Secrets On the Clock

by Nicole Disney

  Brianna scoffed. “Oh, come on. I wouldn’t do that.”

  Danielle raised her eyebrow.

  “Okay, well, my natural flirtatious aura doesn’t count. You know I can’t help that. But I would never go after someone you’re sleeping with, Danielle. What kind of person do you think I am?”

  “You promise?”

  Brianna huffed. “You’re honestly going to hurt my feelings if you don’t knock it off.”

  “Okay, okay,” Danielle said, but the problem with Brianna was that no matter how great her promises were when she was sober, all bets were off once she had a few.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Jenna stacked her reports into a pile and tapped them on the desk to straighten them. She went up the hall to Paula’s office and slipped them into her mailbox. She had the hang of her new responsibilities, and they weren’t taking quite so long anymore. Things were finally feeling easier, and she knew it was more than a little because of Danielle. The work hadn’t changed; her mood had. Everything just felt better. Whoever decided workplace romances were a bad idea was out of their mind. The weeks that passed since she started sneaking around with Danielle had been some of the smoothest she could remember. She’d never been so happy at work, or anywhere for that matter, in her life.

  She checked her watch. Only an hour left in the day, which probably meant people had already stopped working. She took the stairs down to the break room and smiled as the familiar hum of end-of-day chatter came from the small room. She turned the corner and saw Sasha, Adam, Val, and Danielle laughing over coffee. Danielle glanced at her from the back corner, and the warmth there brought a smile to Jenna’s face.

  “Oh, shit. We’re busted,” Adam said and laughed.

  “Damn right,” Jenna said.

  “Take it easy on us, boss,” Val said. “We’ve only been here for…” She checked her watch, then playfully cringed. Jenna pretended to crack a whip, but pulled up a chair and straddled it.

  “Any war stories today?” she asked.

  “Oh no,” Sasha said. “No war stories for you. We’re saving them until you actually come out with us this weekend. It’s the only way to get you to come along.”

  “Aw, come on. That’s not necessary.”

  “What we really need to talk about is what you’re doing to get management to put a vending machine in here,” Adam said.

  “Yeah, that’s what I spend my time on, all right,” Jenna said. Danielle made her way from the corner to the table and sat in the free chair. Jenna couldn’t believe how powerful their stolen seconds of eye contact could be. It never took more than a glance to completely undo her.

  “You’re coming out with us this weekend, right, Danielle?” Val asked.

  Danielle glanced at Jenna with a question dancing in her eyes, but Jenna just raised an eyebrow and waited.

  “Sure,” she said.

  Jenna’s mind flooded with the images of the charade they’d have to put on all night. It sounded impossible in a casual environment. She could barely keep her hands off Danielle even with the clear-cut boundaries of work. Just as she thought it, Danielle’s foot touched her ankle under the table and moved up her leg. When Jenna looked over, Danielle was seemingly paying no attention.

  “Well,” Danielle said abruptly. “I’m going to take care of a few last things before the end of the day. I think I left a file in my locker.”

  Jenna couldn’t get up too soon, but the moment Danielle left, Jenna lost her ability to process a thing anyone was saying. She heard herself laughing, but she was already swimming in Danielle’s smell. When ten minutes passed, she stood.

  “All right, guys, I’d better get some work done. Especially if I’m going to spend my weekend with you scoundrels.”

  “Hear, hear,” Adam said. “No more weekend work.”

  Jenna pushed her chair in. Sasha was leaning against the wall by the door. When Jenna tried to pass she discreetly hooked Jenna’s arm and looked her in the eye.

  “Be careful,” she said under her breath.

  Jenna met her intense gaze. She refused to acknowledge Sasha’s rattling accusation, in admission or denial. She passed by and headed for the locker room after Danielle, checking behind her as she went.

  The locker room was empty when she got there. She checked each row for stragglers, but it was quiet. When she got to the last row, Danielle leaned against her locker with her arms crossed, her shirt unbuttoned far enough to dance with the line of decency.

  “I was starting to think you wouldn’t come,” Danielle said.

  “How could I not?”

  Jenna walked over until their thighs were touching. She could feel Danielle’s breath on her cheek. She met Danielle’s lips with her own, instantly lost in the softness of them. Danielle grabbed Jenna’s suit jacket and pulled her around the corner, opening the supply closet door and pulling Jenna inside. Jenna laughed as she let Danielle drag her away.

  “What are we doing in here?”

  “Can’t find the staples.” Danielle kissed the hollow at the base of Jenna’s neck. “I’m new around here. Can you help me?”

  Jenna smiled and grabbed Danielle’s hips, then turned her around.

  “Did you check this shelf?” She pressed into to the shape of Danielle’s back, letting her breath brush over Danielle’s skin. Danielle groaned and reached behind her, running her fingers through Jenna’s hair with one hand, grabbing her leg with the other.

  “I don’t see them,” Danielle said.

  “Oh.” Jenna put her hand on the back of Danielle’s neck and gently guided her head down until she was bent over. “How about the next shelf down?”

  Danielle pushed her ass into Jenna as she pretended to search. Jenna raked her nails down Danielle’s back and returned the pressure Danielle was supplying until her clit was screaming for release. Finally, Danielle stood again and lunged at Jenna, meeting her mouth in a passionate, urgent kiss. Danielle pushed her until she was against the opposite wall, then reached between her legs and stroked her clit.

  “You better stop that,” Jenna said breathlessly. “You’ll make me come.”

  “Surely you can come up with a better threat than that,” Danielle said.

  The sound of a door closing made them both freeze even though a second of reflection told them it had come from the floor above. Jenna looked back into Danielle’s waiting gaze.

  “We really need to stop doing this at work,” she said.

  “I know,” Danielle said. “Come home with me.”

  “Really?” Jenna knew the big cheesy grin on her face gave away any hope she had of acting smooth, but she didn’t care.

  “Really. I can’t promise Brianna won’t ruin it, but we can try.”

  “She can’t possibly act worse than my sister did.”

  “Don’t tell her that; she’ll think it’s a bet,” Danielle said. She fished Jenna’s phone out of her pocket and punched in her address. “Meet you there.” Danielle kissed her cheek and disappeared back into the locker room.

  Jenna waited awhile for Danielle to clear the area, then emerged from the closet. She took the stairs to her office two at a time, eager to gather her things for the weekend and get to Danielle’s house. Danielle’s house, she loved the idea of being there with her, even if it came with Brianna, even if it came with chaos. She didn’t doubt Danielle’s assessment of Brianna’s drinking. She’d only seen Brianna for a night, and though she hadn’t taken the fact that Brianna drank to the point of vomiting all that seriously, Danielle knew her much better. Even so, she’d never been the type to scare easily, and she couldn’t picture a drunken antic severe enough to make a night with Danielle not worth it. Just as she reached her office door Paula called her name from two doors down.

  “Jenna, that you?”

  Jenna fleetingly wondered if she could get away with pretending she hadn’t heard, but that was childish. She begrudgingly made her way to Paula’s doorway.

  “I was just stopping—”


  “Come on in,” Paula said. Jenna slowly digested Paula’s serious expression and came down from the euphoria of Danielle. “Close the door.”

  Jenna obliged and took the seat opposite Paula. “Everything okay?”

  “I’m afraid not.”

  “Is it my evaluations? I can take another look at them if they’re not up to par.”

  “Your evaluations are wonderful.”

  Jenna wore her puzzled expression freely, hoping it would end the suspense Paula seemed to want to build. Paula leaned back in her chair in the same way she always did that made her legs seem like they went on and on.

  “I’m afraid we need to discuss an accusation that’s been made against you.”

  “An accusation?” Jenna felt her pulse pick up as her mind scrambled through every important decision she’d made during the week. She couldn’t come up with anything questionable. “What accusation?”

  “It’s been brought to my attention that you’re having a romantic relationship with Danielle Corey.”

  Jenna felt her blood drain, and she knew she was pale. The way Paula phrased it didn’t sound like a question, but if there was any doubt, Jenna was quite sure she was transparent.

  “I thought we made it clear that being too close to your subordinates could be problematic. A relationship is beyond that concern; it is in direct violation of policy. I’m sure you’re aware of that.” Paula set her pen on top of a file on her desk. Jenna couldn’t help looking at it, wondering if it was her file, if this was Paula’s way of telling her she was about to end her career with what she would write inside of it.

  “I’m aware,” Jenna said. She hated the way her voice came out so quiet and decided she wouldn’t let it happen again. She would take what was coming to her with whatever dignity she could muster.

  “Is there anything you’d like to say?”

  “Where is this accusation coming from?” Jenna asked.

  “I can’t release that information to you.”

  “Someone who wants my job, I imagine.”

  “The only thing we need to discuss is whether or not it’s true.”

  Jenna leaned back in her chair, a bizarre calmness coming over her. She could lie. She could say it was made up, and Paula likely couldn’t prove anything. But when she pictured Danielle she knew it wasn’t a passing fling. Hiding it would only get harder, and one of these days the accusation would come with evidence and a termination notice if she lied.

  “It’s true.” Jenna hardly recognized herself. Even when she’d given in and kissed Danielle in her office she didn’t really believe she was setting a match to her career, certainly not so soon, and she had to admit a big part of her didn’t expect to get caught at all. She figured it would end when she or Danielle found hiding it intolerable.

  “It hasn’t been long. I was going to ask about her being transferred to another supervisor soon. It hasn’t affected her training or evaluations in any way, I assure you.”

  Paula nodded grimly. “I’m sorry to hear that,” she said. “I had very high hopes for you.”

  Jenna’s stomach twisted. “What are you saying?”

  “This issue is more than frowned upon,” Paula said. “It’s inexcusable.”

  “Are you firing me?”

  Paula studied her for a long time. “No. I’m not firing you, but you cannot continue to work as Danielle’s supervisor, obviously.” Paula opened the file on her desk and slid a stack of papers to Jenna.

  “There are a few options here for you to consider. The first is a request to transfer to the Nashville branch. If you want to both remain a supervisor and continue your relationship with Danielle, you can turn that in to me. I can’t guarantee they’ll grant the transfer, as your file will include this incident, but you may apply. If they don’t hire you, you’ll have to choose from the other options. The next is a resignation form. If you decide to resign, I will personally provide you with a good reference and leave this information out in the hopes you find a new career quickly and painlessly. The last is a form that states you will no longer carry on a relationship with Danielle. Jenna, this one allows you to keep the job you have now, at this location, and Danielle will be assigned to a different team with a different supervisor, but this will come with some steep discipline, and it will be a final warning. If you sign this and it comes to light that you are still seeing Danielle, you will be terminated. I want you to consider each of your options very carefully before you get back to me. I’ll give you the weekend.”

  Jenna took the papers with numb fingers. “Thank you.” She stood and headed for the door. She couldn’t feel her legs.

  “Jenna,” Paula said. She turned. “You are very good at what you do. Most would have simply been fired. I hope you understand that.”

  Jenna nodded. “I understand. Thank you.”

  “I won’t be lenient twice. Choose carefully.”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Danielle rushed home, hoping to get there ahead of Jenna early enough to clean a little and see how well Brianna was likely to hold up. When she went inside, Brianna was in her usual place on the couch with a drink in her hand.

  “Hey,” Danielle said as she burst through the door.

  “Well, hello,” Brianna said.

  “Jenna’s coming over. You’re still cool with that, right?”

  Brianna sat up straighter. “Sure. Any reason you’re having a panic attack about it?”

  “I’m not. I’m just going to clean up real quick.”

  Brianna looked at her blankly for a few seconds before she registered what Danielle wanted. Finally, she sprang to her feet.

  “Ah, you want me to help you clean.”

  “If you don’t mind.”

  “Wow, I’ve never seen you like this before.” Brianna gathered the dishes from the coffee table. “Did you run around like a psycho before I came over? Back in the day?”

  “Huh? Oh, no. The place was already clean.”

  Brianna laughed. “You calling me a slob?”

  “No.”

  “Kind of, though.”

  “Come on, Brianna, please?”

  “I’m cleaning. I’m cleaning.”

  Jenna knocked on the door just fifteen minutes later, but the place looked remarkably better. Danielle couldn’t pretend that had been her major concern, though. Brianna was at least a few drinks in already and wasn’t likely to stop. And even that was secondary to the fact that she still hadn’t managed to tell Jenna that Brianna was her ex. She should have never invited Jenna over, not before that was handled, but the words just came out, and now she would be forced to handle it once and for all.

  When Danielle opened the door and saw Jenna standing there, all her problems seemed to melt away. She smiled and invited Jenna in.

  “Hello again,” Brianna said.

  “Hey,” Jenna said. “Good to see you.”

  “Good to see anyone Danielle will break some rules for.” Brianna nudged Danielle playfully. “Secret affairs are so sexy.”

  Danielle scowled at Brianna. She held her hands up innocently. “Don’t worry. I’m going out.”

  “You are?”

  “Yep, house is all yours. I’ll be home at some point, so don’t get too carried away.” Brianna slipped her arms around Danielle and pulled her into a hug. “Actually, get carried away if you want. Who am I to complain about walking in on some naked ladies?”

  “Bri,” Danielle said.

  “All right, all right, I’m leaving.” Brianna dashed out and closed the door.

  Jenna hooked her thumbs in her jeans, and a crooked smile stretched across her face. “That wasn’t so bad.”

  “No, it wasn’t,” Danielle said. She was so relieved she only now realized she’d barely been able to breathe before. She was free to tell Jenna everything. Brianna wouldn’t blurt it out, wouldn’t be able to sabotage her. “Come sit. I want to tell you something.”

  “That’s funny,” Jenna said as she went to the couch and sat d
own. “Me too.” She put the files she was carrying on the table and rubbed her face.

  “Don’t tell me you think you’re working tonight,” Danielle said.

  “No, just didn’t want to leave them in the car. Sensitive stuff in there.”

  “Aw, you’re secretly a sucker for the rules too.”

  “I don’t know about that.”

  Danielle saw names on each folder tab. Some she recognized, others she didn’t. When she saw the Clark file, her curiosity was piqued. What did Jenna have access to that she didn’t?

  “Can I look?”

  “In the files?” Jenna glanced at the stack. “Sure,” she said. “If you want. Just don’t tell anyone.”

  “Of course not.” Danielle picked up the first file. She flipped through the pictures, shaking her head as she examined them. Many were of disgusting living situations, homes with holes in the walls, with dead insects piled in corners, dog feces and urine puddles. She closed the file and went to another. The first picture was a little girl with a black eye. Danielle shook her head again as the girl’s sorrow seized her chest.

  “You inherit all the worst cases?” Danielle asked. Jenna smiled weakly, but Danielle held her gaze. “Seriously.”

  “Yeah, pretty much.” She shrugged. “I go through all my team’s cases. I choose the ones I think could use extra attention. Those tend to be the worst ones.”

  “Wow,” Danielle said. “I guess that makes sense. I just never thought of it that way. That must be really hard. It’s like your work is a compilation of all of our worse moments.”

  Jenna shrugged. “I’m just a supporting role, though. I’m not as close to it as you guys.”

  Danielle closed the file. “I know it still affects you, Jenna. Do you ever feel like it’s too much? With your history?”

  “Sure, sometimes.” Jenna’s serious tone told Danielle she’d found the nerve she suspected was beneath the surface. She wanted to know everything about Jenna, every secret corner.

  “What was it like?” Danielle asked. “Growing up with your mom?”

  “It was a lot like what you see with Deon and Raylon. One day it’s great, the next…” Jenna paused. “The next you’re scared out of your mind.”