Appropriately

Standing there I realize that this woman controls more of my life already than any person since my mother. Worried that if something were to go sideways with a relationship with her she could cause more problems for me to no end.

Reaching down and taking her hands in mine I gently lift them off my groin and turn to face her. Looking up at me with look of complete puzzlement she stutters, "But I thought, but we, but I, but, but."

Taking a deep breath I look down at her and begin to explain, "Trust me, I would love to do nothing more than pursue this to its conclusion. You are one of the most amazing women I have ever met and I am surely going to regret doing this. But we can't do this. If you were anyone beside my own personal assistant."

Holly cuts me off before I can go any further and interrupts, "You know what Mr. Doe, you don't need to explain. We both crossed lines, lets just forget this happened and continue as we were."

After a few moments we both collect ourselves as professionals and just as we are standing there the elevator dings and stops for an old security guard to enter. Clearly Holly and the guard know each other as they make small talk about their families, the weekend and the weather.

As the guard leaves the elevator I turn to Holly, "Family friend?"

"No, just the swing guard. He fills in when no one else can or will. He's a really nice man, Frank. I met him the day I started here. He helped me get orientated with the honeycomb set up of offices. He'll give you the shirt off his back if you ask for it." Holly offers as a reply.

Getting out of the elevator on our floor we head down the hallways towards our desks in relative silence. It appears as though we are the last two people in the office besides security.

I leave Holly at her desk and enter my office flopping down into the chaise lounge chair in the corner by the window of my office. With the strange silence in the office I clearly overhear my assistants call.

"Hey Crystal, yeah, my car is stuck on the road in front of the office and can't make it out. Can you come get me with your Jeep?.... No, didn't pan out, I tried but it just wasn't happening... oh you know, I told you about him. Went how I expected. But a girl can dream... Sure, an hour you say?... Ok I will be downstairs waiting then. Going to try one more thing. Love ya girl, see you soon."