Page 51 of Forbidden Desire

He nods and takes my badge, trying it himself. I’m starting to tire of the blaring beeps sounding in my ears. Dominic looks puzzled as he tries again.

“Wait here, Ms. Gunner,” he says, taking my badge with him to the security counter. I see him make a call and as he’s talking to the other person on the line, he looks at me with something that looks like sympathy. I feel the pit in my stomach start to grow, like it might swallow me from the inside out.

“Someone will be right down, Ms. Gunner,” says Dominic, walking back toward me and gesturing for me to take a seat in the lobby.

I do as he says, tapping my foot impatiently as I wait for what comes next. A few moments later, the elevator doors open and a woman I recognize from HR walks out. She spots me sitting by the window and walks over, a wary smile on her face.

“Ms. Gunner,” she says, taking the seat next to me. “I’m Holly from HR. I’m sure you’re feeling very confused right now…”

I don’t want her to drag this out. I know I’m fired. I just want her to get it over with.

“Just tell me…” I say in an almost whisper.

“Excuse me?” she asks.

“I’m fired, right? That’s why my security badge has been revoked.”

“Oh, no. No. You’re not fired, Ms. Gunner.”

I look up at her and feel the tears burning at the backs of my eyes, but refuse to let them fall.

“I’m n-not?” I stammer

“No. Mr. Vallejos feels as though he’s completed a successful acquisition and no longer needs your services, so he’s moved to a different department,” she says. She picks up the clipboard she’s holding and scans over it.

“It looks like you have been assigned to the editorial department.”

“Really?” I ask, taken aback.

That was the job I had wanted a year ago when I was at that fateful party on the rooftop. The night I thought I was going to get a promotion, but ended up finding Marco instead. I know I should feel happy about this reassignment, but I can’t.

“Yes, really,” says Holly, putting on a cheerful smile. “I’ll let security know to re-program your badge and get you all set up in the new department. I believe Mr. Vallejos has already had your things moved from your office to your new space.”

“Oh, right. Okay,” I say softly.

“Exciting things!” she says, balling her hands into fists and doing a little cheering motion before going to talk to Dominic at security.

I should be excited, but I’m not. I can see this for what it is. It’s a demotion because of what I did to Marco. Holly doesn’t know that. No one does. But I know the real reason why he’s moving me to a different department. He can’t stand to be around me. Can I blame him?

Upstairs in my new cubicle, I settle in at my desk. I look around at the familiar gray walls I used to be encased in before being spoiled with my own office. I didn’t even get a chance to move my own things out. Marco had someone do it for me. It feels invasive and abrupt, and it’s causing a lump to form in my throat.

“I hope you’re settling in okay,” says Holly, peeping over the cubicle wall with that same cheerful smile that makes me want to slap it off. But this isn’t her fault.

“Mhmm,” I say with a small nod.

“Great. I have your new contract here,” she says, walking around the corner and handing it to me. It seems like when Marco is angry and puts his mind to something, he can get anything done, like drawing up an entirely new contract in less than twenty-four hours, on a Sunday no less.

“Thank you,” I mutter.

“I’ll leave you to it,” she says, rapping her knuckles on my desk.

I look down at the black and white print, the words blurring together as I try to focus on this whirlwind of a morning. I guess the only good thing that’s come out of this is that I didn’t have to face Marco, although it hurts he doesn’t even want to see me. I wonder why he didn’t fire me. I wonder if some small part of him cares enough to not leave me stranded as I raise our daughter.

Chapter 26

Marco

Idon’t go into work on Monday because I don’t think I can stomach seeing Erica. Instead, I book an impromptu trip to the Hamptons to get away and enjoy the last bits of summer by the beach. I deserve a vacation every now and then anyway. I can’t remember the last time I got away. Plus, the Hamptons isn’t too far if something hits the fan at work. I can be back in just over two hours.

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