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"Ruby, I’m sure it’s a relief that he is noare of your crush," Tony replied coolly, "but Niall is a vice president at this firm, and I’m sure he has a lot on his plate after the trip"

I felt Ruby’s wide eyes turn to er

What in the bloody hell was he doing?

Tony continued, oblivious "Perhaps you should leave his office door open when you enter, and leave the catching up for your nonwork hours?"

With a tight nod and y, she slid past hi hih my veins, heart pounded in my chest "Was that entirely necessary? It’s her lunch hour And ‘her crush’? She wasn’t in here harassingi between us She does not report to reed, "she reports to ht, to where Ruby had left the roouess I didn’t realize it would be so difficult for her to maintain professional boundaries"

My eyes widened as it struck ," I said, as nonchalantly as I could nited inside my chest at his words Tony wasn’t , I was being actively groomed for the position that would soet a leg over, who called Ruby fit, who said--and I quote, ‘all legs, great tits’--who seera us on professional boundaries?"

He blinked, his eyes clearing when he looked back at ain" With a little nod, he turned and left my office

It seemed to take tenthis to Richard, to ensure that everyone are that nothing i, and to let Richard know that the way Tony had just spoken to Ruby was unacceptable

But I was too angry As a rule I didn’t have conversations when I was this worked up: the idea that I would speak out of indignation rather thana certain professionalism was unacceptable The issue here was Tony’s behavior, andfrom an emotional place

For this reason, too, I waited another fifteen ain I didn’t want her to think Tony’s opinion er me

Tony was out of line, I told her si

I’

It took several minutes for her to reply, but when the text arrived, I could hear the words in Ruby’s ever-patient voice: Don’t be Let’s just enjoy your roooing to order tonight

I s forward to it

And I was I could barely wait to pull her into my arms and remind her that this, between us, extended far beyond the walls of any office

Ruby went to her apart day, and I used the time to pick up dinner from my favorite curry place on the corner