Chapter 15

**CHLOE DUARTE**

I close my eyes taking a deep breath as the night air hits my face and body, at first I end up shivering with cold, Matt seems to realize my state as he tries to remove the leather jacket and place it over my shoulders.

"Thank you," I whisper, yawning.

"I came by motorcycle, but that doesn't seem like a good idea since you are drunk and can barely stand on your own...", he holds me in his arms again when he realizes that I am tripping over my own feet.

Against the warmth of his embrace and my face sunk into his shirt, I agree that this would also be a smart idea since Matt will be busy riding the bike if I end up losing my balance or letting go of his body and causing us to crash on the track.

"I'll call for an Uber," I mutter, but he promptly denies it.

"Then I'll come with you, I won't leave you alone at this hour, it's not safe, princess."

"I love the way you protect me...but I'll be fine, I don't want you to risk having your precious motorcycle stolen...", I babble.

"I'll take it!", I open my eyes immediately, squeezing Matt's body, thinking I heard James' voice.

But it's not an illusion of my head as I turn around to find Mr. Colucci himself standing in front of us, still trapped in Matt's arms my eyes scan his entire body.

He is wearing a black sweatshirt and light jeans as if he had just picked up the first outfit and walked over to...me.

Shit!

Only now do I remember my ridiculous phone call?

His blue eyes also wander over to me, his expression becoming hard as he stares at Matt's hands that press me tightly against his body.

I gasp, pulling away a little from my best friend's arms, and start to stare at James in front of us.

"Mr. Colucci, what are you doing here?", Matt asks confused and I mentally ask him not to cite my embarrassing phone call as the reason for his coming here.

"I got a call from Chloe and she was visibly not well, I was concerned when she didn't return my other calls..."

Other calls? So he called again?

"Sorry for the call, but I'm fine, I just need to go home and sleep...", I mumble embarrassed.

"You are visibly drunk and it is not safe to come back on a motorcycle or an Uber at this time, so I will take you!", he says firmly, but I end up laughing and drawing both of their attention to me.

"At no point have you asked me if I want you to drive me, so my answer is no." He arches an eyebrow at me.", he arches an eyebrow and looks at me seriously.

"Would you rather go back alone and take your chances, Chloe? I am sorry, but I will not allow you to put yourself in a situation like this!", now it's my turn to arch an eyebrow and approach him defiantly.

Damn it!

Why am I trying to piss off my boss?

"I am an adult and perfectly capable of making my own decisions, Mr. Colucci."

Okay, I'm drunk and my senses are a little fuzzy, but I know I'm overreacting and it would be better to accept his ride and stop this discussion.

But it's like I said, he awakens various unknown emotions in me.

"Princess, I think you'd better go with Mr. Colucci...", I turn to Matt who shakes his shoulders.

Even he agrees with James? I thought he hated the big boss.

I sigh at length before facing James again and nodding my head in agreement, I kiss Matt's cheek in farewell and as I am about to return his favorite jacket he stops me.

"Keep it, then you give it back to me...", he smiles, blinking one of his eyes before hugging me.

"Thank you, and I'm sorry for ruining part of your evening...", I say sincerely.

"You didn't ruin anything, take care, okay?", I nod my head before following James to his car parked across the street.

As several cars pass by at high speed preventing us from crossing, he puts his hand on my waist bringing me to his body while we wait for the cars to pass.

"What are you doing?"

"You are drunk and it is not safe to cross the street in the situation you are in, Chloe."

I touch his hand and quickly remove it from my body, he sighs and eventually accepts.

"I am drunk, but I can walk and cross the street without help, thank you.", I say before running when there is a gap leaving him behind.

I hear him shout my name when I am already beside his car as he also runs towards me.

"Are you always this reckless?", he asks a little irritated as he opens the passenger door for me.

"Only when I'm near you," I murmur before settling down in the comfortable leather seat.

**JAMES COLUCCI**

A few moments before...

I am used to sleeping late and waking up very early, having only a few hours of sleep, and it was thanks to my unhealthy habit that I could hear my cell phone ringing.

I turn on the lamp beside the bed and grope the nightstand in search of the device that keeps ringing, before answering the call I check the time on the display and see that it is almost four o'clock in the morning.

But I immediately sit up in bed when I see Chloe's name on the cell phone screen, I answer it quickly listening to the loud sound and noise of people talking.

"Chloe? Is everything okay?", I ask, unable to disguise my sleepy voice.

"I'm...sorry to call you, but I just called to thank you for your help in choosing...my lingerie, even though I'm not sleeping with anyone tonight...you have good taste!", he completes laughing and making me realize that he is very drunk.

I get out of bed with my cell phone to my ear while I run to the closet to change clothes, grabbing the first non-formal pieces I find in front of me.

Even in a serious situation, a smile breaks out on my lips as I remember helping her choose her lingerie when she confused me with her friend when I called earlier.

I have to admit that it was a huge strain to choose the color of the pieces, as my traitorous mind projected images of my assistant trying on and removing the lingerie.

I know, this should not have happened, but it was impossible not to think of her that way at that moment.

"Thank you, but I see you have gone off the deep end with your drinking, are you still with your friends?", I ask, fearing that the worst could happen.

"No...they are having fun with other people..."

"All right, I want you to take your cell phone, call a car, and go home and get some sleep, I'm sure you will wake up feeling terrible in a few hours.", I use my firm tone expecting her to obey promptly.

"We are off company...so I am not obliged to follow your orders, sir..."

Damn it!

Why does her inebriated, slurred voice become so sexy when she treats me with formality? And why does a simple tone of voice affect me so much?

"Chloe, for your sake, do as I say!", I insist, irritated with myself for having wrong thoughts.

"Ever since I met you...I found you to be very bossy and I've always been curious to know if you're that controlling in bed when you're..."

Fuck...

For a second I keep quiet waiting for her to finish her sentence, but it doesn't happen, Chloe is very drunk, but she is still the Chloe that blushes easily and I know it's not like her to say things like that to me.

But it is the alcohol in her blood speaking louder.

I have an uncontrollable urge to agree and say that yes, I also like to keep control in bed, but that would be crossing all the limits...

"My God, how much have you drunk?", he asks, wanting to know the real reason for getting so drunk.

I may not have known her for long, but I know enough to know that she doesn't have a drinking problem, so there are only a few reasons left.

"Why do you think I look this bad?", I sigh, looking for my car keys and wallet.

"Because if you were sober, you wouldn't be asking me things like that.", I answer the obvious and she sighs longingly as if she agrees with me.

"You are right, but sometimes it is better not to think about the consequences and just.", she gasps as if she's about to pass out.

"Chloe?", I call her and when no answer comes, I rush out of my apartment and run to the building's garage.

"Why did you drink so much, Chloe?", I try again.

"I just wanted to forget...", she murmurs in a low, shaky voice.

"Forget what?", I ask, opening and getting into the car before starting it and exiting the basement.

"You...I wanted to forget you...", he whispers taking me totally by surprise.

"Because I wanted to...", I try to know why, but his shout stops me from continuing:

"I want to dance, I love this song!"