CHAPTER 6

**Kira***

A gasp followed after I mumbled my shameless act.

"You did what?" Dana squealed in horror as Stacy clapped and squealed with joy.

I shivered at the thought of explaining something that was so obvious. I woke up naked beside a total stranger. I was sore between my thighs and was so drunk I remembered only glimpses of last night. And the odd thing about it was I can't seem to get that guy out my head.

"So was he....You know?" Stacy wiggled her eyebrows with a grin.

Dana gasped and shoved her with a frown. "How can you ask that, Stacy?"

I stared at them both. They continued to argue and the whole realization of it all kicked in. The most important moment of my life happened and I didn't remember it. On top of that, it was with someone I didn't know.

We sat around talking about it, I omitted details about what I did remember. The questions mainly consisted of questions that made me squirm. I felt as if I was being interrogated by a sleazy tabloid with these two.

How did it feel? Did he make your toes curl? Did he kiss good?, Was he fit? And the all-time shameful question that simply had to come out of Stacy's mouth... Was it big?

My blank stare said it all. I was completely too drunk to notice. But I had to look away from their penetrating stares.

"If it's any indication that when I did wake up I was very sore and it hurt." I swallowed.

Stacy gawked with faking as she was going to faint and Dana just stared at me with huge eyes.

I waited for Stacy to elaborate because she wasn't a virgin, she had experience with lots of guys. She wasn't a slut. She just had a short attention span when it came to long-term relationships. You could call her a.... Selective dater... I think. And there were rules she stood by. Like... She would never date a guy from school, never make out with guys at a party too close to home... and she always went for the jocks.

"Of course it's going to hurt the first time kare bear, but afterwards, it doesn't," she plopped on the pillow with a soda in her hand and a dreamy smile on her face.

"Well, if I know any better college boys are responsible and use rubber so at least your safe right?" She shrugged and dug into a bag of chips.

My heart slammed in my chest at that moment and I suddenly felt cold. I quickly nodded for fear of their reaction.

"Of course, he did," I could barely get those words past my throat.

In reality, no we didn't.

*~*~*~*~*~*

***Max***

Finally alone, I decided to shower.

Closing my eyes, I stepped deeper into the spray, willing for the lingering thumps in my head from my hangover to leave my body and circle the drain at my feet. A shiver wracked through me, and my thoughts shifted to her. I closed my eyes and focused on those eyes and petite body.

Cool water bombarded my clammy skin, chasing away the clinging shadows of a crazy lustful night I couldn't fully remember.

"Shit!" I slammed my hands flat against the cool tile and absorbed the chill of the punishing cool spray into my weary bones. I was such an irresponsible fuck.

I lathered, quickly trying to wash away the guilt, dried sweat, and aroma of sex I'd woken up in. Within minutes I was heading out to the bedroom, where I pulled on a clean pair of boxers and jogging shorts before heading to bed. It was just barely two in the morning before my head touched the pillow and sleep took over me.

My morning was like any other. I woke up to the humming tone of Constanza as she zipped in and out of the rooms down the hall and fresh aroma of coffee. I lay awake for a while absorbing the rays of the morning sun as it spilled through the window. With a rushed exhalation of breath I stretched my rested bones, then sat up to start my day.

While Wilson drove me to work, I scrolled through my appointment calendar and last minute added conference calls Gladys added to my calendar.

I stepped off the elevator and walked close to my dad's office. I had to admit that lately, we haven't spoken. He was extremely busy with the latest acquired accounts.

I stood at the entrance of the door and lightly knocked. I took in the view of the man I called my father who was extraordinary. He built a company from the ground up and worked every bone in his body to create a legacy for us. I admired him.

He had dark brown wavy hair peppered with some gray strands, the telltale sign of added years to his life. I read somewhere that gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly or righteous life. I smiled; if it described my dad then yeah, it was entirely true.

His gaze lifted to mine.

"Max! Come in son, I haven't seen you since yesterday," he smiled offering me a seat.

If it's any consolation at this time, I would give anything at this moment to confide in my dad and tell him what I had done, but, I couldn't tell him I did something so reckless like this. He would be disappointed.

I walked in and sat down before him. He leaned back in his chair and sighed.

"How are you doing dad?" I asked making myself comfortable.

"Other than the acute arthritis pain in my bones my boy, I'm doing great," he chuckled, pulling up his tablet and turning it towards me.

I leaned forward, picked it up and read the opened email he indicated with his finger. I frowned and read through it.

Looking up amused at the memo, I saw that determined stare in those eyes of his.

"Winthrop Enterprise's acquired the Graphic and Design bid for Peterson & Lark, Ltd."

He spoke.

"I need you to step up your game and work with Chris in the design department to pull ALL the stops. I want you guys to shine on this bid. Make Winthrop squirm. "He mumbled.

I leaned back and considered his words. I nodded. There was no mistaking his itch to go up against his rival. Gregory Winthrop was that shadow in my father's closet that we frequently heard about. Rival partners since the dawn of our existence you can say. He never told us why the two that were best friends so long ago had a falling out. I mean I have no need to hold a grudge on a feud that did not include me. I've met Gregory Winthrop's' sons. We played against Each Other at an away game in high school a couple of years ago. They seemed cool and ok to me nothing out of the ordinary.

"Now young man read the next email," he pulled me out of my thoughts.

I clicked over to the next event.

The memo read in an elegant font.

Mullins & Hill

Cordially invites any and all esteemed eligible Bachelors and Bachelorettes to participate in the

23rd Annual

FULTON WEDDING PLANNING

FUNDRAISING AND BRIDAL FASHION SHOW EVENT

On Saturday

At 10am

At the Meadowview Country Club

In the

HALIFAX BALLROOM

South lawn entrance

R.S.V.P no later than Tuesday

1(212)555-5555

Hosted by:

Josette Mullins & Cathy Hill

My eyes immediately shot to his mischievous gaze and I shook my head.

"Dad, no..."

But before I could back out, he pleaded with me and I agreed to it.

"Maybe this will inspire you to move things along with Bianca," he chuckled.

"Maybe," I murmured.

*~*~*~*~*~*

I left my father's office with plans to join him for lunch. I powered through the rest of my day, wrapping up the week's agenda and laying the groundwork for more to come. There was a lot I needed to get off my plate before I could help Chris with the Peterson & Lark Ad.

I stood and walked to the floor length window. Winthrop Enterprise's office was the tower amongst the many high-rises that littered downtown and I could see the steel structure in the distance. I suspected that he and my father both spent more than a few moments every day staring at each others offices and planning their next move to outdo the other.

*******

****Kira****

My morning went by in a blur as I decided to call it a day of school. I got dressed and headed out to Winthrop Enterprises. I wanted to get a head start on the design layout so I called Dana and asked her to take notes for me. As I opened the front door, I was met with the determined eyes of our Chauffeur Harvey.

I was so close to escaping him.

"Ms. Winthrop upon your father's orders I insist that you let me do my job and drive you to your destination."

I sighed a little frustrated.

"Harvey, what's the point of having my own car if I can't drive it,"

"It's for your safety, miss," he said.

"I know, but I'm in no danger Harvey. Besides, I'm going directly to the office today,"

"And for all the reasons to have me drive you, miss Kira." He paused. "If you have not heard this for the thousandth time, you are the daughter of a very wealthy man. An easy target to get to your father. If you didn't know it already young one you are his heart string and it will send him to his early grave if any harm came to you. So please I beg you to let me do my job," he pleaded politely pointing the way to the car.

I sighed because the truth was all of this was just too much for me to argue with. He was right. I've been dodging him for two days straight.

"O.k., I'll let you take me, but please let me at least drive myself around this weekend," I begged.

I watched him smirk and consider my plea. With a chuckle, he nodded and stepped to the side and opened the door.

As Harvey drove me through downtown, I sat back and read my last text with my sister.

"I'm heading into the office, have you spoken with dad?"

"Yeah, he told me about Matt

Are you going to be ok? Maybe I'll stop by and grab lunch with you".

"Sure, I would love that it would

Give us some time to catch up."

How is Pablo doing have you guys

Settled on a date for the wedding?

"Still, in the works, I'm pushing

for a spring wedding. What do you think?"

Spring is good, the weather would

Be fantastic."

"Great, I'm glad you agree.

Well, let me get going

I'm meeting up with

Pierre and Lola..."

"Ok. Send them my love."

"I will see you in a bit. TTYL."

By the time I got the last text, Harvey was pulling up in front of Winthrop Enterprises.

I waved to the security guards and stepped into the elevator.

Still scrolling through my Facebook feeds and liking a couple of posts, the ding of the elevator made me look up in time to see the elevator door open.

I greeted the familiar faces of all my father's employees as they smiled at me and waved back. I continued on to the back office where the Graphics design department was. I stopped in front of the receptionist desk of Matt's personal assistant and smiled at the girl sitting there who hadn't noticed me yet.

She looked pretty much entertained with what was on the screen to pay me any attention. I cleared my throat and she slowly looked up at me. The annoyed look on her face made me feel all out of sorts.

"May I help you?" She barely looked at me before lowering her eyes again to the screen again.

"Hi, I'm here to get Matt Harleson's design and layout for the Peterson &... ," Before I could finish her phone rang.

Patiently I waited for her to finish. But then I noticed her call was personal. She looked up at me and rudely rolled her eyes and turned giving me a view of her back.

In a normal circumstance, any other person would have probably said something, or would have even left. But, at that moment I was feeling impatient because I was about to start a project I barely got any sleep over not to mention my personal dilemma and horror of what I did two nights ago. Basically, I was a walking mess. So, I did what any impatient 17 year old going through a crisis would have done.

I tapped her on the shoulder lightly and gained very few seconds of her attention. I finished explaining to her why I was there. Can you believe that did not phase her?

She turned again and I got pissed. So, I leaned over her desk and pressed the hang up button.

Feral ice blue eyes turned around and shot me a heated gaze before shooting to her feet and slamming down the phone.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" She yelled at me.

"She is the daughter of the man who signs your paychecks, that's who the hell she is." A deep familiar baritone voice came up behind me.

That gained her attention and her sudden paling complexion. I froze.

I turned in shock to see my dad standing there. Immediately I screamed giddy with excitement and jumped in his arms. He chuckled as he spun me around.

"Oh my God!, Daddy when did you get in?" I squealed and wrapped my arms around him as pulled me tight and kissed my forehead.

"Early this morning pumpkin, I decided to cut our trip short. We have an emergency meeting," he sighed.