I snapped the folder shut and looked up at Elio expressionlessly. "Don't use that tone with me!" I said. "We're at work, Elio. The workplace is all about avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. Not to mention there's nothing special between us—even if there were, we're nothing more than competitors now. So don't act like we're close."
Elio's face turned deathly pale.
These were all arguments he had used against me when I pestered him to go public with our relationship. Now that our positions were reversed, he couldn't stand these cold words. How ridiculous.
Looking at my stony expression, Elio knew that nothing he said could salvage this partnership. His knuckles turned white where he gripped the pen. He sat in silence for a full three minutes before finally signing the agreement i
