Page 21 of Forbidden Desire

“We’rewhat?” she asks, her eyes wide.

“Most of my businesses are housed there, and this one will be too. It’s easier for me to oversee things.”

She shakes her head as if she can’t believe what I’m saying. I try to have empathy for her, knowing everything she’s known is being ripped out from her. Her boss. Coworkers. This office. But it’s business. She can’t expect things to stay the same.

“Look, I know this isn’t easy for you, but I’m hoping we can get on the same page. It’s the best thing for this paper. You’ll see that,” I say.

She gives me a doubtful look, but I continue rattling off all the things we need to do this week. She writes everything on a padof paper, not missing a beat. I watch the way she concentrates, her brows pulled together and her lips pursed in concentration. I could watch her write lists all day. By the time I’m finished listing everything off, she looks at me wearily. I know the list is daunting.

“What about my column?” she asks.

“Take the time you need. I’ll have Jessica fill in when you can’t,” I assure her. I know how much her writing means to her.

“Thank you,” she says. I realize it’s the first nice thing she’s said to me in a long time.

Right then and there, I’m determined to soften her toward me. I wonder if that’s become a bigger goal than a successful acquisition of the paper.

Chapter 13

Erica

As I walk out of Marco’s office, I feel eyes on me. What’s left of the employees of our office shoot me curious looks as I head to my cubicle to start on the hefty to-do list that I have just been given. It feels like I’m just starting out again, helping George get things up and running, except it’s Marco and it comes with a much more generous pay.

I successfully get to my cubicle without anyone asking any questions, though they know I haven’t been laid off. I’m not sure how they’ll react to my promotion, given half the employees got the boot last week. It makes me sad as I look around the emptied office, knowing it will no longer be where I clock in each day. Everything is changing, and it’s all because of Marco, someone I stupidly thought I knew.

I wonder if I made the right choice in signing the contract this morning. I had spent all weekend going over it, debating whether it was the right move. If I did sign it, I’d be giving into The Shark as he gets everything he wants, which he seems to always do. It felt like I was betraying George, betraying myself, and everything I loved. But then I looked at my empty inbox, knowing I had no job offers or interviews lined up. I was out of options, and this morning, as Josie climbed onto my lap and looked at me with her big brown eyes, I knew the answer was clear. I had to sign.

There is a knock on my cubicle wall and Jose, one of the editors, pops his head in.

“Hey, Erica,” he says, giving me a weak smile.

“Hey, Jose,” I say, tucking the to-do list under some papers on my desk.

“Feels funny in here, doesn’t it?” he asks, looking around.

“It practically echoes in here with the lack of people,” I mutter.

“I see you’ve stayed though.”

“You too.” I manage a smile.

“Do you get to keep your column?” he asks.

I know he’s prying to see what this morning’s meeting with Marco was about. I feel unease creep up, not sure I’m ready for this conversation and having to explain a promotion in the thick of the hell we’ve found ourselves in.

“Mhmm,” I say, looking at the papers on my desk to look busy.

“Word is you’re his assistant or something now…” he says, raising a brow.

So the office already knows, and he’s just confirming it.

“I’m not his assistant. He just asked me to help him with the acquisition. It’s really no big deal.” I shrug.

Jose gives me a look, one that’s mixed with betrayal and confusion. I try to ignore it because it’s the same feelings I already have swarming around inside me.

“I should get back to it,” I say.

He nods and raps his knuckles on the wall of my cubicle before disappearing. I know he’s about to go share the news with the rest of the office. Jose is known as the office gossip. It’s no wonder everyone sent him in to find out what’s going on. They would have found out soon anyway. I try not to feel guilty about it. I tell myself I got the job because I’ve earned it. I got the promotion I hoped for a year ago, and I plan to prove to everyone that I deserve it.

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