100
The elevator ride to the top floor was unusually quiet, but not because anyone lacked something to say.
Amanda stood between Ericka and Ava, her hair pinned neatly, her black-on-black suit hugging every line of her body.
Her hand clutched a leather folder. Her lips were glossed, but behind the polished look, her mind still replayed the morning—warm limbs tangled, soft kisses traded, the faint scent of Ericka's perfume on Ava's skin.
Beside her, Ericka looked every inch the CEO: blazer sharp, heels silent, lips painted a deep, confident red. But her hand brushed Amanda's lower back twice, subtle and quick, like she couldn't help herself. Her presence was magnetic, pulled tight and coiled under control.
Ava leaned casually against the mirrored wall, twirling her keycard around one finger, a smirk tugging at her mouth. Her silk blouse was just a touch too sheer, and she wore it like she knew it. She caught Amanda's eye in the reflection and raised a brow.
Amanda didn't smile. But her lips twitched.
The elevator dinged.
As they stepped into the office, it was like watching masks click into place.
Amanda's voice turned crisp as she greeted the front desk assistant. Ericka immediately headed toward her corner office, issuing instructions on a call. Ava peeled off toward the design wing, hips swaying, voice sweet as honey as she complimented someone's shoes.
But the energy between them simmered.
A few hours later, Amanda was refilling her coffee when Ava brushed past her again—too close, on purpose.
"You good?" Ava whispered, lips close to her ear.
Amanda didn't look at her. "Focus on your pitch."
Ava smiled. "You're deflecting. That's cute."
Amanda turned then, eyes sharp. "Keep testing me, you might find out how serious I can be."
Ava's grin deepened. "Is that a promise?"
Before Amanda could respond, a low voice cut through the tension.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
Ericka stood in the break room doorway, one eyebrow lifted, coffee in hand.
Amanda straightened. "Just talking over design strategy."
"Mmm," Ericka hummed, walking toward them. "Keep it professional, ladies. You wouldn't want to get written up."
Amanda held her gaze, the tiniest smirk at the corner of her mouth. "You planning on disciplining me?"
Ericka stepped closer, her hand grazing Amanda's lower back under the guise of moving past her.
"Only if you beg."
Amanda flushed. Ava coughed to cover a laugh.
"I'll leave you two to... whatever this is." Ava tossed her hair and strolled out, but not before glancing over her shoulder with a wink.
Once she was gone, Ericka leaned against the counter, sipping her coffee.
"She's getting bolder."
Amanda nodded. "I noticed."
Ericka's tone shifted, softer now. "Does it bother you?"
Amanda shook her head slowly. "Not yet. But we need to talk soon."
Ericka studied her for a moment, her eyes warm but alert. "Yeah. We do."
There was no tension. Just understanding.
Amanda reached up, adjusted Ericka's collar with a small smile. "But for now? Let's run this company."
Ericka smirked and tapped her mug to Amanda's. "Together."
________
The hum of the office faded behind closed doors. Ericka's office, sleek and sunlit, was a bubble of quiet control—until Amanda walked in and disrupted it with nothing but her presence.
Amanda stood beside the desk, tablet in hand, reviewing the launch strategy. "If the revised prototypes don't get here by Thursday, we'll have to push the schedule. I'm thinking we shift the studio inspection to Friday just in case."
Ericka nodded. "Good call. That gives us a little flexibility."
Amanda's voice stayed smooth, but her eyes lingered a second too long on Ericka's lips. "You look good when you're focused."
Ericka smirked, crossing one leg over the other. "And you look good distracting me."
Amanda walked around the desk slowly, her heels soft against the floor, until she was standing just behind Ericka's chair. She reached forward, pretending to adjust a file—but her hand slipped over Ericka's shoulder and gently turned her swivel chair so they were face to face.
The movement was slow, deliberate.
Ericka blinked, now looking directly up at her.
Amanda leaned down, placing both hands on the arms of the chair, caging her in just slightly. "You know what I've been thinking about since this morning?"
Ericka's voice was lower now. "What?"
"How much I wanted to do this."
She leaned in and kissed her.
It wasn't rushed. It was soft—lingering—but undeniably intimate. Amanda's fingers brushed the curve of Ericka's neck, her thumb grazing her jaw. Ericka tilted her head slightly, kissing her back with a quiet hunger she tried to suppress.
Amanda pulled back, her lips brushing Ericka's. "I want you right now."
Ericka's breath caught, her hand automatically reaching for Amanda's waist. "Amanda..."
Amanda smiled against her lips. "I know. We can't. But I wanted you to know what you're doing to me."
Ericka let out a slow breath, trying to compose herself. "You're dangerous."
"I'm yours," Amanda whispered, placing one last kiss on Ericka's cheek.
Then—knock knock.
The door opened a crack, and Ava stepped in, looking effortlessly composed. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything..."
Amanda straightened, stepping away just enough to seem casual—but the air still buzzed with tension.
"Just finishing up," Amanda said smoothly.
Ava's eyes scanned the room, her smirk blooming. "Uh-huh."
Amanda gave Ericka one last subtle touch along the shoulder before exiting. Ava didn't miss it.
She turned back to Ericka. "You need a minute to recover, or should we get started?"
Ericka cleared her throat, adjusting her blazer. "Let's get started."
As the door clicked shut behind Amanda, the air in the office settled—but the tension didn't.
Ericka adjusted her collar and tried to refocus, reaching for her tablet. She didn't get far.
Ava walked in fully, shutting the door behind her with a soft click. Her heels barely made a sound on the floor, but her energy filled the space—curious, sly, and just a little dangerous.
"You two really don't try to hide it anymore, do you?" she said casually, sliding into the chair across from Ericka.
Ericka glanced up, eyes guarded. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ava smirked, resting her elbows on the armrests. "Oh, come on. The flushed cheeks. The way Amanda was practically glowing. And you"—she tilted her head—"you're never that breathless unless someone's been kissing you."
Ericka rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched. "Is there a reason you're in my office, Ava?"
"Maybe." Ava leaned forward slightly, voice dropping just a touch. "Maybe I wanted to see how far I could push you."
Ericka arched a brow. "You're not in the position to play games with me."
Ava laughed—soft, teasing. "Who said anything about games?"
She reached into her folder and slid over a mockup for the Fall/Winter "Edge + Elegance" campaign they'd been working on. "These are the new visuals I sketched out last night. I want your honest opinion."
Ericka eyed her for a moment longer before looking down at the pages.
They were good.
Strong color theory, bold concept framing, and a fresh blend of streetwear edge and runway glam. Ava had clearly poured herself into it. Ericka's brows lifted as she flipped through the rest.
"These are impressive," she admitted.
"Told you I was more than just a pretty face," Ava said, crossing one leg over the other with a wink.
Ericka kept her expression even. "You're talented. I've never doubted that."
There was a beat of quiet, just long enough for the hum of the building's air system to rise.
Then Ava stood, walking slowly around the desk—close, but not close enough to touch. She rested a hand on the corner and looked down at Ericka.
"I'm not trying to get between you and Amanda," she said sincerely. "But... I wouldn't mind getting a little closer."
Ericka leaned back slightly in her chair, arms resting on the armrests. "Closer how?"
Ava smiled. "However you let me. I kind of wish I could have you to myself. Just once. Right now."
Ericka blinked. "I'm a package deal, Ava. I don't do anything unless Amanda's okay with it. And she doesn't do anything unless I'm okay with it."
Ava didn't respond.
She stepped forward and kissed her.
It was slow, daring, unapologetic. Ericka let it happen—for a second—before gently pulling back with a hand to Ava's wrist.
"Ava," she said calmly. "We don't cross lines unless we're all in the room."
Ava leaned in again anyway. "Just this one time."
The second kiss came slower... deeper. This time, Ericka gave in. Her hands brushed Ava's waist, her lips moved with hers. A low hum left her throat before she snapped herself out of it and pulled away again, breath shaky.
"I can't do that again," she said softly. "Not without talking to Amanda first."
"I already know," said a low voice.
Ericka and Ava both froze.
Amanda stood in the doorway.
She didn't storm in. She didn't yell. But the look on her face—tight jaw, sharp brows, narrowed eyes—said everything.
Amanda stepped in with calm precision, but her eyes were lit with something darker. Her voice, when she spoke, was tight and direct.
"I'm not mad at you," she said to Ericka. Her tone wavered slightly—like she wanted to stay calm—but the restraint in her voice was razor-thin.
Then her gaze shifted to Ava.
"But I am frustrated with you."
Ava swallowed, posture straightening. "Amanda—"
"No," Amanda cut in, her voice rising a fraction. "You knew. We've been careful. We've been open. We've talked about what we're okay with. And you just..." She gestured to the space between Ava and Ericka. "You just did it anyway."
Her breathing changed. Her chest rose a little quicker. Her hand curled slightly at her side.
"Do you think this is a game?" Amanda asked. "Do you think this doesn't matter to us?"
Ericka saw the shift.
Amanda was past annoyed. Her face was tight with emotion—not just anger, but protectiveness. Hurt.
"You made a choice to cross that line, and I need you to know—if you pull something like that again..."
Amanda held her gaze with a clarity that made Ava's breath catch.
"...you're out. And honestly, you're this close to being out for good."
A beat of silence. Ava blinked, her confidence faltering for the first time.
Ericka stepped in, placing a calming hand on Amanda's arm. "Hey... breathe," she said gently, eyes steady. "I'm okay. You're okay. We're okay."
Amanda closed her eyes briefly, exhaling slowly. She nodded, letting Ericka's grounding presence help her find balance again.
Her voice softened just enough as she turned back to Ava. "This isn't a game. If we're going to keep doing this, it has to come with respect. Not just chemistry."
Ava nodded, quieter now. "Understood."
Amanda's tone stayed sharp. "Let's keep it that way."
Amanda exhaled, eyes darting to the clock. "Conference Room B. Five minutes."
She turned to go.
As she passed Ericka, their hands brushed—a silent reassurance.
And Ava was left in the office, alone with the silence she'd helped create.
________
The conference room buzzed with quiet conversation as the team gathered around the long table. Sleek portfolios were opened, styluses tapped against tablets, and coffee cups steamed beside color swatches and mood boards for the upcoming campaign.
Amanda was already seated, her posture straight, her hands clasped neatly in front of her. She looked like the perfect assistant—calm, poised, unreadable. But beneath the surface, she was still burning.
Ericka entered next, all polished CEO energy in a tailored gray blazer that hugged her frame and sharp black heels that clicked across the hardwood. Her face gave nothing away. But Amanda noticed the slight pause in her stride when she passed Ava's chair.
Ava was already seated near the end of the table. She didn't say much. Just offered a polite smile that didn't reach her eyes. Her cherry-red nails tapped lightly against her iced coffee. She was quieter than usual. Focused. Or maybe just trying to look that way.
Ericka stood at the head of the table and cleared her throat. "Alright, everyone. Let's get started."
She launched into the latest creative brief—a new fall campaign focused on bold transitions and layered contrast. Amanda passed out supplemental notes while Ericka spoke, their rhythm still smooth despite everything.
Halfway through, Ava raised her hand.
"I'd like to present a concept I've been working on," she said. "Edge + Elegance. It's a dual-theme mood board centered on minimalist silhouettes contrasted with textured layering. A mix of tailored masculinity and soft femininity—bold angles softened by fluid fabrics."
Ericka arched a brow. "You've been working on this independently?"
Ava nodded. "Yes. I wasn't sure if the timing was right... but I think it could fit with the seasonal direction we've been discussing."
Amanda looked over the materials Ava laid out. The colors were striking. Slate gray and wine red. Clean lines paired with silk overlays. Unexpectedly strong. Refined.
The room went quiet for a moment as everyone absorbed the visuals.
Ericka tapped a finger against her chin. "This is good."
Amanda nodded slowly. "It's actually really strong."
Ava flicked her eyes toward Amanda for the first time, cautious hope flickering there.
Amanda met her gaze—but said nothing more.
Ericka looked at the team. "Let's vote on it. If this gets greenlit, we'll rework the campaign timeline by the end of the week."
A round of quiet agreement swept the room. A few designers whispered notes to one another. Someone clapped softly.
As the meeting wrapped, Amanda began gathering the folders. She could feel both Ericka and Ava watching her—but neither said anything in the moment.
The moment they exited the room and the door shut behind them, Ericka leaned in close to Amanda's ear.
"You okay?"
Amanda glanced sideways, lips twitching. "I'm good. Focused."
Ericka's hand brushed along Amanda's lower back before pulling away. "You handled that well."
Amanda raised an eyebrow. "It's not over."
Ericka smirked. "No, it's not."