“My laptop’s been glitching like crazy. I showed it to IT, but they said it’s fine. I was working on the campaign of one of the older models. I nearly lost all the data. Thankfully, I had everything backed up on my personal laptop.”
I consider her words, wondering if I’m being overly paranoid or?—
“Send the laptop to my office tomorrow. I’ll talk to IT to get you a temporary one in the meantime.”
Iris’s lips twitch. “What’re you going to do with the laptop? Are you moonlighting as some tech wiz?”
I grin. “No. But I’ll have it looked at by an actual tech wiz. Or I’ll sit with the IT technician and make sure he doesn’t just do the old ‘did you turn it off and back on’ dance.”
“Thanks, Natalie.” Iris gives me a beaming smile. “I’ll send it over as soon as I get a replacement.”
As she’s about to leave, she tilts her head, a strange look crossing over her face. “Your shirt is on backwards.”
I freeze before laughing awkwardly. “I-I was in a hurry this morning and must’ve put it on like this.”
Iris presses her lips together, a sly look in her eyes. “And I’m sure that’s not a hickey on your neck but a burn from your straightener. You didn’t have that before lunch.”
It doesn’t take her more than a second to put two and two together and her eyes turn as wide as saucers. “No! You and the Ice-man?!”
“He’s not—Don’t call him that!” I snap, suddenly protective.
“The whole office calls him that. How?” She inspects my neck a little closely and her cheeks turn red. “Well. That’s not the only mark he left.”
“Iris!” I quickly pull up my collar, and she bursts into laughter at my mortified look.
“I could sense there was something going on between you two that day. He just agreed to everything you said. I never imagined, though. So are you two?—?”
“Iris, I really don’t want to talk about this.” My tone makes it clear the subject is closed.
“You must have known him before he came here. You two definitely knew each other.”
“We’re old acquaintances,” I begin, trying to sound casual.
“Acquaintances, my ass.” She’s laughing harder now. “Fine, I won’t ask questions, but be careful not to get caught. If anyone finds out that you and the CEO are more than just employee and boss, there’s going to be a hell of a show to see. He’s not everyone’s fan favorite at the moment.”
As soon as she leaves with that amused warning, I quickly turn to check the hickey on my neck, and my eyes widen. Ethan, that lousy, no-good… I’m going to kill him. I’m going to wring his neck with my two hands. I’m never going to let him touch me again!
Heading into one of the stalls, I fix my shirt with trembling fingers. As I’m doing so, I hear one of the stall doors open. There’s no sound of running water. The occupant quickly hurries out.
My hands pause in the middle of tucking my dress shirt into my skirt when I realize what that means. Iris and I weren’t quietby any means. Someone was eavesdropping. My heart sinks, a chill spreading through my body.
Somebody in the office heard everything.
I throw open the door but whoever it was, is long gone. Blood cold, I stare at the door.
What do I do now?
Iris hasno idea who was in the stall since, according to her, she got there just two minutes before me. And since I can’t go around interrogating all the female employees, I have no choice but to report to Ethan.
He has to know.
Although his reputation won’t take as much of a hit as mine will.
On the way to his office, I wrack my brains. I need to have a strategy for damage control in place. If I was from any other department, it wouldn’t have been a problem. But I am the head of human resources. I’ve been doing that job diligently, but with how many people are being let go and the employees needing to blame someone, I’m going to become an easy target.
Clarice takes one look at my face when I open the door and frowns. “What is it?”
“I need to see him. Now.”
