Chapter 16
Laura
I walked into the bustling office seeing Dallas’s unreadable expression, but there is a tenseness to his posture that puts me on edge.
“A word in my office, please.”
Dread coils in my gut as I follow him into the spacious room. He closes the door behind us, and I brace myself for the inevitable end to our brief romance.
Instead, Mr. De La Cruz turns to me with a sigh. “I heard there’s been talk about us. Ugh. I shouldn’t have put in this position.”
What does he mean? “I’m the one who should apologize.”
“You did nothing wrong. I’m the one who asked you out, and I should have considered how that might impact you here.” He runs a hand through his hair, looking contrite. “If you’d prefer to end this now to avoid further gossip, I understand.”
His words stun me. He will sacrifice our relationship to spare me from scrutiny, yet that is the last thing I want. “No, absolutely not. I don’t care what they say or think. I enjoy spending time with you, and if you’re willing to put up with the gossip, then so am I.”
A slow smile spreads across Mr. De La Cruz’s face, softening his usual stern features. “That’s good to hear. I happen to enjoy your company as well, Ms. Stevens.”
The giddy warmth of his admission chases away any lingering discomfort from this morning’s drama. As long as we have each other, nothing else mattered.
As the day goes on, the gossip is in full swing. Whenever I pass by clusters of coworkers, their voices will drop to whispers and sideways glances follow me down the hall.
I try to ignore it, but their scrutiny wears on me. Did they doubt my abilities now that I am dating the boss?
When I enter the break room, the conversation dies. Several lawyers who used to greet me with friendly hellos now avert their eyes. Only Tom offers a weak smile, though he seems uncomfortable.
With a sigh, I retreat to my desk. The dynamics of the office have shifted overnight, and navigating the change won’t be easy. If this tension continues, it might impact my work and relationships here. I didn’t want that, but what can I do to ease the situation?
Just then, Mr. De La Cruz emerges from his office and strides over to me. “Are you free for lunch today?”
Though the invitation is tempting, I hesitate. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea right now. People already seem uncomfortable with us dating, and being seen together during work hours might make things worse.”
“You’re probably right.” He gazes down at me, a crease forming between his brows. “I hate that they’re making you feel unwelcome here because of me. If ending our relationship would resolve things, please say the word. Your happiness and comfort are far more important.”
I reach up and smooth the crease with my thumb. “Don’t be silly. I care about you too much to let a little gossip scare me off.” Standing on my tiptoes, I press a soft kiss to his cheek. “We’ll get through this.”
A slow, heart-melting smile lights his face as he pulls me into an embrace. No matter what challenges we face, we’ll face them side by side.
After lunch, I prepare for more stares and whispers. To my surprise, the tension seems to have dissipated. A few colleagues even greet me with friendly smiles.
Has the gossip mill moved on already? I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but the change in attitude is refreshing.
When I enter the break room to fill up my coffee to avoid the afternoon slump, Mr. Taft waves me over to join him and a few others at the table. “So, you and Mr. De La Cruz, huh? I have to say, I didn’t see that one coming.”
My face heats at the mention of my relationship, old anxieties rising to the surface. But Mr. Taft’s tone is light and teasing, not judgmental. “We wanted to keep things professional at work,” I explained. “I hope it won’t be too distracting.”
“Not at all,” one paralegal, Jenny, insists. “After the initial shock wore off, we realized you two make a great couple. He’s been in a better mood lately, and you seem happy. That’s all that matters to us.”
“Really?” I blink back tears, touched by their support. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
“Besides,” Mr. Taft adds with a wink, “we’ve all had office romances at some point. Who are we to judge?”
The others chuckle in agreement. My anxiety fades, replaced by gratitude for my understanding colleagues and excitement at the new stage of my relationship.
Mr. De La Cruz and I will continue to face challenges, but with the support of friends and each other, we’ll make it work.
After all, the best love stories are the ones that overcome every obstacle.