Alexander’s face remained expressionless, but I could see humor in his


    eyes.


    A blush spread across my cheeks. Here was the proof that Mike knew I had sex with Alexander. Why else would he have made me a soup that replenished electrolytes? This was Mike’s way of saying that he knew.


    Then, someone knocked on the door.


    My breath caught at the thought of someone hearing what Alexander just said. Was it enough to realize that Alexander and I were sleeping together? Or was I just being paranoid?


    At that moment, this all became too much, and my head started to spin. My eyes fluttered closed, and I gripped onto the arms of the chair.


    “Olivia? Are you alright?” Alexander said with concern in his tone. He kneeled down and began to rub back.


    Then, Gai walked in, but she froze when she saw that Alexander was rubbing my back and my face was sickly pale, “Um…” she said, trying to assess the situation.


    “We need privacy,” Alexander said in a clipped voice, then turned back to me, and continued to rub my back.


    “Right…um, sorry,” Gai said, then rushed out of the office, closing the door behind her.


    Great. If Gai didn’t already know that there was something going on between Alexander and I, now she definitely did. That thought made me lean forward in the chair and put my head in my hands. A dark


    000%


    15.55


    1 288 Vouchers


    feeling of hopelessness enveloped me like a heavy nket, and all I wanted to do was give up. I wanted to go back to my apartment, crawl into bed, and never leave it again. I felt raw and exposed like an open wound.


    It seemed like everyone in my life knew about my personal business. After my public divorce, all I wanted was a quiet, private life.


    But I knew that this was my fault. I had slept with Alexanderst night even though I knew the risks. I couldn’t feel too bad for myself when my actions had consequences.


    After my pep talk, my heart slowed a little, and I sat up.


    “Are you alright?” Alexander asked. The worry in his eyes made the knot in my chest loosen slightly.


    “Yes,” I said and stood. When I shuffled away from him, his eyes narrowed. “But we can’t…be together at work. We need to be professional. I don’t want anyone to discover what happened between usst night. The secretaries love to gossip, and I don’t want anyone to think I’m getting special treatment.”


    His expression closed off, but there was a new tightness in his mouth. He didn’t speak for a few moments, then he smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Ipletely agree.”


    We gazed at each other, the air filled with the unspoken words I was too afraid to say.


    I cleared my throat and grabbed the thermos. Even though I didn’t like what that soup represented, I wasn’t someone to turn down free food. “Good, I’m d we’re on the same page,” I said.


    “Me too.”


    35.70%


    15.55


    288 (Vouchers


    But as I left his office, I realized I’d never felt more out of step with a person before.


    *Olivia*


    Right before lunchtime, I was in the bathroom washing my hands. Coincidentally, I looked over at the machine that distributed tampons and pads. I started to count the days till my next period so I could mentally prepare myself for the cramps. As I did the mental math, my stomach dropped.


    I froze facing the mirror, and stared at my relfelection–taking in my wide eyes and pale face.


    My period was in a week and a half.


    That meant thatst night I was ovting. When Alexander and I had sexst night, I was at the point in my cycle where I was most fertile.


    Even though we had used a condom, they had been known to break. My hands shook as I thought about bing pregnant with my boss’s child.


    I couldn’t risk it. A n began to form in my mind as I pushed open the bathroom door and rushed to my desk.


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