In Gwh''s memory, Yvette had never struck her as the approachable type.


    "It''s fine," Gwh replied curtly, not bothering with any extra pleasantries. She answered Yvette''s questions with the bare minimum, making it clear she had no interest in a drawn-out conversation.


    "I know girls these days are eager for sess and recognition. Ambition is good- having goals and dreams is good. But you should still be mindful of your reputation at work," Yvette said, voiceced with implication.


    Gwh caught her drift instantly. This little errand to pick up some documents was just a pretense; what Yvette really wanted was to lecture her.


    But what did her business have to do with Yvette anyway? For apany VP, she sure liked to meddle.


    Still, Gwh didn''t see the point in exining herself to someone she couldn''t be bothered with.


    Yvette, however, took Gwh''s silence as tacit agreement.


    "Your husband dropped you off at work today. The other colleagues saw you. But was that really your husband?"


    Gwh froze. Husband? Today? Did Hawthorne drop her off and get spotted? No, that wasn''t right. Hans had given her a ride, but then his car had a t, so she''d hitched a ride from a stranger.


    Which meant-


    The "husband" Yvette mentioned was actually the man who''d kindly given her a lift this morning.


    Gwh grew even quieter. Yvette wasn''t just smug-she was outright clueless. "No, that''s not—” She realized she needed to rify.


    "I knew it," Yvette interrupted, leaning in conspiratorially. "Come on, you can tell me—are you the fourth or the sixth? Men that age always have a string of women on the side. You''re young and pretty, don''t let those office rumors about Mr. Everhart get to your head."


    Gwh could hardly believe how far off the mark Yvette was wandering. "What rumors?" she asked, genuinely puzzled.


    She and Hawthorne had only juste back to Starfall City, and since she''d started at thepany, she''d been buried in work with the gaming department. Even when she passed by the break room, the chatter would die the moment she walked in. She honestly hadn''t heard a thing.


    ?


    "That Mr. Everhart got married," Yvette replied, eyes glinting. "Everyone''s talking about it-word is, he''s tied the knot."


    Gwh''s heart skipped. Was Yvette trying to suss out if she was Hawthorne''s wife, tossing out these hints to see how she''d react?


    But that didn''t make sense. If she and Hawthorne were married, it wouldn''t be a secret for long. News like that would spread fast. Why bother fishing for information unless Yvette had her own motives?


    "Oh," Gwh managed, keeping her guard up.


    "I know you must be upset, heartbroken even-" Yvette''s expression, however, was anything but sympathetic; if anything, there was a flicker of schadenfreude in her smile.


    What? Gwh was getting more and more confused.


    "If you really want a boyfriend," Yvette went on, "I actually have a few contacts. You''re pretty and


    smart, and I''ve met all types-taimet


    short, athletic, rich, you name it. If you''re interested, I can introduce you to someone decent. There''s no need to stoop so low."


    Gwh almostughed. So that was it-Yvette thought she was having an affair


    with the middle-aged man who''d given her a ride this morning.


    "Ourpany works closely with


    the Everhart family. They''re a big


    deal in Greenvale. If you get it


    up with someone unsavory, it


    reflects badly on all of us. The fumor about Mr. Everhart being married is nonsense-but it''s true that he''ll soon have a beautiful, intelligent, and capable fiancée. And trust me,


    that woman isn''t you."


    Gwh listened to the lecture without protest, but couldn''t resist one final question.


    "Miss Yvette, I''m just a small-time employee here. Hardly anyone even knows my name. How could my private life have such a big impact on thepany''s reputation? Since when does who I date matter so much?"