My Boss, My Undoing

Chapter 7: Falling Without Permission

Leticia could still feel his touch the next morning, the softness in his hands, the raw need in his kiss, and the quiet way he had held her like she was both his beginning and his undoing.

Morning brought more than memories.

It brought consequences.

As soon as she stepped into the office, three things happened.

One, her name was being whispered down the hall like wildfire.

Two, HR had called an emergency meeting on the 5th floor.

Then Three, Paul hadn’t shown up.

Not in the elevator, not in his office, not even a message.

Leticia sat at her desk. Back straight, hands slightly trembling. Her inbox was flooded with emails. One of them had no subject, only a single line:

“We need to talk alone in Conference Room 9.”

Paul.

She checked the hallway, no one in sight then she followed the message.

When she opened the door to the empty glass-walled room, Paul was waiting inside. His tie was off, sleeves rolled up, jaw tight.

He didn’t greet her.

He shut the door behind her and began pacing.

“They know,” he said flatly.

Leticia’s heart sank, “Who?”

“Everyone! Someone saw us leaving my office last night. HR received an anonymous complaint.”

Her stomach dropped. “You think they’ll fire me?”

Paul stopped pacing. “They’re asking questions about favoritism and about improper conduct.”

Leticia scoffed bitterly. “So I’m the improper one now?”

“Leticia…..”

“I worked for every ounce of this job. I was careful and professional. You’re the one who kissed me twice.”

He rubbed a hand over his face, frustration simmering beneath his skin. “I know, I know this is on me. I never should have pulled you into this.”

“Don’t you dare act like I’m a victim,” she snapped. “I wanted this just as much as you did.”

He closed the space between them. “I’m trying to protect you. If this gets messy…..”

“It already is.”

His hands found her waist, instinctively pulling her close, but she stepped back.

“I won’t be your hidden thing, Paul. I won’t be the woman you kiss in the dark and deny in the light.”

The silence that followed was unbearable.

“I’m falling for you,” he said finally. “Which terrifies me because every time I get close to someone, it ends with disaster.”

Leticia’s voice broke. “Then maybe you need to decide. Do you want to be right, or do you want to be with me?”

Before he could answer, the door burst open.

It was Diana, the HR Director and two board members.

Leticia froze, her back instantly straightening.

Paul didn’t flinch.

“Mr. Wellington,” Diana said coldly. “We’ve received multiple reports of inappropriate conduct in the workplace. We’ll need a statement from both of you separately.”

Leticia opened her mouth to speak, but Paul stepped forward.

“She did nothing wrong,” he said. “This is on me. She was reassigned. I broke protocol, not her.”

Diana arched a brow. “Are you saying there is a relationship?”

Paul looked at Leticia one long, quiet moment and said, “Yes.”

Leticia’s breath caught.

Diana nodded sharply. “You’ll both be placed under review until the board decides how to proceed.”

Leticia’s world tilted.

Paul’s voice cut through the fog.

“Then place me under review,” he said. “Suspend me, but if you touch her contract, you’ll answer to me directly.”

For a moment, everyone was stunned.

Paul reached out and gently took Leticia’s hand in front of them all.

“She’s not my assistant anymore,” he said quietly. “She’s the woman I love.”

Leticia’s eyes filled with tears.

This time, she didn’t pull away.