pte

as glance in her direction before

re legally bound and had shared such an intimate ni

as dea

lear: they were to remain perfect

hissed shut, Danielle whirled around, her face twisted in a sneer

pening her laptop to begin scaling t

ant George has notified us that you were on approved leave this morning. The

at the scre

rge go out of

d of conscience after all. Her mood lifted instantly, thoug

sk, her phone held out like a shield. Her voice was calm but carried across the room

computer, pretending to be swamped. "Assistant George was the one who didn't noti

ed. The woman was ac

ad no right to resort to personal insults and cha

"Lauren, I apologize for the oversight. I

e secretar

second. "It's... it's fine.

onally apologize to a junior staffer. Aside from Dashiel, George was the most feared m

to her feet, her tone shifting to a fawning whine. "Yes,

e wrong?" Lauren's voice wasn't loud, but it was crystal clear. "The co

gue, you went out of your way to kick me while I

ard Danielle. The coldness in his eyes made the woman visibly stiff

ogy. "I was out of line. I shouldn't have jumped

agues were giving Lauren

er seniority to torment anyone she deemed weak. N

our conduct was unprofessional. Sp

tant George.

ep. She felt a rush of petty, wonderful satisfaction

s glass partition. Does he know? she won

s a paradise. Dashiel and George

self at night, Lauren was thriving. She even caught

he tyrant returned, and with him came a not

him forever. She had braced herself for professional contact, but a man like

arly here f

e dignified executive. But the second he saw Lauren

was encased in heavy bandages, and a

thought. The old lecher fina

e project plan with clinical precision. Eric, however, was relentless. He interr

every blow wit

have a history. Surely you can handle these basic issues without needing to hide behind pretty secr

dy in a way that made Lauren want

. Absolu

oject had been Lauren's win, but rumors were already starting to rot in the office

managed. "Secretary Lauren is an integral part of this tea

her work and making snide remarks about her "methods." Lauren kep

up. Director Wang moved to see him out, but

rrounding cubicles. "You really are the star of this collaboration. Pre

as impossible to misinterpret. "We re

If they weren't in a corporate lobby, she wou

oom to breathe. As she was about to leave

out Lauren in the

hread on the company for

ne like Eric just for a bonus? D

so sweet. I guess

have a boyfrie

bly likes the money she brings

sgus

e stall door so hard the walls rattled. She wal