Author's Note from Lolita30:
This is a reimagined, expanded version of a story I wrote years ago--now fully remastered with deeper emotion, richer heat, and all the delicious tension I originally wanted to explore between Jessica and Bill. If you're a fan of older man/younger woman fantasies with slow burn, workplace tension, and full-body satisfaction... this one's for you.
💋 Thanks to those who favorited the original-- Thank you! it gave me the confidence to revisit this piece and make it even better.
Let me know what you think--your feedback means the world. 💌
xoxo,
Lolita30
Summer, 1995.
Jessica Colby, a 22-year-old broadcast journalism major, sat among her colleagues at her internship at Kurtis Productions. Today was Friday--brainstorming day. Each week, writers, directors, editors, and researchers gathered in the glass-enclosed boardroom to pitch story ideas for the next episode of Investigative Reports.
At the head of the table sat Bill Kurtis, the man behind it all. Sharp. Handsome. Magnetic. At 55, Bill exuded the kind of wisdom and confidence that made Jessica sit a little straighter whenever he entered the room.
Unlike previous internships where she'd been invisible, here she was treated like a team member. She admired Bill's kindness, his composure--and yes, she had a crush on him. A real one. The kind that made her pulse quicken when he looked her way.
"Good afternoon, everyone," he said, his baritone voice smooth enough to make her stomach flutter. "Let's hear what you've got."
The meeting ran long--over two hours--and by the end, Jessica's hand was cramping from note-taking, her backside sore from the stiff chair. She stood to stretch, arms overhead, back arching with a quiet sigh.
She didn't notice Bill watching her. But he was.
Her body--petite, strong, lithe--moved with the grace of a dancer. Her hair was swept up into a bun, her skirt flirted just above the knee. It took everything in him not to stare.
He didn't need her at those meetings. But he liked having her there. She brought beauty to the boardroom--brightness, youth, curiosity. And yes, desire.
"Jessica, can I speak to you for a moment?" he asked.
She turned, blinking. "Sure, Bill."
Once the others filed out, Bill approached her, the door clicking shut behind him.
"You've been doing great work," he said, voice softer now. "I've been watching your progress--and I think you've got real talent."
Jessica's breath caught. "Thank you. That... really means a lot."
He hesitated. "Are you doing anything later tonight?"
She blinked. "Tonight?" Her mind raced. Homework. A frozen dinner. TV. "No, not really..."
"I'd like to take you to dinner. As a thank-you. You've contributed a lot. It's only fair."
She hesitated just a second too long, unsure if she was misreading the moment. But the look in his eyes--intense, lingering--told her everything.
"Yes," she said, a little too quickly. "I'd be honored."
He smiled, slow and warm. "Good. I'll pick you up at 9:30."
Later that night...
Jessica's apartment was alive with nerves and half-finished curls. She wore a strapless black dress that hugged her curves like it was made for her. One heel on, one in her hand. The phone rang.
"Hello?"
"You ready?" came Bill's honeyed voice.
She glanced down at herself. "Almost. Five minutes?"
"I'll be in the lobby when you're done."
Bill had arrived early, parking his black Lexus just around the corner. He wore a classic black suit--nothing flashy, but he wore it well. He'd told his girlfriend he had a business dinner. She hadn't questioned it.
When Jessica stepped off the elevator, he turned at the sound of her heels clicking on the floor. She looked stunning--red lips, smoky eyes, curls spilling past her shoulders.
"Wow," he breathed. "You look fantastic."
"Thank you. So do you."
He offered his arm, and they headed out into the night.
