Restriant And Fire
1217 Words
[FERNANDES POV]
The elevator ride to my penthouse felt like it was never going to end.
Alessia stood beside me, her hand still in mine, her breathing slightly uneven. The red dress clung to every curve, and I was trying very hard not to think about how easy it would be to slide it off her shoulders.
This is insane.
I'd built an empire on discipline and control. On never letting emotions dictate decisions. On maintaining professional boundaries.
And here I was, bringing my employee, a woman who reported directly to me back to my home because I couldn't stay away from her for one more second.
The elevator doors opened.
I led her into the penthouse, and she stopped just inside the doorway, taking it in. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Minimalist furniture. Art I'd collected over years. Everything is clean, controlled, and ordered.
Everything I wasn't feeling right now.
"This is..." She turned to look at me. "This is really your place?"
"Yes."
"It's beautiful."
"Thank you."
We stood there, the air heavy between us.
Now that we were here, away from the club and the tequila and the charged moment outside, reality was creeping in.
"Fernandes." Her voice was quieter now. "Are we really doing this?"
I stepped closer. "Do you want to?"
"I asked you first."
"Alessia." I reached up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I've wanted this since the moment you walked into that board room and looked at me like you weren't afraid of me."
Her breath caught. "I was terrified."
"You didn't show it." My thumb traced her jawline. "You stood there and took responsibility for your actions. You didn't make excuses. You didn't cry. You just... handled it."
"You think that's sexy?"
"I think everything about you is driving me insane."
She smiled slightly. "You hide it well."
"I have to. I'm your boss."
"You keep saying that."
"Because it's true. And because tomorrow, we're going to have to deal with the consequences of this." I held her gaze. "But tonight... tonight I don't want to think about any of that."
"What do you want to think about?"
"You." I leaned closer, my lips brushing her ear. "Just you."
She shivered.
Then she turned her head, and her lips found mine.
The kiss was different from the one at the club. Slower. Deeper. Like we had all the time in the world and intended to use every second of it.
My hands slid to her waist, pulling her against me. She made a soft sound against my mouth, and something inside me snapped.
I backed her toward the couch, never breaking the kiss. Her hands tangled in my hair, and when I lowered her onto the cushions, she pulled me down with her.
"Fernandes," she whispered against my lips.
"Say it again."
"Fernandes."
Hearing my name in her voice, breathless and wanting, was better than any fantasy I'd let myself have.
I kissed down her neck, and she arched into me, her fingers gripping my shoulders.
"Are you sure?" I asked, pulling back enough to look at her.
Her eyes were dark, pupils blown wide. "Yes. Are you?"
"More than I've ever been sure of anything."
"Then stop asking and kiss me."
So I did.
I woke to sunlight streaming through the windows.
For a moment, I didn't move. Just lay there, feeling the warmth of Alessia curled against my side, her head on my chest, her breathing slow and even.
Last night was...
I didn't have words for it.
Intense. Electric. Like something I'd been waiting for without knowing I was waiting.
She stirred, her fingers flexing against my ribs.
"Morning," I said quietly.
She lifted her head, eyes still heavy with sleep. Then awareness hit, and I watched it cross her face—where she was, what had happened, what this meant.
"Oh God," she whispered.
"Hey." I caught her hand before she could pull away. "Don't panic."
"Don't panic?" She sat up, pulling the sheet around herself. "Fernandes, we just—we—"
"I know what we did."
"You're my boss."
"I know that too."
She stared at me. "So what happens now?"
"I don't know." I sat up beside her. "But I don't regret it."
"You should."
"Do you?"
She hesitated. "I don't know. Ask me when I'm not sitting naked in my boss's bed."
Despite everything, I almost smiled. "Fair enough."
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. Then again. And again.
I frowned and grabbed it.
Twenty-three missed calls. Fifteen texts. All from the last ten minutes.
"What the hell?"
I opened the messages.
The first was from Richard, my assistant: "Sir, we have a situation. Call me immediately."
The second was from my head of PR: "Fernandes, you need to see this."
The third was from my business partner: "Are you insane? Check the company chat."
And then I saw the photos.
My blood ran cold.
There were three of them. All from last night at the club.
The first: Me and Alessia outside, her hand gripping my shirt, our faces inches apart.
The second: Us kissing against the wall.
The third: Me pulling her through the club, our hands clasped, her dress riding up slightly, both of us looking like we couldn't wait to get somewhere private.
And they were everywhere.
The company Slack channel. Twitter. i********:. Anonymous workplace gossip sites.
Someone had captioned them: "Fernandes Woods and mystery woman—CEO caught in scandalous affair with employee?"
"Fernandes?" Alessia's voice was small. "What's wrong?"
I couldn't answer. Couldn't speak.
Because another text had just come through.
From Nora: "You really thought I'd let you move on that easily? Enjoy the consequences."
I looked at Alessia, still wrapped in my sheets, her hair messed from sleep, her lips still slightly swollen from last night.
"We have a problem," I said.
"What kind of problem?"
I turned the phone toward her.
The color drained from her face as she saw the photos.
"Oh my God."
"Alessia—"
"Everyone's going to see these." Her voice was shaking now. "The whole company. Everyone's going to know."
"I'll handle it."
"Handle it?" She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "How exactly are you going to handle this? These photos are already viral!"
She was right.
And the worst part?
I'd known this could happen. Had known the risks.
And I'd done it anyway.
Because last night, with her in my arms, nothing else had mattered.
But now, looking at her face—terrified, exposed, vulnerable—I realized the cost.
Her career. Her reputation. Everything she'd worked for.
All because I couldn't stay away from her.
My phone buzzed again.
Another text. This time from my father: "My office. Now. We need to discuss your behavior."
Alessia saw it too.
"You should go," she said quietly.
"Alessia—"
"Just go. Please."
She wouldn't look at me.
I wanted to say something. Wanted to fix this. Wanted to promise her it would be okay.
But I couldn't lie to her.
So I got dressed and left.
And as the elevator descended, taking me away from her, one thought kept echoing in my head:
I'd just destroyed both our lives for one perfect night.
And Nora was just getting started.
- Writer
