Dark Temptation

Prologue / Congratulations

He kissed her slowly and she wrapped her hands around him.

"You'll be late if we don't stop now."

"I still have some time."

"Really?" His hands mover lower and she pressed herself against his body.

"Really."

She felt his hardening c**k against her and she pressed even closer to him.

He began kissing her neck and she tried to unlace his sweatpants.

"Uhhh...you should go." He pulled slightly back" I want it as much as you do, but you'll be late for real."

"Okay, yes."

She untangled herself and headed for the door, Charles coming right after to see her off.

"Wish me luck."

He kissed her gently once again. " You don't need it, but good luck."

"I love you." Anne said.

"I love you too. I'm sorry I cannot be there."

"It's fine. We'll be together again soon."

Charles leaned in and kissed her, this time deeper." Ok, now go, or you'll miss the whole thing."

"And this year's winner of the prize for Best Outsourcing Strategy goes to TRL Tech and the leader of the project - Anne Fleming. Please, help me welcome her on stage."

The hall erupted into applause as Anne was taking the steps to the brightly lit stage. She reminded herself to straighten her back and walk confidently as she always did in a black dress.The four-inch heels were not a nuisance anymore. She had this, she'd learned to own it.

She accepted the heavy glass statue and took a final look around the place.The Annual Business Awards were held in the newest 5-star hotel conference hall, located in the heart of London it was especially designed for events like that one. It gathered business people and entrepreneurs from all over the world. And of course the inevitable flock of journalists. Thankfully events like that one didn't allow the scribblers from the tabloids but only actual professionals from the most respected business journals.

"You made it, Anne. You." she told herself once again. Clearing her throat, she approached the microphone, not a single trace of nervousness in her voice.

"Good Evening, everyone. I'm beyond honored to be standing here tonight in the company of the best in the corporate world."

She didn't say out-loud she was proud to be among the youngest employees ever awarded the prize.

"But this would've never been possible if it wasn't for the great help of my team, whose support was invaluable. And of course- thanks to my mentor who entrusted me with the ambitious task. Thank you all, this prize is for us and TRL Tech. And I hope to be better prepared with my speech for next year's award we're taking."

Everyone laughed at the joke and applauded even louder than the previous time. People always told her she had the sense of humor most women didn't have, however that didn't offend her anymore.

After the official ceremony was over, she joined the others in the usual business discussions, dressed deceivingly as chit-chats over expensive wine and the terribly tasting, but gourmet shrimp h'ordeuvres. "Congratulations, Anne. You deserved it." said the leader of another of the projects their company was working on. They'd met on a business trip to Oslo, and even though they were nothing more than colleagues, he never failed to greet her when they met in the office.

"Thank you, Aaron. It was...let's say taxing, but it payed off in the end."

"Oh, my God but you look fantastic!" exclaimed the PR of one of the daughter companies of TRL, checking out the red Louis Vuitton heels Anne was wearing.

"And I love the hair." The two women exchanged kisses on the cheeks. Anne got her hair done especially for the occasion by Marco, the top hair-stylist who'd opened his new salon in London, style inspired by the fashion week in Milan he worked for. Her shoulder-length hair was a fashionable big -curls ombre in the colors of brown at the top of the head and gradually blending to a lighter color at the edges.

"Thank you, you look great too."

"Where is your fiancee, Charles, right? I didn't see him around."

"Charles, yes. He really couldn't make it tonight."

"Oh, what a pity."

"No, no- it's totally fine." Anne was quick to reply. " He was occupied." She took a sip of her champagne.

"How is he? It was so nice to meet him last time you invited him to the garden party. I'm so sorry he lost his job"

"He's...he's better, thank you. He's applying for a new job right now and needs to focus. Said he needs some time alone."

"Of course, he probably can't focus much with you around. Not that you spend much time at home." Aaron remarked.

"I'm just really busy and I do spend time home. Just not that much." Anne joked.

"Well, everything comes with a price."

"One of the first things we learned in college, right?"

Her colleagues continued exchanging banter, while Anne was checking her phone. Maybe Charlie had sent a few messages. Nothing. Should she call? But he'd said he really needed some alone time. He'd even packed a small bag and returned to his small apartment in East London for a few days.

After more champagne and the inevitable talks of politics, Anne decided it's time to leave. It was a Friday night and she had a short break between projects ,so she didn't have to sit through a conference meeting with the Tokyo branch tomorrow.

"Already today for them" she reminded herself.

The reception called for a cab and she gave the driver the address of her new apartment in one f the prettiest neighborhoods in the city. Charles moved in with her shortly after the place was ready and for the first time in her life Anne thought she didn't want anything else in the world.Besides maybe an assistant, but that finally sounded as a really possible prospective. She was happy. Her phone buzzed. Finally. But when she checked she saw the message was from Aaron

"You were amazing tonight."

Then another

"And I don't mean it was because of the red lipstick."

Anne reminded herself to stay calm. What he was doing wasn't s****l harassment. For now.

"Excuse me" she suddenly told the driver "could I change the direction?"

"Of course, Miss. Where to?"

She gave him Charlie's address and the taxi stopped at a shop on their way, so that she could get a nice bottle of Charlie's favorite wine and chocolates. Anne just wanted to surprise him and promised herself she won't stay for too long.

"Why the sudden change?" asked the driver. Normally she avoided talking to cab drivers, but she realized she was actually in a great mood tonight.

"I decided to surprise my fiance. Plus he has a birthday next month, and I'm planning on surprising him with a trip."

"He's a lucky man."

"As I am a lucky woman to have him." smiled Anne .

She knew how hard it was for Charles, with the job and her traveling so much. Especially recently. But they could do this, they were a team.

She paid the driver and tipped him well, because of the trouble he had to go through because of her.

Anne climbed the stairs to the fourth floor, as the old building her fiance lived in didn't have an elevator. Once upstairs he fixed her Versace dress and checked her make up again. They'd been together for so long, and he was always so supportive of her through all this.

"My Boss" was what he called her when they it was just the two of them. She was still nervous every time they were together, but that was most important- to save the spark, right?

She pressed the doorbell. Then again.

Was he out? She then decided to call and heard his phone ringing from inside.

"Charles?" she called aloud.

Anne heard footsteps, something crashing inside, so she called again.

"Charlie? Are you all right?"

Voices. He wasn't alone and someone was almost shouting from inside. What was going on?

"Charles, open the door. It's me."

The door suddenly opened. But it wasn't Charles. It was a sexy blonde, wearing only a white shirt. And Charles, in the middle of putting his trousers on in the middle of the hall away.

"This is not what it looks like." he protested.

"And what do you think it looks like?" both women said together.