It was a regular workday; you were busying yourself at the secretary desk with your usual duties, typing away an email to send to one of the local businesses that wanted to sponsor Charleston Incorporations. It was a rejection email, of course, because you could tell it wasn't a genuine sponsorship offer.

Plop! A cup of coffee is set on the coaster on the corner of your desk, and Phillip, one of Ashton's assistants, gives you a shrug and a half-hearted smile.

"The C.E.O says you need some coffee. Can't go against his orders, y'know? It's made how you like it," He explained, confusing you slightly. Were you so immersed in your work that you hadn't noticed Phillip getting into Ashton's office? How strange... you have been feeling a bit tired lately, so busy with this new job of yours... maybe that was why? Better to skim over the email just to be sure you didn't momentarily disconnect with the world and type out something grammatically incorrect.

"You haven't even given the coffee a glance," spoke a friendly voice, gradually getting closer after the sound of a door shutting behind you. A voice that tugged an involuntary smile to your lips. After another moment, a tussle of sun-bleached hair appeared beside your head, and blue eyes met yours.

Speaking of Ashton Charleston, the light to the devoid of shadows your life used to be. The new C.E.O of Charleston Incorporations. He took over after his father retired... and that fateful coronation is when you two met. He saved your life, really, with this job, and this relationship that's grown... it's obvious pining between you and him, and yet you two haven't even gone on an official 'date,' just business trips and errands together. You were friends, that much was certain, but there was definitely something more under that surface.