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The entire floor had been buzzing since morning.
Every whisper seemed to pause the second Amanda walked by. Every laugh felt suspiciously timed.
Her phone wouldn't stop vibrating.
Leah: Phase Two is happening.
Carter: We're going in.
Maria: You can't stop us.
Jamie: Operation Confession CEO Edition begins NOW.
Amanda's eyes widened. "Oh, no... oh, no, no, no"
She pushed away from her desk, nearly knocking over her coffee as she sprinted toward Ericka's office. But by the time she reached the glass door, the four of them were already slipping inside like gossiping agents on a top-secret mission.
Ericka glanced up, perfectly composed behind her desk, pen poised mid-signature. "Yes?"
Carter cleared his throat. "Ms. Mathews, we were hoping to discuss something... important."
Ericka's brow lifted, her voice smooth. "Regarding the campaign?"
Leah shook her head. "Not exactly, ma'am. This is—uh—more of a personal inquiry."
Amanda groaned from the doorway. "Don't do this."
Maria quietly shut the door behind them. Click.
Amanda froze. "Oh my god, they actually closed the door."
Inside, Jamie smiled nervously. "We just wanted to, um, verify something we all kind of... already know."
Ericka leaned back in her chair, folding her hands elegantly. "Verify?"
Leah nodded. "Yes, ma'am. We're simply looking for confirmation that you and Amanda are, you know... a thing."
Silence.
Ericka studied them for a long beat, her gaze sweeping across each guilty face. "And if I were to answer that question," she said finally, "you'd all have to sign an NDA first."
The team glanced at one another, eyes lighting up. "Deal!" they chorused in unison.
Amanda's jaw dropped. "You're encouraging them?"
Ericka smirked, opened her top drawer, and pulled out four NDA forms. "I keep these handy for moments just like this."
The group gasped as she placed them neatly on the desk, sliding over a gold-trimmed pen. "Sign at the bottom," she said sweetly. "And print clearly. I don't tolerate sloppy signatures."
They scrambled to sign like they'd just won backstage passes. When they were done, Ericka gathered the pages and looked up at Amanda. "You're the witness to the signing."
Amanda crossed her arms. "I know," she said, exasperated.
"Good," Ericka replied, tucking the documents into a folder. "Now, what was the question again?"
Leah grinned, trying to contain her excitement. "Do you love her, Ms. Mathews? Yes or no?"
Ericka's lips curved slowly, a dangerous smile forming. She stood, circled her desk, and perched herself on the edge of it—every movement controlled, elegant, and deliberate. Her heels clicked against the marble, and the entire team visibly tensed.
Amanda could feel her pulse quicken as Ericka turned her attention to her. The CEO's gaze softened just slightly.
Then she lifted a finger and curled it once, beckoning Amanda forward.
The room went utterly silent.
Amanda blinked. "You've got to be kidding me."
Leah whispered, "She's not kidding. Oh my God, she's calling her over."
Amanda sighed, muttering, "You people are going to cost me my job," before walking toward Ericka, every step echoing in the quiet office.
When she reached her, Ericka reached up, grabbed her gently by the collar of her blazer, and—without a word—pulled her down into a kiss.
It wasn't rushed. It wasn't hesitant.
It was confident, slow, and absolutely undeniable.
The office exploded.
"OH MY GOD!" Leah squealed.
"I knew it!" Maria shouted, throwing her arms in the air.
Carter pumped a fist. "We are never wrong!"
Amanda couldn't help but laugh into the kiss as Ericka's fingers brushed her jaw. Her hands instinctively found Ericka's waist, steadying her as the moment stretched on warm, charged, and real.
Ericka finally broke the kiss, her lips brushing Amanda's as she whispered just loud enough for her to hear, "Baby, don't forget... we have an audience."
Amanda glanced over her shoulder.
Every single one of them stood frozen, mouths open, eyes wide in collective shock and delight.
Amanda burst into laughter. "You guys have no idea how long they've been waiting for that moment."
Ericka chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Then I suppose I gave them what they wanted."
Leah fanned herself dramatically. "This is officially the best day of my life."
Jamie added, "We can all die happy now."
Ericka stood fully, smoothing her blouse, regaining that flawless CEO posture. "Well, now that you've all had your entertainment for the day," she said with playful authority, "I suggest you return to your desks before I find a reason to make this actually official with HR paperwork."
The team scrambled, laughter trailing behind them as they bolted for the door.
Before it closed, Maria called over her shoulder, "Operation Confession SUCCESS!"
As the door clicked shut, the office grew quiet again. Amanda turned to Ericka, still a little breathless, still blushing.
Ericka tilted her head, amused. "You know, they might just be the boldest employees I've ever had."
Amanda smiled, brushing a thumb along her collar where Ericka had grabbed her. "You handled that like a pro."
"I'm the CEO," Ericka said, lips curving. "Handling things is what I do."
Amanda laughed softly. "You realize you just confirmed every rumor in the building, right?"
Ericka shrugged, her tone casual but her eyes warm. "Maybe it's time we stopped pretending they don't already know."
Amanda tilted her head, grinning. "So... this is public now?"
Ericka's smirk deepened. "Consider it... officially unofficial."
Amanda chuckled, shaking her head as she walked to the door. "You realize they're probably posting in the group chat right now, right?"
Ericka nodded. "Good. Let them talk. Keeps morale up."
Amanda laughed, leaning against the doorframe. "You're impossible."
Ericka stepped closer, lowering her voice. "You love that about me."
Amanda grinned. "Yeah," she whispered, "I really do."
Her phone buzzed again.
Leah: She didn't even deny it ??
Carter: WE HAVE VIDEO EVIDENCE.
Jamie: Couple of the year confirmed.
Maria: I'm framing my NDA.
Amanda sighed, typing back one message with a grin.
Amanda: All of you are fired. ??
The door had barely closed behind the last cheering employee when Amanda's phone buzzed again.
Once.
Twice.
Then a steady stream of notifications.
She sighed, still catching her breath. "Oh no. They're already at it."
Ericka crossed her arms, half-smiling. "Of course they are. You just gave them the moment of the year."
Amanda opened the group chat and scrolled through the chaos.
Leah: GUYS I CAN'T brEATHE ??????????
Carter: THE KISS WAS REAL!
I REPEAT, THE KISS WAS REAL!
Maria: Someone get HR on the line because I might need emotional support after witnessing that much chemistry in 4K.
Jamie: My NDA is now a family heirloom.
Amanda snorted, thumbs flying.
Amanda: Remember, you guys did sign that NDA. ?? And surprise — it was actually real.
Amanda: So whatever happened in that office stays in this group chat.
The typing bubbles appeared instantly.
Leah: WAIT ?????? you mean that was a REAL NDA?
??
Maria: You're telling me I signed a legally binding document for GOSSIP?
??
Carter: This is the best day of my career.
Jamie: So what you're saying is.
.. we have exclusive rights to the tea?
Amanda smirked at the screen, shaking her head. "They're insufferable," she muttered.
Ericka leaned over her shoulder to glance at the messages, her lips twitching with amusement. "I don't know, I kind of like them."
Leah: Okay okay okay, serious question ??
Leah: Does this mean we can actually hang out with you guys now?
Maria: Like... after hours hang out?
??
Carter: Dinner? Karaoke?
Couple's game night???
Jamie: Because honestly, the way you two look at each other, it's giving power couple energy.
Amanda bit her lip, trying not to laugh as she typed.
Amanda: You all are out of control.
Amanda: But fine — maybe we can all hang out sometime soon.
Amanda: Emphasis on maybe.
The chat exploded with celebratory emojis and memes.
Leah: CONFIRMED. THE BOSSES LOVE US.
Carter: Operation Confession → SUCCESS
Maria: Operation Group Dinner → IN PROGRESS
Jamie: I'm bringing champagne.
Amanda groaned playfully. "They're already planning a party."
Ericka chuckled, resting a hand on Amanda's hip as she leaned closer. "Let them. After what we just put them through, they deserve one."
Amanda smiled at her softly. "You're really not mad?"
Ericka brushed her thumb along Amanda's jaw. "Mad?" she murmured. "You think I'd be mad about kissing the woman I love in front of a few overexcited employees?"
Amanda's lips parted slightly, caught between surprise and affection. "You just said that like it was nothing."
Ericka smiled. "Because it isn't nothing. It's the truth."
Amanda grinned, warmth spreading through her chest. "Well," she said softly, glancing back at her phone, "guess that NDA really was worth signing after all."
Ericka laughed quietly, stealing one last kiss before returning to her desk. "Just make sure they remember it's enforceable."
Amanda smirked, typing one last message into the chat:
Amanda: Also, just to be clear — break the NDA, and I'm personally assigning you to inventory. ??
Carter: NOTED. WE'RE DELETING THE VIDEO.
Leah: ...after one more watch. ??
Ericka had gone back to reviewing reports in her glass-walled office, her usual composure restored — though every so often, Amanda caught her smiling to herself, that secret little smirk that gave everything away.
Amanda sat at her desk pretending to work but couldn't focus. The words on her screen blurred as an idea kept circling her mind.
For months, she'd dreamed about what it would feel like to stop hiding. To just be — no whispered goodbyes at work, no sneaking glances across the boardroom table. And now... it felt possible.
She grabbed her tablet, stood up, and knocked lightly on Ericka's door.
"Come in," Ericka called, her tone even.
Amanda stepped inside, closing the door behind her. "Hey, can I ask you something?"
Ericka looked up from her laptop, immediately softening at the sight of her. "You don't even have to ask, baby. What's on your mind?"
Amanda smiled, slipping her hands into her pockets. "So, um... what if we actually let the team come over sometime? Like a group night at the house."
Ericka blinked, surprised. "Here? At our house?"
Amanda nodded. "Yeah. I think it'd be good, you know? Just... hanging out with them without the pressure. They've been so supportive since the whole—" she gestured vaguely toward the glass wall, "—office confession incident."
Ericka tilted her head, pretending to think it over, though the faint curve of her lips gave her away. "You really want to invite the people who just bullied us into admitting our relationship... into our home?"
Amanda laughed. "Technically, you admitted it. I just participated."
Ericka rolled her eyes but smiled. "You're impossible."
"Come on," Amanda pressed, her tone softening. "It'll be nice to hang out with people without having to hide. Just a casual night — food, music, maybe a game or two."
Ericka's expression softened at that, her shoulders relaxing. She set her pen down and looked at Amanda with that fondness that always made her chest ache. "You really want this?"
Amanda nodded. "Yeah. I think it'll be good for all of us."
Ericka exhaled through her nose, finally giving in. "Alright. Let's do it."
Amanda's grin spread wide. "Seriously?"
"Seriously," Ericka said, standing and leaning against her desk. "But if anyone spills red wine on my carpet, I'm deducting it from payroll."
Amanda laughed, crossing the room to kiss her — quick, soft, full of gratitude. "Thank you, baby."
Ericka's hand lingered at the small of Amanda's back. "You owe me for this."
Amanda winked. "Oh, I plan on paying up later."
Before Ericka could respond, Amanda was already heading for the door, grinning like she'd just won the lottery.
As soon as she got back to her desk, her phone lit up with the group chat again.
Leah: Sooo are we still on for Operation Group Night? ??
Carter: Asking for morale purposes.
Maria: And for food planning purposes.
Jamie: And because I already bought snacks.
Amanda bit back a laugh and started typing.
Amanda: Operation Group Night is officially approved.
??
Leah: SHE SAID YES?
! ????????
Carter: Wait—LIKE YES YES?
??
Maria: The boss approved?
??
Amanda: Not just approved.
Amanda: You guys get to come to the house.
The typing bubbles appeared instantly.
Leah: ...The house? ??
Maria: You mean THE Mathews residence??
Carter: The one with the marble floors and the chef's kitchen???
Jamie: No way. Amanda, stop playing.
Amanda smirked, typing slowly for dramatic effect.
Amanda: Oh, I'm not playing. To Ericka's house. Be on your best behavior... or she'll make you sign another NDA. ??
The chat exploded with reaction gifs, memes, and pure chaos.
Leah: I'm screaming.
Carter: I need to buy something fancy to wear.
Maria: Should we bring wine?
Jamie: Should we bow when we walk in??
Amanda laughed quietly to herself as Ericka glanced up from her office, curiosity flickering across her face. Amanda simply held up her phone with a knowing look.
Ericka mouthed, Oh no.
Amanda grinned and texted one last message.
Amanda: Don't worry, she's thrilled. ??
Leah: OMG SHE SAW THIS?!
Carter: Abort mission.
Maria: Too late.
Jamie: Operation Group Night → Active.
Amanda set her phone down, still smiling. For once, everything felt light — no secrets, no tension, just laughter and something that felt a lot like peace.