Page 115 of When The Night Falls

‘No, but we need to have a chat.’

My body turned rigid while a faint, ‘Okay,’ poured out of my mouth. Was I in trouble?

As soon as he had left the room, I met Ellie’s eyes. ‘Have I done something wrong? Do you know?’ I asked worriedly.

She looked puzzled. ‘Not that I’m aware of. He probably just wants to ask you about your experience so far.’ She put her hand on my shoulder, squeezing it. ‘Try not to worry.’

I huffed. ‘Easier said than done.’ Standing up, I closed my laptop and said, ‘Well, good luck with the report. Hopefully I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘I’m sure you will, Cara. Honestly.’

My heart was drumming to the beat of a dramatic orchestra as I waited for William. Minutes felt like hours as I sat in his office after having packed my things. Staring at my bag, I wondered if I had packed them for the last time. If he intended to dismiss me, I wondered on what grounds. I had done my absolute best since I started here, and I hadn’t messed up a single thing as far as I was aware, so what could possibly be wrong? I knew I had been rude to him this morning, but we had already addressed that, so what was the problem now?

I sprang up from my seat the moment I heard him open the door behind me. My eyes wide, I watched him close it and delve his hands in his pockets.

‘Thanks for waiting,’ he said.

My heart was in my mouth. ‘What did you want to speak to me about?’

‘Well, something’s clearly wrong,’ he said. ‘You avoided me all of last week, and today you’ve hardly said a word – and when you do, you’re grumpy and rude.’

I pressed my lips together. Did he have any self-awareness? My tongue might have been sharper than usual today, but he was definitely rude too, albeit by his actions rather than his words.

‘Rude? I’m rude?’

He frowned. ‘Yes.’

His hypocrisy pushed me to the end of my tether. ‘Well, at least I don’t fuck someone in my office and then proceed to make my colleague work there right afterwards.’

His eyebrows leaped up his forehead. ‘That’s what’s been bothering you?’

‘Well, of course, Will!’

‘Why didn’t you tell me this immediately?’

‘Why didn’t I tell you?’ I waved my arm in the air. ‘Maybe if you used the right head for once, you’d know why.’

His lips snapped into a winding line upon my phrasing. He was clearly trying to hide a smile.

‘Enlighten me, then.’

I gestured to him, vexed. ‘I was worried you’d get the wrong impression. Moreover, you’re my boss. In case you need your memory jogged, I’m brand new at this job, and I’m still trying to find my footing round here. Scolding my superior for his lack of work ethics isn’t exactly a tempting thing to do on my third day.’

He nodded. ‘Please elaborate on why you were worried it could give me the wrong impression.’

Frowning, I looked away and folded my arms. ‘I didn’t want you to think that I’m jealous because you’re seeing someone else.’

‘I’m not.’

My heart did a flip and my eyes flickered back to him. ‘What?’

He shrugged. ‘I’m not seeing anyone.’

I stared at him, my face flushed with surprise. ‘Do you mean you aren’t even sleeping with anyone?’ Disbelief permeated my tone.

He raised a brow. ‘Not that it’s any of your business whether I am, but yes, that’s correct.’

I blinked. ‘Then why was Francesca here?’

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