Chapter 7: Rumors

Elliot's POV

The whispers started on Tuesday morning. I walked past a group of people near the copy machine, they stopped talking then stared at me until I turned the corner. At first I thought maybe I had something on my shirt but when I checked in the bathroom mirror everything looked normal.

By lunch the staring got worse. Every time I walked through the office people would look at me then look away real quick when I caught them.

Some of them did not even bother hiding it because they just stood there watching me like I was some kind of show.

I tried to ignore it while I worked on the reports Aiden needed, but it was hard to focus when you could feel eyes on you all the time.

Maya from accounting walked past my desk three times in one hour even though her office was on a completely different floor.

The third time she did it I looked up so she smiled at me in this fake way then kept walking.

Something was going on but I did not know what. Nobody would talk to me directly because they just whispered to each other instead. I heard Aiden's name a few times mixed in with the whispers which made my stomach hurt.

Around two I needed coffee bad because my head was starting to pound from stress.

I got up then walked to the break room hoping nobody would be in there but of course there were like five people standing around the coffee maker.

They all got quiet when I walked in. I ignored them then went straight to the coffee pot to pour myself a cup. My hands shook a little bit while I added sugar because I could feel them all staring at my back.

"Must be nice," someone said loud enough for everyone to hear. I turned around to see who said it, a guy named Derek from sales was leaning against the counter with his arms crossed.

He was older than me maybe in his thirties with a smug look on his face.

"What?" I said.

“Having the boss wrapped around your finger like that," Derek said then looked at the other people like he was performing for them. "The rest of us have to actually work for our jobs."

My face got hot. "I do work."

"Sure you do," he said then laughed. "Is that what you call it?"

The other people in the break room were watching us like this was entertainment.

"What are you trying to say?" I asked even though I already knew.

"I am saying maybe you should tell us your secret," Derek said while walking closer to me. "How exactly does someone with no experience become Aiden Blackwood's favorite person in like two weeks? Are you sleeping your way to the top or what?"

Everything stopped. The room got so quiet I could hear the coffee maker bubbling. My whole body felt frozen because I could not believe he just said that out loud in front of everyone.

"That is not true," I said but my voice came out weak.

"Come on," Derek said. "Everyone knows something is going on between you two. He brings you lunch, he defends you when Vivian messes with you. He looks at you like.."

"Like what?" a cold voice said from the doorway. Everyone turned to see Aiden standing there with his arms crossed. His face looked calm but his eyes were angry in a scary way.

Derek's face went white. "Mr. Blackwood I was just.."

"You were just what?" Aiden said while walking into the break room.

"Accusing my assistant of sleeping with me? Spreading rumors? Creating a hostile work environment?"

"I did not mean anything by it," Derek said while backing up until he hit the counter. "It was just a joke."

"A joke," Aiden repeated flat. "You think sexual harassment is funny?"

"No sir," Derek said real quick. "I am sorry."

"You are fired," Aiden said angrily."

Clean out your desk then leave the building within the hour. Security will escort you out."

Everyone gasped at the same time. Derek looked like someone just punched him in the stomach.

"You cannot fire me for making a joke," Derek said but his voice shook.

"I can fire you for creating a hostile workplace," Aiden said. "For sexually harassing another employee, for insubordination. Pick whichever reason you like best, now get out of my sight."

Derek looked around at everyone else like they would help him but nobody said anything. He grabbed his coffee cup then walked out fast without looking at me.

Aiden turned to look at everyone else in the break room. "If anyone else has questions about my relationship with my staff they can bring them to HR or they can join Derek in the unemployment line. Is that clear?"

Everyone nodded real fast.

"Good. Get back to work."

People left the break room so quick it was like they were running from a fire. In about ten seconds it was just me standing there holding my coffee cup while trying not to shake.

Aiden looked at me for a long moment then said "Come on" before walking out. I followed him because what else was I supposed to do.

We got in the elevator together. He pressed the button for our floor then the doors closed leaving us alone.

The elevator started moving up slow.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

I nodded because I did not trust my voice right now. My throat felt tight like I might cry which would be the worst possible thing I could do in front of him.

"Elliot," he said.

"Thank you," I said, my voice cracked on the words. I looked down at the floor so he would not see my face.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw his hand move toward my shoulder then stop in the air between us.

It just hung there for a few seconds like he wanted to touch me but could not decide if he should.

The elevator dinged, then the doors opened. His hand dropped back to his side.

"Nobody will bother you again," he said. "I will make sure of it."

I walked out of the elevator then went straight to my desk.

My whole body felt shaky but also warm because Aiden Blackwood just fired someone for disrespecting me.

That had to mean something right?