Page 84 of Dating the Boss
“I thought he was already here,” I said, confused.
“I haven’t seen him.” She chewed her bottom lip. “I want you to know I’m not going to say anything. What you two do outside of work is your own business. Sorry I got weird when I saw you guys last night. It just… shocked me. And then I told you I was poly, and people usually judge me for it, and that made me even more awkward. I’m rambling, aren’t I?”
No wonder she and Reed were friends. Both had a rambling problem.
“Well, I don’t judge you for it,” I said. “If you’re happy, that’s all that matters.” If only it was that simple with my relationship. Which reminded me of what I was about to do. “Not to be rude, but I need to go.”
“Of course. Don’t let me keep you.”
I walked toward my office. I had wanted to stop by and see Reed before I went to talk to the HR officer, but he wasn’t at his desk. Knowing him, he’d more than likely started talking to someone on his way to make coffee and got sidetracked. After hanging up my coat, I headed toward the stairwell and took the stairs up to the fourth floor.
You can do this, I told myself as I walked to the HR office.
But as I reached it, the door opened… and Reed stepped out.
“Reed?” I asked, my heart hammering like crazy. “What are you doing up here?”
“He was speaking with me,” Jeremy Blake said, opening the door wider. He pushed his glasses up his nose and offered a thin smile. “Since you’re here, you might as well come in too. You’re free to go, Mr. Nolan.”
Jeremy went back inside the room, giving us a brief moment to speak privately.
“I’m sorry,” Reed said to me, his eyes watery. “I couldn’t let you take the fall for everything.”
“What did you do?” I growled under my breath as we stood outside the office.
“Definitely something that’s gonna make you mad.”
“Mr. Sawyer?” Jeremy said, standing beside his desk, hands in his pockets. “The sooner we take care of this, the better.”
“I’ll talk to you later,” Reed said, giving me a half-hearted smile before walking away.
I stared after him in shock before walking inside the office and shutting the door behind me. My hands were shaking. I was both pissed and worried.
“Have a seat, Mr. Sawyer.” Jeremy motioned to the chair in front of his desk.
“What did Reed tell you?”
“That you two are dating,” he answered, taking a seat. I did the same, though my nerves were too wired for me to sit still, so I bounced my knee. “He was… more detailed than necessary, and he rambled a lot.”
Sounds like him.But I couldn’t find the strength to smile at the thought. I was too anxious.
“I’m not sure if you’re aware,” Jeremy continued, “but there’s nothing in the company regulations that mentions workplace romances.”
“I thought it was against policy.”
“No. Is it inappropriate?” Jeremy shrugged. “Probably. However, the absence of a rule leaves it open for me to make a judgment call. It’s at my discretion.”
“What’s your decision on the matter?” I asked, keeping a steady tone, even though I was anything but calm.
What in god’s name had Reed done? If he’d quit his job, I was going to rage.
“I haven’t decided yet.” Jeremy rested his elbow on the arm of the chair and lifted a hand to his chin, finger curling at his lip. “I wanted to speak with you first. Have anything you’d like to add to the discussion?”
“I don’t know what Reed told you, but none of this is his fault. If one of us is going to lose our job, I’ll quit here and now.”
“That won’t be necessary, Mr. Sawyer.” Jeremy tapped his chin before leaning forward on his desk. “Mr. Nolan was adamant in saying the relationship is consensual and that he first initiated it. In fact, hesaidhe’dquit if it came to that. It’s quite amusing actually. You’re both so selfless when it comes to each other.”
“I love him,” I said. It was as simple—and as complicated—as that.
