Miles kept his gaze straight ahead, seated at the table in the bustling event hall, filled with employees and friends.
The rooftop venue was impeccably refined.
Fancy chairs were arranged in groups of six around each table, each adorned with fine porcelain silverware, lavish fruits, and bottles of wine that gleamed under the dim multi-colored stage lights.
Warm lights trapped in textured balls hung from the ceiling.
Carpeted green grass dominated the floor, softening the sounds of shoes in a light event such as this.
Every detail spoke of luxury and careful taste.
Miles' table was occupied by his mother, father, Daniel, Dahlia, and Jennifer, who chattered incessantly about the delights of her party—the very one his mother had tried to convince him to attend.
Amidst the table chatter, Miles' eyes kept straying across the hall to the table where Maria sat with other employees.
Across the aisle, her gaze flickered toward him intermittently, sometimes locking with his. The subtle sheen of her grey satin dress made her impossible to miss.
Soft piano music wove through the air, mingling with the smoky scent of barbecue roast from the grill stand at the distant end of the hall.
The formalities of the evening were over, leaving the guests free to mingle and savor the refreshments.
"Oh Gerald," Mrs. Genova said, shifting in her sequin pink dress with thinly veiled irritation. "You're insufferable. I don't want her coming over here."
"Then you shouldn't have sent her an invitation," Mr. Genova replied casually, plucking a tangerine from the platter before him.
Miles noted that Daniel's attention was fully on Dahlia.
Good.
It was better Maria was alone than with him.
"Hello, Diana," came a gentle voice, drawing the table's attention.
Mrs. Ashford appeared, dressed in a flowing red silk dress, her bobbed black hair framing her elegant, aged face—Kayden's mother.
Mrs.Genova forced a polite smile and rose to greet her. "Hello, Felicia. You look stunning."
"As do you, Diana. I'm so glad I could attend." Mrs Ashford replied, hands lingering briefly on Mrs Genova's arms. "Hello, Gerald."
"Top of the evening to you too, Felicia," Mr. Genova replied with a smile. "We're glad you came."
Mrs Ashford's eyes flickered across the table.
"Oh my God…is that Miles…and Daniel?"
"Good evening, Mrs. Ashford," Miles greeted politely, followed by Daniel.
Mrs. Ashford was a peace-loving soul. Miles recalled how much time he had spent in her home as a teenager.
The excuse was to see Kayden, but the real reason was to experience a mother who spared kids from perfectionism.
"Good evening my darlings," she said with a blissful smile before turning to Mrs. Genova. "They are such handsome men."
"What about Kayden?" Mrs. Genova asked.
"He'll soon be here to say hi," Mrs. Ashford said, glancing through the crowd as Mrs. Genova gestured for more seats at their table.
"Miles darling," Mrs Ashford continued, settling next to him, "I thought you were for Jellas now."
"Only here to visit," Miles replied.
Her gaze flicked toward Jennifer, who leaned forward deliberately. "Is that your…?"
"No," Miles interrupted before she could finish.
"Oh," she said, shifting to Daniel. "It's hard to believe you were such a whiny little boy, Daniel."
Daniel gave a sheepish smile and straightened his dark beige suit. "All grown now, though."
The table chuckled lightly.
More barbecue and an extra bottle of wine were brought before Kayden arrived, clad in a velvet blue suit similar in texture to Miles' own black ensemble.
Kayden settled beside his mother after exchanging greetings and cheek kisses with Mrs. Genova, his presence partially blocking Miles from stealing more glances at Maria.
"That beautiful young woman—I believe the project lead?" Mrs. Ashford inquired as the waiter filled the glasses.
"Maria," Daniel said, straightening from leaning toward Dahlia as he sipped his glass.
"Maria," Mrs. Ashford repeated. "I'd like to meet her. Rare to find a woman with such beauty and brains."
Miles noted the shadow crossing Mrs. Genova and Daniel's faces, but it didn't last as Kayden added, "I met her once. Through Miles, I believe."
Mrs. Genova's gaze sharpened at him, but Miles looked away.
"Oh, that's good," Mrs. Ashford continued. "I'd like to meet her too."
"I'd be honored to introduce both of you," Daniel said nervously due to Dahlia sitting beside him. "She's my girlfriend."
Miles met Kayden's gaze.
"It'll really be nice if you do that, Daniel." Kayden said with a smirk.
Miles' jaw tightened as Daniel hailed an usher to bring Maria.
The evening was clearly going to test his patience. He drank half his glass as the usher returned with Maria, polite and smiling, standing next to Daniel.
"My God, child," Mrs. Ashford said. "You look stunning. I'm Mrs. Ashford, Kayden's mother."
"Good evening, Mrs. Ashford," Maria replied with a courteous smile, then turned to Kayden. "Hello, Mr. Kayden."
"Hello, Maria," he replied, glancing briefly at Miles, who pretended not to notice.
"Daniel, wow," Mrs. Ashford continued, her admiration clear. "She is a great catch. Well-behaved and lovely."
Maria stifled a small yelp as Daniel guided her onto his lap, making Miles turn his attention.
"Indeed she is," Daniel murmured, brushing her arms. "Brains and hearts meant for each other."
Miles boiled inside, observing Maria's discomfort as she fiddled with her fingers and lowered her gaze.
The memory of her curves slipped into his mind.
And now she was seated on Daniel.
Miles drained his glass and signaled for another.
"Our company gave her the platform," Mrs. Genova said, fake smile in place, eyeing Maria. "Without our endorsement. She isn't much to admire."
"I don't think I agree," Mrs. Ashford said, calm and unwavering. "Great minds have the power to create generational wealth."
Mrs. Genova sighed. "How often do you visit Mapla, Felicia?"
As Mrs Ashford conversed, Jennifer's hand slid behind Miles's seat, leaning close, her scent filling his space as the waiter finished pouring another glass.
Miles' gaze flicked to Maria, who caught his stare and quickly looked away, biting her lip.
His trousers tightened at the gesture as he lifted his glass, never removing his gaze from her.
"What do you say I relieve some of that stress tonight, Miles?" Jennifer whispered, fingers skimming his shoulder.
**
Maria struggled to control her eyes from flickering toward Miles.
His stare unsettled her but not as much as Jennifer leaning close, her dress dipping to reveal the cleavage she wanted him to notice.
Maria scoffed inwardly—she was obviously flirting.
"I know you miss us this way," Daniel's low voice called her attention back, grounding her in the fact that she was still on his lap.
"You've never been this bold with me in public," Maria whispered.
"But I am now," Daniel said, lifting her chin, lips dangerously close. "And you will get used to it."
"I-I understand," Maria replied, trying to look away but Daniel's grip on her chin increased as he leaned in.
"I have to go to the restroom," she said aloud, pausing the table and making Daniel release her.
Maria stood still aware of Miles' gaze, clearly not paying attention to the woman beside him.
"Excuse me," she said politely, hiding her nerves before walking to the other table to collect her clutch.
"Where are you going?" Jenny asked. "We are supposed to be here till midnight."
"It's just the restroom," Maria replied. "I'll be back before you know it."
"Better," Jenny scoffed playfully and let her go.
Maria walked down the aisle, the smell of barbecue stronger as the party grew livelier.
Waiters bustled around, except those at Daniel's table.
She met an attendant to point her toward the restroom.
Walking toward it, Maria realized she might not last till midnight.
Miles' gaze was one thing, but Daniel's touch was beginning to disgust her.
And she couldn't afford to create a scene, not with such a lovely lady like Mrs Ashford watching.
The carpeted grass continued here, soft on heels.
The roofed and enclosed space smelled fresh from the air conditioning.
Inside, her heels clicked against marble floors.
A luxurious quartz countertop supported three black tiled sinks, each with its own round mirror.
Six stalls lined the opposite wall, rich wooden doors, three for ladies, three for gents.
Maria picked a spot in front of a mirror, dropped her clutch, and stared at her reflection.
Was she seriously going to continue this way?
All for ambition.
The worst part: she had already gone too far with the project…and Miles.
Maria startled as the restroom door opened, her shock extending as Miles stepped in.
She swallowed, meeting his eyes as he closed the door behind him.
His gaze drifted over her body.
He wouldn't, right?
**
Miles watched her, fighting the jealousy bubbling inside him.
The wine only fueled his desire—or perhaps he was just looking for an excuse to erase Daniel's touch from her.
The look in her eyes told him she knew, and it inflamed him further.
She opened her mouth, but he closed the distance in two strides, grabbing her arm and pulling her into a stall.
"Mr Miles, please…" she whispered as he locked the door.
"W-we can do this elsewhere," she pleaded, her eyes darting anxiously as he backed her against the wall.
Miles paused.
For a fleeting second, restraint flickered through him–but she was the reason it shattered so easily in the first place.
He released her arm slowly, placing both hands on either side against the wall, caging her in without touching.
And then…he just watched her.
With hands folded tightly beneath her chest, the bare flesh of her breasts rose above the loose neckline of the dress.
Miles leaned in, his face barely an inch from hers. "We should properly celebrate your project launch."
He heard her swallow, his eyes drifting again to her cleavage.
His fingers stretched, eager to touch her.
"Someone might suspect…" she began.
His eyes lifted—slow, deliberate—until it met hers, then dropped to her lips.
He had missed her.
The touch of her hands on his chest, stopped him, pulling his awareness back.
He had almost kissed her.
"S-sir," she said softly. "I think you've had too much wine."
"I don't like it," Miles muttered.
Her brows drew together slightly. "Sir?"
"The way you are with him," he continued, his tone tightening. "The way you let him touch you—even when I'm there."
She hesitated—knowing she had to be careful with her next words.
"B-but he's my boyfriend," she said at last.
Miles felt her hands soften against his chest.
And there it was again—that flicker.
The undeniable pull in her eyes, even as she tried to look away, clearly affected by how close they were.
He stepped closer and lifted her without hesitation; her back met the wall as she released a soft gasp.
Her body yielded as he pressed between her legs, ensuring she felt just how much she affected him—even through the layers of fabric between them.
Now face-level with her chest, the soft scent of vanilla wrapped around him, clouding what little restraint he had left.
Her hands were on his shoulders.
Still not pushing him away.
He tilted his head, a slow smirk forming across his face as she turned to the side, bashful.
"You keep saying that," Miles murmured, his voice low and deliberate, "yet you fall into my hands every time I come a step too close."
Maria whimpered softly.
Her fingers curled slightly into his shoulders. "It's not like that…"
Miles briefly traced his lips over the succulent tops of her chest and she reacted immediately, her breaths shallow.
"It's exactly like that," he whispered, his palms molding her curves against him, tightening just enough to savor each rapid inhale she couldn't suppress.
**
Maria struggled to control her sounds as his mouth traced her breasts, every sensation threatening to betray her.
His palms held her firm, fingers digging into her curves.
Her mind screamed at her to push him away.
To stop this.
Especially now that he was unsteady because of the wine.
But the closeness, the intensity was too hard to resist.
"M-Miles," she whispered sharply as he began sucking on her nipple, both their breaths wavering with sensation while he held her firmly in place.
She locked her feet behind him, letting her hands slide from his shoulders to cradle his head, responding to every movement he made.
One hand crept to cover her mouth to muffle the sounds, she didn't want him to stop.
He moved to her other breast, pressing and pinning her for balance while beginning to lift her dress.
Miles had already gone halfway up her thigh before Maria caught his hand, forcing him to meet her gaze.
The heavy lust in his eyes tempted her.
They were going too far.
"P-please Miles," she whispered, hoping he was sober enough to listen.
Both breasts were bare now, nipples still aching from his attention.
He set her down gently and she adjusted her neckline as the dress settled over her legs.
"Go home, Maria," he said, his tone final.
"But sir…" she began.
"If you don't," he said, placing a hand against the wall beside her, his gaze sharp. "I will personally drag you back here and finish what I started."
Her breath caught.
Maria lowered her eyes. "I understand but it's unfair. Going home because of…"
She hesitated.
Miles leaned closer, his breath brushing her face.
"What would be really unfair," he said quietly, "are your sounds echoing for anyone walking in.
And this time, I won't hesitate to take off your lipstick myself."
Her eyes widened as he leaned back. The threat hung between them, heavy, dangerous…and utterly believable.
"Have a good night, Maria," Miles said before opening the door and stepping out.
Moments later, the click of the restroom's main exit reached her ears.
Maria stepped out of the stall slowly, retrieving her clutch in front of the mirror.
A storm of emotions raged inside her.
As she adjusted her hair, which had become slightly disheveled in the encounter, her thoughts raced.
He wasn't kidding about the threat, knowing very well she wouldn't risk it.
She was already too deep to be careless.
Raising her head, she stepped out of the enclosed restroom pathway and locked eyes with Mrs. Genova across the lane.
Maria's heart skipped a beat.