87
The elevator doors slid open with a quiet ding, spilling Amanda and Ericka back into the gleaming executive lobby.
Their clothes were in place—barely.
Amanda had redone her lipstick in the car, using the rearview mirror as Ericka watched, still breathless from their heated session.
Ericka looked pristine as always—jacket refastened, lipstick reapplied with surgeon-like precision, sunglasses back on like a shield. But Amanda could still see the flushed edges of her collarbone, the faint pink on her throat from where Amanda had kissed her too hard to be gentle.
No one could know.
They walked in stride—Ericka with her slow, confident steps; Amanda half a pace behind, already scanning her tablet.
Colleagues passed with smiles and nods. A junior designer waved awkwardly from the break room. An intern tripped slightly, probably too overwhelmed by the vision of the CEO and her flawless assistant gliding past like they hadn't just unraveled each other completely fifteen minutes ago.
Ericka's hand brushed Amanda's once. Barely a whisper.
Amanda didn't look up. But she smirked.
Back at her desk, Amanda resumed her rhythm without missing a beat—pulling up emails, forwarding the investor deck, and texting the caterer to confirm final details for the upcoming launch party.
Meanwhile, Ericka disappeared into her office, issuing a curt "Give me ten minutes," before shutting the door behind her.
Amanda knew what she was doing—regrouping. Cooling off. Putting the fire back in the box.
She gave it twelve.
Then knocked once before entering.
"Your 2:15 just confirmed," Amanda said smoothly, holding up her tablet like a shield. "Also, the shipment from Milan is delayed, but the rep said it'll clear customs by Friday."
Ericka looked up from her laptop, glasses perched low on her nose. She was in CEO mode again—hair immaculate, focus razor-sharp. But her gaze softened for half a second when Amanda stepped closer.
"Anything else?" Ericka asked coolly.
Amanda leaned over just slightly—professional, casual—though she knew full well Ericka could still smell her perfume.
"Just one thing," Amanda said, her voice low enough not to carry past the doorway. "I'll be thinking about the way you begged in the backseat all day."
Ericka's lips twitched.
"Out," she said, pointing toward the door. But her voice betrayed her—breathier than it should've been.
Amanda turned with a satisfied smile, already typing as she walked out. And just like that, the balance reset.
To anyone else, it was just another ordinary day.
But beneath the surface?
They both knew better.
The hum of the office was as steady as ever—keyboards clicking, phones ringing, the quiet murmur of collaboration floating through glass-walled meeting rooms.
But Ava wasn't working.
She was watching.
From behind her monitor, she tracked the way Amanda floated through the office with just a little too much ease, her silk blouse tucked perfectly into her high-waisted trousers, her hair a sleek crown of control.
Something was different. Something unspoken.
.. but obvious if you knew what to look for.
And Ava had always been good at watching.
Amanda's lips were a touch too rosy. Her eyes were soft in a way they never were during work hours. And most telling of all—Ericka had barely spoken to anyone outside her assistant since stepping back into the building.
Ericka, who was always cool and commanding, hadn't so much as glanced at Ava.
The same Ericka who used to meet Ava's eyes during meetings with subtle amusement. The same Ericka who had once flirted—carefully, dangerously—around power and professionalism.
Now she was locked in a quiet orbit around Amanda.
And Ava?
Ava felt the sting of being shut out.
The break room was nearly empty when Amanda stepped in for tea. She moved with that gentle confidence Ava found both maddening and magnetic.
Ava followed.
She strolled in casually, letting the door swing behind her with a soft thud. Amanda didn't look up—too focused on her tea bag steeping in the mug, stirring slowly.
"So," Ava said, leaning against the counter, arms crossed. "You two barely came up for air today."
Amanda arched a brow. "We've been working."
"Oh, I'm sure," Ava murmured. "Must be nice—having that kind of chemistry with your boss."
Amanda stayed silent, blowing gently on her tea.
Ava's voice dipped, more bitter than playful now. "Funny how quick people forget what they shared when someone else gets all their attention."
Amanda finally turned to face her. Calm. Cool. Measured. "What are you trying to say, Ava?"
"I'm saying," Ava stepped closer, her tone just shy of accusing, "you're acting like you won something. Like this is some game and you scored first."
Amanda didn't flinch. She took a small sip of her tea, set it down on the counter beside her, and leveled her gaze with Ava's.
"No," she said, voice even. "I'm acting like someone who knows exactly where she stands."
Ava scoffed. "And where's that? At the top of Ericka's rotation?"
Amanda smirked. "No. I'm not part of a rotation. I'm the one she wakes up with. The one she builds with."
Ava's jaw tightened.
Amanda leaned in just slightly, not threatening—just honest.
"You don't miss Ericka," she said, voice soft but sharp. "You just want to be with us again."
Ava's breath hitched.
Amanda tilted her head. "You miss the attention. The thrill. The way it felt being wanted by both of us. But it's not the same now. We're not looking for extra. We're building something real."
There was a long silence.
Ava looked down, then back up, her voice suddenly quieter. "So that's it? You two don't... want anyone else anymore?"
Amanda picked up her tea and gave her a small, almost sympathetic smile.
"I didn't say that."
She paused in the doorway, eyes sharp but kind.
"If we did want someone else," Amanda added with a slight shrug, "it could definitely be you... if you'd stop getting jealous and throwing tantrums."
She gave Ava a look—one part challenge, one part truth.
"Because believe it or not... we actually like you, Ava."
Then she walked out, her heels echoing through the quiet, leaving Ava frozen in place—lips slightly parted, heart pounding, and mind racing.
The late afternoon sun filtered through the slats of Ericka's office blinds, casting golden lines across the dark marble desk. A quiet buzz filled the air—the usual rhythm of meetings winding down, inboxes clearing, the day edging toward its final stretch.
Amanda stepped in, closing the door behind her with a soft click. Ericka was standing near the bookshelf, reviewing campaign samples, her blazer draped across her chair and sleeves rolled to the elbows.
Amanda took a beat, then said, "We need to talk."
That got Ericka's attention.
She turned, brows raising just enough to show curiosity—but not alarm. "Everything okay?"
Amanda nodded, then crossed the room, placing her tablet on the edge of the desk. "Depends on how you define okay."
Ericka leaned her hip against the desk, arms crossing. "I'm listening."
Amanda took a breath, running a hand down the side of her skirt. "Ava caught me in the break room earlier."
That was all it took.
Ericka's expression shifted—subtle but sharp. "What did she say?"
"She was... noticing things. The way we've been acting lately. The elevator tension, the meetings, how we move around each other." Amanda paused, locking eyes with her. "She's jealous. And she made that very clear."
Ericka's jaw flexed. "Did she touch you?"
Amanda shook her head. "No. Not this time. It wasn't like that. She was... trying to provoke something. Said I looked like I won some kind of game."
Ericka's voice was low, even. "And what did you say?"
Amanda smirked slightly. "That I'm not playing a game. I told her I know where I stand with you."
A flicker of something—pride? amusement?—passed through Ericka's eyes. "Good answer."
Amanda stepped closer, her voice softer now. "But I also told her something else."
Ericka tilted her head. "Oh?"
"I said if we ever did want someone else in this... it could definitely be her. If she stopped acting jealous and actually trusted that we liked her."
Ericka studied Amanda for a long beat. "You told her that?"
"I did."
"Do you want her?"
Amanda exhaled slowly. "I want us. But if we're exploring anything... it needs to be on our terms. And only if it strengthens what we have—not distracts from it."
Ericka nodded slowly, uncrossing her arms. She reached out, brushing her fingers along Amanda's hip before gripping her hand. "You handled it well."
"I figured you should know," Amanda said, leaning in slightly. "Transparency, remember?"
Ericka pulled her a little closer, pressing her forehead to Amanda's. "You really are the best thing that's ever happened to me in this building."
Amanda laughed under her breath. "Even better than your corner office?"
"Especially better than my corner office."
They stood there in quiet for a moment, breathing in each other's calm.
Then Ericka whispered, "So... if we did ever entertain the idea of bringing Ava in again—"
Amanda kissed her cheek. "Let's take it slow."
Ericka grinned. "Slow and devastatingly hot."
Amanda smirked. "Exactly."
They both laughed quietly, the tension easing into something rich and steady.
There was still work to be done. Still secrets and possibilities. But for now, they were in sync.
And that made all the difference.