FAR TOO LATE

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

“ Ohh wow that was amazing babe” zephyr in ecstasy

“ so same time next week” with an iron hope so look

“ don't get ahead of yourself ill be busy this week” I spoke as I entered the bathroom to wash the oil and his c*m of me

“ okay the week after that”

“ end of discussion zephr” as I closed the door behind me.

He followed me into the bathroom and help wash me.

— The next morning

I regretted agreeing to the meeting the second I walked into the conference room.

The scent hit me first. Warm cedarwood and expensive cologne. A scent I used to bury myself in how would it forget.

A scent my body unfortunately remembered before my mind could catch up.

My heels slowed against the polished floor as my gaze lifted toward the man standing near the window.

Abe McCarthy.

Five years later, and he still looked unfairly good.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Dark tailored suit hugging his frame like it had been stitched onto him personally.

His hair was slightly longer now, pushed carelessly away from his forehead, and the sharpness of his jaw had only gotten worse with age.

Older.

Richer.

More dangerous.

Then he turned around fully.

And those familiar green eyes landed on me.

Every molecule of air disappeared from the room as the world froze.

“Diane.”

My name sounded different in his voice.

Too intimate.

Too soft.

I forced my spine straight. “Mr. McCarthy.”

One dark brow lifted slowly.

Right.

This was business.

Not college.

Not stolen kisses in library corners.

Not whispered apologies after cruel arguments.

Business.

A slow smile tugged at his lips. “You became formal.”

“You became late,” I replied coolly.

His smile widened.

God, I hated that smile.

It used to destroy me.

Still could, apparently.

Sarah stepped beside me with a fake cough. “Should we begin?”

“Please,” I said quickly, taking my seat at the opposite end of the table.

Abe sat directly across from me, completely relaxed while I fought to keep my pulse under control.

The meeting started normally enough.

Project timelines.

Budget discussions.

Marketing strategies.

But every single time I looked up, his eyes were already on me.

Watching.

Studying.

Like he was trying to memorize every version of me he missed.

It irritated me more than it should have.

“You’ve done impressive work with TMA ” Abe said smoothly midway through the presentation.

“Thank you.”

“I mean it.” His gaze held mine. “I always knew you’d be successful.”

The compliment should’ve felt nice.

Instead, bitterness curled inside me.

Because where was that support years ago?

Back then, he loved reminding me about my flaws more than my strengths.

Sarah smoothly redirected the conversation before the tension became obvious.

“Moving forward,” she said, “both firms will need weekly strategy meetings.”

Abe leaned back lazily in his chair. “That won’t be a problem.”

Of course it wouldn’t.

This man looked entirely too pleased about the situation.

I cleared my throat. “Our teams will communicate mainly through email unless necessary.”

His eyes flickered with amusement. “Trying to avoid me already?”

“I prefer efficiency.”

“Interesting,” he murmured.

The meeting ended an hour later, and relief instantly flooded me.

I gathered my files quickly.

The faster I left, the better.

But just as I reached the door

“Diane.”

My body froze.

Damn him for still having that effect.

Sarah and Sophie exchanged a look before quietly exiting the room without me.

Traitors.

I turned slowly. “Yes?”

Abe stood from his chair, slipping his hands into his pockets as he approached.

Every step felt calculated.

Controlled.

He stopped a few feet away from me.

Close enough for me to notice the faint scar near his chin I didn’t remember before.

Close enough for my heartbeat to become dangerous.

“You look good,” he said quietly.

I swallowed hard.

“Thank you.”

“No,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “I mean… really good.”

Something vulnerable flickered across his face briefly.

Regret.

I looked away first.

“I should go.”

“You hate me.”

The bluntness startled me enough to glance back at him.

A humorless smile touched his lips. “Can’t say I blame you.”

“You think?”

“I was an asshole.”

A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

“That’s one way to put it.”

His expression tightened slightly.

Good.

Let him feel uncomfortable.

For once.

“I was young,” he said.

“We were both young, Abe.”

The sound of his name slipping from my mouth after all these years affected both of us.

I saw it immediately in the way his jaw flexed.

But I wasn’t done.

“You being young didn’t force you to humiliate me.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Sharp.

His eyes dropped briefly before returning to mine.

“I know.”

Three simple words.

No excuses.

No arrogance.

That almost made it worse.

I tightened my grip on the folder in my hands. “If we’re done here, I’d like to leave.”

“Diane”

“This partnership stays professional.”

His gaze searched my face carefully.

“And if I want more than that?”

Anger sparked instantly in my chest.

“There is no more.”

The words came out colder than ice.

For a second, neither of us moved.

Then his mouth curved into the faintest smile.

Not amused.

Not cocky.

Almost sad.

“You still look at me the same way.”

My breath caught.

“What?”

“Like you’re trying very hard not to.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

Unbelievable.

Five years later, and this man still knew exactly where to press.

“You’re imagining things,” I snapped.

“Am I?”

“Yes.”

He stepped closer.

One step.

That was all.

But it was enough to send every memory crashing violently through me.

His hands on my waist.

His lips against my neck.

His voice whispering my name in the dark.

I stepped back immediately.

His eyes darkened at the reaction.

“You should leave,” I said quietly.

Something unreadable passed over his face before he finally nodded once.

“See you next week, Diane.”

I didn’t answer.

I walked out before my composure completely shattered.

I Walked to my office , Sarah and sophie where there waiting to see my reaction.

You two are terrible friends for leaving me there with him.

“It was Sarah's Idea”

“ hey!! in my defense i just wanted to see if you could resist and clearly you couldn't” Sarah replied in her defense

“ I just wanted to hear what he had to say” I said

“ well I hope things stay professional” Sophie chipped in.

“ atleast the meeting went well and the presentation was good”

They both nodded in agreement.

Then nodded slightly.