Chapter 14 – Rumors & Repercussions
526 Words
Rose stepped into the office Monday morning, clutching her coffee like it was a lifeline and keeping her eyes trained on the floor. The hum of conversation around the open-plan space sounded louder than usual—like a buzzing beehive, full of whispered speculation.
Her stomach flipped.
They know.
Logically, she knew that was ridiculous. No one had seen them. Mr. Baster hadn’t said a word. But still, the way a few heads turned as she passed, the not-so-subtle glances from the two interns by the copy machine—it was enough to make her skin prickle.
She made a beeline for her desk and dropped into her chair, barely sparing Jenny a glance across the cubicle wall.
“Good morning, sunshine,” Jenny said, leaning over the divider like a nosy meerkat. “Did you survive the walk of shame?”
Rose didn’t bother responding. She took a long sip of her coffee instead.
Jenny chuckled. “That good, huh?”
“I swear to God, Jenny, if anyone here finds out you hired me a—” she paused, voice low, “—hooker, I’m going to murder you. Slowly. With a keyboard. The chunky kind.”
Jenny rolled her eyes. “Escort. And please. You’re the only one making this weird. You’re glowing, by the way. I don’t know what he did to you, but—”
“Jenny,” Rose warned.
Jenny threw her hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine. Mum’s the word.”
Just then, the elevator doors opened with a cheerful ding, and Rose’s stomach dropped.
Mr. Baster stepped out in his usual tailored suit, flanked by two junior execs. He looked every bit the composed corporate heir, but when his eyes landed on Rose, something flickered across his face—recognition, maybe. Or regret.
Then… nothing. He nodded once, curtly, and walked past her without a word.
But it was enough.
Rose turned slowly to Jenny. “He saw us.”
Jenny blinked. “Saw what?”
“Me. Adrian. At the benefit. He knows.”
Jenny looked around dramatically, then back at Rose. “So what? He’d have to explain how he knows who Adrian is. You think he’s gonna throw himself under the bus just to drag you with him?”
Rose chewed her bottom lip. The logic was sound. But it didn’t stop the dread churning in her gut.
“He could make things difficult.”
Jenny snorted. “Please. Baster’s not stupid. He’s a perv, but not suicidal.”
Rose was about to reply when her phone buzzed on the desk.
A text.
Adrian:
“You looked incredible the other night. Just wanted to say that. No expectations. Just truth.”
Rose stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the screen. Her heart kicked up into a gallop for no damn reason.
She didn’t reply. Couldn’t. Not yet.
Instead, she slid the phone into her drawer and pulled her keyboard closer.
If there were consequences coming, she’d deal with them.
But right now? She needed control. And a distraction. Preferably one that didn’t look like a male model and text like a poet.
- Writer
