Page 15 of The Boss

I pull out my cell phone. There’s one last text from her.

“If I don’t see you at work today, I’ll be very cross, Miss Penrose.”

God. Fine. I’ll do it.

I’ll go to work and face the music.

By the time I reach the office, I’ve convinced myself that my fears are all in my head. Nobody knows. How could they know, unless someone told them? The only person who knows what happened between Ms. Marcon and me is Julianna herself.

She wouldn’t tell a soul! Let alone at work!

“There you are!” Cher Lieberthal, one of the other interns, leaps up from our catty-cornered desk and rushes toward me. “How could you not tell us on Friday!”

“Huh?” What is she talking about?

Everyone else in the office comes to a slow stop as well. They’re staring at me. Dozens of eyes, some of them judgmental, some of them curious, all of them wide and jealous.

This doesn’t feel right at all. Someone get me a pail to throw up in!

Cher snaps a piece of paper off her desk. “This went out this morning. You weren’t going to tell us before you came in?”

“What are you talking about? Tell you what?” She can’t mean having sex with one of the bosses.No way.

Nevertheless, I take the memo, headlined and signed by Julianna’s assistant Vern. We get memos from Vern all the time. The fact I see my name in the first line does not sit well with my stomach, which is ready to throw up.

Did she fire me and broadcast it to everyone? What has Julianna done?

“As of this morning, Alessa Penrose has been absorbed as an official employee of Bradford & Marcon. Starting today, she will act as Second Assistant to Ms. Julianna Marcon, alongside Vern Johnson.

Ms. Penrose has also been promoted to the position of Ms. Marcon’s…”

I look up, gasping.

“Ms. Marcon’s partner in all events. This new position is titled Executive Liaison.”

Does that mean I’m her girlfriend or something? The fuck is an executive liaison? What’s even going on?

“You had no idea?” Cher laughs. “No wonder you didn’t share. Did you find out now?”

“Yes!”

“Didn’t even realize that was a position available for filling,” says Courtney, another intern. “Otherwise, I would’ve signed up. Be the professional date for Ms. Marcon wherever she goes?”Her heavy eyelids look me up and down. “She’s boning her,” she mutters to Cher.

“I am not!” I’m such a dirty liar. Sad thing? I don’t even think I’m lying when I say that. How could I? Because of course I’m not boning my boss! Are you kidding?

Except I am. I totally am fucking Julianna Marcon. The woman waltzing into the secondary office where the plebs like we interns hang out.

“Ms. … Ms. Marcon…” I sputter.

Her. The woman. Dressed in a black bespoke power suit with a crimson red blouse and steel accessories. I never noticed the golden locket before. I only do now because I’m too ashamed to look her in the face. That face with its perfectly groomed look, fiery dark eyes, and hair that falls like silk around her shoulders. Has it been touched up? Probably in her office. I’ve seen hairdressers come in and out of there before.

“There you are.” She gestures for me to come to her. I stay right where I am. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Did you not get my messages?”

“I…”

I pass out. Well, not quite. I don’t mean I suddenly plop my face on the carpet, although I would love to go there right now. Instead, I find myself propped up against my desk, my body so overwhelmed by the news, by Julianna’s presence, that I need smelling salts.

“Here.” Vern hands me a glass. Looks like the hair of the dog, except I’m not hungover. “This will help put some spunk back in you.”

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