Part 38

Mia couldn't believe it. She froze mid-sentence, interrupting a story about her messing up with Jane's hair dye and accidentally adding violet colour. That was years ago, and they laughed about it alright more like Mia laughed while her friend could stop screaming at the mirror. It was hilarious at that time. They are all over it.

"That's..." The assistant trailed off as she stared at the person she admired a lot—her idol.

"Noah Parker," Damon supplied brightly, an amused quirk to his lips. "And his wife Melon, if I remember correctly. Let's go say hello, shall we?"

Or maybe it's time for Mia to hide in the bathroom and scream instead of welcoming the guests while drunk out of one's mind. In her defence she’s happy and never thought that in a corporate party she would be able to meet Noah Parker who happened to be an A list actor. And man of her dreams. Who invited him?

"Say hello?" Mia echoed. It may be possible she never sounded more out of her depth, and Damon touched her waist and gave her a reassuring grin.

"He's only human, I promise. And I'm pretty sure he'd like to meet you. His wife, too." Damon softly whispered by her side.

She snorted at that. Mia highly doubted they would ever want to meet someone like her. After all, she was merely a fan. Nothing more. Also, why was Damon not freaking out? It was a huge thing—an A-lister showing up at his party.

Keeping one hand on her waist, Damon cleared his throat. They were surrounded by Jane, her fiancée, Jake who Mia had invited because they were friends now and ofcourse Andy, the organiser of the party. "Excuse me, but I need to borrow Mia for a minute."

The CEO turned her around; they both started marching towards where Noah and his wife who were watching a chocolate fountain. That was her idea by the way. Mia had insisted that chocolate when paired with strawberries and wine was heavenly. As they got closer, her heart started thudding loudly against her chest.

"Damon" She hissed, gripping his hands till her nails turned white. "I can't just walk up to Noah Parker."

Her boss raised a brow, smiling at her distressed expression. "Why not?"

"He's famous!" Mia huffed. Duh.

The CEO tried to stifle his laugh. Well, a little. Stopping just a few paces from the couple, he wrapped both arms around her waist and grinned. "So? Sometimes you say the cutest things."

Well, cause she's the cutest alright. Her mouth twitched into a tiny smile. That's not the point. Before she could say anything in her defence, Damon tugged them towards the star couple.

"Noah, bro!" Damon exclaimed, and alright, maybe he still might be a bit tipsy. Why would he talk to a celebrity like they have been friends forever? Mia thought, chewing on her lips.

"I didn't think you guys would make it."

Noah grinned. "It's been a while! I know! But I couldn't miss your success party. Congratulations brother"

Unexpectedly, Noah stepped forward to pull Damon into a hug. It's quick and easy, a clap on the back, and when they part, Mia had her jaw on the floor. Brother?! What in the world was going on? They must know each to be referring as brothers for crying out loud. Why didn't Damon tell her?

"Melon hey."

She softly smiled at Damon before giving him a side hug. "Hi. Congratulations boss man!"

"Oh please" The CEO nodded and simply pulled Mia forward, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Thank you. This is Mia, my girlfriend."

Melon pulled Mia in a hug who was left blinking, eyes hazy like they are when she's just woken up in the morning. Internally she's freaking out. She also didn't mind when Noah grinned at her and warned about tying down Damon. Her smile grew with each minute, gestures more and more exuberant. Never in a million years, she thought that a celebrity she admired from afar would turn out to be best friends with her boyfriend. Yeah, they were a couple now.

Damon and Noah went to the same school and have been friends since then.

All the while, Mia felt Damons eyes on her, staring at her with rapt attention.

"You both are just adorable!" Melon remarked to which her husband hummed in agreement.

"Thanks" Mia shyly murmured, her cheeks hot all of a sudden. So her favourite couple just complimented her, and that's alright. That's cool.

It's not actually. She was seconds away from losing it and falling on her knees. As if Damon sensed her urgency to scream, he gripped her arm and addressed his friends, Noah and Melon. "Anyway, you're both empty-handed, and that is not acceptable. Not sure if you're hungry, but there's plenty of food, shrimp tapas are steaming hot, the drinks as well, and beer is..." The CEO pointed to the counter on the other side. "Beer is over there," He continued, "but we have drinks and soda, too."

"I like a well-stocked bar and shrimps," Noah made a sound, licking his lips.

Damon exhaled loudly. "Great, so help yourself to whatever."

They chatted for another minute, then Mia watched as Noah and Melon proceed towards the counter but not before turning towards her. Her eyes went wide, lips parting as the both of them gave her one last wave. She couldn't help but keep staring at their retreating backs.

As soon as they were gone, Damon huffed laugh against her neck, only to follow it up with, "Your face, oh my God."

Mia was startled by his sudden laugh. Wiping at the sweat on her forehead, she turned to him. "I mean...it's Noah Parker, Damon. That's a huge deal. How could you not tell me?!"

"Because you have a fan crush on him," The CEO said, no attempt to hide the mirth in his voice. Somehow, her reaction to meeting one of her heroes provided Damon with endless teasing material. He will use this forever. And then for another decade, ha. She's so doomed. Maybe if she hadn't told him about her celebrity crush. "That's why I wanted to surprise you."

"I don't have a crush on Noah," She tried to lie, a warm gust of air hitting her. "I just---he's fucking amazing, alright. And you know him. I can't believe it. You both are buddies?!"

The CEO turned his head to bump his nose against her cheek, and no, she doesn't think her boss will stop grinning anytime soon. "Stick with me, babe. I can take you places."

"But," Mia pulled back a little, enough for their eyes to meet, "you know that's not why---"

"I know," Damon interrupted, his jaw clenched fight. Oh, good. She didn't want him to feel that she's with him for his status. That cant be far from the truth. She just wouldn't. "Mia, I know."

A smile bloomed in her eyes at his answer, only just enough to quirk the corners of her mouth. "Okay. Because that's not why."

"I know."

"Okay," She said softly, still watching him.

Most of the office rumour may say otherwise. They all think she's with him for one reason and only one. That should affect her, but Mia was way past those stupid gossips by now. Whatever they say is not valid, and they both know it. And also her friends. That's all she wanted.

Her boss met her gaze, sliding one hand lower down Mias back, just above the gentle curve of her bum. For a moment, she let herself drink this in, revel in it, their success in Los Angeles before she dragged reality to the forefront of her mind. The bass line was throbbing in her chest, Damon so close to her, pressed together and oh so beautiful, and there's nothing Mia wanted more than to be ravished by him until they're both incapable of forming coherent sentences. Maybe later.

"Hey." The CEO pulled on her loose hair to get her to lean down, lips skidding along her jawline. "Seriously, how do you feel about a little PDA?"

Her grin widened, Mia's eyes narrowing in on his mouth. "Pretty good."

"Me too," Damon said. He lifted his chin, a hint of a challenge. In response, the assistant raised her brows, linking his hands behind her back and jolting her forward. She caught herself with both hands on his chest, and it's just so easy...easy for Damon to part her lips with his tongue, easy to give in completely, allow him to set the pace while the music pulsed in her blood, sparking behind their eye lids.

When he pressed a thigh in between her legs, she rode out the shuddering flash of heat, tearing her mouth away to pant against his chin.

He tapped her mouth with a finger, throwing her a grin that was enough to light an entire room. "Now come on. Let's go dance."

***