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I decide to just forget about all my troubles and just go along for the ride.
***
The warmth from my shopping trip with Anoushka fades when I return to the office. One look at the secretary touching Boris’s arm is enough to sour my mood.
She glances up as I enter, a smug smile twisting her lips. "Oh, welcome back. Did you have a nice time while we worked?"
Her words have a mocking lilt that sets my teeth on edge. I resist the urge to wipe that smirk off her face, clenching my fists until my nails dig into my palms.
Stay calm. She's trying to provoke you.
I force a stiff smile, keeping my tone polite. "Yes, thank you. Did I miss anything important?"
The secretary shrugs, trailing a manicured nail down Boris's arm. He stiffens at her touch and pulls away slightly but says nothing.
"Nothing you need to worry about. I have everything under control."
Under control. Like she has Boris under control.
Anger flares in my chest, hot and sharp. I swallow hard, struggling to contain my irritation. There's no point confronting her when Boris is present. He'll only chastise me for causing a scene.
Better to remain stoic. Composed. Even if it kills me.
“Boris,” she sings. “You ready to go?”
"Go where?” I inquire.
“Just a last-minute meeting with some vendors,” Suzannah says breezily.
“Oh, let me just grab my laptop,” I exclaim, preparing to rush out the door.
“There’s no need,” Suzannah shakes her head. “We’ve got this covered, don’t we, Boris?”
“Sure do,” he inclines his head. “You should get some rest,” Boris says to me.
"I see." I incline my head, turning my focus to the stack of files on Boris’s desk. The sooner I immerse myself in work, the sooner I can ignore their blatant flirtation.
If they want to go to this meeting without me, that’s fine. Anger slams against my chest. If only Boris had left the decision to me, I wouldn’t have felt so humiliated. But it seems like Suzannah has him eating out of her palm and knows it just as darned well.
I hold back the tears threatening to spill over. "Please let me know if anything urgent comes up,” I say, trying to keep my voice level.
Silence greets my statement. When I glance up, the secretary is staring at me with unveiled dislike. I meet Boris’sunflinching gaze for a fleeting moment before returning to my work.
He can deal with her himself. I have more important things to worry about.
Like protecting my heart.
Chapter 17 - Boris
The next afternoon, I glance at the empty desk by the window where Robin usually sits. Her cheerful smile always brightens up the room. But today, her chair is vacant. She was still sleeping when I left home this morning, thinking she’d come later.
But she should be here by now. My gut churns with unease as I wonder where she could be. We had agreed to go to the doctor's appointment together from here.
Yet, no call, no explanation. Has she forgotten? Does she feel unwell?
Or am I wrong about the appointment being today?
"Dammit," I mutter under my breath, pulling out my phone to check our shared Google Calendar. There it is—a reminder for the doctor's appointment with both our names marked for attendance.
