The drive to the office was quiet, both of us lost in our own thoughts. I kept replaying his words:my whole life is work.I kept wondering where that left us. Where that left me. What happened when he got bored? What happened when work emergencies piled up?
I couldn’t work for a man I had fallen for and seen naked. A man that had seen me naked. Then just pretend nothing ever happened. A relationship like this would end up all or nothing.
The office was mostly dark when we arrived, just a few lights on in IT and the matchmaking area. I followed Dane off the elevator and we dove right into the IT kerfuffle. I didn’t know much about IT but I was able to help once they told me what I was looking for.
I got absorbed in the work. Before I knew it, I blinked and two hours had gone by. My eyes needed a rest and my mouth needed some coffee. I went to the breakroom to make some.
A few matchmakers were sitting at one of the tables, one with a laptop and the other with a tablet. They looked stressed.
“Late night?” I asked.
“Difficult match.” One of them said, rubbing her eyes. “Guy created a profile that’s so specific and so contradictory that the algorithm keeps failing. But we think we finally found someone who might work.”
“That’s great.”
“Yeah, if we can get the new interface to cooperate long enough to actually make the match.” She turned back to her screen. “What are you doing here?”
“Emergency with the update. I came in to help.” I stretched my back. “I’m starting to drag ass, though.”
“That’s dedication.”
Keith appeared at my elbow before I could respond. “So,” he said, leaning against the counter. “You and Dane. Out on a Friday night. Together.”
My stomach dropped. “He takes me out occasionally. For the campaign. You know, publicity for Heidi’s Valentine’s thing.”
Keith’s expression shifted to something calculating. “Right. The campaign. The fake dating thing.”
“Exactly.”
“Makes sense. Company policy prohibits inter-office dating anyway, so obviously it’s just for show.” He was watching my face too closely. “You’d know that better than anyone, being his secretary.”
“Of course.”
“Although it’s interesting that you came in to help with an IT emergency. You’re a real team player.”
“I’m just doing my part.”
He smirked. I couldn’t say what it was exactly, but I knew I didn’t like Keith. I reminded myself he was Dane’s friend and had helped him get the company off the ground, but I was pretty certain he was a snake.
“Yeah?” Keith said, that smirk still in place. “I guess you’ll do just about anything for a company you just started working at. I wonder what lengths you’ll go through to keep your boss happy.”
My stomach churned. There was no way Dane would have told him, which meant he was just guessing. But it still made me feel icky. “You’re a real weird guy, Keith. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“It was nice of you to come in to help with the IT issue,” Dane said, breaking in. He approached us. His eyes were apologizing even as his words contradicted what I’d just told Keith.
Something cold settled in my stomach. “Yeah. Of course. Happy to help.”
Keith’s head turned toward us, and I saw the suspicion bloom on his face.
“I should drive you home,” Dane said. “It’s gotten late.”
“I actually have some work to catch up on. Since I’m here anyway.” I couldn’t look at him. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” I realized my mistake immediately. “I mean Monday. Obviously. Since tomorrow is Saturday.”
The correction only called more attention to my slip.
“Monday, then.” Dane’s jaw was tight. “Have a good weekend.”
Keith was still watching me from across the office. The matchmakers were still working on their difficult profile, oblivious to the disaster I had just created.
