“I thought so, but obviously not. You didn’t tell me how you found out. Or what happened after I left. Did that person say I was a bitch or something?”
“I think Heather was making such a commotion that Jared heard and came out, and others who overheard everything filled him in. You did everything right, even marking the email urgent.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because senior management can check their staff’s email for several reasons. No one is playing big brother, but there are times someone is out and another person has to step in and see what might need to be done.”
“I’ll remember that, though I’m always professional in anything I put in writing.”
“Just so you know, Heather wanted your job.”
“She did?”
“Yes. One of a few who wanted to apply and Blair said no. Or didn’t pass it on. Not sure either way, but I trusted her judgment. I still do.”
“That explains more of it, but it also tells me I have to be more aware too. That we have to be.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means all the times I’m in here with the door shut.”
He laughed. “Nora. Blair was always in here with the door shut. Not every time, but more than half. The same as with you. No one is going to think anything of it.”
“Don’t be so sure,” she mumbled.
“Has anyone said anything? Even if they do, it’s not changing. I’m not changing.”
“No one has said anything to me,” she said. “But I’ve worked places before where it only takes one person to start something false and the place is going up in flames with the wrong knowledge.”
“Well,” he said, “this isn’t false.”
“All the more reason to be careful,” she argued. “Whether people think we were dating before and you gave me a job or I got the job after, both are horrible scenarios.”
“Horrible?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow. “You didn’t think anything was so horrible last weekend.”
“It’s Friday, watch the conversation.”
“In a few hours we’ll be out of here. This time am I going to see you or do I have to wait until tomorrow?”
“Did you want to see me tonight? You haven’t said. We haven’t talked about it.”
“I’m talking about it now.”
“During working hours.”
He laughed. “Are you going to be a stickler for these things?”
“When my reputation is on the line, yes,” she argued.
“You think mine’s not?”
“You’re the boss. No one is going to give you a hard time.”
“To copy you, don’t be so sure.”
“Please,” she said, waving her hand. “Now you’re just pulling my leg.”
He reached forward and grabbed her ankle and gave her a tiny tug. She had a dress on today. Just a light pink cotton one that was loose on her. Not showing the body he knew was so toned under it.
