Page 51 of Consumed By You

“Yeah?”

“Kate just called me and asked me if I’m sleeping with you.”

After a pause on his end, he says,“That’s unprofessional. How would she know?”

“I don’t know. I’m going out to talk to her.” My mind clouds, focused on the disapproval I’ve received since entering the building. “I-I’m not sure I want her to know about us yet.”

“Why? We don’t have to hide. I own the company, Darcy. It’s not like we can get into trouble.”

“Ben, I just don’t think I want anyone to know yet. I just started here.”

“You were completely fine with it yesterday.”

I hear a defensiveness in his voice and grimace, only truly now realizing the importance of our privacy.

“I’m going to talk to her then.”

“Fine.”

Opening my door, I walk over to Kate, breathing in deeply to brace myself for whatever is coming next. “Who told you I was sleeping with him?”

“The doorman. He saw you two yesterday walking out together. You were holding hands. He also saw you two pretty close in his limo.” She glares. “Everyone knows. The whole building.”

The expression on her face is a mixture between disgust and loathing. This woman was honestly the sweetest girl I’d ever met yesterday.

A thought dawns on me…what if she’s wanted Benjamin?

“It’s written all over your face, Darcy. Wow, not even a month in…”

I have the biggest urge to slap her. “You’re stepping over the line, Kate.”

“I don’t like people that try to get ahead in life by sleeping their way to the top, Darcy. And I’ll let you in on a little secret—not many people do.”

My eyes widen in disbelief. This is a completely different person than the one I talked to yesterday. Not wanting to say something I’ll regret, I turn back for my office.

I fall into my chair and drop my head into my hands. God, I have a headache.

I told Ben this wasn’t going to work, me working with him.

***

The uneasy feeling still remains by lunchtime. Benjamin has been in a meeting all morning so I haven’t been able to talk to him about what happened earlier. I didn’t get to stop at home to make lunch so I have to go out. I’m walking into the break room with a smoothie and a sandwich when I notice the entire place is full. Dammit, does everyone eat at this time?

I look around for a friendly face but see none. Everyone in the room is either staring with disdain or with disinterest while the rest of the group seems hypnotized by their paper plates.

I had no idea it was such a crime to have sex. Kate is there, and by the look on her face she was probably just talking about me.

I raise my head high and take the first empty chair I see.

There’s a girl and a guy at the table. They’re both looking down at their food, not speaking. “Hi,” I say. “I’m Darcy.”

People are back to chatting with each other and the room is no longer silent. I, however, seem to be talking to myself since neither of the two answer my greeting.

I take two bites out of my sandwich, tasting cardboard. Unable to take it anymore, I throw out the rest of my meal. As soon as I exit the room, I hear snickers. Cringing, I practically run back to my office. I’m struggling to keep my composure and complete my work when Alexander fills the doorway.

“You’re sleeping with my brother?” he growls, his teeth clenched tight.

I sigh and look up at him. “We’re seeing each other. There’s a difference.”