“Not only has Alexander Morgan been number one for the last nine weeks, but he’s shooting a film that’s picked up a lot of buzz already. Sara’s looked at his stats and his demographic has a much wider range than Sabrina’s, given that he’s been in the spotlight for over a decade. And apparently, according to his agent Kirk at WME, he’s an avid coffee drinker. Kirk is going to run it past management and get back to me this morning.”
This cannot be happening.
My chest tightens along with my grip on the stress ball.
“Good job, Tony. Keep me posted when you hear back.” Pietro glances at his watch and grimaces. “Damn, I’ve got to head to another meeting. Christopher, let’s catch up on your projects separately.”
I force a smile through gritted teeth, the best I can do, as Pietro heads to the door.
I want to stall Tony’s pursuit of Alexander and suggest why it’s a bad idea, but there’s nothing I can say. Nothing I can do without revealing the secret I’ve been forced to keep.
“Oh, and Christopher?” Pietro stops as he pulls open the door. “Can you pop into HR? Jo wants to meet with you.”
The room starts to spin as a wry smile forms on Tony’s face.
I’d thought Pietro’s HR meeting was about Tony and Sara, not anything to do with me. I’m not due for my review with HR and Pietro for another three weeks yet. And I’ve been nothing but an exemplary employee since I got the verbal warning back in June. I’ve turned up early to work, stayed late. Going above and beyond to prove I’m worthy of my role.
Moments later, I find myself seated across from Jo, the HR director. She’s dressed formally in a white blouse and black skirt.
My palms begin to sweat as she reaches for her pen and opens her notebook. Being able to see out of the small glass-bowl meeting room does nothing to ease the feeling of being trapped.
“Before we begin, I want to reassure you that the contents of what we discuss today will remain strictly confidential.”
“Okay.”
I rub my hands on my jeans underneath the table to remove the clamminess.
This doesn’tfeellike it’s about my work.
“Do you have any reason to believe that Tony Neil is having a relationship with your assistant, Sara Jacobs?”
I don’t bother fighting back a smile.
“I’ll take that smile as a yes.” Jo searches my eyes for an answer.
Julie was right. They do know. This must be some kind of formal investigation into the accusations.
“I do, yes.” I let out a deep exhale.
“When did you begin to believe this relationship might be happening?” Her voice is soft and measured.
Do I go to town on the pair, or do I play it more factual? Either way, I need to play this carefully. I can’t be seen as seeking revenge on Tony.
“I can’t recall exact dates and times, but I can attest to the fact that over the last six months, I’ve noticed a significant shift in Sara’s ability to assist me.” My voice is thick with conviction. My gaze is drawn to Jo’s pen as she takes notes.
“I see.” She tucks her brown locks behind her left ear.
“Tasks I’ve needed support with have been delayed or forgotten about, to the point where I no longer ask Sara for support and instead choose to do the work myself.” I try to keep my voice detached and clinical.
“You’re saying Sara’s ability to support you as department assistant has given you reason to believe she and Tony may be engaged in a romantic relationship?”
“Partly, yes. But I’ve noticed that her attention has prettymuch become solely focused on Tony. She’s at his beck and call, overly eager to help him. Their level of physical intimacy is beyond what I would expect from colleagues.”
Jo stops writing and looks up from her notebook.
“You mean from Sara?”
“From both of them,” I say. “Tony leans over to look down her top while he massages her shoulders. Sara pinches his bum when she thinks no one’s looking. One lunch time, I saw them both coming back slightly disheveled. Tony walked in a minute behind her. He was tucking his shirt in as he made his way back to his desk, and Sara’s lipstick looked smudged.”
