Page 99 of Written By a Woman

The head of Human Resource’s face shifted to surprise, before relaxing into a studious expression. I swear for the first time since I’ve known her, I saw Jacqueline’s eyes soften the tiniest bit at my words.

“I didn’t say anything,” I continued, “because if Signe finished the book, solidifying her book deal, she could quit her job here. Then, I would no longer be her superior.”

Jacqueline blinked at me, and I held her gaze. I chewed on the inside of my cheek before I decided to come out with it, “I’m in love with her, Jacqueline.”

Her eyes widened, her mouth parting in bewilderment before she cleared her throat and tried to compose herself, “You’re…involved with Signe?”

“Yes,” I admitted, rubbing my jaw with my hand, “That, however, is a very new development.”

Jacqueline’s eyes narrowed at me the slightest bit, “So, when you approached me about romantic relationships in the workplace—”

“I was not involved with her then,” I cut her off, “I wasn’t planning on ever being involved with her while she was still an employee. I understand the ethics of the situation.”

“And yet…”

“And yet…” I sighed, my shoulders slumping, heaviness pulling on my body as I struggled to explain things to HR while also stressing about the fact thatSigne still hadn’t texted me back, “I found out that my feelings weren’t so one-sided.”

The sound of Jacqueline’s shoes against the carpeted floor made me lift my head to watch her move my glasses to the side table and take the other chair in front of my desk, “Signe loves you, too?”

“Well,” I felt myself blushing, an insane reaction given the situation, “I have no idea if she feels that strongly for me. I was originally waiting for her to quit just to formally ask her to dinner. I wasn’t planning on kissing her at a hotel,” Jacqueline’s eyebrows rose, “I wasn’t intending to start anything while we were both still employed. But we did start something. And I’m scared as hell about what she wants to do.”

“Well,” Jacqueline said, “If she quits, you two can date.”

“This isn’t how I wanted that to happen,” I groaned, resting my forehead in my hands, “I wanted her to quit because she was following her dreams. Not because it’s unethical for her and me to be romantically involved, or because she felt like she had no other choice.”

We sat in silence for a few moments in my office.

The sound of my heartbeat and breathing was the only thing echoing off of the walls, and it took a while for me to finally lift my head from my hands and face the head of HR.

“Look,” Jacqueline spoke up first, cutting me off before I could get a word out, “This is a messy situation.” I nodded, “So I advise that you and Signe talk—outside of this office.”

I blinked at her, before nodding again, “All right.”

“Once you and Signe reach an understanding,” Jacqueline inhaled a deep breath, before closing her eyes and exhaling it through her nose, “If Signe is interested, her job is still available to her. I haven’t processed any of the paperwork for her resignation yet—but you twohaveto come in and disclose your relationship to me.”

I stared at Jacqueline, my lips twitching a little bit at her words, “You’re not going to lecture us about the dos and don’ts of workplace relationships?”

Jacqueline rolled her eyes before standing and heading for my office door, “It’s useless. There’s a reason it’s a word of caution and not a hard rule. I can’t control two consenting adults.” Jacqueline paused at the doorway, one of her hands resting on the doorframe as she turned to look at me, “And Signe…she’s a good person. You both are…you deserve the best.”

With that, Jacqueline left, making a smile start to tug on my lips as I realized how much of areliefit was to have HR’s blessing going forward.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket once more to check the time. It was just after seven o’clock, and Signe still hadn’t responded to my text from this morning.

Which simply wouldn’t do.

ChapterTwenty-Three

SIGNE

That nightthere was a knock on my door, and I barely had the energy to move my eyeballs in that direction.

I ignored the knock.

I hadn’t ordered anything, my mother was out of state at some artist’s retreat, and I was ignoring the incoming messages and notifications on my phone for the time being.

Wallowing alone in self-pity was needed at the moment.

The knock sounded again, followed by a familiar voice I hadn’t heard in a long time, “Signe, I’m going to pee on your doorstep if you don’t answer!”

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