AssoonasCoraand I walk into the office the following Monday morning, the tension is thick. Maybe it’s just in my head, but the hearing is only three weeks away and everyone knows it. I know this is weighing on her. I can feel it like it’s my own body, my own emotions.
We spent the weekend mostly with her mom. Marco and I finally met her Aunt Shelly who couldn’t stop blushing in our presence. We may have laid the charm on thicker than normal, but impressing Cora’s family and friends is crucial. We’re not letting go of her.
I don’t know where this possessiveness is coming from. Maybe Marco is wearing off on me.
As I drop her off at her office, I give her a quick forehead kiss and smell her hair like the creep I am, and we separate to prepare for the morning meeting.
When she walks into the conference room, she looks like the epitome of style and grace. I’m acting like I didn’t see her get dressed this morning in that pleated, dark purple skirt and matching sweater. Her hair is up in a large loose bun, and she already has a pencil and marker stuck in it. When I suggested we match today, she giggled and patted me on the chest. She said,Don’t make it obvious, so I went with dark purple socks. Iwantedto wear matching underwear, but I didn’t have any that color. Ididfind a pair of her panties that would work, but they didn’t fit; after all, my womanispacking the most delicious dump truck in the back. So I snatched them up and put them in my pocket.
I do my best to keep my jaw closed and not stare. It’s not exactly professional to drool over your CEO girlfriend in front of your colleagues.
Then, as if the Darth Vader theme song plays wherever he goes, Jonathan storms into the room. Seriously, what is his deal? Cora said when her father, Paul, ran the company, Jonathan was pleasant, fun, and even came to Dalton family functions. And now he’s a completely different person.
When everyone settles into their seats, Cora starts the meeting at nine on the dot. As always, she starts with our Legal Counsel, Horatio, asking about the status of the hearing. Of course, he omits the fact that Jonathan and Chris are suspects at this point. Horatio was gathering some more information before he made it official, but after today, both Jonathan and Chris will be suspended until the hearing.
I cannot wait to watch it go down. It’s happening at noon today and I’m shaking with excitement.
Jonathan fidgets with his sleeve cuff, his mouth set in a hard line as he looks down at his hands as Horatio rounds out his update. “...then defamation is our next step,” Horatio finishes.
Jonathan huffs loudly and rolls his eyes.
“Care to share something with the class?” Cora asks.
“So… what?” he scoffs. “We’re just gonna sit here and act like this case is the thing that’s gonna bring us down? That thecaseis what’s gonna cause us to lose our clients? Please.”
“What are you talking about?”
He glares at her, making my skin crawl and my blood boil. I wanna reach over this table and grab him by his stupid collar and punch his goddamn face. “I’m talking about this ridiculousrelationshipyou two are in,” he says pointing between me and Cora. The way he saidrelationship—like it was poison in his mouth. “Well, thethreeof you are in.Thatis what’s ridiculous.Thatis what’s going to bring us down.”
Even though no one else was talking in this room, the silence now becomes deafening.
“Excuse me?” I ask, but it’s more like an accusation. I cannot believe he’s bringing this up right now.
“Wish that I could. Wish that I could excuse—ignore—this embarrassing display you’ve made us all a part of.” He turns his stare to the six other people witnessing this accosting. He raises his eyebrows at some of the confused expressions. “Oh, you all didn’t know? Yup. Our fearless leader, Ms. Cora Dalton is not only fucking our Human Resources Director, but also his boyfriend.” He tilts his head and bugs his eyes out, “And who knows who else?”
“Watch your mouth,” I hiss. I’m trying to reel in my emotions right now. I know I have to be the voice of reason. I have to be the HR Director and not Cora’s base, animalistic protector. Not that she needs my protection. That woman is as strong as they come. Doesn’t mean I don’t still want to shield her from harm.
My body shakes with the need to yell at him. We are not justfucking—we’re in a committed relationship. It’s not open, and it’s not open for discussion. It’s private.
He spreads his arms out wide looking at everyone else. “Are we all going to sit back and watch this company sink deeper in embarrassment and scandal? Our CEO is in a poly-whateverrelationship and we’re just going to act like thatisn’ta huge red flag to our clients? Or what’s left of them?”
Cora and Dayo both stand and say, “That’s enough.” Dayo’s between Cora and myself and if they weren’t there, I would definitely be grabbing Cora’s hand right now. They stare Jonathan down through their thick, red-framed glasses. “That’srichcoming from you! Someone who keeps hitting on me, even though I’ve told you to stop several times—and oh yeah—you’re married!”
My mouth clamps closed at this news. I don’t remember seeing any HR reports about this on either of their files.
“You, too?” Jennifer, our Marketing Director chimes in, and I perk up even more.
What the fuck?
I look over at Cora and she eyes me likeI had no idea.
Dayo looks over to Jennifer. “Yeah. For years!” They look back at a red-faced Jonathan, rage flaming in his eyes.
Jennifer looks directly at Cora and says, “He’s the real reason Erin, our last HR Director, left, you know?”
“What?” Cora and I ask in unison.
“Not that I should air her dirty laundry, but I’m still friends with her, and she deserves her side of the story told.Hetold her he was divorced, and they had an affair until she found out from others at work that he was in facthappily married,” Jenn indicates with air quotes, “and when she broke it off, he threatened to get her fired if she said anything. He used her like a puppet at work.”
