Bargaining with the Boss (Honeybrook Love, Inc. 2)

If anything, that was the big take away. At least she wasn't thrice divorced.

Yet.

She shoved a pillow over her face and tried to convince her body to sleep again. Maybe by the time she woke up, one of the Kardashians would have gotten surgery or a sex

change and she'd be free and clear.

A girl could hope.

The doorbell rang and she ignored it. That didn't help, though. In an instant, she heard the jangling of the knob and then soft footsteps down her entry hall. She sat up, but didn't bother to get to her feet.

It could only be one person. Only one person had ever been to her apartment, and she'd just have to tell him to leave. That she didn't want to see him. That—

Eliza stepped into the living room with a lot less hesitation than Natalie would have expected, then nearly tripped over the boxes stacked in the hallway. After straightening, she held out a paper clip that had been twisted in a strange jagged line, and then grinned.

"I learned to pick locks in Tahiti," she said by way of hello.

"Looks useful." Natalie nodded.

"In a bind." Eliza didn't bother to be invited to sit. Instead, she plopped onto the couch only a few inches from Natalie, criss-crossed her legs, and turned to face her.

"I like the robe." Eliza nodded the pink fuzzy thing.

"Thanks."

"You haven't been to work." It wasn't a question, or even a pitying statement. It was just a fact and Natalie nodded, following her lead.

"Neither has Brooks," Eliza said.

"Okay."

"So...I feel like you owe me something."

Natalie raised her eyebrows. "Sorry?"

"You know, I've been calling this whole sexual tension thing since my first day on the job, and then when it happens, you don't even tell me? What kind of thing is that to do to a person?"

Natalie stared, trying to find the joke behind her speech, but Eliza's expression was too earnest. "I'm sorry, I was inconsiderate. Don't worry, though, the romance is over."

"What do you mean?"

"Haven't you seen the news?"

"About your ex-husband?"

"My—what?" Had the story leaked? She felt as though she'd swallowed a fist and she gulped, trying to settle her nerves, but the feeling only grew stronger.

"Relax, I just put two and two together. I've been working on getting Franco Del Rossi's file sorted out."

"How could you—?"

Eliza shrugged. "I have a talent for reading people. Plus, I stole a peek at one of your cards before you threw it out."

"Right." She sighed and relaxed back onto her sofa. "At least those will stop coming."

"Unless Brooks starts sending them."

"That won't be happening." Oh god. The office. The entire office must have seen the news.