A laugh bubbled up in my throat, and I covered it by choking on my coffee.
Dalessandra looked amused.
“In that case, Dominic, you’ll be assigned a new assistant until Greta returns,” Candace continued, peering over her glasses at him. “You and Ms. Morales will be expected to maintain a professional demeanor at all times during work hours.” Her gaze lingered on our linked hands. When I made a move to pull away, he merely tightened his grip.
“We’re not interested in creating any workplace drama,” Dominic said smoothly. “We are both serious about this relationship. I’m confident we can continue to do our jobs without allowing our personal lives to interfere.”
“Yeah. That,” I said, nodding effusively.
Dominic’s mouth quirked, and I knew he was going to tease me mercilessly for this student-principal interaction.
“Then I’d suggest that you speak as little as possible about this situation. We certainly don’t want to set a precedent that makes the rest of the staff feel like the rules are up for debate.”
They’d given us everything we could have wanted, but it still felt like a censure.
And I wasn’t cut out to be anyone’s secret girlfriend. I wasn’t going to lie to my friends just to make human resources more comfortable. There had been more than enough secrets kept within these walls. I was already shaking my head when Dominic met my eyes. He sighed.
“Ally and I would both prefer to be up front about this with our coworkers. We’re not interested in keeping secrets.”
Anymore. The word he hadn’t said hung in the air between us, shimmering like a neon sign that I hoped Dalessandra and Candace couldn’t see lest they start questioning us about the particulars of our relationship.
They shared a look.
“While our preference is that our employees keep their private lives private, perhaps a simple statement acknowledging the relationship and the reassignment will head off any unnecessary speculation,” Dalessandra suggested.
Dominic looked my way again, and I nodded vigorously.
“Fine,” he grumbled. “I’ll draft a statement and run it by HR.”
“Good enough for me,” Candace said. “Now, if you two will just sign those contracts stating you won’t let this relationship interfere with your working environment, we can all get back to work.”
I got the feeling Candace was annoyed that my silly love life was dragging her away from employee reprimands and benefits paperwork.
Hastily, I scrawled my signature on the contract, trying not to worry about words like “terminated” or “breach of contract” or “If for any reason you feel you are unable to adhere to the terms of this contract, please alert a human resources representative immediately.”
Dominic signed his contract without any outward reaction.
“Shall we all get back to our day?” Dalessandra asked with a smile.
56
Everyone
Gola: Girl, why am I Dominic Russo’s new acting assistant? Did you spell something out in his breakfast burrito?
Ruth: The entire office is whispering right now! Most popular rumors: Ally punched Dominic in the face. Dominic told his mother that it was him or you, she chose you, and now he’s packing.
Gola: Can confirm that Boss Man is NOT packing. Repeat. Not packing. Also, he knows my name.
Ruth: Video footage from the admin pool shows Malina sharpening her claws in anticipation of a new hunt.
Gola: I’m concerned. There hasn’t been an Ally sighting on this floor since she left Dalessandra’s office.
Ruth: You don’t think she’s dead in a ditch somewhere, do you? Did Malina finally snap?
Gola: ALLY, WHERE ARE YOU? DO YOU NEED ASSISTANCE?
Ruth: I’ll check the stairwells.
Gola: I’ll check my old stomping grounds… AKA the 42nd floor.
Ruth: Ally sighting report! Sources confirm she just took a desk in the graphics department!
Gola: Is she happy? Crying? Does she look like she’s being held against her will?
Ruth: Stand by for confirmation…
Ally: You guys! I lost my phone in my meager box of possessions that I’ve packed and unpacked four times since I started here. Everything is fine. I’ve been reassigned because…*going through a tunnel*
Gola: ?
Ruth: Don’t you do the fade away thing on us! We will hunt you down in Graphics and make you spill everything!
Ally: Hehe. I was just messing with you. Ladies, I’d like you two to be the first to know that Dominic Russo and I are…
Gola: Going to jail?
Ruth: Being fired for embezzlement?
Gola: Donating your paychecks to a worthy cause?
Ruth: Moving to Kentucky to start a bourbon distillery?
Ally: Dating.
Ally: OMG! Ruth, was that you screaming?
Ruth: Oops. You heard that? I got your text in the stairwell. It was more of a squeal.
Gola: Dominic just came out and asked me if I was okay because I choked on my green juice when I read your text. He almost tried to clear my airway. Then he told me I should probably start calling him Dominic.
Ruth: Now we really need to go for drinks tonight.
Gola: Drinks after dance? Count me in.
Dominic: I take it you told your girls?
Ally: I wanted to give Gola and Ruth a head’s up. Why?
Dominic: I nearly had to give Gola the Heimlich maneuver.
Ally: Did you by chance also hear a terrifying shriek in the stairwell? That was Ruth.
Dominic: Dominic and Ally, nearly killing friends with good news since today.
Harry: Been too long. Drinks. Tonight.
Dominic: Not sure. Got a lot going on.
Harry: I have two girls under four who just got into Mommy’s $200 lipstick and used it to draw on our fancy bed linens. I am the one with a lot going on.
Dominic: How fancy?
Harry: Something about organic silkworms and monks.
Dominic: Ouch.
Harry: So drinks. You’re coming.
Dominic: Maybe. What time? And can I bring someone?