Eric was late for the weekly team meeting on Monday morning. He rushed into the conference room, as JC just finished talking about current topics. He gave his friend a stern look, expecting an explanation. But Eric didn’t see any reason to justify himself. 

„Ricky, my office,“ JC said, when the meeting was over. 

Eve glanced at them, knowing that JC was pissed off. She returned to her desk as the rest of the staff and continued working. 

JC’s glass door was closed, but still she could hear him and Eric arguing. 

„Trouble in paradise,“ Richard joked, also hearing them shouting at each other. 

Eve just gave him a smugly grin. In the next moment Eric rushed out of JC’s office. He stopped standing next to Eve’s desk. She looked into his furious eyes. 

„Who do you think you are?!“ he said harshly. 

Eve frowned, not understanding what this was about. 

„Excuse me?“ 

„You better stop exceeding your authority, or you and I will get into some serious trouble!“ 

Eve was still lost. JC left his office and stopped standing next to Eric. 

„Stop that shit!“ he warned his friend. 

Eric gave him a dismissive look. 

„Good luck with your eye candy,“ he hissed, before heading towards the exit. 

Eve's confusion reached its peak. She stared at JC, waiting for explanation. 

„You’ll join me at the bank meeting,“ he said. 

Eve’s heart dropped. 

„What?“ 

„Is this a problem?“

„Um… no… but… I mean… Eric is responsible…“ 

JC didn’t let her finish her sentence. 

„Eric fucked things up. And you fixed the mess. That’s why I want you to join me.“ 

Eve was in shock, not able to answer. She just stared at him and nodded.

„Good. We leave in fifteen minutes,“ JC said and returned into his office. 

„What was that?“ Richard asked curiously. 

„Um… obviously Eric feels threaten by me.“ she replied. 

Short time later Eve was sitting next to JC in his car on their way to the bank appointment. 

„I wished you told be earlier about this,“ she said.

„I know. But I didn’t want you to stress yourself because of that meeting during the weekend,“ JC answered. 

She looked at him and smiled. 

„Why you think I would get stressed because of this?“ 

He looked back at her for a second. 

„Dunno… I thought it might be a little overwhelming for you.“ 

„It’s not. But some time to prepare myself would have been nice. I don’t even know the names of the bankers we’re gonna to meet.“ 

„Um… I don’t know them, either,“ JC confessed. 

Eve chuckled. 

„Okay, this will be fun,“ she said to tease him a little. 

Now it was JC who got nervous. Maybe he should have prepared himself better, as well.

Two hours later Eve and JC entered an Italian restaurant and got seated in a quiet corner. JC insisted inviting her for lunch after their successful appointment with the bankers. 

„You have a very confident appearance,“ JC said, after ordering drinks and food. 

Eve smiled at him. 

„That’s because I’m not afraid of people, not matter who they are,“ she replied. 

„Obviously you’re not. I’m impressed how you represented our interests. You’ve been very convincing, as they asked about our objectives.“

„Well, I’m used to those things. Christian and I did countless pitches together.“ 

„You mean your prior boss?“ 

Eve nodded, getting lost in thoughts.

„Do you miss your old job?“ JC wanted to know. 

Eve looked at him for a second, before replying. 

„Of course I do. It has been ten years. Christian was more than just my boss.“ 

JC raised his eyebrows, trying to process what she just said. She saw his confusion and started laughing. 

„Gosh! It’s not what you think!“ 

He just stared at her, waiting for more explanation. 

„I meant he was my friend. He is still is, of course. As well as his amazing wife.“

The waitress brought their drinks in the next moment. Both took a sip, before continuing their conversation. 

„Do I have to be worried about Eric?“ Eve wanted to know next. 

„Why would you say that?“ 

„Very obviously he didn’t like what happened this morning.“ 

„That’s not your problem, Eve.“ 

„I know I didn’t do anything wrong. Still I pissed him off by helping you with the investment plan.“ 

„You’re not responsible for Eric’s hurt ego.“ 

„Honestly, I don’t care about his feelings. But I know you are friends and I don’t wanna stand in between.“ 

„The reason for our fight was his unreliability. I’m sorry he tried to take his anger out on you. I promise you I won’t tolerate this kind of behavior.“ 

Eve cracked a smile.

„Okay. Thank you.“ 

The same night JC was relaxing in front of the telly, being dressed in some comfy clothes. While sipping his beer, he heard his front door opening up. Justin entered the living room and let himself fall next to him at his sofa. 

„What are we watching tonight?“ he wanted to know. 

„Dunno, any suggestions?“ JC replied. 

„First of all I need a beer.“ 

Justin stood up, went into the open kitchen, took a bottle out of the fridge and returned to the sofa. Then he took a big sip and gazed at his friend. 

„Why are you staring at me?“ JC asked irritated. 

„Did you ask her out?“ Justin asked. 

JC deeply sighed. 

„I can’t just ask her out, man.“ 

„Why not?“ 

„Because she’s working for me.“

„Then what exactly is your plan to make her yours?“ 

„I have no plan.“ 

Justin put his beer at the coffee table and bent into JC’s direction. 

„You asked me to step back and I did, because you made me believe your feelings for her are serious.“ 

„They are serious.“

„Then why you don’t do something? I don’t get it.“ 

JC didn’t like the way Justin was putting him under pressure. 

„I can’t date my assistant!“ 

„Okay fine. If this is the dealbreaker, then let me date her.“ 

JC gave him a warning look.

„Don’t you dare.“

Justin rolled his eyes. 

„Listen. Although I met her first I stepped back because I want you to be happy. But if you continue waisting time, be sure I’ll change my mind.“ 

At the same time Eve was hanging up with Sandra at her place. After having dinner together, they opened a bottle of wine and collapsed at the sofa. When Eve updated her friend about the recent events, Sandra started grinning dirty.

„So, you had a date with your sexy boss.“ 

Eve rolled her eyes.

„Really, Sandy? I just told you about our successful pitch and all you’re interested in is our lunch?“ 

„Your lunch date.“ Sandra corrected her.

„It wasn’t a date. We just talked about work. It was completely harmless.“ 

Sandra gave her a reproachful look.

„You should have put a little more effort into this.“

Eve frowned. 

„What the hell are you talking about?“ 

„He asked you out and all you did was talking about work?“ 

„Sandy, for god’s sake. He didn’t ask me out. This was just a quick lunch before we headed back to the office.“ 

„Are you saying he’s not turning you on? Not even a little bit?“ 

„What’s wrong with you? It doesn’t matter, if he’s turning me on or not. He’s off limits, don’t you get it?“ 

„So… he is turning you on.“ 

Eve deeply sighed.

„Jesus Christ…“

„Say it.“ 

„Sandy!“

„Say it!“ 

„Okay, fine. He is turning me on. His sex appeal is unbearable and every time he smiles, I almost lose my shit. But the last thing I want is risking my job, just because my boss is making my panties wet on a daily basis.“

Sandra stared at her friend with her mouth open. 

„Don’t give me that look. You wanted to hear the truth,“ Eve added.

„I know. But working under this conditions must be torture.“ 

Again Eve sighed. 

„Justin would have been the perfect distraction…“ 

„You still didn’t hear from him, hm?“ 

„Of course not. He’s married to that Hollywood beauty, remember?“ 

„Ya, what a pity…“