*Brielle POV

I've been working at Black Ink for three weeks now, and I have to admit, Lars is a phenomenal boss. He's fair, but tough and expects a lot out of his employees but compliments you when you live up to those expectations.

Lars and I have also had constant batter back and forth, teasing each other, making jokes, asking about each other. We constantly take make out breaks, he constantly takes me out for date nights. He's adorable when it comes to me, I've noticed him soften up around me compared to others. I've never felt so special in my whole entire life.

Tonight, we have a date again, and I can hardly contain myself.

"Thinking about how I'm going to sweep you off your feet tonight?" Lars interrupts my thoughts.

I giggle in response. "More like thinking how bad I'm gonna kick your ass at trivia!"

He rolls his eyes, "babe," he starts to say and I blush at his nickname for me. It sends shivers up my spine. He continues, "it's trivia, we will be on the same team."

"Yeah but I'll get more answers right than you!" I childishly stick my tongue out at him.

He laughs, throwing his head back and walks towards me.

"Did you just stick your tongue out at me?"

I smirk, shrugging my shoulders, "maybe. Maybe not."

A devilish twinkle in his eyes appears, "oh you're going to regret that," he says mysteriously, lunging at me and grabbing me out of my chair. He starts to tickle me and I giggle out of control like a little girl.

When he stops we realize the position we are in, so close to each other, his strong tatted arms holding me in.

All I feel for a moment is our heartbeats, my stomach rises and I get that butterfly feeling. (Author's Note; you know that feeling readers 😉)

We are lost in each other's eyes, recognizing the same secrets, hurt, and inner conflict we both have.

Fiercely, he grabs the back of my head and slams his lips onto mine.

Breathless, lost, consumed. That's how I feel. That's how I feel when I'm with him, especially when his lips are on mine.

We get tangled up in the kiss, quickly he wraps his arms around my legs and picks me up, moving me and placing me on his desk. He starts to grab the hem of my shirt, and I'm fully ready to comply.

RINNNNNGGGG.

His phone pulls us out of our heated moment.

I clear my throat, "you'd better get that."

He places his forehead on mine, "what are you doing to me, Brielle?"

"What are you doing to me, Lars?" I ask back.

He takes a second to breath, "showing you what it feels like to be alive." His fingers walk slowly up my thigh before his phone rings a second time.

I pull away, in fear of the way I feel so completely consumed by him.

He picks up the phone, his voice changing to his business voice, "Moretti."

Lars listens for a minute before his nose crinkles and his fingers pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Are you okay?" I mouth at him. He responds with a nod.

At that moment, Zander rushes in with a worried look on his face. Lars puts his finger to the phone, motioning that he is taking care of something.

I walk up next to Zander. "Zander, what's going on?"

Zander thinks over what to say next.

"Uh, one of the men who runs one of the corporations messed up big time. I mean huge. Like terrible."

"It'll be okay, just try to relax," I encourage Zander.

"Caleb, I take care of things on this side...SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF THINGS ON THAT SIDE!" he screams thru the phone, his face changing into something—to be frank—I'm scared of.

Never in my life have I seen the lack of human emotion in someone's eyes.

'Except for his,' I think to myself before I try to shake my mind of the bad memories.

Zander must notice my change in demeanor because he quickly tries to get my attention.

"So what are you and Lars doing tonight?" He asks.

Keeping one eye on Lars, I answer, "umm...actually trivia, but idk about before that. It's a surprise, I guess."

Lars shoots Zander a look.

Zander picks up on it. He turns to me, "Hey, actually Brielle, I could use your help with writing back..." he starts.

"Cut the bullshit," I say, venom dripping from my voice, "what the fuck is going on Zander?"

He sighs heavily, "honestly, someone screwed up...big time. I mean, big time."

Instantly my face drops. "Oh um, I'm sorry. Okay what can I do to help?"

"Brielle, I honestly HATE to ask you this...SERIOUSLY...I HATE to ask you this....but could you get us both a coffee?"

"Of course, sure." I answer.

Three rude baristas later, I'm walking into the office with 3 hot coffees.

"AND YOU LET HIM LIVE?! I DID NOT TRAIN YOU TO BE THIS LITTLE BITCH, CALEB!" I hear Lars' commanding voice boom thru the hallways.

I'm shaking at his anger as I walk thru his doors. Both him and Zander's backs are towards me, with them facing out the window. I don't know if they've even heard me enter.

"Trust me when I say this Caleb. Not only are you fired," He pauses and literally, I see a demon instead of the man that tickles me, "I'll have your head on a fucking silver platter."

Something in me tells me, this isn't an empty threat.

I gasp, and drop the hot coffees onto the ground. Both Zander and Lars whip around quickly.

When Lars sees me, his face drops.

My breathing gets heavier, out of fear.

"Fix it," he orders and hangs up the phone. His face turns into desperation. "Brielle," He breathlessly says.

"Um...." I stammer, having flashbacks of his anger.

All of a sudden, my PTSD takes over and I start to breath heavily. Flashbacks come back and I start to slowly back into the corner. "No, stay away from me!" I exclaim.

Lars freezes, not knowing what to do. But all I can see is him.

"No, this isn't real. This isn't real." I mumble to myself. But my flashbacks take over, and I'm blinded by them.

*Zander POV

She's having a flashback. I can see her pain.

As an ex Navy SEAL, I know exactly what she's feeling.

"Lars, get out of here," I say calmly.

"What the fuck, dude? No I'm not fucking leaving," he responds, pissed off.

"Lars, trust me," I look at him, pleading with my eyes.

I can sense he doesn't want to leave, but to my surprise he does.

I face my attention back to Brielle. Slowly I raise my hands up, and soften my whole demeanor.

"Hey Brielle, it's me, Zander. Your friend," I start, waiting for her reaction.

"Zander?" She questions, looking at me.

"Yes. Zander. You're safe, Brielle. You're at work right now. You're at Black Ink Enterprises. You're safe," I reassure.

"No..." she starts shaking.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lars watching from outside the door and I see one emotion: he's terrified for her right now. He's desperate for her to be okay. And in that moment, I understand how he feels about her. He's into her, big time.

I redirect my attention to her. Slowly, I kneel down before her and reach my arms out so I'm

firmly holding her delicate arms in my hands. I look her straight in the eye.

"Brielle. You're safe. Okay? You're safe. You're at Black Ink Enterprises. I'm here. You're friend, I'm here," I once again reassure her.

Her shaking starts slowing down. "My friend?" She asks back.

"Yes, you're friend."

"Zander.....my friend." She says.

"Yes!" I excitedly tell her.

"Black Ink Enterprises..." her voice slowly speaks, her shaking slows down.

"You? Zander?" She seems to be snapping out of her flashback. Still clutching onto her legs and rocking back and forth in a ball.

I nod and smile, "yes Brielle. You're okay.

You're here....safe."

She looks up towards Lars, who still looks terrified for the girl.

"Lars," she breathes out.

"Yes, Brielle," He asks, cautiously entering back into the room.

"Lars," she repeats.

"Yes beautiful, I'm here," he gratefully says, exchanging my hands around her arms for his.

I let go and back up slowly.

She smiles, relieved, coming back to the moment.

"Oh my god..." she says, back in the moment.

"I am SO sorry..." she continues, "I'm sorry...um..." she stands up, and starts to gather her things, "I'll get out of your way. I'm sorry to have been a burden. I'm SO sorry." She embarrassedly looks down.

I nod my head at Lars, reaffirming him that he needs to go to her.

He reaches out towards her but she rips her arm away quickly.

"NO!....NO! I'm sorry to have wasted this time. I've gotta....I've gotta go.." She stammers and starts to walk out.

"Brielle..." Lars desperately pleads.

"I'm sorry," she says, looking at both of us, before running out.