Celeste’s POV
The office air felt thicker today.
Whispers floated around like perfume, faint, but impossible to ignore.
“She’s the new secretary?”
“Yeah. Look at her… She’s pretty, no wonder they picked her.”
“Pretty doesn’t pay bills. Wait till the boss starts yelling, she’ll run out crying.”
“I heard she’s already been to his office twice this morning.”
“No way.”
“Mm-hm. Some people don’t waste time climbing.”
I didn’t have to turn my head to know they were talking about me.
The fake giggles, the sideways glances, they said enough.
Another voice — lower, biting. “Lucian Backwood doesn’t even look at women. She’s wasting her time if she thinks she’ll distract him.”
“Well, look at that blouse. Cheap. She won’t last.”
Then laughter.
I focused on my computer screen, pretending
