She reaches out and clasps my hands, holding them tightly. I flinch, trying to pull my hand away, but she just tightens her grip.
“Brielle. We take sexual harassment very seriously here at CreativEdge.”
My brain stutters. “I”m sorry, what? Did Devin say that I’ve been harassing him… sexually?” My voice goes up three octaves at the audacious claim.
“No. No. Not at all. He was concerned foryou.” She gives me a sad, pleading look that I don’t trust for a minute. “Tell me, what exactly is your relationship with Mr. Edgerton?”
Blood drains from my body in a massive wave, my stomach twisting in knots. I can feel my palms start to sweat, but I don’t want to rub them on my skirt. Nothing guiltier than a sweating, fidgeting person.
“Mr. Edgerton is my boss. Why do you ask?”
“You can be honest, Brielle. I don’t want you to fear there will be any repercussions for you. You’re the victim here. I understand that.”
“I am no victim,” I say harshly, pulling my hands out of her hold. “Whatever Devin told you about Damian and me, do not for one second think that I am being taken advantage of by him. I’m not.”
“So, you admit that your relationship withDamianis more than just a boss and his employee?”
I can feel my heart beating in my chest, in my ears, all the way down to my toes.
We knew this day would come, but I don’t think either of us had a plan on how to handle it when it did. And now it has, and I don’t know what to say.
At this point, I think denying it entirely is out of the question.
If I come clean now, there may still be a chance that this doesn’t blow back on Damian. He can’t afford to lose everything he’s built because ofme. It would be his greatest fear coming true.
I can’t do that to him. I can’t be the reason his life comes crashing down.
“Yes,” I admit, more confidently than I feel right now. “Damian and I have been engaged in an intimate relationship, but at no point has there been an abuse of power, sexual harassment, or any other form of coercion or demands.”
I feel like I’m going to vomit just saying the words out loud to this woman. She gives me a pitying look, like poor little bunny doesn’t see what’s right in front of her eyes.
“I understand that you might feel that way, but—”
“There is no ‘but,’” I interrupt. “Damian and I became friends, and there are no rules about becoming friends with your employees. What that friendship developed into was outside of this company and our roles within CreativEdge.”
“Well, the truth of the situation is that the employees are losing faith in Damian’s decision-making. It’s my understanding that you’ve changed departments and been promoted within the last three months, being chosen to lead a team when other more senior members were willing and available.”
“Those senior members couldn’t even manage their own jobs. I stepped up when Damian asked, and I proved myself to be an asset. Damian doesn’t make a business decision without carefulconsideration. This company is his life, his creation. He doesn’t, and he wouldn’t, jeopardize that for anyone.”
“Not even his girlfriend?” She raises her brow, a small smirk playing on her lips that I wish I could wipe right off her face.
“For anyone.”
“His behavior has been noted, and I will be bringing it up at our board meeting. It is entirely unacceptable for the CEO to be having relations with a current employee. The appearance of impropriety is equally as important in the culture of the workplace as being improper. It isn’t about the truth, but what those who work for himthinkis the truth.”
“He isn’t.” The words are out of my mouth before I can process them, but I know what I have to do. “Having a relationship with a current employee, that is.”
Rachel gives me a quizzical look. I can see her wheels spinning behind her eyes.
“He isn’t having a relationship with a current employee, because I quit.”
Her eyes go comically round, and she rushes to assure me, “No. No, dear. This isn’t on you. This is exactly what I was afraid would happen. Damian needs to take accountability for his own actions. You shouldn’t be the one to fall on the sword on his behalf.”
She’s really starting to piss me off now. It’s like she wants to get Damian into trouble. I’ve met people like her before, people like Devin. Miserable in their own lives, and they want to bring others down, too.
I stand from my chair and head for the door.
“I’ll let HR know of my decision, effective immediately.”
