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She sat down in my desk chair and put her feet up on my desk. She had no plans to leave. I needed someone to rescue me.
I slid my phone from my jacket pocket and texted Monica.
SOS. Come in here and make up some important meeting. I need this woman out of my office.
A moment later, there was a knock on my door. Veronica quickly pulled her feet down from the surface of my desk so not to expose herself to the rest of the office. Monica peeped her head in and I watched as she quickly glanced at Monica sitting comfortably behind my desk. I noticed the hurt that flashed in her eyes before it disappeared. Shit.
“Um, sorry to interrupt…” she said softly.
“You’re not interrupting anything,” I said reassuringly.
Veronica huffed behind me.
“We have that meeting now.”
“Yes, of course. Thank you, Monica.”
Monica gave Veronica one more look, who had barely even acknowledged her existence as she picked at her fingernails before walking out the door. Thankfully, she left it open. Whether to save me or to keep an eye on things, I wasn’t sure. Either way, I was grateful.
“Who is that?” asked Veronica, looking through the open door where Monica was gathering things to look as if she were getting ready for our imaginary meeting. Veronica’s voice dripped with disgust.
“Her name is Monica. She is my personal assistant,” I answered.
I saw a flicker of jealousy in Veronica’s gaze as it fixated on Monica. I wondered if she had heard the rumors, or if the curve-hugging black dress on a beautiful woman made her insecure.
“I really have to go,” I said, walking toward the door.
Veronica stood up from my desk quickly and strode past me, making it a point to rub up against me as she did so.
“I’ll see you soon, Troy baby,” she called over her shoulder as she sauntered away.
I caught Monica looking between us before she quickly went back to stacking what looked to be blank papers on her desk. I knew she probably had so many questions, and the hurt look on her face made my stomach sink. I just didn’t know how to tell her everything, and this wasn’t the place.
“Thanks for that,” I said with a smile as I leaned against her desk.
“Mhmm,” she said, barely looking at me.
“Monica…” I said softly.
“Look, I’m really busy…” she said.
I felt like she wanted nothing to do with me in that moment. Why would she? Even though we weren’t in a relationship or had established any sort of boundaries, there were still feelings there. I realized that now as I took on her hurt. This was new territory for me. I would probably feel the same way if I found her locked up in an office with another man. I would go seething mad.
“What? Stacking blank printer paper?” I joked, trying to make light of the situation and the thoughts in my head.
The joke didn’t land and Monica frowned. I glanced quickly around the office before grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze. I needed her attention. I needed to reassure her. She stilled. I quickly released her hand before anyone saw.
She sighed as she set the papers down on her desk, willing herself to look up at me. The look in her eyes was enough to break me down and tell her everything right there. But it was too risky. Especially after we were almost caught this morning and Kathy brought up her suspicions. Her threat.
“Why don’t we get out of here?” I suggested.
“What are you talking about?”
“Let’s go. Call it a day.”
She checked her watch and jerked her head back slightly before looking at me. “It’s not even 10 AM,” she said in surprise.
“And somehow I’ve had enough work for the day.”