Chapter 54

“So, I think if we have the meeting with the owner on Monday or Tuesday, we can continue to move along and bring in the investors.”

“You’ve worked with Gimble in the past. Do you think they’ll be accommodating so quickly?” I ask, tapping my pen against my stack of papers. This contract is at least 200 pages, and I started getting dizzy after only a few dozen signatures.

Derek nods from his spot across from me in his chair. “They’re good people. I’ve worked with Valentino Pent. Brilliant man and he loves what he does.”

I smirk at my boss. “You sound like you have a crush!”

Those brown eyes watch me as he picks up a piece of scrap paper, balls it up, and throws it at me across the desk. He hits my chest and laughs with such reckless abandonment.

“Hey!” I act innocent. “I am with child, Derek. How could you?”

He snorts at me, covering his mouth quickly. “Oh, so you snort when you laugh?”

“You’ve heard me laugh!” He argues immediately. “I do not snort.”

I look back at the contract while shaking my head. “I know what I heard.”

“Alright, Miss Innocent. Do me a favor and look up the projections for the year. I need to make sure we’re on track.”

I do what he asks, searching our office drive. The drive can only be edited by Derek or one of his bosses at the top, but we can all view anything the company includes in it.

“That’s from last month’s meeting, right?” I check. “I’m not seeing it in the last meeting minutes.”

Derek doesn’t answer me as I squint at my screen. “What did they call the document? Normally, they call the file Monthly Meeting, and the number next to it corresponds with the month. But I don’t see anything here.”

My boss stays quiet; I finally look up to give him a fixed stare. “Earth to Mr. Anderson!”

But he’s not looking at me. In fact, his gaze is past me. I follow his eye line and turn behind me to see the head of HR and Natalie Winter, the model.

What the fuck is she doing in the office?

“Sorry to interrupt you both,” the HR head says sympathetically.

“What can we do for you, Georgia?” Derek’s voice sounds calm and business-like. But all this time with him has me realizing I can tell he’s nervous. There’s an uptick in his usual baritone, plus a tiny quiver in his throat.

“You know how it goes, Mr. Anderson. Any complaints that come to my desk have to be investigated.”

“Oh, no, I understand,” he replies. “I’m just not sure what you’re referring to?”

The HR head nods toward Natalie. “We’ve been notified that there is a possible…” she sighs.

“You’re sleeping with your boss!” Natalie snaps. “You’re in here during office hours. Why? That’s enough to prove it!

I look back to Derek, raising my right eyebrow.

“Now, Miss Winter. It’s dangerous to accuse people like this.” My boss looks like he’s going to claw the model’s eyes out.

“Mr. Anderson and I are working on a project together,” I reply, giving Natalie the once-over. “Here, see for yourself.”

I hand Georgia of HR our 200-page contract that I’ve had with me. “We’re discussing when to have a meeting with Gimble, and when you walked in, I was looking for the projections for the year.”

Georgia flips through the book I just handed her and seems to nod in understanding.

“As you can see, we have nothing to hide,” Derek states plainly from behind me.

“And the idea that I’m sleeping with my boss?” I narrow my eyes at Natalie. “That’s just low and pathetic.”

“Well, you know we have to go through all the questions regardless.”

I can’t help but laugh at this. Derek may be my neighbor and may have gone to the OBGYN with me. But we’re nothing other than boss and subordinate. Besides, that’s for the best with everything I have going on—whether I like it or not.

“What’s so funny, slut?” Natalie spits.

Derek clears his throat immediately. “Miss Winters, we terminated your contract over a month ago. I don’t see how you coming into my office accusing me and my staff of inappropriate things, and insulting one of my best employees will put anyone on your side.”

“I saw you!” She cries out, stomping her foot.

“You mean you saw me save a woman who was drowning because you were jealous? And oh wait, aren’t you the one who was trying to drown her?”

Georgia raises her own eyebrows at this.

“Come join us, Georgia,” Derek says, dropping Natalie from his view. “All of our information about the Gimble deal is here. Plus, take my phone, go through my emails, my letters.”

“We have nothing to hide,” I add.

I’m not surprised by Natalie’s reappearing. I had a feeling she might be back for revenge. Derek must have taken a massive hit to his ego and the company when firing the model. “This isn’t enough?” This exasperates Natalie. “She’s in his office! They’re doing a project together! He kissed her!”

“I gave her mouth-to-mouth when you tried to kill her.”

Georgia raises a hand to Natalie. “Miss Winter, I’m investigating this matter myself. Please allow me to do my job.”

Natalie’s perfect face shrinks with disdain. She flips her long ponytail to the side, huffs, and walks outside.

“Thank you for being forthcoming,” Georgia smiles. “I think she’s blowing smoke, but even if that’s true, I must ensure there’s no fire. Putting that out can be dangerous.”

Derek nods, and so do I. We spend not even ten minutes going through all of our interactions and texts, and Georgia even asks specific questions about the Gimble contract.

A tiny voice may whisper in my head about how hot Derek has looked for the past few weeks—even some gratitude for all he’s done for me and my health lately. But the truth is, there’s nothing to hide besides my baby.

Georgia Dunnet seems to agree that we’re just coworkers, and she apologizes for this.

“You’re doing your job.” Derek looks back at me. “Do you feel safe here, Esme?”

“Yes,” I reply honestly. “Mr. Anderson has always been a kind man. His belief in my abilities shows me how appreciated I am at the office.”

Georgia reaches into her pocket and presents a piece of paper to the both of us. “Even after being assaulted by someone at Max?”

I glance at the page, clearly a forwarded email. “Mr. Anderson caught the man as he was gaining on me. Max suing for defamation is…” I search for the right words to use. “Insulting.”

“I read all the paperwork, including your statements. I don’t want to take up more of your time. But I just have to ask one more time: is there anything else you might be hiding?”

I look at Derek, wondering if we haven’t mentioned anything to the fifty-something.

“Actually,” I realize. “I’ve watched his daughters in the past. They even invited me to their daycare talent show a few weeks ago.”

Georgia and Derek both watch me while I continue. “They call me Miss Esme, and they love my cat, Sammy. I have nothing to hide from you, HR, or anyone. But the girls are so sweet. I think they like having someone feminine to go to.”

“I promise you, Georgia. Esme has proven herself a strong employee. I don’t want people believing there is any ulterior motive.”

She moves a piece of her salt and pepper hair out of the way of her face. “Well, thank you for being honest with me. I can understand how a good working relationship may be misconstrued to others. But if there is something ever going on—”

“HR would be the first place I’d go.” Derek smiles at her.

“Good. Now be a dear and call security for me?”

My eyes widen. What does she want security for? I thought she believed us.

“Natalie?” Georgia calls out, the model making her way in quickly.

“Did you see? They’re together, they’re fucking!”

Georgia stands slowly, shaking her head and sighing. “I’ll continue to look into this. But for the time being, you’ve come into our company and made a mockery of our employees.”

Natalie blanches, her entire face clearly wanting to explode from shock. “I told you the truth!”

That’s when two security guards appear behind her.

“Gentlemen, please escort Miss Natalie Winter out of the building.”

“What?!”

The men say nothing, grabbing her arms like a movie and literally picking her up to take her out the door.

“You’re all idiots!” Natalie barks, but the men are out of sight as quickly as they came.

Georgia excuses herself with a smile. “I will be investigating this further. Please don’t make me a liar.”

We both just nod as she leaves the office.

Finally, we’re alone again, and I let out a long breath I didn’t even know I’ve been holding. Funny enough, Derek does the same.

We make eye contact, and something in our gaze is unspoken—the genuine concern that our friendly nature between neighbors might not be able to continue.

Shit.

Maybe we do have something to hide.