108. Hannah

ONE HUNDRED EIGHT

My mind is focused on what I'm going to order for lunch when my email alert sounds.

Checking it, I see a message from my manager asking me to come to her office.

With a sigh, I push back from my desk and stand.

Usually when she asks to talk to me, it's because she's about to hand me a big project with a short deadline. Love that for me on a Friday.

Grabbing a notebook and pen, I roll my neck out as I make my way down the hall.

I didn't hate my bed before, and when Maddox is crammed onto the mattress with me, I love it, but since then, I've discovered I don't sleep as well without him.

Brenda from HR is walking toward me, so I raise my hand in a wave. She does the same thing, but her smile is a little off.

"Morning." I slow as I reach my manager's office.

Brenda slows too. "Morning."

We stand together for an awkward second before she gestures to the open doorway. "Go ahead."

A prickly feeling creeps across my senses.

"Alright," I say slowly, then enter my manager's office.

"Hi, Hannah. Thanks for coming." Her tone is almost robotic.

I stop in front of her desk. "What's going on?"

The sound of Brenda from HR shutting the door is deafening in the room.

My manager clears her throat. "Please, have a seat."

I lower myself into the chair. Brenda does the same in the chair next to me.

I don't ask any more questions. There's no need.

I can tell what this is.

I'm getting fired.

For a brief moment, half a heartbeat, I wonder if Maddox knows.

But that half heartbeat is all I need to know he doesn't. He wouldn't let me walk into this alone. He wouldn't let them do it, period.

They're doing this while he's gone for a reason.

Because they're afraid of him.

I press my lips together to stop an inappropriate smile.

God, he's gonna lose it over this.

"Hannah," my manager starts. "I'm sorry to have to say this, but we're letting you go."

I don't respond right away.

Four years.

I've given these people four years of my life. Four years of going above and beyond just to prove myself. Four years of putting up with people like Brandon.

I've worked for this woman for four years, and they're going to fire me on the spot because— I'm sure— they found out about my relationship with Maddox.

I don't report to Maddox.

He has nothing to do with my work.

I haven't gotten a raise since he's become the owner.

I was already working here, in the position I earned, before he bought our company.

We're not inappropriate— unless it's behind locked doors.

So, no, I don't respond right away. I don't do anything to ease her discomfort.

She should be uncomfortable.

I let another beat pass. "What for?"

My manager can't hold my gaze. "Breach of ethics."

"Breach of ethics," I repeat back.

Brenda turns in her seat to face me. "We have a strict no-fraternization policy you signed when the merger became official. It was a part of the onboarding paperwork."

I want to ask what counts as fraternization, what counts as sexual harassment, and at what point would someone like Brandon get in trouble for his constant suggestions that we spend time together outside of work.

But I don't say that. Because there's no point. The raving thoughts of a woman being fired will never be listened to. So I sit very still.

I stare at Brenda; she drops her eyes from mine.

"Are you going to elaborate?" I ask when they don't say more.

I won't deny it. I'd never deny my feelings for Maddox. But if they're going to fire me over this, they damn well need to say so.

"A, uh, source came to us this week." My manager twists her hands together.

"A source." I let my grievance fill my tone.

Brenda taps the screen of the tablet she's holding. "Do you deny that this is you?"

She holds it out, and I take it, immediately recognizing the restaurant from Tuesday night.

The quality isn't great. Clearly taken from someone across the dining room, zooming in on our location. But it's good enough.

The first photo is us sitting at the table. It's our backs. Maddox has his arm around my shoulders, holding me against him and kissing the top of my head.

It was taken right after I gave him the cookies.

The second photo is basically the same, but this time, my face is tipped up, and he's kissing my lips.

Man, we look good together.

I swipe to the next photo.

It's of us walking out the front door of the restaurant. Hand in hand. With the other three guys ahead of us.

The next photo is of us walking to our car.

Someone was following us. They saw us at dinner, from the bar, if my guess is correct, and they took our photo. And then they took more. They followed us out of the restaurant and to the little parking lot around the corner where Maddox left his car.

I swipe to the next photo.

I'm confident Maddox will handle the photographer. So I'll just enjoy the photos.

It's us, his hand on my cheek, mine on his, looking into each other's eyes.

I can't stop my smile.

It's no wonder we didn't notice the person following us.

We look… in love.

We look so in love it makes my heart ache.

I miss Maddox.

I want him home.

"Is this you?" Brenda asks again.

I lift my gaze from the tablet to level a gaze at her. "Obviously it is."

My manager shifts in her seat. "You can see why, then."

I turn my stare to her. "Does it bother you at all that your source was clearly following us to get these photographs?"

She squirms. "That's not…" She glances at Brenda.

I hold up my hand. "No, of course not. Why worry about the ethics of the creep who took these when you can condemn me instead."

"Hannah—" Brenda starts in a chastising tone.

I snap my eyes to hers. "Don't bother with your justifications." I hold the tablet out. "Can you send me those?"

Brenda looks shocked. "The photos?"

I nod.

"No."

"Why not?" I ask, truly curious. "Seems like if it's the evidence I'm getting fired over, I should have a copy."

Brenda presses the button to turn off the screen, like that will delete the pictures. "It wouldn't be appropriate."

I let her see my eye roll. "Fine. I'll just get them from Maddox."

"I don't think…"

A humorless laugh falls out of me. "You don't think Maddox will demand them as soon as he finds out about this. Because you didn't tell him, did you? You're just trying to clear up this little scandal while he's out of town." They don't respond. "Gee, how could that possibly backfire?" I say sarcastically, then shake my head. "Anything else?"

"It's company policy that a member from HR stays with you while you pack up your office." My manager's eyes are on her desk. "And your final paycheck will have your accumulated PTO payout included."

I turn back to Brenda. "You the one supervising me?"

She nods.

I stand. "Let's get this over with then."