3
Florence
"Morning, boss lady." Gwen, my Executive Assistant, sets a fresh cup of coffee on the desk in front of me.
I give her a grateful smile. "Thank you."
She sits down at her own desk,. This is my favorite part of the day. The rest of the hospital's still waking up, and these early hours are when I get the most done without interruption.
"Boss?" Gwen's voice cuts through the quiet.
"Hm?" I pull my eyes away from my screen. "What is it?"
She frowns as she scrolls through her tablet. "Did you decide to play for the other team?"
I blink. "What team?" I don't play any team sports. "What are you talking about?"
She gives me a look. "You made the local hospital gossip on Instagram."
I hold back a snicker. Too many people in this city have too much time on their hands. "What did I do?"
She arches a brow. "Apparently, you've been sneaking around with Woodhouse."
I scoff. "In his dreams, maybe. Not in this reality."
Gwen shakes her head. "It's all over Insta. Rumor has it someone saw the two of you alone late last night."
I groan inwardly. "We were both working last night. That reminds me, though. Call Carole in HR and tell her to make room for me. Now would be a good time. It shouldn't take more than fifteen minutes." I need to get a handle on this fiasco.
A few minutes later, I knock firmly on the Head of the HR Department's office door.
Carole looks up from her desk. "Florence. Come in. What can I do for you today?"
I close the door and sit down across from her. "Thanks for seeing me on such short notice." Like I gave her much choice.
"What's going on?"
My brows furrow. "I have a situation to report, and I'd like guidance on how to proceed with it."
She nods, folding her hands in her lap and sitting back in her chair. "I'm listening."
"Woodhouse. Richard. He's been… testing boundaries off and on for weeks. Last night he asked me out. I shut it down. Quickly."
"But?"
"But he pushed. When I told him I have a partner—a woman—he told me I'm too uptight and I need a man to take care of me. We were alone in the conference room. Jason left about fifteen minutes before Woodhouse and I did so he could catch his daughter's meet."
Carole groans softly. "He told you that you need a man to take care of you." Her half-question is tinged with disbelief. "He actually said that?"
I nod.
"Do you want to file an official complaint? We can pull him in for harassment training, issue a formal warning—"
"I told him I'd forget he said it, but his ass would be looking for another job if I ever hear him talk to anyone in my hospital like that again."
She leans back, considering. "I'll note it in both your files. But… you don't want to file a formal complaint?"
I hesitate. "Has anyone else filed reports against him?"
"Legally, I can't tell you that."
"Off the record. If he's harassing other women, I'll file a complaint. But I get the impression that he's just after me."
That gets her attention. "Why do you think that?"
I bite my lip, thinking. "Honestly, I'm not sure. It feels calculated. Like it's not me that he wants, but my power and position."
"I can't speak to his reasons, of course," she says, "but he hasn't bothered anyone else." She pauses. "He knows you're gay, doesn't he?"
I arch an eyebrow. "Legally, you can't ask me that."
She laughs. "Fair enough." Then she sobers. "You're aware of the rumor mill on social media?"
I grimace. "Apparently, I'm having an affair with him."
"It's not a good look, Florence. Whether or not there's truth to it, people believe what they want to. I'd strongly advise being seen with this fiancée of yours. Take her out somewhere public—preferably near the hospital."
I nod. "She's a private person." She's a non-existent person at the moment . "But I'll talk to her. Is there any way to get the rumors off the internet?"
Carole laughs. "It's social media, Florence."
I don't know how that shit works. I have Gwen and Marin to deal with that.
I stand, smoothing my skirt. "If he pushes the line again, I'll come straight to you. And if you hear anything—anything at all—about him bothering someone else, let me know. Off the record."
"Florence." Her tone stops me at the door.
"Yes?"
"Put these rumors to rest. It's not just your personal reputation at risk here."