come to see Lindsey. She took a deep breath and nodded to herself.

"How will you explain why we were yelling at each other?" Lindsey asked belligerently.

Heather thought about that. "It's safer to say nothing. I suggest you do the same."

With that, Heather opened the door and headed back to her office.

Lindsey straightened her skirt and took a deep breath. She stepped outside and glanced around. The coast was clear. She began walking back to her desk when she heard doors opening behind her. She turned to see her friends stepping out of the small conference rooms on either side of the one she'd exited. The four ladies were not smiling.

"Barb? Gene?" Lindsay began, but all four turned their faces from her and walked away, their silence voicing their disgust for her far more clearly than a shout.

Lindsay looked towards the meeting rooms and reviewed what was said in her mind. Her gut clenched as she realized they likely knew what she'd done to Cindy, who'd been their favorite sales assistant.

Suddenly, her efforts to oust Cindy felt petty, and the value of getting the coveted window seat unimportant.

She knew these women. They'd never forgive her, and her career here was over.

She'd just burned her last bridge in this company.

It may be time to move on, but she wasn't leaving empty-handed.

-=-

Friday morning, Elaine arrived fifteen minutes early for work. This was yet another example of a behavior shift for her. She'd experienced a number of them this week. She normally timed her day to arrive at nine AM and leave at five PM unless a project extended her day.

Being early? Never, until today.

She knew that James got a lift to work with his mother, so he was in the building from six-thirty AM until Raquel left for the day, often late in the evening. He told Elaine he used the early and after hours for his reading time.

They'd begun discussing their favorite authors and books as they ate lunch together, making Elaine anticipate her noon meal. Before, it was just a routine necessity.

Yesterday's lunch hour had been particularly fun as James used his cell to show her his favorite websites for online stories. She spotted a bookmark for a site called Literotica and watched him squirm as he quickly explained how good the stories were there. She enjoyed teasing him about this but had him send her the link so she could check it out herself. He seemed pleased.

While James always appeared delighted to see her in the morning, she'd noted his gaze became somewhat fixated when she wore slightly more form-fitting clothing, especially her leather boots. That attention sent those delightful tingles down her spine. In the week he'd been working for her, she'd come to crave that sensation.

Today, she stepped slightly outside her comfort zone when it came to work attire. She had on a lovely white silk blouse that clung just a little to her full breasts, supported by a sexy black lace bra, barely visible within. Over this was a stylish black leather jacket worn open. While this attire was fashionable and not uncommon in their business environment, it was out of the ordinary yet still acceptable for her.

It was her tight black leather pants that were going to draw attention. The ankle-height leather boots completed the look.

She had no concerns regarding what the other employees thought. Only James' opinion mattered.

When she arrived in the building, she noted eyes were turning in her direction, but she ignored them. She took the elevator up to the top floor and walked down the hall, struggling to keep the smile off her lips as she anticipated James' expression. As she turned into her doorway, she spotted the back of the CEO as she stood before her son, criticizing him for his lack of ambition. She caught a reference to his twenty-fifth birthday.

Raquel turned to face her when she saw James' eyes flick to the entrance and widen in surprise. She took in the bold and aggressive outfit her in-house counsel was wearing and froze momentarily.

While Elaine was less than pleased to see the CEO in her waiting room, the look of absolute worship James was giving her sent shockwaves of pleasure through her. It was far better than she'd expected and gave her pause as she'd never felt this way before. With a sigh, she turned her attention to her boss and gave her a slight smile. "You're a little early this morning, Raquel."

"What the hell are you wearing? We're going to court this morning!" the chief executive complained.

Elaine held her eye. "What I wear has no bearing on my performance in a courtroom. My outfit is suitable for attending a court of law."

"Only if you're the defendant in a solicitation case!" Raquel barked.

"Mother! You will apologize to Ms. Montgomery immediately!"

The two women turned to face James, standing behind his desk, fists braced on the surface, blue eyes boring into the CEO's shocked ones.

"This is a professional office. We keep our words civil and polite," he said sternly.

Raquel's mouth opened and closed as she tried to understand who was speaking to her. What happened to the spineless pushover her youngest had become?

"It's all right, James. I'm sure Raquel didn't mean it and won't do it again. Just a little pre-court jitters, yes?" Elaine said with a smile that spoke volumes about how pleased she was with her Executive Assistant.

Raquel watched her son soak up the woman's approval like it was the most delicious ambrosia. He settled back in his chair, and his eyes pinned hers once more. The force in his gaze actually made her take a small step back. She found herself apologizing.

"He-he's right. That was uncalled for. My apologies." She felt a little off-balance as she glanced between the two.

"Thank you. How about I come to your office in five minutes?" Elaine suggested.

"Yes, fine," Raquel answered as she left with a glance back at her son.

When they were alone, Elaine moved to stand before James' desk. She enjoyed how he struggled to keep himself from running his eyes up and down her body. He appeared to be practically vibrating with his need to do so. Her body was reacting to that need, but she wasn't certain what to do about it. This was new to her.

An impish desire arose. "You don't think what I'm wearing is inappropriate, do you?" She slowly spun before him, giving him tacit approval to look at her tight clothing and her body. When she turned her leather-clad ass towards him, she heard the quietest gasps as he tried to keep his breathing under control. When she faced him again, she saw an almost desperate look in his lovely blue eyes, and his fidgeting increased.

"N-not at all! You look s-s-stunning!" he stammered and gushed, heat flushing his cheeks.

"Thank you, kind sir," she said with a coy smile as she bowed slightly to him, displaying a little more cleavage. If his eyes grew any larger, they'd fall out. That delicious tingle coursed through her body, filling her with an almost euphoric lightness of being. She gave herself a little shake to come back to Earth.

"I'll be in court this morning with Raquel, settling an issue our head of HR created for the company with one of the Sales Assistants who just quit. I may not be back until after lunch.

James tried but couldn't keep the disappointment from his expression. She gave him a curious look. "I was hoping to discuss the next chapter with you," he explained.

She smiled at him. "If you'd like, we can discuss it after work."

"Yes! I mean, I'd like that very much!" he exclaimed happily.

"It's a date," she replied, catching herself once the words were out. Her cheeks warmed up as she turned and walked out into the hallway. She touched her face gently as she went to Raquel's office. She wondered what was getting into her. She composed herself before entering the CEO's waiting room.

Raquel's Executive Assistant asked her to take a seat and then picked up her phone to let her boss know she was here. The CEO made her wait an additional five minutes, then exited her office, and Elaine fell in slightly behind and beside her as they walked down the hall to the elevators. Neither spoke until they entered the limo in the basement garage. The privacy glass was up between them and the driver, so they were free to talk, but Elaine waited for Raquel to begin.

"How has James been working out for you?" she said, launching her opening salvo.

Elaine nodded to the woman. "I have no complaints. He's quickly become indispensable for managing my time for me."

Raquel nodded to herself. She seemed to have something on her mind, but she couldn't put it into words.

They drove for a time then Raquel finally turned to face Elaine. "James doesn't have a forceful bone in his body. No matter how hard I tried, I could never get him to stand up for himself. His brothers and sisters all figured it out eventually and began making something of themselves, but not James. They tormented the boy so much when I wasn't there." She looked out the window, caught in some bad memories. "I thought he'd eventually fight back, but he never did. He never so much as raised his voice, especially to me." She looked at Elaine with a troubled expression. "Until today. He came to your defense. Why?"

Elaine just shook her head gently as she held the woman's eyes.

"I saw steel in my son's eyes for the first time in my life, and I find myself at a complete loss to explain it. I want to be happy, but I don't understand where that strength came from. He's been the victim for so much of his life—"

Raquel suddenly began to cry and seemed surprised by it. Elaine pulled some tissues from the box in the back window and handed them to the woman. She offered nothing else as the CEO wasn't the type who'd welcome it.

Instead, Elaine turned her head to give the woman privacy. It took some time, but eventually, the tears ended, then the sniffing. When she cleared her throat, Elaine turned to face her. The redness in her eyes and the faint tracks of tears in her makeup greatly softened the image of the ballbusting CEO. The lawyer knew which judge they'd face in the preliminary hearing and realized this would work in their favor. Heather made a huge mistake, but they had a chance to mitigate the damage.

Raquel read something in her evaluating look and pulled a compact from her purse.

"Oh my God! I look a fright!" she gasped as she looked into the little mirror. "I'll need a moment when we get to the courthouse."

Elaine locked eyes with her. "Do you trust me?"

Raquel stared back in surprise. She was definitely feeling unsettled and shaken this morning, but she answered honestly. "Yes—"

"Don't touch your makeup. Leave it exactly as it is, and don't smile at the judge. Don't smile at all."

Raquel's eyes widened as she considered what Elaine was asking her to do. She never let anyone see her in less than perfect condition. But the woman exuded confidence. What she'd considered as escort wear she now saw as armor for a warrior going to battle. The calm strength in her eyes made Raquel finally nod acceptance.

The limo approached the court building, and they stepped out to climb the stairs. Raquel felt naked without the armor of her makeup, but she followed her lawyer into the building. They found the doors to the courtroom, and Heather was already there. She'd been on medical leave for stress-induced exhaustion since Lindsay Prentice filed a lawsuit against her and the company.

Elaine pulled Heather aside and looked her in the eye until she had her complete attention. Then, she leaned closer to give her quiet instructions. "You don't smile in there. You don't look at Raquel. You've worked too hard, and you're mentally exhausted. This caused a lapse in judgment, but you're taking time off to deal with that. You are also retaking the sensitivity training courses once you return to work. These are the only statements you are to make in there. Be honest, bluntly honest, as this judge sniffs out candy-coated words. Is this understood?"

Heather looked like she might cry, and Eliane thought that might be useful. "Cry if you need to."

That comment surprised Heather, and she choked out a sob as she moved a hand to her mouth. She pulled a tissue from her pocket.

Elaine guided her group into the courtroom and to the table they'd sit behind. She spared the smallest glimpse towards Lindsay Prentice and nodded to her lawyer, who was scowling at the obvious emotional distress his opponent's clients were displaying. By comparison, his client looked like a royal bitch with her nose in the air. He leaned closer to mention she should try to appear humble but got a glare in return. He looked over at the beauty in leather and felt defeat sink into his bones.

Elaine faced the entrance where the judge would enter. She knew how Judge Laraby's mind worked. The man was a diehard misogynist, though he considered himself chivalrous instead. She glanced at Raquel's shaken and slightly unsettled expression and the genuine tears on Heather's. A quick look at the angry, arrogant expression on the ex-employee's face told her she'd already won.

"All rise for the honorable Judge Laraby."

As they stood, she leaned over and whispered in Raquel's ear. "How was James a victim all his life?"

The hammer blow on the woman's shaky emotional state brought fresh tears. This triggered fresh sniffles from Heather and a scowl from Lindsay.

But it was Judge Laraby whose expression Elaine was tracking in her peripheral vision. The older man had a slight build, a ring of short grey hair around his head, and sharp foxlike features. His pinched expression indicated he was distinctly uncomfortable and was looking back and forth between the tables. Only Elaine wore a serene expression, so naturally, he addressed her first.

"Ms. Montgomery, are your clients up to attending the hearing this morning?"

She gave him a smooth nod. "Yes, your honor. Apologies for the outburst."

The man nodded as if this was expected, then looked to the other table. He looked down at his paperwork with a frown to read the case's details, and his frown deepened. He looked up at the stiff smile on the face of Lindsay's lawyer, then over to Elaine. He sighed.

"Ms. Montgomery, let me see if I understand. The claimant states that she was engaged to be an informant for the HR department, and the head of HR, one Heather Duncan, outed her before her colleagues, making it impossible to continue her employment at the company. Is this what happened?"

"That's what happened, your honor!" Lindsay exclaimed.

The judge looked at her. "Ms. Prentice, I was addressing the opposing counsel. You will not speak unless directed to do so. Am I making myself clear?"

Lindsay blinked at the cold tone in his voice. "Yes, your honor."

Judge Laraby looked back to Elaine and gestured for her to speak.

"There was no official engagement with compensation for services rendered. Ms. Prentice instigated a series of messages with our head of HR, Mrs. Duncan. She sent messages conveying she'd witnessed what she considered incorrect behavior by the staff around her. One message thread did lead to the termination of one of her colleagues. She requested the terminated employee's desk location by the window, but company policy allocates these by seniority."

"Are you suggesting it was her expectation that this was her compensation," the judge asked.

"Mrs. Duncan indicated Ms. Prentice suggested she was owed said desk location during their last encounter," Elaine offered.

The judge looked back at the paperwork and frowned again. "Yes, the last encounter. Mrs. Duncan, can you tell me why you chose to verbally accost the complainant in the presence of her colleagues."

Heather stood then began by shaking her head. When Elaine prompted her, she answered. "I-I wasn't thinking clearly at all. I've been suffering from mental exhaustion, and I'm afraid it led me to make some unfortunate decisions that day. I'm... taking leave to deal with that and retaking a sensitivity course when I return."

"Ms. Prentice can't go back, can she," Laraby insisted, and Heather sniffed as her bottom lip trembled, tears beginning to fall. He grimaced as he hated being the cause of a woman's tears. He looked back at the papers on his desk. "You may sit again, Mrs. Duncan. Thank you." He glanced up at Lindsay and frowned once more.

Seeing his displeasure, Elaine quickly glanced toward the other table and saw a satisfied look on the woman's face.

"Mrs. Davenport, you're the CEO?" the judge asked, and Raquel stood.

"Yes, your honor," she replied with just a little roughness in her throat.

He nodded, looking at the papers, then fixed his eyes on the CEO. "As the leader, you were aware of this engagement?"

"No, your honor. I was not. I let my executives run their departments. That's what they're paid to do. I only get involved when their department begins to show signs of not reaching the goals I set for them."

"Was Mrs. Duncan's department showing any signs of failing?" the man asked.

Raquel looked to Heather, but the HR head looked away, recalling Elaine's instructions not to look at the CEO.

The chief executive looked back at the judge. "No, your honor. Heather has been with me since day one. She's always been so dependable and protective of the company. I-I suppose she became a little too protective. I didn't see it. That was my failing."

Elaine watched the old man smile to himself. She knew he would be replaying Raquel's moment of humility over and over in his mind tonight. She kept her expression impassive as she hid her distaste for the small-minded man.

Exposure to minds like his during her academic and professional careers soured her view of life.

Standing in the courtroom before this little troll in black robes, her mind had a sudden epiphany. Compared to most people she interacted with, James was a breath of fresh air. A much-needed healing balm for her soul. That's why she was so drawn to him and wanted to spend more and more of her time with him. It was so clear to her now.

"What is it, counselor?" Judge Laraby snapped, drawing her back to the present.

Embarrassed that her surprise had caused her to stand, she nodded contritely to the judge. "Sorry. Nothing, your honor." Elaine said as she sat and watched him roll his eyes at her behavior.

The judge made some notes on the paperwork before him, then looked up and actually smiled.

"When I first received this case, I expected to sit through a lengthy process of finger-pointing and blame-flinging. It was a refreshing surprise to encounter actual contrition from the defendant. You admit you made mistakes. There will be consequences, but you genuinely seem prepared to accept that. I applaud your integrity." He nodded to Elaine's table and then turned his attention to Lindsay, who was smiling. "Ms. Prentice, you found yourself in an unworkable situation that forced you to submit your resignation. You are asking for compensation to assist you in finding employment elsewhere. In light of the admission of your past employer, I'm willing to grant your request. First, in the sum of ten thousand dollars for the mistake Mrs. Duncan made as head of Human Resources and secondly, an additional ten thousand dollars for the mistake Mrs. Davenport made as CEO in not being aware of the mental state of her executives, which led to the event. I am denying your claim for one million dollars for the mental anguish you say you endured. Your active role in poisoning your work environment must be taken into account. Mrs. Duncan may have callously blown your cover, but the need to maintain the secret was due to your own duplicitous behavior—"

"That's not fair!" Lindsay blurted.

Laraby looked to Lindsay's lawyer. "Speak to your client. Case dismissed with prejudice."

"All rise." The bailiff called out as the judge stood. They rose to their feet and watched the small man leave the courtroom. Lindsay stormed out, and her lawyer gave Elaine a nod as he quickly followed.

Raquel looked at Elaine. "Don't you ever do that to me again!"

"If Heather refrains from fostering a corporate culture that supports informants, I shouldn't need to. You're welcome for saving the company one million dollars," Elaine said calmly.

Raquel's eyes narrowed. "Catch a cab back to the office. Heather and I need to discuss this over lunch."

The dismissal was clear, so she nodded to the CEO and left.

Standing on the curb, her mind returned to her revelation of James' importance to her. Her intellect wasn't sure how good of an idea it was to take their relationship any further than they had. It preferred the safety of a platonic Executive-to-Executive-Assistant business relationship.

On the other hand, her heart and soul were screaming at her to take her foot off the brake and stomp on the gas.

She was normally such a cautious and rational person. Taking big leaps was foreign behavior. She'd never had a boyfriend, though she'd dated. She wasn't a virgin, but the sex she'd experienced hadn't been spectacular enough to compensate for the brutal awkwardness after the deed was done. She'd immediately wanted them to leave, or she left if she was at their place or a hotel. Exposing herself so intimately to someone she had no feelings for had been far too emotionally painful.

With a sigh, she shook her head and flagged down a cab.

As she rode back to the office, she wondered if she'd burned a bridge with Raquel. Her manipulation of the Mother's emotions helped them win, but perhaps these particular emotions were too personal to use in this way. Inside a courthouse, she found herself shedding social niceties in the pursuit of victory. Did that make her a bad person? Maybe it did.

She sighed.

She'd have to apologize the next time she saw the CEO.

Elaine found herself wishing the taxi would go faster. When she reached the office, she paid, got out, and consciously slowed her steps to prevent herself from appearing to rush.

James was sitting at his desk when she finally entered her outer office. He looked up, and his eyes lit up when he saw it was her. Elaine's emotions surged, and she struggled to keep her breathing under her control. The power of her reaction was almost frightening.

"How did it go?" he asked.

She nodded to him. "Very well. The fine was minimal."

He gave her a proud smile, which warmed her down to her toes. "How was lunch?" she asked to calm herself.

He shrugged, and the large bandage on his forearm finally registered on her tingling brain. Shock went through her body, and she found herself standing next to him as she examined the long gauze pad taped to the underside of his right arm. "What happened?" she gasped.

His smile dimmed, and he looked to the surface of his desk. "I tripped while carrying my lunch tray. My bottle of juice fell and broke. I landed on the glass."

She then saw the stains on his clothes. Something about his hesitant wording set off alarms for Elaine. "You say you tripped?" He wouldn't look her in the eye. Elaine recalled the conversation with Raquel earlier. How his siblings tormented him unmercifully.

"Look at me, please."

Nervous blue eyes looked up into her brown eyes. "Tell me the truth. Never less than the absolute truth," she insisted.

He swallowed. "I was tripped."

"By whom?" Her voice was icy calm, but inside, she was a raging inferno.

"Mr. Gray. His bullying skills are pretty rusty, though. My brother could teach him a thing or two," James said, trying to deflect.

Elaine envisioned how she would extract her pound of flesh from the man in gloriously violent ways. Then she heard a quiet voice saying her name.

"Ms. Montgomery, please! Please let it go. It's okay," James pleaded.

Her eyes flared with righteous anger. "No! It is not okay! No one injures my Executive Assistant without consequences! You're mine!"

"Yes," James sighed breathlessly, and then his face went crimson as he dropped his eyes.

Elaine's rage was swept aside by his submission to her bold statement. She hadn't expected to say the words, but he'd accepted so quickly, almost desperately eager. A warm tingle spread through her body. She'd never felt that before.

She felt like she was on the precipice of allowing someone inside the walls she'd built up around herself. She was both frightened and exhilarated by the change it would make to her life.

The phone rang, jarring her from her thoughts, and James glanced at her before he answered. It was Greg in accounting, so she shook her head. She'd speak to him later. James took a message and then hung up.

The call brought her back to the now, making her aware they needed to get through the afternoon before addressing the bigger questions of a relationship. She looked into James' blue eyes and almost felt her resolve crumble. She added some steel to her will and saw his eyes widen.

"Who else was present when Davin tripped you?" she asked.

His expression became troubled. "I don't know anyone here by name." His eyes lit up as he recalled something. "There was an older man, heavyset, balding; he wore a uniform with Earl printed on the pocket. I don't know if he saw, but he was there."

Elaine smiled in satisfaction, and James relaxed perceptibly.

She picked up the handset and dialed the building maintenance office. "Hello, Mrs. Jenson? It's Elaine Montgomery. Is Earl still at the office? Could I ask you to send him up to see me? No, just him. Thanks!"

She put the handset back and looked at James. "Send Earl in when he arrives, please." He nodded to her with wide eyes.

She entered her office and sat at her desk to review her afternoon tasks.

Ten minutes later, there was a light knock on her door jamb. She looked up and smiled at the custodian. "Hello, Mr. Tillison. Please come in and close the door behind you if you would." The older man shut the door and took the offered seat before her desk. "How would you like to make a quick forty dollars? All you'd need to do is sit in that chair and say nothing. It shouldn't take more than ten minutes. I'm not going to ask anything else of you, I promise. You just ignore everything you hear while you're in here."

The man shrugged and nodded. "I can do that."

She smiled. "Good!" She handed him two twenties, which he tucked into his wallet. He sat back as she picked up her phone and dialed Davin's extension.

"Davin. It's Elaine. I need to speak to you in my office. Right now." She listened for a second as he made excuses. "Or the courthouse, you decide." A moment later, she hung up.

"He's coming?" Earl asked with a slight smile.

"Poker face time."

His expression relaxed into a slight look of disapproval. She nodded, and he returned it.

She pressed the intercom. "James, send Davin in the moment he arrives."

There was a slight hesitation, then he answered. "Yes."

Moments later, Davin opened her door and entered with an annoyed expression. He glanced at Earl in confusion, then concern.

"Close the door, please," she said.

He did, then stood by the door with his arms crossed. "What's with the threat?"

She leaned back in her chair. "There is no threat. It's come to my attention that you intentionally caused bodily harm to my Executive Assistant. Please don't waste our time with lies. You did this cowardly act before witnesses! We're considering pressing charges. If you want to avoid that, you can formally apologize to James before witnesses."

For a second, it looked like Davin would tell her to shove it, but she held his eyes with hers until he looked away.

"Fine. I'll apologize," he grumbled.

"Be sincere, or don't bother," she snapped, and he nodded quickly, watching her with wide eyes.

Elaine stood, and Earl brought up the rear as they followed him out of her office to stand before James. He looked up at the face of the executive cautiously.

As Davin prepared to speak, Raquel stepped in the door. Elain hadn't expected her to return from lunch so quickly, but she held her finger before her lips to indicate Raquel should remain quiet. The CEO scowled but froze when Davin began to speak.

"Hey, I'm sorry you hurt yourself when I played my little prank on you. You fell so hard! Surprised the hell out of me! At least you didn't need stitches."

James lifted his right arm, and the gauze bandage was showing spotting where he was still bleeding. He looked a little ill.

Davin saw his expression and became worried he'd make a big deal of it. "It's just a little blood. Don't be a baby—"

"NO! No! You don't get to say that! You're fired!" Raquel raged. She looked at Elaine. "We have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, don't we?" She didn't even wait for Elaine's nod before she marched over to James' desk and called security to come to Elaine's office to escort Davin from the building.

The Sales Manager looked desperately at Elaine. "You said if I apologized, you wouldn't press charges!"

"We're not pressing charges, but Raquel is quite correct in reminding me about the zero-tolerance policy. As our CEO, it's her duty to see it enforced," Elaine shrugged with a smile as two security guards arrived. Earl nodded to Elaine and headed back to the maintenance department.

Raquel directed the new arrivals to take Davin to his desk to collect his personal items and escort him out of the building. As they left, she contacted tech services to log his workstation out and change the password.

Then, the CEO turned to Elaine, who spoke first.

"I want to apologize for my behavior in court this morning. When I'm in a courthouse, I focus on winning above all else, and I abused your trust. I'm sorry."

James was looking back and forth between the two women.

Raquel's expression wobbled between anger and admiration. Finally, she made a frustrated snort sound. "You're damn lucky you had someone else here I could fire, as I was considering you!"

Elaine bowed her head in acceptance.

Raquel looked at her son. "You need to go to the hospital to have that looked at."

"I'll take him," Elaine said immediately.

James looked at her in surprise. "You have three meetings booked this afternoon."

"Reschedule them, then we'll head over to the hospital. Your Mother is right. Your health takes precedence," Elaine insisted firmly. She caught his tremble at her words. Then he nodded and lifted the phone's receiver to let them know. She enjoyed seeing the rising color in his cheeks.

Elaine turned to Raquel, who was watching her in-house council with a confused expression.

"It'll likely take the rest of the afternoon to get him treated at the hospital. I'll bring him to your house afterward," the lawyer suggested.

"Y-yes. Fine," Raquel mumbled, struggling to control her emotions once more. "Thank you for minimizing the penalties the lawsuit would have cost us," she said, her voice firming up again.

Elaine bowed her head slightly to her boss in acceptance of her praise.

With a final troubled look at the lawyer and her executive assistant, Raquel left to return to her own office.

Elaine turned back to James, who placed the phone's receiver back on the cradle. "Ready to go?" she asked.

He nodded with a small smile and followed her from the office to the elevators to take one to the lobby. They exited the building and walked to the parking lot, where Elaine remotely unlocked the doors to a sleek, black Audi sedan. James opened her door for her, and she smiled at his manners. Once she was in, he rushed around and entered the passenger door.

Elaine watched his eyes scan the interior of her car, taking in the luxurious detailing and the deep comfort of the seats. Learning something else about his boss' preferences.

His eyes darted to her in embarrassment for getting caught gawking. "You have a beautiful car," he sighed.

She chuckled gently, and his face warmed up again.

Elaine drove them quickly to the hospital, where they settled in to wait in the emergency room. There was lighter than usual crowding, so James was attended to after only ninety minutes of waiting.

She ignored the rude stares and smiled when she saw James return from treatment wearing a new bandage over his arm.

"I didn't need any stitches. They just cleaned it, used special tape to seal the wounds, and wrapped it again," he reported when she approached her.

She smiled in relief, and his eyes widened in delight.

Elaine looked at him closely. "You were injured before you had a chance to eat your lunch."

"Yes, that's true," he admitted.

"Then I'm taking you to dinner, my treat," she insisted.

His expression indicated he was about to protest, so she locked eyes with him, and he closed his mouth and nodded with a little smile. "Thank you, Ms. Montgomery."

She smiled at him and gestured for him to join her as she headed for the exit. He rushed to stay at her elbow as they left the hospital.

Elaine had a restaurant in mind. It was quiet, had some private tables, and the food was exceptional.

They reached it as the sun was low in the sky, and she saw James glancing around with interest.

He noted her attention. "I've never been in this neighborhood."

She smiled as they left the car. "It's very close to my place. It's a favorite of mine."

Elaine watched James scanning the nearby buildings as if looking for her home. She smiled to herself as she led them inside and approached the hostess station.

A man stepped out of a door behind the station to meet them as they approached the desk. James wondered at the relief on the hostess' expression.

"Ms. Montgomery! It is always a delight to see you in our establishment!" the man gushed smoothly as his eyes flicked toward James.

"Andre, I'd like you to meet my good friend James Davenport," Elaine said, guiding James forward with a possessive touch on his arm. She felt him tremble.

Andre's eyes showed his interest. "Davenport, as in the Davenports?"

Elaine nodded with a little smile, and Andre's smile widened.

"It's nice to meet you," James said politely.

"The pleasure is mine," the man said, quickly shifting his attention to Elaine. "Would you like one of the private booths?"

Elaine nodded, and the man picked up the menus and gestured for them to follow.

Soon, they were seated in a booth that could seat four, but they had privacy from the other booths and tables. With wishes for their dining enjoyment and a pleasurable evening, Andre left them.

"Everything on the menu is delicious," Elaine said to James. "Order whatever you like."

"Thank you!" James replied with a nervous smile.

"Would you like some wine?" she asked.

He gave his head a quick shake. "Not for me. I don't have much tolerance to alcohol."

Elaine gave him a slightly predatory smile. "I wouldn't want your mother to think I took advantage of you."

James went still as a deer in the headlights as he looked into her eyes.

"Maybe... maybe one glass?" he said.

Another zing went through Elaine's body as she nodded.

They looked back at their menus, and the waiter soon arrived to take their orders. James once more followed Elaine's choice, and she smiled at this.

"Do you like to travel?" she asked James once they had privacy again.

James looked a little uncomfortable. "My memories of traveling are with my family when I was much younger. My siblings did their best to ensure their enjoyment came first, which spoiled the experience for me."

"Where did you go?" Elaine asked.

He nodded. "The French Riviera and Paris, of course. The Amalfi Coast, Italy. Monte Carlo, Monaco. The Seychelles and Bora Bora. The one I liked best was Fogo Island in Newfoundland, Canada. I got away from my family to explore, and the people on the island were so friendly."

"Those sound like lovely places. I'm sorry you didn't get to experience them with better company," Elaine said, and James watched her.

"Did-do you travel?" he stuttered out.

She smiled at him and saw him lean a little closer. This sent sparks through her body. She took a deep breath to calm herself, but this just drew his eyes to her chest.

The restaurant was warm, so she decided to remove her jacket. She caught his almost silent, sharp intake of breath as her white silk-encased breasts were revealed from the leather.

She pretended not to hear.

"I traveled for conferences and business. Most trips were domestic. My family preferred the rough, natural settings of Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. After passing the bar, I treated myself to a solo trip to Paris, but I didn't feel its magic."

"Maybe if you'd had company?" James added quickly, his face flushed red as she locked eyes with him.

"Is that an offer?" she asked with a slight smile on her lips.

James looked like his face might ignite. "I'd be honored," he breathed.

Elaine burst into a delighted smile, and his eyes widened as he basked in her joy.

The wine she'd chosen arrived to interrupt their moment, and she saw James dab his face with his napkin as she tasted the wine and found it acceptable. She nodded, and the waiter poured for them before leaving once more.

Elaine lifted her glass, and James raised his as well.

She held his eyes as she made her toast. "To new friends and getting to know them much better."

He seemed lost for words, but he nodded as he watched her with a hint of hunger in his eyes.

They sipped their wine as they gazed at each other.

"That's very nice," James said as he looked at his glass. She nodded to him.

"Besides our shared enjoyment of a good book and your stock exchange efforts, what does James Davenport do for enjoyment?" she asked.

"I enjoy working out every morning, but no matter how hard I do, my muscles refuse to grow," he sighed.

She smiled at him. "The muscles you have are fit and healthy. Why would you want bulky muscles?"

"I-I thought women liked big muscles," he confessed.

Elaine shook her head. "Not all women like that."

"You?" he blurted, then looked away, embarrassed.

Her smile widened hungrily. "I prefer lean, fit bodies."

The waiter once more interrupted their moment as their meals arrived.

Elaine was annoyed by the timing, but that was pushed back when she saw James watching her.

They parked their conversation to enjoy the food, and the look of bliss on James' face brought a smile to Elaine's.

"You were right! This is delicious! You chose a wonderful restaurant!" James said with delight.

She nodded in acceptance of his praise, enjoying the warm feeling.

They ate in comfortable silence, sipping their wine, until James set his utensils down and dabbed his mouth. "That was a great meal. Thank you!"

She tipped her head as she set her cutlery down as well. "Would you like dessert?"

He shook his head. "Not for me, but please feel free to indulge."

Elaine caught the waiter's attention as they walked by, and soon the dishes were removed. The waiter left to get the bill.

"Thank you very much for dinner—" James stopped with a jolt as a waiter approached their table with a piece of dark cake with a sparkler on it. When the waiter suddenly continued to the next table, he relaxed with an embarrassed glance at Elaine. He lifted his wine glass and swallowed the last mouthful.

She watched his face heating up again and suddenly had a flashback from the morning. His mother was sniping at him regarding his twenty-fifth—"James, is today your birthday?" she asked in surprise.

He looked at her and nodded shakily, then shrugged. "It's no big deal—"

"Twenty-five years is a big deal, and we should celebrate!" she insisted. "Would you like some cake?"

"No! I mean, no, thank you. I'm full," he insisted nervously.

"But I want to do something to brighten up your day," she said, gesturing to the bandage on his arm.

"You brighten all my days!" he insisted, then froze as he heard what he'd just confessed.

Elaine watched him with wide eyes as his words made her feel so very tingly.

"Oh? How do I do that?" She tilted her head as she waited for his response.

James shot a concerned look at his wine glass as if blaming it for his loose tongue. He swallowed and looked into her eyes. "I love working for you. I look forward to going to the office. It's been the most rewarding time in my life."

Their waiter arrived once more, and Elaine's temper flared. She barely managed to control her tongue regarding their horrendous timing. She paid the bill and immediately focused on James when they were alone again.

"I'm having difficulty accepting the notion that being an Executive Assistant could be so rewarding," she said.

"It's not the position. It's who I'm doing it for!" James asserted.

Elaine couldn't stop a brief giggle from breaking free, and his eyes widened at hearing the joyful sound.

She slid out of the booth, tugged on her jacket, and headed for the door as he rushed to join her. She marched out of the restaurant with James at her heel until they reached her car in the dark parking lot.

He moved forward to open her door and felt her hand grip his shoulder, turning him to face her with his back against her car. Her other hand touched his chin as she looked deeply into his eyes, capturing him with hers. Then she moved closer and pressed her body against his as their lips met.

He moaned and trembled as he returned the kiss.

When she pulled back, his eyes were fixated on her mouth.

"Call your mother and tell her you won't be home tonight."

James' eyes widened then he frantically pulled his cell from his pocket and dialed the number.

It rang three times then Elaine heard Raquel's voice. "Yes, James."

"I-I won't be coming home tonight, Mother. I'll see you at home... sometime."

There was a stunned pause. "What?"

"Good night, Mother," James said and hung up. He powered it off, then smiled when he saw Elaine's proud expression.

"Let's go," Elaine said, and James opened her door for her.

James rushed around the car and got in once she was seated and her door was closed.

The drive to her condo's tower took no more than ten minutes, but Elaine's body was trembling with anticipation. She couldn't recall ever feeling like this on any of her previous dates. She did her best to keep her eyes on the road even though she felt James' worshipful eyes on her the entire way.

They parked in the underground garage and walked to the elevators. James was taking in the tasteful décor and upscale furnishings. They rode the elevator to the eighteenth floor, and she led him to the unit furthest from the elevator bank. She unlocked her door and guided him inside, touching a switch to turn on two lamps in the open-concept living room.

James was immediately awestruck by the view of the city lights beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows. Then he saw the contemporary and comfortable furniture and the wall art. He slipped his shoes off and then turned to face Elaine.

"Remove my boots," she said, and his face lit up as he immediately dropped to his knees before her. He undid the zippers on them and eased them off one at a time.

He went still as he felt her fingers slide into his hair.

Elaine ran her fingers through it and heard him sigh happily.

"Are you mine, James?" she asked and felt him tremble.

"Yes!" he gasped.

"Undress."

He looked up at her and then quickly began removing his clothes while remaining on his knees before her.

Elaine watched the young man efficiently strip off his clothes, neatly fold them, and stack them on the small table by the entrance. She'd never experienced this with anyone she'd ever been with. His eagerness to submit to her will was... intoxicating!

Soon, Elaine was admiring his slim and fit body. There was no fat on his frame, just lean muscle, and he made no effort to hide his excitement from her.

She'd been with men with longer and thicker cocks, but James' endowment was perfectly sufficient for her needs.

"Don't you think I'm wearing too many clothes?" she asked, and he nodded as he looked at her with excitement in his eyes.

"Undress me."

A thrilled smile appeared on his face, and he quickly stood to begin unbuttoning her silk blouse. His fingers trembled as he worked his way down her torso. His eyes glanced up into hers when he realized he needed to undo her pants to untuck the hem of her shirt. He saw permission there, so he undid the fasteners on her leather pants and folded them back. He gently pulled the silk free from the leather and eased the shirt back over her shoulders to slip it off. His eyes were trapped momentarily by her full breasts pressing against the sexy black bra she wore. He could see the projections of her stiff nipples, and a small moan leaked from his lips as he turned to fold the garment to place it on the stack.

At Elaine's raised eyebrow, James quickly continued undressing her.

His fingers slipped into the waistband of her tight pants to tug them over her hips and down her legs. He dropped to his knees as the pants descended. Elaine lifted one foot, then the other, until he could get them free.

Elaine watched James' eyes, which were drinking in the smooth skin of her long, toned legs. He placed the folded pants on the table and then moved his hands to her hips again.

She placed her hand on his head again, and he stopped to look up at her in question. She pulled his face closer until he was pressing against the front of her panties. A tremor went through his muscles as his hands went to the back of her thighs to pull himself tighter against her.

Elaine gasped as she felt him nuzzling her pussy through her sodden panties. She couldn't recall ever feeling this excited during foreplay. She threw her head back as she gasped aloud when James' tongue pressed against her pussy lips through the thin fabric.

She released his head to tug her panties down her hips, and James moved them down her legs and set them aside before she pulled his face back to her pussy.

James stroked his tongue across and between her wet lips, and she gasped again. His hands were squeezing her ass cheeks as he kissed, sucked, and caressed her wet lips until she thought she might lose her mind. When she guided his effort up to include her clit, Elaine cried out as her release struck suddenly, and she shook through the powerful waves of bliss. James' grip on her was the only thing keeping her on her feet.

When her senses returned, James helped her walk past the living room, down the hall, and into the master bedroom. She turned on one of the night table lamps and pointed to the bed. James pulled the comforter down and crawled onto the bed.

She had him stretch out over the mattress with his head on the pillows as she admired his svelte musculature. Elaine climbed on the bed and swung her leg over James to sit on his thighs, then she took his cock in her hands.

James sucked in a sharp breath, then moaned at the sensation of her hands on him as his hips lifted. He was trembling, so she knew he wasn't going to last.

She slid forward, trapping his cock between his stomach and her pussy, undulating against him. This felt good for both of them, but James was too close.

"I'm coming!" he exclaimed as he tried to move his hands down to catch the cum.

Elaine caught his wrists and leaned forward to pin his arms at his sides. This also put more pressure on his cock, triggering his orgasm. Hot cum sprayed up his stomach, reaching his chest.

"Very good, James," Elaine purred, his eyes drawn back to hers. He basked in her praise, though his embarrassment was clear as well. Her body was trembling with need, and she kept one hand on his cock to detect his recovery. Her other hand swirled a finger through the cum on his stomach.

It didn't take long before she felt the stiffness return to his cock. She smiled down at him as she lifted herself on her knees, positioning the head against her wet lips.

Then she eased herself down, feeling his cock slide deeper inside. It was wonderful! She'd been right about his size. He fit her perfectly.

She took hold of his wrists once more and lifted his hands to her breasts. James sighed in bliss as he cupped her soft breasts in his hands and squeezed them.

Elaine threw her head back as the delicious sensations rushed through her. Her eyes returned to James' face, and she watched him struggling with his pleasure as she rode him faster and faster. His hands continued to worship her breasts, and the gentle tugs on her nipples drew her closer to her release.

"I love you, Elaine," James said softly, almost below her hearing. Her eyes widened as his words and her release crashed through her mind and senses. His heat surged into her depths as she locked eyes with the man below her.

As the last waves of bliss ebbed, she lowered herself across James' body and kissed him deeply.

She was struck by a moment of clarity. This was what had been missing all her life. The final piece needed to make her truly happy.

James panted as Elaine pulled back from the kiss.

"You are mine and mine alone, James. I love you," she said fiercely.

"Yes," he gasped, and tears escaped from his eyes.

"I think it's time you spread your wings and left the nest. Do you think you might be happier here with me?" she asked, knowing they both needed this.

His eyes widened in surprise. "Nothing would make me happier," he sighed.

"You make me happy, James. For the first time in my life, I'm truly and completely happy."

He smiled joyfully and tenderly kissed her.

Elaine moved to lie beside him, and he looked to see if she needed her space or wanted to cuddle. He settled in next to her, and she sighed in contentment, bringing a smile to his lips.

She knew there were some small logistical changes she'd have to make to allow him into her home, but nothing seemed insurmountable. They'd make their plans in the morning.

Tonight, Elaine was grateful she'd found the remedy for her eternal discontent. It was finally gone.

Another thought surfaced, and she smiled over at James and saw his eyes were on her.

"Happy Twenty-Fifth!"

James laughed in surprise and the joyful sound filled her with the contentment she craved.

Elaine's joy surged as she realized she was no longer destined to be alone.