Yeah, I’d kill it, but since I’ve fucked myself into a predicament, literally, the thought of work doesn’t hold any allure at the moment.

Raven.

My little Lolita, speaking her truths, not letting anything stop her.

Fucking balls.

I admire that. Today she put it all on the line, and I know I need to end it. Standing, I walk to my liquor cabinet and grab a bottle of whatever is closest, then drop back into my chair and spin around to look out of the giant office windows. I unscrew the top of the bottle and drink as though it’s water instead of fucking whiskey burning a path from my throat down to my esophagus.

Truths.

Secrets.

Lies.

I slam the bottle down and watch it mark my perfectly shined cherrywood desk. My phone vibrates. I ignore it. This is my time.

Right now. I need to sit here and drink and think. Leaning my head back, I envision her dropping her robe, her cherry lips parted…

With a snort, I sit up, reaching for the bottle, and bring it to my lips as I come to peace with what I’m finally ready to do.

“Mr. Powers?” Rebecca’s voice makes me spin my chair to face her. Her usual pleasant, nothing-fazes-me façade has evaporated.

“Yes?”

“I’m so sorry to bother you.” She clears her throat, and her eyes widen when I drink straight from the bottle.

“It’s just that… I mean, Rachel, that is, Ms. Stewart, is trying to reach you.” Her brown eyes hold concern, which makes me smile.

“You can go,” I say, propping my feet on the edge of the desk.

“Can I get you a glass? Or maybe call for Iain to bring the car for you?” She takes a step closer, and for a second, her thin form reminds me of Raven’s if I really squint.

Except she’s not.

“Did my fiancée leave a message?” After bringing the bottle to my lips, the warm burn starts to make me feel more like the real me. Fuck all this drivel in my head. So we had great sex. She had a fucking untouched pussy; that’s all this fascination was. And now it’s over. I’ll go home to Rachel. I’ll fuck her, saturate myself in her cunt, and erase all those thoughts and the smell and taste of orange blossoms and coconut.

Rachel is who I deserve. She is on the same path. Raven… well, Raven deserves the world. She’ll go to Stanford, make her mark.

“She said…” Rebecca shifts to another foot as if she’s nervous, but to be honest I had forgotten she was there.

“She said, hurry home, she has a surprise for you,” she blurts out, and her cheeks pinken.