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FRABLE | CEO AU
[Nathan has a reputation, like most men in his position. He's ruthless, he's strategic, he makes risky moves and he fucks his assistants. They rarely leave on bad terms. Normally it's a promotion that takes them away from him. He likes to build them up and set them free.
It's how his executive officer won her position. They don't fuck anymore. She's married now, those days are in the past. All that's left of that relationship is an unwavering loyalty and a very careful approach to how she staffs his office. Thus far, she's been incredibly adept at securing women who are ambitious, clever, productive and very interested in casual sex. It's all he has time for, so in his view it makes sense to combine the role of assistant and fuck-buddy. So long as he's only furthering their career and not dragging them down with his proclivities.
What he has yet to realise is that he doesn't have as good a sense for it as his E.O does. Increasingly, he's interested in women who are harder to win over. Increasingly, his interviews are about grilling girls to see how they respond. He's a lawsuit waiting to happen, so he's been quietly left out of the process the last few times. Perhaps that's why the position is open once more.
He's not supposed to be in the office for this round, so both he and his E.O share a confused look as he strides past unfamiliar, nervous women. He quickly evaluates the situation, then the girls. Then he's taking his E.O's notebook from her and reading it. He disregards the running order, he beckons for the pale girl with the long legs.]
You're up.
[He holds open the door of his office for her. He'll shut it before the E.O can join them.]
What's your name?
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Conspicuously, she hesitates when he asks. A valid question, after all. She knows the answer already -- but it's the why behind it that is harder to reach. More difficult to explain. ]
I'm sure.
[ She doesn't offer an explanation. Maybe she owes him one, but she doesn't even want to explain it to herself. Instead, she begins to stand, automatically reaching for him to steady her. When he does, she lifts her face to meet his eyes. Her own are soft with gratitude, and unmistakable relief. ]
Thank you.
[ For everything. ]
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His car takes them to his beach house. He has clothing for himself and she has luggage-- though the majority of it is formal or work clothes. What she'll come to realise is that there's some remnants of previous visitors here. Some loungewear and casual dresses in sizes close to hers in the guest room.
He notices that she doesn't eat unless prompted, he orders in and makes her sit on his deck with him to eat. Something about the fresh, salty air being good for her.
Eventually encouraging her to eat ends with encouraging her to have a nice drink. A few nice drinks. Enough to make her a little giggly, which makes him extremely happy. She's dancing around questions and he sags back in his chair. He looks pretty different in a linen shirt and shorts. Bare feet, far from the office now.]
If you want to ask me something, ask it.
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She holds her glass to her chest. He volunteers to be interrogated. She turns on him, drink in hand, and tilts her head. Considering.
Doesn't take long for her to land on a question. Been on her mind much of the night. ]
You once told me you chose not to get married.
[ Come to think of it, it's the same night she jilted him, or thought she had. It's hard to remember being angry at him. Disgusted, at the time. Feels like ages ago. ]
Why is that, exactly?
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And I've never met anyone who held my interest long enough for things to get serious. [He shrugs his shoulders lightly. He clearly doesn't like to be this honest, but he's pushing through.]
First parts the best part, diminishing returns after that. I've tried it. Didn't like it. Works better when I stick to the good part.
[There's a ruthless kind of logic to it.]
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There had been a time when she was not much interested in matrimony, she remembers sharing that much with him. Partly because socializing was never her strong point. Growing up, she had again and again found it difficult to relate to most people. For one reason or another. Always felt like she was a step out of touch with everyone else.
The prospect of trying to date terrified and exhausted her. Stressed her out. She was happy by herself ... for the most part.
It was, admittedly, why she chose the first person she ever dated. ]
Sounds like it may get lonely.
[ If they're being honest. Maybe that's unimaginative. That might have annoyed her to hear when she was younger. It would have infuriated Eloise, something about nuclear families, etc etc.
She takes a sip of her wine. ]
And the first part is...
[ She's being deliberately clueless. A part of her wants to hear him say it. ]
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He studies her for a moment, curious if she's goading him or if she's naive. The latter is more in line with his impression of her, the former is just a fantasy he has. That brushing against him or glancing at him or playing dumb is how she riles him up, knowing he can't do anything about it.
So he delivers his answer flatly.]
Getting someone to spread their legs for me.
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Eyes down, she takes another swallow of her wine in order to save face. ]
So it's all about sex for you.
[ She hopes he takes the color in her cheeks as the fermented grapes at work. ]
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Everything's about sex. And sex is a challenge, if you do it right.
[His voice lowers as he starts to dig a little deeper into it. He's swirling the remains of his drink around when he speaks.]
Win someone over. Figure out what gets them off. Do it over and over until one of us gets bored.
[He's not always the first to end things, but he always will.]
And I like seeing naked women.
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[ The syllable sounds ... unmoved. Confused, perhaps. ]
I have found that physicality isn't everything. In fact, it's not what people crack it up to be in a long-term relationship. [ Coming from one of eight siblings, no less. Is she being serious? Yep. ]
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He shakes his head before he points in a joking but accusatory way.]
The only people who genuinely think that are people who haven't had good sex. Good sex and good chemistry is everything. [He pauses, then adds.]
But I imagine that fades too, in the long-term.
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She opens her mouth, then promptly closes it. But now she's Bothered, and not in a good way. Feeling defensive.
She can't help the retort, nor the bite in it. ]
Sex isn't everything.
[ She just made it worse. Fuck. ]
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All of that he thinks to himself while watching her, silent before he asks:]
Does he ever eat you out?
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Her loyalty to her fiancé stirs guilt, but it's a shadow to the embarrassment she's currently undergoing.
Her voice is quiet when she answers, rubbing a hand over her knee. ]
Sometimes.
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Some girls don't know how to ask for it.
[Reassuring, but he's not laying it on. His drink does move precariously with his gesticulating, though. He's had a few.]
And if he's a real man, he'll always eat what you offer. God knows you rile men up wherever you go.
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Things aren't the same. They aren't.
She takes a steadying breath. The conversation sobered her up some. ]
Can I ask you something? [ Palpable hesitance. ] I think I was dreaming, or I misheard, back in the hospital. They thought you were my husband?
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His brows shoot up at the question, clearly thrown by it. He's not sure what he expected her to say, he doesn't have much time to consider the response before he offers it.]
Well, I didn't want them to kick me out. [His voice wavers, like he's not really sure about his answer.]
And you needed me there.