My Boss Got Me Fallin' In Love

Chapter 3: Caught

I was sleeping peacefully, dreaming about beaches and white sand, about lotions and clear water, and about the hot sun and hot lifeguards when suddenly:

"I don't need to fall at your feet

Just 'cause you cut me to the bone –"

I groaned as I tried to find where the snooze button was. Gladly, I found it and the song stopped. Seriously? I was having the best dream of my life and here comes New Found Glory's song busting in on the good part.

Finally having the strength to sit up –which wasn't a lot— I looked at the time: 7 AM. I stood up without even bothering to fix my bed and went into the bathroom, carrying a robe and a towel with me.

Chapter 3: Caught

Two weeks had already passed. Two weeks since I'd started designing for Leighton Industries, and two weeks since I'd last seen Vice President Ivan Travis. Yup, that's right. I've heard from Aleksie that 'Sir' Ivan is in Boston for more work and won't return for maybe a month or something. She says there's even a possibility he'll miss the big event we're planning for.

I know: Aww...

But then again, I've been living pretty normal since he's not around. Specifically not intimidated anymore by anyone.

"We've got only a week left before the event. Our theme: Masquerade Ball, is going to be perfect. So, what else haven't we finished yet?" I asked my team.

"The curtains, food, and the lights," Valerie enumerated, reading from a small notepad.

"Thanks Vale," I said "So everything except those are perfect?" I asked.

"Yup, the floorings, banners, wallpaper, stage, tables, etcetera are all fine." Rick said proudly.

"Alright then," I said. "So for the invitatirons: Remember that the only ones invited are from the list of clients and partners and family members of Leighton Industries. Aleksie's posted them outside. Chan, you type all those names and Vale, you help Chan with putting them in mail envelopes. Rick, give me some great photos of curtains with great fabrics you've chosen, and Lara, you give me designs of the lighting; whilst I take care of the catering."

"So, are those all clear?" I asked.

They all nodded and answered 'Yes'.

There were only 20 days before Christmas and 14 days before the event comes. For your information, the event we're planning for is the yearly event for the reunion of partners and clients of Leighton Industries, not to mention special people from New York.

Every year, the event has different themes. And this year, we're doing Masquerade Ball.

[THE NEXT DAY: Countdown: 19 days before Christmas and 13 days before the event]

I really couldn't remember how I let myself get into this situation. I really couldn't.

I remembered going to school just this morning, and then heading home when Lara called me, inviting me to a party at a bar where she, Valerie, Rick, and Chan were. I thought it was going to be just fine, since my classes the next day won't start until lunch and if I didn't drink any alcohol, I wouldn't have a hangover tomorrow.

But I guess, as usual, I was wrong.

I've had my bad times with liquor...definitely bad times. Right now is one of them.

I could totally feel the room spin and close in on me. Lara, Vale, and the guys were dancing on the dance floor. My guess: they're also drunk.

To tell you the truth, I should've learned from my past experiences that drinking really is bad for me.

You see, I'd just drank a glass of wine, two glasses of champagne, and 3 bottles of beer and I was way more drunk than a guy who's drank dozens of vodka shots.

I guess I'm just really weak when it comes to alcohol. I asked myself: What happened to the 'no drinking' policy? I guess it just passed my mind.

The speakers were blasting out the song 'My First Kiss' and people were getting way crazy over the dance floor. I felt my ears begin to get hot, which they always do whenever I've drunk anything with alcohol. My head was aching and I was feeling suffocated. I needed some fresh air so I headed out of the bar unnoticed by the busy dancing people.

I could feel myself get out of balance most of the time. Luckily, I made it out of the bar without falling. Clutching my bag tightly, I guessed I'd just go home...walk home or get a cab?

Definitely get a cab.

I continued to walk. Feeling the cold breeze touch my face and my neck made me shiver, even though I was wearing a jacket and gloves.

I tried to hail a cab 3 times but no one would stop so I decided to walk. It would be a ten-minute walk from this place...so I needed to try to balance myself, not get near any people, try not to puke, and also try to control my aching head.

I was just 10 steps away from the bar when I felt my foot step on something which made me fall backwards. Still holding on to my bag, I closed my eyes, feeling myself fall when a pair of hands caught me. My eyes were still closed but my nose sensed something familiar. I couldn't process it through my mind since I was: A. Drunk, B. Under shock, C. Drunk, and D. Drunk.

So I guess that explains it.

The person held on to my arm then wrapped it around his neck and helped me carry myself. I could hear him mumble something along the lines of "Jesus, this girl..." under his breath. Even though my eyes were open, everything was just a blur and I couldn't really focus my mind on anything. I figured that the person was a guy because of the structure of his body and his short hair. His scent really was familiar.

"Katee, talk to me." I heard him say. He's been talking all along and this was the only sentence my ear caught that registered.

"Huh?" I asked, then, just then...

I passed out.

The next thing I knew, I was in a moving vehicle, slumped on the front seat with the seatbelt on. My head was buzzing like crazy and my vision was still a bit blurred. Somehow, I had a weird sense of Déjà vu. The car was kind of familiar and as I looked to my left, so was the driver.

My face frowned in confusion. He turned to look at me. "Oh, good, you're awake," He said, betraying no emotion.

I looked away from him and sat back. I slapped myself on the face. Damn, please tell me I'm dreaming.

"You're not dreaming, don't worry." He said, as if he read my mind. His face was still expressionless.

I groaned. Why was he here anyways? He's not supposed to return yet. Ivan Travis isn't supposed to come back until the next few weeks...

I looked at him again, just in time to catch his eyes. I quickly looked away, embarrassed. There it was again, that intimidating feeling plus the weird feeling I haven't felt before which made me super uncomfortable.

I really didn't know why or what or how, but I really felt uncomfortable and I just needed to go get some air and walk, even in my drunk condition. So, I started by taking my seatbelt off. Anything just to get away from this guy.

He glanced at me, "Hey, what are you doing?" he sounded alarmed.

I shot him a 'what do you think' look. "Getting away from here." My voice sounded horrible.

"The car's moving," he reminded me. "And I'm taking you home."

"Geez, you sound like my parent" I said, my words a bit slurred. "Come to think of it, you sound like my GRANDparent." I chuckled, thinking that it was funny. I continued to try to take my seatbelt off.

"You can't get out even if you're seatbelt's gone." He said.

I tried to open the car door but it wouldn't even budge. I slumped back again on the seat, hopelessly tired and my head still aching.

"How much did you drink?" he asked, glancing at me for a second.

"You do know that...that you can't get...WON'T get a straight answer from me in my state right?" I said, then followed by a hiccup. "Oh," *hiccup* "Damn."

I hate having hiccups.

"Fine, then." He shot me another glance then stared at the road. Man, if looks could kill...

I noticed he wasn't wearing a suit but just his usual shirt, this time it was black with white stripes. His dark blonde hair was gelled to meet on the middle and stand upwards, unlike his hairstyle in the elevator. He looked utterly hot, but still in an I'm-having-a-business-meeting-the-next-five-minutes kind of way.

I wonder, how is it that every time I describe how he looked, there's always the word 'hot'? And now, there's even the addition of the word 'handsome'.

"Where are we?" I asked with a yawn, then a hiccup.

"I'm just going to drop something off at Leighton then we go straight back to your place." He explained, glancing at me.

*hiccup*

I felt the car stop. "Stay in here, don't touch or do anything. Is that clear?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, Sir."

Then that's when it hit me: crap, he was my boss.

Great, trouble. God, I didn't know. I was drunk and I couldn't think straight anymore. But seriously, you choose a person to show your drunk-self to and it just had to be the VICE PRESIDENT of the freaking place where you work. Not to mention, the nephew of your parents' friend/partner. Swell.

As usual, I didn't stay put. I opened the glove compartment. The things in it were: men's perfume, a black comb, a spare necktie, his wallet, tissue, alcohol, a remote-like thingy, and keys connected by a silver keychain with his name on it.

I was just about to close the glove compartment when something caught my eye. I read what's written in the keychain again: "Ivan McKenzie Travis, February 2, 1987" I read out loud and chuckled. McKenzie? Who knew this guy was named McKenzie?

I picked up the remote-like-thingy and pressed the red top-most button out of curiosity. Suddenly, the stereo turned on, playing a station in the radio.

I examined the stereo and saw a small chord. I sat back and tried to find my iPod inside my purse then connected it to the chord. I had it on shuffle and I just played the first song and sat back, feeling the tiredness and the headache coming back.

----------

Ivan's POV

She's drunk, alright. What was she even doing? Drinking too much and trying to walk around the streets... She could've gotten into all sorts of trouble.

The business trip finished earlier than I assumed and I was driving to Leighton to hand some papers over to Aleksie when I recognized Katee Adams walking weirdly on the sidewalk, drunk.

Good thing I took her with me. Since Leighton and Adams have been great partners and friends, I thought I'd better consider Katee as more than an employee but as a family business friend too.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. What a tiring day. I walked towards my car and heard something from the distant.

What the-? Is my stereo on?

I hurried and opened the door. I was confirmed right when I saw it turned on and connected to an iPod. I lowered the deafening volume then sat on the driver's seat.

What happened to the 'Don't touch anything' policy?

I looked at Katee who seemed to be asleep with her hand covering her face and her body leaning over to her side of the car. Her hair was all over her face. She looked tired, not to mention, she reeked of alcohol. What a mess.

I started the car and started driving to her apartment, checking up on her every once in a while to make sure she hasn't swallowed her tongue. Finally, I stopped in front of her building.

"Hey," I whispered, nudging her arm. She wouldn't wake up. "Hey, Katee," I said again. "We're here. Outside your apartment. Hey." But she wouldn't even respond. It seemed as if she was in a dead sleep.

I sighed.

I had no choice. I got out of the driver's seat and opened her side of the door, careful not to let her fall on the pavement. I caught her then put her arm around my neck. I turned the stereo off and grabbed her purse before slamming the car door shut with my foot.

She was a bit heavier than she looked. With one arm around her waist and one hand on her bag, I thought it was going to be hard, so I did the second best thing I could think of: I carried her on my back.

We entered the lobby and I told the person on the desk that she had too much to drink. The staff recognized me and told me where her room was. It wasn't difficult getting her keys from her purse and navigating through her apartment.

I laid her down softly on her bed then took her shoes off. I raised the blanket to her chin. I sighed heavily then put her purse on the desk beside the bed.

I drifted my eyes to my surroundings. She had a big wardrobe and her room contained pictures of herself, and her with a girl who must be her friend, medals and trophies, a collection of key chains, miniature angels, cars, swans, and other figurines. For a girl like her, her room was a bit...stuffed.

I looked back at her and started to wonder why or how come she'd never look at me straight in the eye. Maybe it's just my imagination. I chuckled on the thought of the first time we met. How idiotic was I? Okay, don't answer that question.

I stared at her for what seemed like a minute then turned the lights off and walked away, closing the door behind me.

Someone's going to have a really bad hangover tomorrow.

---

Katee’s POV

I woke up with a killer headache, and still in the clothes I wore yesterday. My eyes largened. Wait a minute. What happened last night? It's just that, I don't know how I got here. Did I get a cab?

I really. Can't. Remember. ANYTHING AT ALL.