*this is strictly a work of fiction, and all mine*
"Jesus Christ it's been a long two weeks."
That thought was my mantra. When Ben has asked me to join him on this business trip, I'd had something a lot more fun in mind. He was bringing me to the heart of Paris to take notes and integrate myself better into his team - its been a fanfuckingtastic opportunity. But I have to admit - I pictured normal work days with dinners filled with easy laughter with my admittedly sexy boss... maybe a little too much wine... maybe some stolen moments his wife didn't need to know about. What I got was 15 hour work days, per diem that barely covered a decent cup of coffee, open hostility from the local team about an entry level having been brought to the meeting, and a need for a solid night sleep like nobody's business.
But tonight is the final night. Ben is treating us all to an upscale dinner. It's going to be great.
When the last meeting ends, we bolt for the hotel - our sloppy business casual won't cut it in the restaurant. He sighs at me in the elevator, then tells me he'll be knocking on my door in exactly 50 minutes. I steal a glance as I tell him it's fine, appreciating the extra few inches he has on me, the way his arms and shoulders look lightly muscular, how his hair had been ruffled by frustrated hands running through... fuck me, this man is 20 years or more my senior and I want him. Bad.
I quickly change - my one dressy dress that came, which is frankly slutty dressy, so soft and cut 5 inches higher and much lower at the neckline then a work event dress should be, patterned stockings, hair loosely curled, eyes, lips, and cheeks darkened. He knocks as I'm slipping on my flats and off we run to the restaurant.
Dinner is a flurry of conversations with my coworkers wives, loving their soft accents, heavy delicious food, and so so much wine. I'm not just tipsy as we're clearing out, I'm slurring and stupid. But so happy - the hottest guy in the room is leaving(ish) with me. And hes a little loaded too.
In the cab I find myself pressed very close to him, a random coworker jumping in for part of the ride. When he gets out, I know I should move away, but I don't. I just let my head roll back onto his shoulder, enjoying the crosswind moving across my sweaty throat. He snorts but allows it.
While we wait for the elevator, I sneak yet another ogle. He catches it.
"Stop that."
I giggle like an idiot. "Why can't I look as long as I don't touch?" The look he gives me in response in is unreadable. We stumble into the elevator, hugging opposite walls, just staring at one another. My floor comes too quickly and I break eye contact and leave. And Ben follows me.
Internally, I panic a little, but assume he's just walking me to my door. It takes me about a hundred attempts to free my key card from my wallet. I open the door, say good night over my shoulder, and step in. And he forcefully steps in behind me.