“Are you sleeping with Ina?”
I followed him in and closed the door behind us. “That’s none of your business.”
“It’s absolutely my business. I’m the CFO of this company. I’m on the board. And if you’re violating your own policies, it’s a big fucking deal.”
“I’m not doing anything wrong.”
That wasn’t exactly a denial, but whatever.
“Bullshit.” He rounded on me. “Last night you two showed up together, clearly on a date that got interrupted. She lied to me about the campaign, then you immediately contradicted her lie. And the way you look at her, Dane? You’re not that good of an actor.”
My jaw clenched. “Even if something was happening, which I’m not confirming, it would be between Ina and me. Not you.”
“You need to be careful.” Keith’s voice took on an edge I didn’t like. “If the board finds out you’re sleeping with your secretary, it’s going to be a problem.”
“Don’t call her that.”
“What, your secretary? That’s literally what she is.”
“She’s my executive assistant and a lot more than that.”
“Exactly my point!” Keith threw his hands up. “You’re compromised. You’re making decisions based on what’s good for your love life instead of what’s good for the company.”
“Everything I do is for the good of the company.”
“Don’t be so sure,” he said. “You shut down Heidi’s extended commercial idea—which would have made us millions—because you didn’t want Ina’s face out there. Don’t think I haven’t noticed the raise she got last month.”
“First of all, that’s none of your business. Secondly, fuck you. I don’t have to ask your permission.”
“I’m saying this as your friend,” Keith continued, his voice softening slightly. “You need to end this. Whatever is happening between you and Ina, it needs to stop. For both your sakes.”
“No.”
“Dane.”
“I said no.” I moved toward the door, opening it. “Get out.”
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Then it’s my mistake to make.”
Keith walked toward the door but paused in the threshold. “I’m trying to protect you. Both of you. The board is going to destroy you over this. And Ina? She’ll be collateral damage.”
“Get. Out.”
He didn’t move. I stared at him, making it clear I wasn’t backing down.
“You’re here because you’re pissed about the no-dating policy,” I said. “Because you can’t sleep with every woman in the office anymore. This has nothing to do with protecting me or Ina. This is about you being a petulant child who can’t have what he wants. You’re mad because we had to institute that policy because you’re like a rooster in a henhouse. You think every female is up for grabs. You like to fuck around, Keith. You and I both know that, and you’ve made inappropriate remarks in front of the staff.”
“That’s rich, coming from the guy who’s currently fucking his secretary.”
“Nothing is going on with Ina. The dates were fake. The relationship is fake. My feelings are strictly professional, and Ina knows that. She agreed to this arrangement knowing exactly what it was.”
Even as I said it, I felt sick. Felt the lie burning in my throat.
But I needed Keith to believe it. Needed him to back off so I could figure out how to handle this properly.
“Love isn’t real anyway,” I continued, the words coming automatically. It was the same script I’d been using for years. “It’s just chemistry and compatibility and transaction. It can be bought, packaged, and sold at a premium. That’s what Cupid’s Arrow is built on. You think I’d be stupid enough to fall formy own assistant when I don’t even believe in the product I’m selling?”
