Page 123 of Tasty Cherry

Her forehead crumples, as if she didn’t expect that answer. God, did Sebastian tell her something else? He said to tell the truth.

“Did he later convince you to start seeing him?”

“No, it just happened.”

“He didn’t pressure you in any way?”

With his kisses? His attention? Why had I changed my mind?

“No. I liked him.”

“Because he had such a high position here?”

Was that an accusation? “No! That was the problem, actually. Why we decided not to date.”

“But you did.”

“It just happened.” My body shakes again, and I feel tears forming.

Jessie gives me a small smile, like I’m a kid who needs a warm hug. “You’re all right, Mila. I’m making sure that you never felt like you had to date him or else face consequences at work.”

“I didn’t. Raya is my boss. Sebastian was clear that he wasn’t in charge of the interns.”

“Good.”

So, I got one answer right.

“Did you ever feel he was giving you extra attention over the other interns?”

That’s a hard one. I always felt it. “He didn’t move me anywhere or have me do anything special.”

She nods. “Did you take steps to keep your relationship with Sebastian secret?”

“We didn’t tell anyone.” Only after I say it do I realize it’s a lie. I did tell Brooklyn. But I don’t fix it. I don’t want to get her in trouble.

“Why did you think it should be a secret?”

“There’s a clause in the policy we signed.”

“Did Sebastian tell you about the clause?”

I fidget in my chair. “I read it when I signed it.”

She nods. “Good. But you did it anyway.”

“Not at first,” I say again. “But then it just happened.” I’m repeating myself.

She asks about any special privileges I got. I say none, even though seeing the secret suite probably counts, and having additional access on my ID card.

She looks out the window of her office. “Mila, you live on site, so it’s natural you would do…the things you do in a relationship on the premises. But I need to ask you not to do them while you are on the clock, or anyplace inappropriate.”

God, this is mortifying. “I understand.”

She fiddles with some papers on her desk. “You can return to your duties. Sebastian isn’t on site today, but you can resume your conversations with him while Raya and I decide what to do.”

Not Havannah? Sebastian was counting on her stepping in. But I simply say, “Thank you,” and escape the room as quickly as possible.

I race down the employee hall and duck into the empty staff room. I text Sebastian.

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