Page 18 of Novel Problems

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Page 18 of Novel Problems

“Nothing. Did you say she was married?”

“I did say that, but I must have misunderstood Ben. Apparently, she’s single.”

Hannah’s revelation about her marital status had sent a buzz of excitement mixed with confusion, vibrating through my body. While the confusion was well-founded—I could have sworn Ben had said she had a husband—the excitementwas not. She was an employee and so strictly off-limits when it came to dating.

“Okay, great.” Blake smiled, an expression that could only be described as sly on her face.

I rolled my eyes. Blake could be infuriatingly economical with words at times. “Come on, spit it out. Why are you asking all these questions about Hannah?”

Blake grinned. “Jenny and I couldn’t help noticing that you two seemed to be getting along very well. We intercepted a few lingering glances and playful looks.” Blake scrunched her face into a terrible wink, which I couldn't help chuckling at. “If we hadn’t known better, we’d have thought you two were on a date.”

I shook my head. “There’s nothing going on. The only reason it might’ve looked like we were on a date is because we were seated at an intimate table for two, watching a movie rated R for strong sexual content—a fact thatyoufailed to warn me about.” Despite my words, a small buzz of excitement rose in my chest on hearing that Blake and Jenny had sensed some chemistry between us.

Blake gave an apologetic grin. “Sorry about that. We genuinely didn’t know what the set-up was. But to be honest, I’m not very sorry. It looked like you two were having a great time.” She paused, looking at me intently. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look at someone like that before.”

Hannah’s laugh rang out, and I couldn’t help glancing over at her. She was talking animatedly about something, her eyes sparkling. There was no denying that I was attracted to her. Not only was she gorgeous, but she was funny and sweet, and so easy to talk to. And I’d really enjoyed the rapport we’d built this evening.

“I mean, she seems great. But she’s also my employee, soshe’s not an option. And anyway, work’s so hectic at the moment, I don’t have time to date.”

Blake shot me another loaded look, and I regretted speaking. I should have just denied it and moved on, rather than listing off reasons why dating Hannah was a bad idea and signaling to Blake that I’d given the subject some thought.

Dan approached us with a warm smile, and we ordered our drinks.

“I don’t think it’s illegal to date an employee,” Blake said when he’d gone. “When I worked in the hospital, there were plenty of relationships between senior and junior medical staff. As long as you handle it appropriately, which I’m sure you would, isn’t it okay?” Blake raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah, I don’t think it’s illegal. But dating employees is a recipe for disaster. There’s massive power imbalance, which isn’t exactly a great foundation for a healthy relationship. It could also be incredibly awkward if things didn’t work out. Who wants to work with their ex every day? Or what if I make a move, and it isn’t reciprocated? It could expose me—and Novel Gossip—to sexual harassment claims.” After working so hard to make Novel Gossip a success, I didn’t want to do anything that would put it at risk.

Blake frowned. “I don’t know her, but from what you’ve said, she’s sensible, smart, and kind, so that all seems pretty unlikely to me. And while I don’t know her, I do know you, and I know you’d act with integrity if you broke up and wouldn’t use your power imbalance to her disadvantage.”

“But even ifyouknow that, Hannah might not, and that’s what’s important. She might not feel comfortable breaking up with me out of worry of losing her job, even if the worry is unfounded.” I shook my head firmly. “No, that’s a line I don’t feel comfortablecrossing.”

Dan placed our drinks in front of us and we paid.

“I’m not trying to convince you to do anything you’re not comfortable with, it just seems like a shame to discount the possibility completely if you do have a connection with her,” Blake said gently.

I shook my head. “I’ve seen these sort of power imbalances play out in real life with my parents and then with Alexis. So maybe I am particularly sensitive about it, but it’s for a good reason.”

Blake tilted her head and looked at me. “Because your mom was your dad’s secretary?”

I nodded. “Their relationship was so unhappy. I’ve always wondered if she would have left him if she wasn’t reliant on him for a job or at least references.”

Blake furrowed her brow. “But how does Alexis fit in? I know when you started volunteering on her campaign she was effectively your boss, but I thought by the time you broke up with her you were off the campaign and working back in tech?”

I realized that while Blake knew about my relationship with Alexis and about the app, I’d never explained how intertwined they’d been.

“That’s true. But you know the app I sold, the one that let me pay off all Dad’s debts and buy Novel Gossip?”

“Mmmh,” Blake said, clearly confused about what that had to do with my story.

“Well, because I created it to help Alexis with grassroots campaigning, when the tech company approached me with the offer to buy it, they insisted Alexis needed to sign some paperwork giving up any rights to it.”

Blake frowned. “Why?”

“Because I’d developed it while I was a volunteer on her campaign they were worried Alexis might be able to claimsome rights over the app, even though I’d done all the work in my personal time.”

Blake shook her head, her brow still furrowed, and took a sip of her drink.

“It was terrible timing,” I continued. “Not only had I just discovered that Dad, who’d died a few years earlier, had left Mom with a mountain of debt and Mom’s house was at risk of being foreclosed, but I’d also just decided I needed to break-up with Alexis when I got the offer from the tech company.”