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“You’re right,” I said. The longing of my voice matched his. “We have to be careful.”
We shared one last kiss before leaving.
“See you later,” he said softly, brushing his hand against mine before leaving the office. “Give it a few minutes, then follow me out. I’ll clear the hallway so nobody sees that we both came out. If anyone does see you come out, tell them you were just in here leaving your PTO slip for me to sign.
I nodded and watched him walk into the hallway. I heard his voice tell one of the marketing guys to walk with him as he made good on his promise to clear the path for my escape.
As I waited for my turn to walk out, I was left alone, and all I could do was think about his touch and the taste of his kiss, wishing for more.
Soon, I left his office, relieved to find the hallway empty. I casually made my way to my own and sat back at my desk. Though I tried to settle back into work, I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
Chapter Eighteen
JEREMY
EnteringStacey'soffice,Itried hard to maintain my composure amidst a situation that had grown increasingly difficult.
Stacey, my long-time friend and trusted assistant, was acting extremely peculiar, leaving me with an unmistakable sense that she had somehow pieced together what Jill and I had been up to.
As I settled into the plush chair beside her desk, Stacey looked me over sternly. Her eyebrows raised inquisitively as she took in my probably somewhat disheveled appearance. She had always been exceptionally wise and had an uncanny ability to detect even the slightest deviations from my customary behavior. Her observation skills were on full display today, and I already knew before she opened her mouth that I’d been busted.
"Jeremy, your behavior has been rather strange all day," she remarked with concern and curiosity. "I understand you’re not feeling well, but what is happening? I’ve seen you sick before. This is on a whole other level."
Looking back at her, a pang of guilt rippled through me. Stacey had been by my side for years, not only as my indispensable assistant but also as one of my closest personal friends. It didn’t feel good to keep secrets from her, but I also knew I had to protect Jill.
"I've been unwell all week," I said, attempting to divert suspicion with a weak smile. "I didn't want to burden anyone with it, but it seems to have affected me more than I initially thought. I really do apologize for missing the meeting today. That was wrong of me, and it was totally unacceptable."
Stacey smirked skeptically. Her intuition remained unswayed by my feeble attempt at an explanation. Leaning against the edge of her desk with her arms crossed, her expression hardened.
"Jeremy, you can't hide anything from me," she sighed knowingly. "We’ve been through the wringer with each other. I’ve known you long enough as a friend and been your assistant long enough to know when something big is happening. Aside from that- you've had a certain someone in your office all day. You have to know I keep an eye on the hall cameras."
Swallowing hard, I realized further attempts at deceit would be futile. Stacey had already pieced together enough of the puzzle—her astute deduction skills remained unmatched.
Taking a deep breath, I decided to come clean. "Alright, Stacey," I admitted with resigned resignation. "You've got me. Jill has been in my office today. We've been collaborating on a project."
Stacey's eyes narrowed, a raised eyebrow betraying her lingering skepticism. "Must be some project,” she smirked. “You ran across the street to the C-store right in the middle of it, right? Plus, your shirt’s buttoned crooked. You should probably pay closer attention. There’s a mirror right in your office. I’m not sure how you missed that."
Embarrassed, I pretended I didn’t know what she was implying. “I took my shirt off to rinse a spot in my sink earlier. I’d dripped some teriyaki on it at lunch,” I said, knowing the lie wasn’t good- it didn’t convince me.
A knowing chuckle crossed Stacey's lips as her expression softened from accusatory to simply amused. "Jeremy, you've always been an abysmal liar," she smirked. "I have known something was brewing between you two since Boston. But it seemed as though you weren’t even talking to each other lately, so I dismissed it. You can’t get one over on me that easily, so why even try?"
Defeated, I sighed as my facade crumbled. "I'm sorry, Stacey," I confessed. "You’re right, but it’s a difficult situation. I care about her; she isn’t trying to sleep up the food chain. I’m smarter than that. I don’t want to lie to you. I don’t want anyone to make the wrong assumptions about this situation, especially not about her."
With a reassuring smile, she reached out and patted my shoulder kindly. "It's alright," she offered compassionately. "I can see that you care for her and understand your desire for privacy. Just exercise caution, alright? We have worked hard to build this company, and I would hate to see anything jeopardize our efforts. It’s not Jill I’m worried about. Gossip has a way of getting around, and if people start talking, you won’t be able to stop that crazy train once it’s rolling down the tracks. I noticed she was in there for a while. If I noticed, you can bet someone else would notice if they were paying attention. Sleep together all you want, but don’t do it here per your rules. You don’t want to open those floodgates."
Grateful for Stacey's understanding and support, I nodded in acknowledgment and agreement with what she was saying. She had always been a beacon of wisdom and guidance, and I valued her influence.
"Thank you, Stacey," I expressed sincerely. "I will be more careful. I promise."
Leaving Stacey's office, though, the weight of our conversation lingered in my mind. It is evident that she knew about Jill and me, and although she was offering to understand, the potential consequences and likelihood of anyone else knowing weighed heavily on me.
Keeping our relationship clandestine had always been paramount, but now the cracks in our secret began to show.
At the same time, I had promised Jill she wouldn’t always have to be a secret. When and how I wondered, would be the right time to make good on that promise?
Striding briskly down the hallway, my thoughts raced. The day had taken an unexpected turn, and a sense of urgency propelled me forward, matching the escalating anxiety that gripped my chest.
Approaching the cubicles where our lower-level design employees worked, I noticed a chorus of hushed voices accompanied by a sea of covert glances. Workplace gossip was a well-established pastime, but I had an inkling that they were discussing Jill and me this time.
