Me: Still alive. Just busy.
Gretchen: Busy with work or busy with the hot billionaire?
I stare at the message, wondering if I should tell her what happened. No. I’m not ready to admit it yet, so I type:Just work. I’ll call you this weekend.
Gretchen:You better. I want details.
If only she knew how many details there were now.
I arrive at the office at eight thirty. It’s earlier than usual but not suspiciously so. A few people are already at their desks, and the morning coffee crowd is gathering in the break room.
I keep my head down and head straight to my workspace.
When I pass Daniel’s office, it’s dark. He’s not here yet. I tell myself I’m relieved and ignore how my stomach sinks with disappointment.
I settle at my desk and open my laptop. Focus. I need to focus.
By nine, the office has filled with the usual morning chaos. People have settled in, and phones are ringing nonstop. I'm deep in a color palette revision when I sense someone standing nearby.
I look up.
Daniel is standing by my desk in a fresh suit. His tie is perfectly straight, and his expression is completely unreadable. Unlike me, he looks like he got a full eight hours of sleep.
“Ms. Rodgers. Do you have a moment to review the Morrison presentation?”
Ms. Rodgers. Not Bailey.
Weird.
“Of course, Mr. Williams.” I can play this game too.
I follow him to his office. The walk feels endless because every step reminds me of last night.
Daniel closes the door behind us. For a moment, I think he will say something about yesterday. Maybe acknowledge what happened or tell me he hasn’t stopped thinking about it.
Instead, he pulls up a presentation on his laptop. “Morrison wants these slides adjusted. The color scheme needs to be more conservative—less creative and more corporate.”
I stare at him. “That’s what you wanted to discuss?”
“That’s what we need to discuss.” His voice is clipped.
Yeah, something is definitely wrong.
The presentation is in two days. Can you have revisions by tomorrow morning?”
“Yes.”
“Good. That’s all.”
He’s dismissing me? Is Daniel Williams seriously dismissing me like I’m any other employee?
Something twists in my chest painfully.
“Daniel—”
“That’s all, Ms. Rodgers.” He doesn’t look up from his screen.
I walk out before I can say something I’ll regret.
