I look up to see Marissa, my stomach sinking. She’s wearing a hot pink blazer, and lipstick to match. I don’t even fully know why, but Ihateher.
She gives me a smile that could freeze lava. “It’s cute you’re an early bird,” she says, drifting over with a stack of folders. “You must be a morning person. Or is it just that you can’t sleep?” The way she says it, she already knows the answer. “You look tired.”
“I like to get a head start,” I say, tapping on my keyboard and second-guessing the concealer I chose to hide the dark circles under my eyes.
She leans in. “Speaking of,” she holds up a folder, the label in her own handwriting, “I think these got misfiled?” She fans the folders out.
I blink and then shake my head. “I didn’t file those, so I don’t know.”
“Oh?” She tilts her head, glancing down at them again. “Weird. I mean, your login was on the system late last night,so…” She lets her words hang. “I figured you were here doingsomethinglate.”
I try to keep my tone neutral. “I’ll take care of it. You can leave those here.”
Marissa shrugs,notsetting the files down yet. “What were you up to?”
“Just finishing a few things.”And getting bent over Adrian’s desk.My voice is even, but I want to punch something, or cry, or both.
Marissa’s phone dings, and she checks it, still hovering. “Oh, also, I heard Beck’s bringing donuts. I don’t think he asked anyone what kind they wanted.” She gives me a look. “He’s sweet, but not, you know, detail-oriented. I’ll make sure to bring you one, if he leaves them in the breakroom.”
I make a mental note.Do not eat anything Marissa touches.
“I’m attending the morning meeting today,” Marissa just keeps talking.
“Cool. I’ll see you there then.” I keep my tone clipped, and thankfully, when a couple of other people walk in, she drifts off to chat with them.
Thank God.
As people trickle into the office, I stay glued to my desk, prepping the printed agendas. I sense Marissa’s gaze every time I move. And by the time the meeting is about to start, I’ve had to reprint my papers twice, all because I was too focused on trying to ignore the feeling of being watched by a jungle predator.
Seriously, though, what is her problem with me?The question swirls in my head as I head for the conference room, the annoying witch right on my heels.
I make my way to my usual spot, and I sit at the back of the room, notepad balanced on my knee. My heart pounds in my chest as Adrian comes in first, completely ignoring my existence. Not even a slightglancein my direction.
Nice. So glad he can forget he was balls deep in me.It’s like a fucking skill, what these men can purge from their brains.
Caleb comes next, carrying a thermal coffee mug. My stomach does a weird somersault as he gives me a smile.
“Morning, Maddy,” he greets me, and there’s a little flicker of something there, reminding me of what happened in my bathroom.
My heart drops as my eyes bounce between the two men, wondering if either of them knows what the other has done with me. Maybe it’s some sort of work ritual. Maybe they’re into that—sharing the assistant.
And then firing them.
“Maddy,” a voice draws me from my stupor, and I look up to see Beck standing in all his glory. His tie is slightly askew, sleeves rolled up to his elbow, and he’s holding an iced latte and chocolate glazed donut. “Good morning.”
My eyes widen as he hands me the latte and donut. “Thank you.”
“Anytime.” He winks at me, and I donotmiss the way Adrian and Caleb both straighten in their chairs, having seen the entire exchange.
Oh my god, what have I done?My anxiety throbs through my entire body. Beck isclearlyjust fine with acknowledging me. And you know, if he was theonlyone I’d slept with, maybe that’d be okay.
But now, it just feels like a problem. I’m so ashamed, I don’t even notice Marissa plopping down right beside Beck at the table until she clears her throat.
And then gives me an obnoxious wave. “Morning, Maddy.”
I glare at her. “Morning.”
Adrian doesn’t acknowledge anyone at all and opens the meeting by launching directly into the numbers. In fact, hedoesn’t stop to let anyone say anything at all until he finishes a full ten-minute monologue.
