I can’t explain it but something about the two of them made me uneasy. Anyway, despite my misgivings, I made the decision to reserve judgment about them, for the time being.
I put their annoying inquiries off until doing so any longer would make them unduly suspicious, so when they asked me to have lunch with them a couple of days later, I really had no alternative. I just hoped I could keep them from asking too many questions because I had no idea if I could trust them, or anyone else, for that matter.
Noonday sun streamed in from the skylights overhead, warming my shoulders and upper back as we sat in the company cafeteria. Regrettably, one of the many perks afforded us at Hawkins Biotech was free food. And much to my dismay, all of it was delicious. Worst of all, hand-made chocolate candy and more than a dozen flavors of fresh churned ice cream tormented me on a daily basis.
So far, I’d managed to keep the temptations at bay.
Anyway, I sat hunched over a bowl of chicken noodle soup as the women talked. I swallowed down the salty strands as what was supposed to be a discussion about the Link Protocol devolved instead into a gossip fest between Amanda and Melissa about my new boss. In the background, chatter from two dozen other tables drowned out our conversation. Even so, I left my planner open on the table in case someone happened by and wondered what we were discussing.
“What would your husbands say if they caught you talking like this?” I asked during a brief pause in the conversation.
They scoffed in unison.
“If he knew what was good for him… nothing!” Melissa exclaimed. “Pssht, all the things I do for that man. He’s lucky I don’t run and tackle Gabe in a hallway.”
Amanda giggled. “You’re terrible.”
Melissa wrinkled her nose as a mischievous smile flashed to her lips. “I know.”
Shaking my head at their antics, I spooned another mouthful of soup as the women bantered with each other.
“What did you mean earlier, Amanda? Make waves?” I asked, in reference to something she’d said about Gabe.
As I spoke, Amanda took another pull of her iced tea through a straw. After swallowing, she licked her lips and leaned in towards me, propping her elbows up on the table.
“Well, it’s not exactly a secret, Fiona. Everyone knows.”
I arched an eyebrow. The muscles in my upper back and neck tensed. “What isn’t?”
Amanda made a slow turn of her head and to make certain no one eavesdropped.
“You’re good.” Melissa said in low voice, encouraging her. “No one's listening. Go ahead.”
“Well, I wouldn’t exactly say the fox is in the hen house when it comes to Gabe and the single women around here, but it’s close...”
“I would.” Melissa snorted, interrupting her.
Amanda pressed her index finger to her lips as she hushed her. “Shhh, quiet.”
Melissa nodded and made a zipper motion across her lips.
As she finished, Amanda turned her attention back towards me. “And since all of us girls in the lab are married, we only hear things.”
I let go of my spoon and as I did it clinked against the inside of the bowl. “Things? Like what?”
Over the next several minutes, my jaw drifted open in disbelief as the two of them relayed the tales of Gabe’s conquests. The rumor was he was an incredible lover. And, for those women who didn't demand anything beyond that from him, perks aplenty followed his seduction.
I wasn’t sure whether I should feel intrigued or disgusted. I sensed both emotions at various times as they spoke. Office politics, gossip about romance and the boss’ sexual prowess were all new territory for me. Frankly, they seemed to be… infatuated with him.
As they finished, Melissa directed a comment at me.
“We both saw the way you looked at him in the conference room the other day. What was that all about?”
Still processing the meaning behind their story, I hesitated for a moment before I answered.
“What? What do you mean?”
“Come on, Fiona.” Amanda added. “If there’s something going on, you can tell us.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I hadn’t given them any reason to be suspicious. And besides, it’s not like he expressed any interest of the kind in me. What had happened so far amounted mostly to him teasing me and being annoyingly charming at the same time. It was hardly the start of a romance. Anyway, I didn’t want to even entertain the notion with them, and so I dismissed it.
“If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather not be involved in office innuendo about him. I need this job.”
The women traded devious glances.
“It’s not gossip if it’s true, Fiona. And anyway, you can trust us,” Melissa chided after a few moments of silence.