In the Dark: An Office Romance Novella

By Alana Sapphire

What's done in the dark...

**Kelly**
Rick McAllister is the love of my life.
If only he knew I existed.
I'd love to say that's the extent of my issues, but he's also my boss; the CEO of the company who has a strict policy of not dating employees. I have a similar code about dating people I work with. There's no way I'll jeopardize my career with an office romance, even for Rick.
Or is there?
Sparks fly when we finally cross paths. Discretion is the key to protecting our reputations, but we slipped up.
Someone knows.
Can we keep our relationship in the dark or will this stranger destroy it before it even has a chance to breathe?


**Rick**
I have rules for a reason.
Sleeping with my employees is off the table. That is, until I meet the sexy assistant from a few floors down. One chance encounter with Kelly Black and I'm ready to throw that rule out the window.
However, she doesn't want to be seen as the woman who slept her way up the corporate ladder.
We must live in the shadows, but will that be enough?
She excites me in a way nothing, and no one has before. The world needs to know she's mine. She's the one who wants to keep us in the dark but I can't hide her anymore.
Will our secret come to light before I can salvage her reputation?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alana Sapphire
• Release date: Apr 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9798223458395

Book preview

ALANA SAPPHIRE

Copyright 2016 Alana Sapphire

Revised edition published 2020

All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or deceased is entirely coincidental. Names, places, and characters are fictitious or, if real, used fictitiously. The author recognizes the trademarks and copyrights of all registered products or works mentioned.

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Thank you for purchasing this eBook. This eBook remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes. This eBook, or any portion thereof, may not be reproduced or used in any manner without the express written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a review.

Cover designed by Clarise Tan at CT Cover Creations © 2020

Cover image from Clarise Tan at CT Cover Creations

Original cover designed by Alana Sapphire © 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

EPILOGUE

OTHER BOOKS BY ALANA SAPPHIRE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CHAPTER 1

**Kelly**

He holds my undivided attention.

My manager and his wife are equally engrossed, staring up at him while he speaks. Unbeknownst to him, across the room, he also has a captivated audience of one. Rick McAllister is an absolute dream come true—gorgeous, with eyes as blue as the ocean. Not only is he hot, but he’s also successful. Quite a heady combination. He’s a financial wiz. He started from scratch and is now, at thirty years old, the CEO of Henry & Stein, one of the biggest companies on Wall Street—the company where I’m an employee. He’s not only my boss but the boss.

Walter and his wife begin to laugh uncontrollably in response to something Rick says. I watch with a goofy smile.

Rick is the love of my life. I took one look at him and learned what love at first sight meant.

Too bad he doesn’t know I exist.

Many might call it an obsession, but I know what I feel is real. The first time I saw him, my heart waved the white flag and surrendered. Yes, in the beginning, it was physical. Rick is Carolina Reaper hot, and I’d gladly take a bite of that pepper any day. Looks and brains aside, everyone says he’s a great guy. Stories of how smart, funny, generous, and caring he is, float around the building daily. Equally popular is the admiration of his shrewd business acumen and no-nonsense attitude in the boardroom. There’s an air about him that says I’m the fucking boss—not cocky, but confident. With every speech I saw him give, every article I read about him, everything I heard, my appreciation grew. If only I had the courage to talk to him.

Trust me, I don’t believe for one second there’s any way he’d be remotely interested in me. He’s so far out of my league, he’s a different sport altogether. Even if the heavens were to grant my heart’s desire, I couldn’t take the chance. I’m a lowly assistant but I don’t plan on remaining in that position for long. That’s not why I busted my ass getting a degree in Human Resources, and working full time while I studied for my MBA. All I need now is the experience in order to get my HR certification. There’s no way I could allow my reputation to be tainted by a relationship with the boss. Or any co-worker for that matter.

With a disappointed sigh, I avert my gaze.

Hey, Kelly.

Turning in the direction of the voice, I see Jimmy walking toward me. Hey, Jimmy.

It’s a party. Why so glum, chum?

"It’s an office party. I can’t exactly go wild."

If you wanna get wild just say the word. He smirks.

We’ve been through this, Jimmy, I warn him.

I know, I know. You don’t date people you work with.

I covertly observe Jimmy. For the better part of this year, he’s been trying to get me to go out with him. He’s cute—thick blond hair, brown eyes, but his lips are a little thin for my liking, and he’s also on the skinny side. He’s a nice enough guy, but not my type.

Kelly!

I flash a grateful smile at Rosalinda as she approaches. She always knows when I need to be rescued. Rosa places her hands on her hips and pins a warning glare on Jimmy.

Jimmy, are you harassing Kelly again?

Rosa’s a supervisor, but I forget it sometimes because she never treats me like a subordinate. Rosa’s mixed—Puerto Rican and Trinidadian.  She’s also a little fireball, all sex, and attitude, with the looks and body to pull it off—long, black tresses, caramel complexion, hazel eyes, small waist, and broad hips. Not to mention her boobs and booty. Without heels, she’s 5ʹ6ʺ, a whole two inches taller than me. Not that anyone would know. Rosa never wears anything less than a four-inch heel. I’m nothing like her—too short, too much hips, too much breasts, too much everything.

Yes, I am and, as usual, she shot me down.

Take a hint, Romeo. Rosa rolls her eyes as she grabs my hand. C’mon. There’s someone I want you to meet.

Once we’re out of earshot, I whisper, Thanks, Rosa.

No prob, hon. Some guys are just clueless.

After spending an hour with Rosa, mingling, and engaging in small talk with our co-workers, I decide to head home. I spent most of the time searching for Rick anyway. I say my goodbye’s and make my way to the elevator. As I watch the numbers light up, I scold myself. You need to get rid of these stalker tendencies, Kelly Black. You and Rick ain’t gonna happen.

As I usually do, I survey the dimly lit parking structure while I head to my car. A woman can never be too careful, especially at night. As I open the door, I glance down and then slam the door with all the strength in my body. Just what I need... a flat tire.

Fuck!

I check the time, but I can probably have it changed and be on my way before roadside assistance even gets here. With a frustrated sigh, I retrieve the spare, jack and lug tool from the trunk of my Camry. Kicking off my heels, I shrug out of my jacket and get to work.

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**Rick**

Three hours is more than adequate time for making small talk at an office party. It’s time for me to go home. Not that home is much better. It’s somewhere to go after hours because I can’t sleep or shower in my office. I loosen my tie, regretting giving my driver the night off as I make my way to my car. A sound draws my attention and I stop in my tracks. Listening carefully, I hear singing, and the clank of tools. Cautiously, I walk in the direction they’re coming from.

As I get closer, the sound becomes clearer. It’s a small voice—a woman’s voice—singing Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark. With a smile, I move around the car. What I find almost takes my breath away. Crouched by the driver’s side front tire, is a brown-haired beauty, proficiently removing a flat, and bopping her head to her voice.

Do you need some help? I ask when