Page 27 of Under the Mistletoe

“Hmmmm… he has good taste.” She nods in approval.

“What makes you think it was from a man?” I tilt my head, wondering how she always seems to know these kinds of things.

She looks at me with a knowing grin. “I was young once… This kind of scarf isn’t something you buy just for a friend.”

My brow furrows. “What do you mean?”

“This is cashmere… French… designer… upward of a thousand dollars…” She looks over the scarf with appreciation, admiring the craftsmanship.

“A thousand dollars?” I choke out.

“Oh, Jay Jay…” Mabel clicks her tongue at me and smiles. “Try on the dress. It will go perfectly. I think your new man may really enjoy seeing you in this set.”

My cheeks burn as I stand in a state of paralysis for a beat. I know Donovan is wealthy, but that’s a lot of money to me.

“He’s not my man,” I insist, and she gives me a wicked grin.

“Not yet anyway.” She winks, and I can’t help but grin before walking to the back to try on her latest find.

There’s a knock at my door. I already know it isn’t Donovan, as he’s working from home.

“Hey, you got a minute?” Shelley pokes her head around my door, and I grin.

“Sure. Come in.” I push my glasses back as my eyes leave the screen of data about sea levels in the Pacific to look at her.

“I wanted to talk to you about something.” She sounds serious, and I watch her take a seat in front of my desk.

“What’s happened?”

“There are some… rumors…”

My stomach sinks. “Oh?” I swallow down the lump in my throat.

“I was in the break room earlier, and the girls from marketing came in with Ashley. You know I usually ignore them. They all look down at us in finance anyway. They’re all dressed in current Dior and their Louboutins are so high I’m amazed they can walk.” She huffs a laugh, but I can’t even react as I wait.

“What were they saying?”

“Probably exactly what you’re thinking they are saying.”

“That I slept my way into the job?” This is what I thought would happen. I should’ve expected it and I had heard small whispers. But it still hurts.

“Ashley was with them?” I frown, thinking about the woman who gatekeeps Donovan’s office like she’s guarding a king. I knew the moment I met her that she didn’t like me.

“Yeah. She also made mention that he bought a designer cashmere scarf for somebody and they were all gossiping about who that might be for. They all thought it was for that beauty editor he went to Broadway with last month, but…” Her eyes look at the coat hook in my office where the vibrant scarf now hangs.

“It was for me…” I whisper, feeling caught.

“Oh my God, are you having sex with Donovan York!” she almost shrieks.

“Shhhhhh, keep your voice down,” I hiss at her.

“Sorry, just… I really want to be you right now.”

“What?” I balk.

“Everyone is trying to land him. You have some stiff competition but… I can see it.”

“See what?” This conversation is moving too fast for me. My brain is still on the rising sea levels and how they’re threatening the long-term viability of key port infrastructure.