The office was bathed in the soft glow of morning sunlight, the hum of activity already filling the air. Valerie sat at her desk, her eyes flicking nervously towards Teresa, who was engrossed in her work. The tension between them was palpable, a stark contrast to the lively banter they'd shared before Brooke’s revelation. She took a deep breath, steeling herself to address the elephant in the room.

"Teresa," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can we talk?"

Teresa didn't look up from her computer, her fingers flying over the keyboard.

"About what, Valerie?" she asked, her voice cool and distant.

Valerie hesitated, taken aback by Teresa's sudden frostiness. She swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. "About... about what happened last night," she finally managed to say.

Teresa paused, her fingers stilling on the keyboard. She took a deep breath, then turned to face Valerie, her hazel eyes filled with a mix of anger and embarrassment. "What happened last night was a mistake, Valerie. It shouldn't have happened."

Valerie's heart sank, her stomach twisting into knots.

She hadn't expected Teresa to be so dismissive, so cold. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. "Teresa, I... I think we need to talk about this. I mean, what happened was... intense, and I think we should at least acknowledge it."

Teresa's gaze hardened, her jaw clenched. "Acknowledge what, Valerie? That I had a moment of weakness and let my guard down? That I let my mother manipulate us into... into doing something I regret?" Her voice was low, barely above a whisper, but the venom in her words was unmistakable.

As if coming to her rescue, or perhaps to thwart any reconciliation, Brooke suddenly appeared in front of Valerie, blocking her view of Teresa. She was in a white wool blouse and black leather mini, a similar ensemble to Teresa's, but somehow, on Brooke, it seemed more provocative. Her dark green eyes sparkled with mischief as she looked back and forth between the two women.

"Well, isn't this cozy," Brooke commented, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What are we discussing this fine morning?"

Valerie's cheeks flushed red, her eyes darting nervously between Brooke and Teresa. "We were just... talking, Brooke," she stammered, her voice barely audible.

Teresa's face remained impassive, her eyes never leaving her computer screen. "We were discussing nothing, Mother. Just work," Teresa replied, her voice tight.

Brooke raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting to Valerie. "Is that so? Because it sounded like you two were discussing something rather... intimate."

Valerie's blush deepened, her eyes widening in surprise. Teresa's grip on her mouse tightened, her knuckles turning white.

"It's none of your business, Mother," Teresa snapped, her voice laced with warning.

Brooke simply smiled, unfazed by Teresa's tone. She looked like she wanted to retort, but Valerie interjected, "Did you need something from me, Brooke?" Her voice was steady, despite the turmoil inside her. She needed to defuse the situation before it escalated further.

Brooke hugged Valerie from the side, her hand rubbing light circles across the young woman's back. Brooke's gaze lingered on Teresa for a moment longer before she turned her attention to Valerie.  "Actually, yes. Emily asked me to find you. She wants to see you in her office." She tilted her head slightly, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Something about a project she needs your help with. She's been very aroused, um, I mean, excited after our private meetings this morning."

Valerie cooed, "Well, I am excited to work with her, and I do love her style."

Brooke's eyes twinkled, "Oh, I bet you do, darling. I bet you do. Now, let's not keep Emily waiting. She hates being kept waiting." Brooke's hand pressed gently against the small of Valerie's back, guiding her towards Emily's office.

As they walked, Valerie couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. She had always admired Emily's confidence and poise, and the thought of working closely with her was thrilling.

Yet, the tension with Teresa weighed heavily on her mind. She glanced back at Teresa, who was still engrossed in her work, her expression unreadable. Valerie sighed internally, pushing the thoughts aside, at least for now.

Emily's office reflected her personality - sleek, modern, and impeccably organized. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the city, and a large, polished desk sat in the center, surrounded by tasteful artwork and neatly arranged bookshelves.

Emily sat behind the desk, her raven hair cascading over her shoulders, her almond eyes focused on the document in front of her. She wore her signature black, long-sleeved, turtleneck bodycon dress, and her large horn-rimmed glasses normally perched on her nose, she chewed thoughtfully.

Valerie entered, her heels clicking softly on the polished marble floor. Brooke gave her a gentle push, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Here she is, Emily. The eager beaver herself."

Emily looked up, her gaze meeting Valerie's.

She pushed her glasses up, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in Valerie's disheveled appearance. "Valerie, I've been expecting you. You're... looking flustered. Everything alright?"

Valerie felt her cheeks flush, her nerves getting the better of her. "Yes, I'm fine. Just... had a bit of a heated discussion with Teresa."

Emily raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Oh? Anything I should be concerned about?"

Valerie hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "No, it's just... a misunderstanding. I’m sure we'll clear it up soon enough."

Emily nodded, her gaze flicking briefly to Brooke, who had pulled up a desk chair next to Emily, their legs lightly brushing against each other, a smirk playing on her lips. "I see. Well, let's not dwell on that. I have a project I'd like you to help me with, Valerie." She gestured to the chair in front of her desk, inviting Valerie to sit.

Valerie took a seat, her eyes scanning the documents spread out on Emily's desk. "Of course, I'd be happy to help. What is the project about?" Valerie asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Emily leaned back in her chair, her gaze locked onto Valerie's. "It's a confidential project, just between you, me and Brooke. It involves... getting the financials of this company, without anyone knowing. Brooke believes some insider trading might be going on, and if anyone knew we were getting the company financial records, they would just cover it up." Emily's voice was low, her eyes darting briefly to the closed office door.

Valerie's eyes widened, her curiosity piqued. "Insider trading? That sounds dangerous, Emily."

Emily leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "It is, which is why we need to be discreet. And you, Valerie, are the perfect person to help. You have access to the files, and no one suspects you of anything."

Valerie hesitated, her mind racing. She knew Emily was right; she had access to the files, and no one would bat an eye if she was looking at them.

"Does anyone else find this exciting?" Brooke asked, as she nudged Emily's foot towards Valerie's with her own. As all three of their feet touched, Emily's breath hitched with a gasp.

"I think everything you do excites me, Brooke," Emily admitted, her cheeks flushing.

The air in the room grew thick with tension, the unsaid words hanging heavily between them. Valerie shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her eyes darting between the two women. She had admired Emily's confidence, but this was a side of her she had never seen before.

Brooke leaned in, her voice low and sultry. "You know, Emily, I've always found you incredibly attractive. Your confidence, your intelligence... it's very appealing."

Emily's eyes widened, her cheeks growing even redder. Brooke lifted Valerie's foot so that it rubbed against Emily's calf under the desk. Emily gasped, her breath hitching as Brooke's toes played with hers.

"I-I should get to work on the project," Valerie stammered, suddenly feeling like a third wheel in this unexpected flirtation. She stood up abruptly, her chair screeching loudly against the marble floor.

Emily blinked, as if coming out of a trance, and quickly composed herself. "Yes, of course. We should get started." She stood up as well, smoothing out her dress.

"You girls are just too cute," Brooke said, laughing softly, then her face became stern.

"Valerie, sit back down, please." Brooke demanded with a gentle voice that belied her stern expression. "We're not done discussing this project yet."