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Is she serious right now?
“What isn’t?”
“You didn’t take issue when I put it on this morning.” She shrugs. “Come on, Damon, I don’t have time to argue over this. I have a jacket. You know I do.”
I do, but still, the thought of Robert ogling what’s mine doesn’t sit right.
“Fine.”
“So, lunch?”
“Let’s go.” I grab my jacket from William and head out with her.
We settle on the small Mexican cantina a block from the office. Ava barely touches her food though. She’s moving it around the cardboard dish, and her margarita is untouched.
“What’s wrong, beautiful?” Grabbing her fork, I put it down and tip her face to mine.
She looks a little bit peaky. Her blue eyes are darker than usual, and her skin is a little pale.
“Nothing,” she murmurs. “All the late nights we keep having. Robert, and Lacie on my back to get things with Callum rolling…I guess I’m tired.”
I’d noticed she was working late; even after we’re in bed she’s reading through Robert’s manuscript or writing emails. I just didn’t realize it was all piling up on her because she makes a point of not being given favor. But if it’s making her sick, it needs to be fixed.
“Get an assistant. I’ll email HR and tell them they need to find someone.”
Ava sits up in a flash, affronted. “No way. We have assistants.”
“They’re clearly not enough.”
“Or maybe we need to slow down.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“So what, Damon? You give me my own assistant while the other editors share and I’ll be exactly what everyone is already calling me.”
I know people are talking. I’m not stupid, and I’m not exactly hiding our relationship, but I haven’t heard anything bad. Everyone adores Ava, and the praise reaches me constantly in the meetings I have with other departments.
“What are they calling you?” I ask her.
Seeing her upset has my hackles up, and although she’s trying to hide it, it’s all in her eyes when I search her gaze. Whatever the rumor mill is spinning will be done by the time we go to bed tonight, and if I hear anyone say her name in so much as a sour tone, I’ll make sure they never enter my building again.
“It doesn’t matter. I just need to be more efficient.” Ava picks up her jacket and throws it on. “I’m going to be late for my appointment.”
“Ava!” I follow her out, grabbing her before she gets away. “What are they saying?”
“It’s silly, and I’m an idiot for letting it get to me because it doesn’t really matter.”
“It matters to me,” I snap. Her eyes round, and with the bright sun, I see the dark circles around her eyes. For the first time, I notice how her hair isn’t as bouncy and full as usual.
Fuck.
“You matter to me, and we’ll slow down if that’s what you need, but you need to tell me what the fuck people are saying. If you don’t, I’m going to go back to my office and issuing a memo to the entire—”
Tensing, she looks up at me. “I’m not a gold digger. I’m not a slut. And…and…” She swallows. “I work hard, Damon.”
“You don’t have to tell me, I see it.”
“If you give me an assistant, people will just see it as—”
