Alex cradled his head between his hands as he stared at the same set of data for the last twenty minutes. He shot a glance toward Claire’s empty office, door ajar and lights off, the only illumination coming through the large glass walls that separated her space from his and the dying rays of sunset peeking through the drawn sunshades. With a sigh, he tore his gaze back to the offending spreadsheet before him.

The quiet stillness of his office was suddenly shattered by a quick succession of knocks followed by the heavy oak door swinging wide open.

“Hey, cousin! Figured I would still find you here!” Derek burst through the door like he owned the room.

“Stop announcing we’re related, dumbass, you know the condition for allowing me to take on this position was that no one knew my family connections!” he hissed back in greeting.

“What, it’s past six, no one except security and custodial are in this building,” Derek held up his hands as a question. He glanced at Claire’s office. “Unless…is she here somewhere?”

Alex ran his fingers through his hair. “No, she’s not. She went with Amanda to a vendor meeting to finalize the event set up.” He shut down the spreadsheet, since he wasn’t paying attention to it anyway, and opened a different file. “They were supposed to be back over an hour ago.”

“Oooohhh?” He drawled, teasing. “So…you’re waiting for her to come back?” Derek’s eyebrows wiggled.

“You’re lucky the only thing I readily have to throw at you is my laptop, and I need it,” Alex growled.

Derek let out a deep laugh. “Well, how about I take you out to drown your lovelorn sorrows in a glass or two of alcohol?”

Alex let out a frustrated sigh. “Nah, I need to finish going over these projections before tomorrow’s board meeting.”

“Boring,” Derek muttered. “What’s to prepare? You walk in, spout off a few numbers, ask for opinions. Done,” Derek’s dismissive tone spoke volumes of what he thought about those meetings.

“You can say that; you already secured your position. If this upcoming event tanks, I’ll have to start over to work for my right to be JK Design’s CEO.”

Derek’s face softened. “Hey, look. Being part of the Kang family isn’t easy for sure, but we’re taught not to take our privileges for granted. It’s why our company is still strong.” He leaned over the desk to peer at the document on Alex’s screen and grimaced. “At least you don’t have the immediate association of having the last name,” he straightened with a shudder.

Alex was about to retort when the elevator chimed. Both Alex and Derek turned their gazes to the door.

Claire and Amanda’s voices echoed softly down the hall, Amanda’s brusque farewell a sharp contrast to Claire’s warm goodbye. When the door opened, Alex was halfway through an analysis of the open document and Derek was leaning over the desk listening seriously.

“Oh, hello Miss Claire!” Derek looked toward her with a brilliant smile, then glanced at the clock. “Wow! Look at the time! We were so engrossed in work we lost track, didn’t we Alex?”

“Ah, yes, sorry Derek, I didn’t mean to keep you,” Alex cleared his throat.

Derek turned toward the door, giving Claire a slight, playful bow. “Well, it was nice to see you again Miss Claire. Enjoy the rest of your evening, don’t work too hard!” he gave her a wink.

Claire smiled brightly in return. “Thank you, Mr. Kang, follow your own advice as well.”

Derek laughed, “Indeed I shall! Have a good evening, Alex,” he waved as he headed out the door.

Alex started closing down his computer. “It’s late, I’m surprised to see you back. You should have just went straight home after your meeting.”

“I wanted to drop off these files and Amanda needed to retrieve her jacket.” Claire spoke as she entered her office to drop the vendor files on her desk.

Alex observed her covertly as he put his laptop in his bag. Her hair was a little disheveled and her eyes looked tired.

Clearing his throat, he asked, “Did you grab anything to eat on your way back to the office?”

Claire’s weary eyes extended to her smile. “The meeting ran late, and I didn’t want to hold Amanda up any longer, so we came straight back afterward.”

“Oh, well,” Alex threw his bag over his shoulder, trying to look nonchalant, “Since I’m heading out myself and haven’t eaten yet either, how about having dinner together?”

The night they spent together a week ago flashed in his mind, and he was embarrassed to admit to himself that he wanted more nights like that. But since then, Claire had been ‘professionally distant,’ and when he asked her if he had done something wrong, she immediately apologized and said she was simply afraid someone would find out and she would get fired.

Claire turned her gaze away. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Alex,” she said hesitantly.

Alex strode the few steps that separated them and reached for her hands.

“Claire, I promised you that nothing would happen to jeopardize your job. I want to be with you, and,” he hesitated, “I think you want to be with me, too. So why can’t we have dinner together?”

Claire bit her bottom lip, a nervous habit that drove Alex insane and often accompanied by a twitch in his pants.

“What if someone from the office sees us together?”

“Then we’re two friends catching up after work,” He lifter her hands to his lips, brushing her fingers with a feather-light kiss. “I promise not to do anything scandalizing in public.” He gave her a wiry smirk.

Claire rolled her eyes. “You are impossible, Alex Lee,” she huffs, but let him continue holding her hands.

A beaming smile covered his face. “How about teriyaki tonight? There’s a great place down the road.”

“Sounds great,” Claire chuckled.

Gathering their things, they left the office and headed for the elevator.

While they waited for the elevator, Alex continued to hold Claire’s hand, his smile never leaving his face. When the elevator doors opened, they stepped inside. Once the doors closed, Alex couldn’t help himself anymore. He leaned in to Claire, pushing her back against the wall, and with a devilish grin he brushed his lips against hers.

“Claire, I’ve wanted to taste your lips for so long,” he murmured against her mouth. “Can I take advantage of the few seconds we have alone in this elevator?”

He gazed into her wide eyes, watching her emotions sprint through them.

“Alex, I…” her voice was a light evening breeze, seductive, breathless.

Alex watched her tilt her head up, her eyes fluttered as she stared into his own eyes. He started to dip toward her soft lips when their intimate moment was shattered by the elevator ding. They quickly scrambled apart as the doors began to slide open.

“Oh! Good evening, boss! Hello, Claire!” They were met with Jason’s jovial face.

“Hello Jason, were you working late also?” Alex tried to hide the adrenaline-fueled tremor in his voice.

“Oh, not really sir, I was actually just a few blocks away having dinner when I remembered Amanda needed a file on her desk first thing tomorrow. She’s usually in before me, and I didn’t want her hunting me down when she didn’t see it.” His grin grew. “You know Amanda, no patience for slackers!”

Claire giggled, and Alex had to surreptitiously readjust himself. ‘God, she’s sexy when she laughs.’

“Then I’m glad you remembered, Jason. I would hate to witness your social execution,” Claire teased.

‘Why doesn’t she act like that around me at the office?’ Alex pouted subconsciously.

The rest of the way down to the first floor was filled with small talk, mostly between Claire and Jason while Alex silently fumed.

“Well, this is our stop. Claire, it’s late, allow me to drive you home instead of taking the train.” Alex cut into the conversation as the doors opened into the lobby area. “Jason, be safe heading home, see you tomorrow!”

Jason waved goodbye, a curious look on his face accentuating the knowing smirk transforming his smile.

“Alex!” Claire whisper-yelled, “Jason is going to figure us out!”

“No, he won’t,” he opened the door to the garage. “And even if he did, he wouldn’t say anything.”

‘Because if he did, I’d fire him,’ Alex thought to himself before proclaiming out loud, “Alright, let’s get some teriyaki!” and he led her to his car, excited about dinner with her.