CHAPTER 24

**CHLOE DUARTE**

“Come on, Albert must be impatient, better not keep him waiting, but if you want to repeat the dose, we can.", he proposes, but I interrupt him with a smile.

“God, you suck!", I grabbed my blazer and put it on before turning and looking at my reflection in the mirror, noticing that there are more marks on my neck, I watch James' satisfied face in the reflection as I put my scarf back on.

Even without my beloved panties, I finish getting dressed and soon we open the bathroom door and the second we are leaving we bump into a little lady who stares at us.

“Forgive the long delay, ma'am...", James says with a restrained smile.

“This generation today loves a good time, sir!", a laugh escapes me as we pass her into the corridor that leads to the restaurant.

But before I can set foot in the hall again, James grabs my wrist making me turn to face him.

“What is it?"

“You better go first, or it will be obvious what we were doing, I'll go after a few minutes.", I nod my head starting to enter the room.

“Chloe? “he calls me again."

“Are you still having dinner with him?", I frown after hearing his question which took me by surprise.

I think about the answer I should give, but I still don't know and I am still under the effects of what happened inside that bathroom.

“I don't know, James!", I answer sincerely, seeing that he wants to say something, but thinks for a second before returning the answer.

“Please don't go!"

I don't answer, I just keep walking to our table mentally thanking Albert for sitting with his back to the entrance of the bathrooms.

His eyes meet mine as I sit down in my chair, I try to show normality as much as I can when he is still looking at me.

“What's up, Chloe?", I arch an eyebrow, trying to think of a valid answer.

“Yes, I just have a bit of a headache.", I say with a slight smile seeing that he responds as well.

God, I feel terrible right now, I'm lying to a nice person, I just had sex with my boss in a restaurant bathroom, and I'm still contemplating the idea of having dinner with his friend after what happened.

I can't do this to Albert, he doesn't deserve it, but I can't cancel our dinner until I know what will happen between James and me after tonight.

I pick up my glass of water and take a long sip, feeling my throat clear up.

I just hope my appearance isn't screaming that I just had sex, I just hope no one notices or I won't know what to do.

“Where is Mr. Colucci?", I struggle to ask innocently, Albert takes his attention away from his dessert to answer me.

“He said he had to make an important call, but so far he hasn't returned!"

“Sometimes I wonder how you CEOS hold so much responsibility on your shoulders, I graduated in Administration and I love this area, but I wonder if it is not too much pressure."

“I also had the same fear, but you get used to it with time, all you need is to know how to be a wise and intelligent leader and know how to put yourself in the place of your employees. It's not easy, but you get used to the hard stuff, especially if you love a challenge..."

“I understand, but I don't think I would make a good leader, I don't know how to mix leadership with my lack of confidence.", I say, but Albert denies it with a smiling head.

“You would make a great leader, Chloe. Experience is gained with time. James is a perfect example, he was very insecure when he started the Colucci Companies but look at the man he has become today."

James Colucci is a good example of overcoming, since my arrival in New York, the tabloids and news were about the young billionaire who continues to overcome every day, even though I never saw a picture or photo of him, I admired his trajectory from the beginning.

“Talking about me?", I raise my head to find James with his eyes glaring at me.

“Albert was telling me how you have evolved since the beginning of your career, Mr. Colucci.", I return with the formalities watching him sit down in his chair and settle in.

“Sorry for the delay, it was a very important phone call that I could not leave for another time, you must understand me perfectly Albert...", I try not to blush when his eyes are fixed on me again.

Focus, Chloe!

Focus!

“Of course, my friend, there is some business that we can't and shouldn't leave to be solved urgently.", Albert concludes without even knowing what James is referring to.

“But back to your conversation, Albert is right, Miss Duarte, I started my career with great difficulty, but never allow myself to give up, that is the secret of most successes, never stop believing in yourself."

“Good advice, my friend!", Albert says with a complicit smile.

**JAMES COLUCCI**

I know perfectly well that I should be sorry for what happened in the restaurant's restroom, but I'm not, and I would do it again and in the same way, if I could.

But I also have to think about the consequences and not let my guard down.

On the way back to the company in the car, my thoughts are turned to the woman who is the reason for my most perverse thoughts.

Out of the corner of my eye I can see that she is overly thoughtful, we are almost at the company and she hasn't said a word since we left the restaurant.

This reminds me that they have scheduled that dinner for one night next weekend, and this is bothering me, I don't want her to go, but I also can't stop her and this is torturing me too much.

I also know and understand that I have no right to think this way, but the thought of her having dinner with another man makes me feel terrible.

We have absolutely nothing, other than a slutty chemistry, but I can't get my thoughts off her.

As I drive I also remember to get back in touch with Anna, but I also wonder if that would be a good idea at this point, going out with Anna would be my escape from Chloe, but after having sex with her, my desire still hasn't ceased as I would think it would.

Never felt chemistry as powerful as that with any other woman, we have an incredible connection, it's nice, but it scares the fuck out of me.

I remember that I invited her to accompany me on my trip to Brazil in a few weeks, I had been thinking about investing in the country for some time, and after meeting a certain temperamental Brazilian woman, I just felt sure that it will be a good idea.

It is a beautiful country and it is full of riches and culture, a nation that is expanding and I will use this to my advantage, everything is already as agreed, I just need to visit the places and finalize the projects for opening two more branches in the Brazilian territory.

I do not master the Portuguese language, and Chloe's going on this trip will also contribute to my personal use.

A small smile breaks out on my face when I remember her reaction and expression when she told me about the trip to her country.

But I must also admit that a two”week trip with her will drive me crazy and I must at all costs make the desires I feel shout louder.

“The charity ball will take place in two days, Mr. Colucci?", I am taken out of my thoughts when I hear her formal question.

“You don't have to treat me so formally when we're alone, Chloe.", I clarify with a frown.

“You said we couldn't get involved in any way, don't you usually keep your word?"

Although her last sentence shows a certain petulance, she is right, I was the one who said we couldn't have anything.

I'm not used to not following through, but she has this effect on me.

“I know, but after what happened today, it would be more comfortable and appropriate if you would call me by my name when we are alone.", I propose.

“Do you think it's appropriate for an assistant to have sex with her boss?", she asks with a frown.

“Of course not, I have never slept with a company employee if that is what you are thinking, do you regret what we did?", I ask, gripping the steering wheel at the thought that she is sorry.

“Even if what we did was very wrong, I don't regret anything, do you?", she asks, turning her face to face me.

“Do you still ask me? Of course not, and I would do it all over again if I could, Chloe...", I see her sigh and break eye contact with embarrassment.

It's true, just the thought of redoing all that and more with her in a quieter moment makes my poor body need her.

“How are we going to look now? Do we pretend this never happened and go on with our lives?", she asks hesitantly.

“I don't know yet, but I do know that I can't pretend it never happened because it will stay in my memory for a long time, little seductress.", I see a smile on her face as she hears the nickname I gave her.

“Shall we let life take us then?"

“Maybe, but I can't promise anything, because I don't..."

“Because you don't want to hurt me, but that's not going to happen, James.", Chloe interrupts me with determination.

We remain silent for a few minutes, and after we arrive at the company, we walk together to the elevator I can't help noticing that she starts to get nervous out of nowhere.

“Is everything all right?", I ask, touching her arm.

“It was you, wasn't it?", she asks turning around.

“What?"