"Don’t need to be shy," Aubrey said, quickly passing her a piece of tissue. "You won’t be the first woman he slept with, and you won’t be the last. It’s just life."
"Thanks for letting know," Alia said politely, even as her heart sank to her shoes at Aubrey’s words.
Just as she expected, her boss was a secret playboy. He was wealthy and good-looking, not to ntion a knight in shining armor. Alia couldn’t say she was surprised to hear that he had ga when it ca to charming ladies. But nevertheless, she had to quickly clarify matters.
"But I’m not upset about it, because nothing happened between us," Alia said firmly. "We have a professional boss-and-employee relationship, nothing more."
"Professional boss-and-employee relationship?" Aubrey raised an eyebrow and her voice, pointing an accusing finger at the plethora of breakfast goods on the table. "All this breakfast food for a re staff? You’re not even his boss; he is yours. Not even my boyfriend buys such a spread when I have bad days!"
"Maybe you should get a better boyfriend then," Alia retorted before she could stop herself.
Aubrey stared back at her, stunned.
Alia quickly added, "You deserve soone who would treat you like a princess. We all do."
Aubrey let out a delicate little sniff in agreent. She held out her phone and snapped a photo of Alia’s breakfast spread before she could even react.
"You have a point," she said. "I’m going to show this to him and demand that he treats better!"
"You do that," Alia said because she had no other way to respond. It wasn’t as though she could stop Aubrey from taking photos. If she acted more secretive about this, tongues would wag faster. Hopefully, everyone would see that this was just a al.
When she found out how much it all cost, she would pay him back and assuage her conscience.
"Well, I’ll leave you to it. If you can’t finish your food, you can let the rest of us know, or put it in the pantry for us to share," Aubrey added with one last covetous stare before flouncing away, her blonde curls glinting underneath the light.
Alia heaved a sigh of relief, but then she sensed multiple pairs of curious eyes staring in her direction. She quickly sank back down against her chair and decided to start work. All her appetite was gone after that minor confrontation.
Hopefully, things would blow over soon when people found sothing new to fixate on.
***
Unfortunately, Alia’s hopes were quickly dashed when she entered the toilets. She had been fielding a variety of glances the whole day, from curious to judgental, and so were downright hostile. However, no one had actually dared to say anything to her face― possibly because her table was right outside Matteo’s office.
In the toilet, it was a whole different story altogether. Just as she was about to erge from the cubicle, she heard a group of won walk in, gossiping loudly. It was impossible to miss a familiar na.
"Hey, did you hear about the new hire that ca in last week?"
"The one that replaced Ronan? I’m so sad he’s gone. Where will I get my eye candy from now on? The new girl is nice enough, but I want to see my hunky muscles!"
"Yes, I’m referring to that woman," Alia could sense the person rolling her eyes. "It doesn’t matter if you don’t think she’s eye candy. Mr. Montgory clearly does."
"I heard she’s Mr. Montgory’s newest fling," soone said in a hushed voice, but it was still loud enough to echo throughout the restroom. "I saw the photo of the whole spread of breakfast food he sent her."
"Ain’t nothing platonic about it, that’s for sure," another voice chid in. "Everyone knows buying this kind of breakfast food ans that he spent a very good night with her!"
"They must have worked up an appetite then." A an chuckle sounded from outside. "There’s enough food to feed an army. See for yourself."
Blood drained from Alia’s face. Was this what everyone was thinking of when they were looking at her? They all thought she was warming Matteo’s bed!
"Guess what, I have even more shocking news!" A more excited voice chid in. "One of my cousins was working in the auction house last night, and they said Matteo Montgory arrived with a blonde woman on his arm who changed her outfit halfway. Do you think it’s her?"
"Could be, could not be." The next voice that responded sounded highly doubtful. "Who knows?"
There was nothing for it. Alia waited but the group of won didn’t seem to be leaving. Instead, the conversation turned to why n preferred blondes over brunettes, and Alia felt this close to tearing her hair out.
There was nothing for it. Alia could not spend so much ti stuck in the toilet― with her luck, soone would notice she was missing and spread rumors that she was slacking on the job.
She opened the door. The group of won imdiately fell silent, and Alia t their eyes. Good. None of them dared to say whatever drivel they just ntioned to her face. She walked slowly to the sink and began to wash her hands, willing them not to tremble.
However, peace was short-lived. One of the won with long black hair whirled to glare at her, deliberately blocking her way out of the door.
"Excuse ," Alia said politely, but she refused to move.
"Out with it, did you sleep with Matteo Montgory?" She demanded, "Is that why he replaced Ronan with you instead of soone actually competent?"
"That is a question you should be asking Mr. Montgory, not ," Alia said, trying to be patient. "And I did not sleep with him either."
"A likely story," another woman scoffed, her bright red bob shining like a lollipop. "No man would buy so much food for a woman he had no feelings for."
"Like I said, you are free to ask Mr. Montgory about his decisions," Alia insisted. "I need to go, excuse ―"
There was a beep of a phone. Another woman gasped out loud.
"Stop with your lies!" she snapped before showing her phone screen to Alia. "Here are photos of you leaving his house in the morning!"
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