Page 68 of Secret Marriage To My Bosshole

Kaleigh's gaze is sympathetic as she gestures towards the door. "You know, once you step out there, the sharks will be circling," she says.

"I know. I have a plan." I swallow hard, feeling like I can't breathe. "I just need to get through the next hour or so."

Understanding flickers in Kaleigh's eyes. "Cora, I'll be sorry to see you go. I can leave early and spend the day with you if you don't want to be alone."

Tears well up, and I manage a weak smile. "I'd really appreciate that."

Kaleigh nods, standing up. "You go deal with whatever you need to, and I'll get ready to leave for the day."

"Thank you for not hating me for keeping this from you. I promise the way everything was written is not the way anything happened at all."

Kaleigh gives me a reassuring smile as I grab my bag and head for the door. "I know it isn't. When you're ready, you can tell me as much or as little as you want."

"Thank you, Kaleigh."

Leaving her office, I head straight for Griffin's, feeling the weight of whispers following me with every step.

I step into Griffin's office, closing the door behind me. He sighs and looks up from his computer.

"There you are, Cora. You were gone before I got up this morning," he says, turning away from the screen with a strained smile.

"I needed to go for a run and clear my head. Did you see my note? I left one on the kitchen counter before I took off," I explain.

He nods. "I saw it. How are you doing this morning? You barely said anything yesterday."

I retrieve a piece of paper from my tote bag. "Here's my resignation."

Griffin's eyes widen as he takes the paper, quickly scanning it before pushing it back towards me. "I'm not accepting this."

“Well, you don’t get much of a choice,” I assert, shifting my weight uneasily. “This is what I have to do now that everyone knows.”

“You don’t have to do anything. I spoke to HR, and we’re dealing with the media. We just need something on file so you can still work as my assistant even though we’re married,” Griffin counters.

Shaking my head, I tuck my trembling hands into the pockets of my slacks. “No. If I stay here, everyone is going to be against me. They'll believe our relationship is why I was hired, and it’s definitely hurting your reputation. How are they going to trust you? It’s best that I leave. I don’t want to burden you, Griffin.”

“What about all the debt you have to pay?” he asks.

I shrug. “I can figure it out. I might have to put my dreams on hold for a little longer, but I would rather be happy with you than spend my days getting torn down by everyone around me.”

Griffin stands and rounds his desk, coming closer to me. “Cora, you have a job here. The media will die down eventually, and everything will return to normal. I’ll make sure you’re left alone.”

“Hear me out,” I say, standing taller and meeting his gaze. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what would be best for me and for us.”

“Cora—”

“I can get a job somewhere else,” I continue, hefting the bag higher up on my shoulder. “Whoever wrote these articles really dug into my life.”

“I’m going to find out who did this,” Griffin insists, his tone pleading, but I shake my head.

“Griff, if you can’t see exactly who is behind this, then we have a bigger problem than I thought,” I take another step toward the door. “I’m done working here, effective immediately.”

“And what about us?”

“This isn’t the end of us, Griff,” I say, my voice cracking with emotion, “but we both have a lot of thinking to do.”

Chapter twenty-two

Griffin

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