Chapter 17 – The Warning
530 Words
Doris arrived early the next morning, hoping to slip into the office before anyone else. But as soon as she stepped off the elevator, she knew something was off.
Ms. Caldwell — head of HR — stood by her desk, arms crossed, lips pursed.
“Good morning,” Doris greeted cautiously.
Ms. Caldwell didn’t smile. “Morning. We need to talk.”
Doris nodded, trying to keep her posture calm. “Of course. About what?”
“In my office.”
That was never a good sign.
A few minutes later, Doris sat across from the polished desk, her hands resting firmly in her lap while Ms. Caldwell flipped through a folder.
“I’ve received… comments,” Caldwell began, choosing her words carefully. “About your relationship with Mr. Davies.”
Doris blinked. “There is no relationship. We work together.”
A slow nod. “That’s what I assumed. But given the recent after-hours meetings, the changes in his tone toward you, and… other observations, I’m obligated to make sure no inappropriate behavior is occurring.”
The words stung more than she expected.
Inappropriate. Like what they had was something to be ashamed of.
“I’ve done nothing wrong,” Doris said firmly.
“I believe you,” Caldwell replied, her voice cooler now. “But others won’t be so kind. And for your sake, I’d advise caution. People talk, Ms. Ories. And gossip spreads faster than facts.”
Doris stood. “Is that all?”
“For now.”
She walked out with her head held high, but the heat in her chest wouldn’t fade. She wasn’t naïve — she knew office politics could get ugly — but hearing it out loud made everything feel heavier.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
Emma:
My office. Now.
Her stomach twisted. Had he heard?
When she stepped inside his office, he was already pacing.
“They talked to you,” he said flatly.
“HR? Yeah.”
“I should’ve stopped this before it started.”
Doris flinched. “So you regret it now?”
He looked at her sharply. “No. But I regret putting you in the line of fire.”
“I can handle it,” she said, even though her voice wavered. “What I can’t handle is pretending this means nothing.”
Emma stepped toward her slowly, hands clenched at his sides.
“It does mean something,” he said. “Too much, maybe.”
Doris met his gaze. “Then don’t make me feel like a mistake.”
The silence that followed was heavy with meaning. Emma didn’t speak, but his expression — tense, raw, conflicted — told her he was at war with himself.
And then, just when she thought he might shut down again, he said quietly, “Come to dinner with me.”
She blinked. “Dinner?”
“Somewhere no one knows us. No boardroom. No office. Just you and me. I need to remember what this feels like… when the world isn’t watching.”
Doris hesitated only for a second.
“Okay,” she whispered.
Because no matter how messy it got — she wasn’t ready to walk away.
- Writer
