Miles watched from where he sat behind the table as Maria approached the desk, her heels clinking softly in the quiet space.
She held her file to her chest, walking with a mix of timidity and confidence.
He observed her eyes as they subconsciously scanned the room, perhaps expecting Daniel to be there.
She stopped at the three-step platform leading up to the desk that dominated the office, hesitating slightly.
"You can come sit, Maria," he said, noticing her uncertainty.
She met his gaze, "What about Mr…Daniel?"
Miles raised a brow. "Do you want him here?"
Her eyes wavered, but she didn't respond.
She climbed the platform stairs, avoiding his gaze.
Miles knew she didn't want Daniel present, which was why he'd waited behind, hoping she would come.
The tempting scent of vanilla reached him as she settled into a chair across from him, deliberately keeping her back turned, denying him a view of her curves.
Maria gently placed her file on the table, still keeping her gaze lowered as she inhaled sharply to summon confidence, then lifted her brown eyes to meet his.
"I brought my work, unsupervised as you asked, sir." she said.
"I see, Maria," Miles replied, his gaze flicking to her lips—painted nude this time with a glossy sheen that made them look plumper, juicier, recalling the sweetness of their previous kiss.
"I was really impressed by how brilliantly the Time Travel concept worked in increasing our adult consumers," he continued. "It's made me curious to see what else a mind like yours can come up with."
Her eyes brightened with a flash of relief and pride, as if she'd been starved of recognition.
"Thank you, sir," she said with a bashful smile, trying her best to hold his gaze.
"You're welcome," he said. "Now I want to hear your ideas. Present one of your best to me."
Maria sighed, gathering her composure. Her confidence had grown since entering, just as he'd wanted.
She opened the file, sliding the first printed slip between her fingers—knuckles he imagined turning white as they gripped his sheets.
"For now, GOATASTE is limited to exploring supermarkets and high end restaurants in Divine city, where we are prestigiously known for our outstanding pudding varieties," Maria began, her voice soft yet professional.
"I believe we can extend beyond the shores of simple nutritional consumption into active nutritional engagement. It's a concept none of our competitors are exploring at the moment."
"The gym?" Miles asked, as Maria lifted her face from the paper.
"Yes, Mr Miles." she replied. "The time travel puddings performed well across peak age groups—kids for the nutritional contents, adults for the nostalgia.
Now that adults are already invested, it's the perfect time to introduce a pudding targeted at a healthy, fit lifestyle."
"And your follow-up test for this idea?" Miles asked, his interest clearly piqued, enjoying the display of her intellect as much as her beauty.
"High schools," Maria said confidently.
"Teens are already active enough, aren't they?" he said, though he suspected where she was headed. Most teens dismiss puddings as childish indulgence, trying too hard to act mature.
"Yes, they are,"Maria said, flipping through her files. "But that's why sports brands sponsor youth leagues. The teen demographic that currently patronizes our brands is small compared to adults.
If we produce something that energizes them, offering benefits for young athletes and scholars, it could expand to adult athletes and gyms in the long run."
"Were you just randomly checking our age-group stats?" Miles asked, locking eyes with her as he noticed her excitement.
"I…I have a younger sister." She said, hesitation in her voice. "She's not in this part of town, but when I visit, she's oblivious to puddings.
She said there was no point in savoring them—wanting to be a child again.
That challenged me.
If adults respond to time travel, then offering teens a pudding promising better academic and athletic performance could convince them.
We gain teen customers, eventually adult athletes, and leverage that into the fitness market and also create a long lasting image with the newer generation because they get to experience us in all stages of life."
Miles paused, impressed by the idea but frustrated by her attempt to act as if their kiss hadn't happened.
He rose from the chair, circling the table until he stood beside her.
"A brilliant idea—two birds with one stone."
**
Maria steadied herself as Miles hovered next to her, his airy cologne filling her senses, overtaking the earlier excitement she'd felt presenting her ideas.
"Y-yes sir." She stammered, her hands leaving the file to rest on her thighs.
Maria inhaled sharply as Miles bent beside her, eyes on the papers.
"I could…give it to you sir," she said, looking ahead at the huge glass wall behind Daniel's desk, managing her voice as she struggled to suppress the effect of their closeness. "If you need time to think or analyze properly."
"I like it," Miles said, his breath grazing her neck.
"O-okay," Maria whispered, fists tightening on her thighs.
She closed her eyes slightly, telling herself he was just studying the files.
When she opened them, she met the deep amber of his eyes, closer, clearer than before, relishing her fluttered state.
Maria swallowed and lowered her face, determined to resist a second kiss.
"Tomorrow," he said, "you'll present this to the board just as you did to me.
After they merge their ideas, we'll proceed to production."
Maria nodded quietly. "Yes sir."
"Look at me, Maria."
Her lips trembled as she raised her face to his. "I'm sorry about the kiss…I didn't mean—"
Miles stepped back, straightening. "Stand up and face me," he ordered.
Maria slowly rose, turning to meet his eyes again.
He looked almost frustrated, as if holding back.
It was the hottest thing Maria had ever seen,especially with such a man.
"I'm the one," he said, his voice low, "who should be apologizing."
Maria's eyes dropped to his lips unconsciously. She wanted him, wanted him to ignore apologies and kiss her again.
Her breathing quickened as her gaze fell to his chest—two buttons undone, teasing the strong expanse beneath.
Maria gasped as strong arms pulled her into a breathtaking kiss.
His skilled lips overwhelmed her senses, warm breaths mingling.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, savoring the hunger in his kiss, as his palms cupped the fullness of her buttocks making her moan into the kiss, kneading and pressing her into him.
Maria relished the ferocity of his desire.
His strong shoulders, the movement from wandering fingers lifting her dress, sparked sensations that clenched her core.
The force of his kiss pressed her against the table making the files drop to the floor.
They broke apart for a breath.
Maria quickly bent to retrieve the papers, "I'm sorry, sir. This shouldn't have happened."
Miles bent with her. "Stop apologizing, Maria."
Their eyes met.
She clutched the file, attempting composure as they stood together.
"It's wrong," she whispered.
"I know it is," Miles replied. "But I'll need more convincing to believe you."
Maria averted her gaze, afraid he'd see the desire lingering in her eyes. "I-I would like to take my leave, sir."
A pause stretched, her feet curling in her heels.
Finally, she heard his frustrated sigh.
"Yes, Maria. Be sure to prepare for the presentation tomorrow."
Maria nodded.
Even as she walked to the exit, she felt his gaze on her until the door shut behind her.
Breathing out the tension and relief stuck in her chest.
Her body ached for the memory of the CEO's palms.
Daniel had never touched her with such intent, such attention—but Miles did, and she liked it, every bit of it.
**
"Miles!" Daniel called to Miles as he stepped out of his blue Range rover, signaling the chauffeur to drive ahead due to the no-parking sign.
The hidden city club entrance glowed with soft lights spilling onto the streets, flanked by two bouncers with a stanchion between them.
Miles spotted Daniel waving, with Jennifer in a seductive black dress, and a woman in a revealing yellow leather two-piece, shorts and crop top barely covering her breasts, her wavy ginger hair cascading down, arms hooked around Daniel.
Miles reached Daniel, shaking his hand while giving the woman a side-eye. "Hey, little bro."
Jennifer immediately hooked her arm in Miles', an annoying smile on her face as he rolled his eyes.
"Oh come on," Jennifer said excitedly. "We're here to spark memories, not live past mistakes."
Miles sighed, bracing for a brief reunion.
He didn't want to endure Jennifer's audacity after she cheated on him three years ago.
"Thought Dalia was coming?" Miles asked Daniel who was whispering into the other woman's ear.
Daniel turned. "Oh she couldn't make it, something about work tomorrow. This is Gina."
"Hi," the girl waved, and Miles resisted the urge to escape.
Perhaps stay for an hour and leave because he could now resonate well enough to Dahlia's reason for not coming.
"ok," Jennifer chirped. "Enough talking—let's go inside already. I'm dying to feel this nostalgia."
The bouncers lifted the stanchion as Daniel and Gina went in first, Jennifer dragging Miles behind.
"Beautiful Mistakes" by Maroon 5 double beat Music pulsed through the renovated space they used to come to as younger adults.
Even on a weekday, the place was alive with flashing blue and red lights over its crowd.
Jennifer swirled with the music, rubbing against Miles as he held her waist.
Meanwhile, Daniel and Gina disappeared into the crowd, flirting and dancing.
A waiter with a tray of tequila shots caught Miles' eyes. He signaled to the waiter, downing three shots at once, calming his temper toward Daniel's pettiness and Jennifer's pushy attitude.
The music pulsed through him, and his mind drifted to Maria—the softness of her curves, the involuntary neediness in her eyes.
Maria's arms locked around his neck.
Her tiny moans provoked by the persistence of his fingers grazing between her inner thighs.
Like the song said, he imagined her naked in his head. Without resisting, surrendered completely to the madness of his desire.
"Yes, Miles?" Jennifer's voice snapped him back.
Miles pulled away, realizing his alcohol-fueled daydream with Maria had confused his actions toward Jennifer.
"I've got to go," Miles said, heading out.
Outside, he dialed the chauffeur's number, not letting it ring—the call was the only signal for the car to come.
"Big bro," Daniel's voice called as he approached, arms spread with tequila shot in hand. "Why are you leaving so soon?"
"We have a serious presentation with the board tomorrow," Miles said, tracking the road for his Range Rover. "I suggest you also retire for the night."
"Gina's just a friend," Daniel said and Miles sighed again.
Staying longer would only give him a headache.
Miles spotted his chauffeur pulling to the sidewalk, patted Daniel on the back, and said, "See you at work tomorrow," before getting into the car.
The chauffeur drove off, leaving a confused Daniel in front of the still-pulsing club.