365 Days of Pleasure with the CEO

Excerpt: "Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms..." – Ed Sheeran. The night enveloped New York in its usual mix of glamour and anonymity. At the penthouse of one of the city's most iconic buildings, Matthew Mason, CEO of one of the country's most powerful companies, stood alone, staring at the horizon. The city lights reflected in his eyes, but his mind was elsewhere, trapped in a whirlwind of thoughts he struggled to control. Matthew had everything he ever wanted—power, money, respect—but tonight, something felt different. There was a nagging sensation in his chest, something he couldn’t name, something that had begun to grow since he met Scarlett Johnson. The doorbell rang, interrupting his thoughts. He knew who it was before he even opened the door. Scarlett always arrived punctually, as if time were a crucial factor in the chaotic and disordered relationship they were building. When he opened the door, Scarlett stood there, wrapped in a tight black dress that outlined her curves in a hypnotic way. Her hair, wavy and loos, cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall of temptation. Her eyes, a mix of challenge and curiosity, met Matthew's, and in that instant, the electricity between them was palpable. "Good evening, Matthew," Scarlett said, her voice low and seductive, as if she knew the effect she had on him. "Scarlett," he replied, trying to maintain his composure. "Come in." She walked past him, leaving a trail of sweet, intoxicating perfume. Matthew closed the door and followed her into the living room, where a table was set with two glasses of wine. He wasn’t the type of man to prepare for a night of conversation, but with Scarlett, the rules always seemed different. "You have an incredible view," Scarlett commented, approaching the floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a panoramic view of the city below. She was so close, yet she seemed inaccessible, as if there was an invisible wall that Matthew couldn’t break through. "It’s the city that never sleeps," Matthew replied, trying to sound casual but feeling absurdly out of his element. Scarlett turned to face him, her expression a mixture of curiosity and something deeper, something Matthew couldn’t decipher. "And you, Matthew? Do you sleep well?" The question caught him off guard. He wasn’t used to being asked something so personal. "I sleep enough," he answered vaguely, not wanting to go into details. She smiled, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. "I imagine you're the kind of man who doesn’t sleep much. Always working, always planning the next step, the next conquest." "And you? How does a woman like you face the night?" he countered, trying to shift the focus of the conversation onto her. "Me? I’m a creature of the night, Matthew. The darkness is where I feel most comfortable," she replied, her voice a whisper that seemed to wrap them both in a cocoon of intimacy. There was something magnetic about Scarlett, something Matthew couldn’t ignore. He was used to being in control of everything and everyone around him, but with Scarlett, control seemed to slip from his grasp, and it disturbed him more than he cared to admit. "You're tense," Scarlett observed, taking a step toward him, her hands finding Matthew’s shoulders. "Let me help with that." Matthew could feel the warmth of her hands through the fabric of his shirt, and for a moment, he almost pulled away. He didn’t like feeling vulnerable, and with Scarlett, vulnerability seemed inevitable. But he also knew he didn’t want her to stop. There was something comforting, almost addictive, in her touch. "I'm not used to being taken care of," he confessed. "Then it’s time to get used to it," Scarlett whispered, moving closer, her lips dangerously close to his. Matthew’s heart raced. He was about to give in, to kiss her and lose himself in the overwhelming sensation he knew would follow, when something in his mind made him pause. It wasn’t just desire he felt—it was something deeper, something he wasn’t ready to face. "Scarlett," he murmured, placing his hands on hers but not pushing her away. "You know this is complicated." She looked at him, her eyes searching his for answers. "Matthew, everything in life is complicated. But that doesn’t mean we should run away." "I'm not running," he replied, feeling a pang of frustration with himself for not being able to say what he was really thinking. "I'm just trying to be... prudent." Scarlett laughed softly, a sound that was both charming and unsettling. "Prudent? Matthew, you're a powerful man. Prudence has never been part of your vocabulary." Matthew knew at that moment she was right. He was trying to be cautious, but this caution didn’t fit who he was. He was a man who took what he wanted, when he wanted it. And now, he wanted Scarlett, more than anything else. He pulled her closer, finally giving in to the temptation that had been tormenting him. His lips met hers in a burning kiss, full of desire and intensity. Scarlett responded with the same passion, as if she had been waiting for this moment just as much as he had. The room around them seemed to disappear, leaving only the sensation of their bodies entwined, the pressure of their lips, the urgency of their touch. It was a kiss that promised much more, a prelude to something they both knew was inevitable. When they finally parted, both were breathless, their bodies too close for any words to be necessary. But Matthew knew he had to say something, he had to clarify what was happening inside him. "Scarlett, I..." he began, but was interrupted by the ringing of his phone. The tension in the air was broken, and Matthew, reluctantly, stepped away from her to answer the call. It was James Miller, his best friend, and the only person who dared to interrupt him at any time. "I need to take this," Matthew said, still feeling the heat of their kiss on his lips. Scarlett nodded, stepping back. "Of course. I’ll pour the wine while you do that." Matthew walked away, answering the call as Scarlett headed to the table. James’s voice on the phone was urgent, concerned. "Matthew, we need to talk," James said bluntly. "What happened?" Matthew asked, his voice still carrying the intensity of the previous moment. "It’s about this woman... Scarlett," James began hesitantly. "I don’t know what you’re getting into, but I need to warn you. This might not end well." Matthew felt frustration rise within him. He knew James was only trying to protect him, but the timing was terrible. "James, I know what I’m doing." "Do you?" James countered. "Matthew, you’re a man used to controlling everything, but I can see this woman is affecting you in a way no one ever has. You need to be careful." Matthew took a deep breath, feeling the truth in his friend’s words, but also the resistance to accept that he might be losing control. "I understand your concern, James, but I need to handle this my way." James sighed on the other end of the line. "Just... think carefully, Matthew. Don’t let this destroy everything you’ve worked for." Matthew ended the call, feeling torn. He knew James was right, but he also knew he was about to cross a line from which there was no return. He returned to the living room, where Scarlett was waiting with two glasses of wine. She watched him with a questioning look but said nothing. She simply handed him the glass, keeping her gaze firmly on Matthew’s eyes. "Everything okay?" she asked. Matthew looked at her, seeing more than just desire in Scarlett’s eyes. There was something deeper there, something that drew him in and scared him at the same time. "Yes, everything's fine," he replied, taking the glass. "Let’s toast to that." They clinked glasses, and as the wine slid down their throats, Matthew knew he was about to make a decision that would change everything. He was about to surrender to something he couldn’t control, to someone he couldn’t predict. And for the first time in his life, he wasn’t sure that was a bad thing.