Page 5 of Scandalous Whispers (Alpha Billionaire #28)

HALEY

I stepped off the elevator juggling the large black trench coat Mr. Danvers let me borrow, my laptop bag, and two coffees—one for me and one for Mr. Green.

Only a few minutes after seven, I knew I had time to settle in before the meeting, but I was eager to get a start on the day.

I stopped by Mr. Danvers’ office to find the lights off but the door unlocked, so I hung his coat on the coat tree in the corner of his office and with a lighter load, I headed for Mr. Green’s office.

The newsroom was quiet, only a few staffers at work so far this morning.

It was peaceful here before everyone started arriving, and I often thought maybe I’d be more productive if I came to work when Mr. Green and Mr. Wright did, though that wouldn’t allow me any time to run and shower before work, which was why I hadn’t started doing that.

This morning, however, I had skipped my run in the interest of putting the finishing touches on our EPA piece.

The lights in Mr. Green’s office were on, streaming into the newsroom where only half the floor was illuminated.

I passed Maria’s desk, and she had her typical early morning scowl and massive mug of coffee.

She didn’t even look up as I passed and smiled in her direction.

I noticed Jack Williams at his desk in the back corner, but he wasn’t ever in a pleasant mood, so I really didn’t expect him to be in one this early.

As I opened the door to the office and stepped in, I expected to see Mr. Green, but instead it was Mr. Danvers seated at the desk. “Oh, I wasn’t expecting you.” I paused for a moment. “Do you have a meeting with Mr. Green?”

“No,” he said, gesturing for me to enter. “Tom had a dentist appointment, sort of an emergency. I think he lost a filling. I’ll handle things until he gets here.”

Hesitantly, I glanced over my shoulder and entered, letting the door remain open as I sat across the desk from him.

I set the coffee I’d brought for Mr. Green on the corner of the desk and smiled nervously.

“I guess that coffee can be yours. I’m not sure how you take it, but it’s black, the way Mr. Green likes it. ”

“Just call him Tom already. We’re all mature enough to keep things professional even on a first-name basis.

” Parker picked up the coffee and pulled the lid off, sniffing it.

“Black, huh?” He smirked. “I’m more of a cream and sugar sort of guy, and if you can find blueberry flavored coffee, even better.

” The lid snapped into place beneath his hand, and he set the cup to the side. “But thank you.”

I chuckled. “Well, for as serious and stern as you normally are, I figured you for a black coffee sort of guy.” I sipped my own drink, probably more along the lines of what Parker would have liked.

I always got three pumps of vanilla sweetener, a splash of cream, and two sugars.

My mother would have fits if she knew the sugar habit I had, but I ate healthy other than that.

“Never judge a book by its cover.” He sat back in his seat and studied my face as if trying to figure me out. “So, you really secured a source out of Moldova who will back their information with facts?”

The confidential source had delivered more than enough proof to me through secure servers and I fully believed their story.

When the story hit the newsstands, the FBI and even the international authorities would be knocking on our door asking for me to reveal the source, who had volunteered to come forward as long as they were protected.

It wasn’t the story of the century, but it was a career-making discovery.

I nodded at him and sipped my brew, happy with myself that I was able to break the story wide open.

“Yeah, I did. You could say he is a friend of a friend. Really, it was a stroke of luck. The guy wants to out the bastards because his child developed myeloid leukemia, like so many other people in that area.”

“Your research is going to help so many people. You know that, right?” Parker smiled at me and tapped his finger on Tom’s desk. “And I get to sit back and marvel at how amazing the work you’ve done on this is. Incredible.”

Shrugging, I said, “I just did my job, Mr. Danvers.”

“Please, Parker is my name. Mr. Danvers was my father. One day, I’ll get married and then you can call me Mr. Danvers if you want.

” He winked at me and continued. “Honestly, though, you go above and beyond in the line of duty. You only had the obligation to report the facts, but you always take it to the next level. I love that about you. You always dig to the bottom until you’re at the root of all the truth before you form your story.

The world needs more reporters like you. ”

I hid behind my cup of coffee with a stupid grin wondering whether he was complimenting only my work or me as a person. I took pride in ensuring the facts were reported for every story. It was the only ethical way to deliver real news. Anything else was gossip.

“Well, thank you.” I cleared my throat and set my cup down.

“Maybe we should start focusing on the edits here and make sure things are on par for Tom’s eyes when he finally gets in.

” I leaned over the desk where the printed copy lay out on the desk.

Tom was old-school and preferred to do things the old-fashioned way, by hand.

I’d have much rather used editing software on the computer because they were way faster, but Tom never compromised.

Parker ran his finger across the text, reading the first few lines.

“I love how you open these pieces with a real hook. You seem to catch the reader right from the first sentence. It’s incredible.

” I felt my cheeks warm as he looked at me, his blue eyes seeing through me.

My stomach fluttered, and I felt my body stirring.

He was so attractive, I had a hard time focusing.

I cleared my throat and smiled. “Thank you? I just think it’s important to make sure the reader is interested right away.

Something I learned in college.” Our eyes met for a long moment.

It wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would have been, but my cheeks still burned.

I was having very inappropriate thoughts about him and struggling to keep that fact hidden from him, which was evidenced by his next comment.

“You seem flustered. Is everything okay?”

He pretended to not know the effect he was having on me, but the constant compliments made my body want to be touched in really bad places.

I nodded. “Just not used to so many compliments.” I couldn’t help but observe how different he was with me privately than he was with the rest of the staff during staff meetings. “Do you read all the stories printed?”

Parker chuckled. “No, actually. I mostly let Tom and the editors deal with things, but I’ve read every single one of yours.

” As he sat back in the chair, I heard the door open farther and footsteps behind me, which didn’t deter him from continuing.

“I read them over my morning coffee—lots of cream and sugar.”

Another wave of heat through my cheeks made me very aware that Mr. Green would immediately know we’d been talking about personal matters and not business.

For some reason, that made me very self-conscious.

Still, I couldn’t help but snicker at the coffee blunder. The cup was probably only lukewarm now.

“Seems you two are off to a good start.” Mr. Green sat next to me, allowing Parker to keep the spot that should have been his.

“I was just telling Haley how excellent her work is. She rivals your prowess back in the day.” Parker pushed the cup of coffee toward Mr. Green. “This is for you.”

Tom picked up the cup, and I tried to shrink back into myself.

The praise was welcomed, but the way he spoke about me in front of another boss made me feel embarrassed.

I was thankful Mr. Green had shut the door behind himself so Jack and Maria, and the handful of other writers who were probably here now, didn't hear him going on about me.

“Yes, well, she is very skilled.” Tom’s curt response made me stiffen. He wasn’t known for lavishing praise on his staff, though neither was Parker most of the time.

“Oh, come off it, you old bag.” Parker’s jest made me grin, and I hid it behind the cup of coffee I hastily picked up off the desk. “Haley is a Pulitzer just waiting to happen.” He turned to me. “He’s just an old coot. Don’t listen to him. You’re amazing.”

Tom scowled and took a swig of his coffee. I imagined it didn’t taste the best now that it was thirty minutes old and starting to chill. My coffee was already almost cold too but was still pressed to my lips to hide the continued smile. I liked Parker a lot more than I should have.

“Let’s just focus on the copy.” Tom set the cup down and picked up the draft file, studying it. The way it craned in the air provided a shield for Parker, who rolled his eyes and shook his head. It made me snicker, and Tom dropped the paper instantly, glaring at me.

“Sorry, sir.” I straightened in the chair. My thoughts went to Gretchen and Jack and how she’d been fired following an incident where everyone suspected them of having sex on company property.

I locked eyes with Parker, and a knowing look passed between us. He wasn’t just complimenting my talent and skill as a journalist. I could see the desire in his eyes, the way his tongue drew across his bottom lip seductively as Tom held the paper back in front of his face and continued reading.

Parker did not look away. Not when I glanced down at my hands then back up at him. Not when I swallowed nervously. Not when I felt my cheeks burning hotter than they had all morning so far. When I finally had the guts to really look him in the eye, my body was flustered and I thought I might vomit.

“I, uh… I need to use the ladies’ room. I’ll be right back.

” I stood and picked up my coffee, not realizing I hadn’t even taken my computer bag off my shoulder yet.

I almost tipped over as I stood and the heavy bag weighed me down, and Parker smirked.

He seemed to get a kick out of my nerves, but it wasn’t embarrassing.

It was more like having a secret between the two of us that Mr. Green couldn’t know about.

I felt a rush of adrenaline and winked at him before I walked out, not even pausing to see what his reaction was.

Though I felt eyes on my backside as I walked away.

I was flirting with my boss.

Not just making eyes at him and hoping he noticed that I blushed because of his compliments—actual eye-winking, attention-grabbing flirting.

My heart raced. I hadn’t felt this alive in years.

When I stepped into the bathroom and locked the door, I leaned back against it and squealed.

He liked me, and not just as an employee.

I could see it all over his face. He wanted me.

I let my mind wander for a bit before relieving my bladder of the pressure of too much coffee.

Mr. Danvers was easily almost twenty years older than me.

What would people think? What would my father think?

I stared at myself in the mirror as I washed my hands.

I was a beautiful woman with a lot to offer.

It didn't matter what people thought. All that mattered was whether the two of us thought it would work.

And I was willing to give it a shot, even if it was forbidden.