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He didn't turn back to her again, but took his suit jacket off its rack and headed to the door. "I'll be gone the rest of the day," she heard him say to April.
Then he was gone.
Moments later, April stood in the doorway with a look of bewilderment on her face, her jaw hanging open. Jewell was pretty sure the same look was on her face. What just happened? After three weeks of snappy comments, dark scowls, and nasty diatribes, had she won an argument with him? Had this ever happened?
"What was that all about?" April asked.
Jewell raised and lowered her shoulders slowly, not even sure in her own mind. "He flipped out over some numbers he didn't like. I guess he just pushed me too far. I got angry, and probably did something I shouldn't have."
As she explained, her voice slowed and a dreadful realization formed. She probably just cost herself a job.
"I think the guys in accounting heard the yelling," April told her. "I've never heard him like that. And I've worked for Mr. Roth for three years." A kind of worshipful awe tinged April's voice.
Jewell figured April had never heard him like that because no one was ever stupid enough to be so belligerent back at him. Jewell crossed her arms over her body and walked to April. She extended her hand, and the woman took it in a kind of farewell shake.
"It's been nice working with you, April, but I have a feeling I won't be here much longer."
April dismissed Jewell's comment with a pass of her hand. "Oh, don't be ridiculous. He wouldn't fire you because you stood up to him. If that were true, you would've been gone weeks ago. Heck, you probably wouldn't have been hired to begin with."
Jewell wished she could believe the affirmation, but right now it was impossible. She turned and went back to her office. Until the ax fell, she figured she would continue with the latest bit of research he wanted.
Two hours later, Jewell pushed back from her desk with a huff and pulled open her desk drawer for the bottle of headache medicine she kept on hand. She'd needed it a lot in the last few weeks, but never as much as today. She grimaced as she swallowed the three tablets with the cold, thick dregs of her flavored coffee. A soft knock at her door drew Jewell's attention as she tossed the now-empty paper cup into her trash. Kevin Burke leaned into the doorjamb with his hands in his trouser pockets. A brand new knot of dread landed next to the first, and unease flittered over her skin. Since the evening event she'd attended with Benjamin—and the snide-but-subtle remarks Burke had made, she'd felt uneasy around him. She could feel his eyes on her when she walked into the hall, and he often smirked when she caught him watching her. Jewell slipped her reading glasses off and set them on the desk.
"Can I help you with something, Mr. Burke?" she asked, keeping her voice level.
"Please, call me Kevin," he insisted as he came into the room. "I think we're beyond formality."
Jewell said nothing to affirm his request, silently waiting for him to continue. He shifted his hip up on the edge of her desk and looked down at her. "I heard the yelling this morning," he stated.
Heat rose in Jewell's cheeks and she rubbed her fingers across her forehead. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. With a subtle push-off, Jewell moved the chair back to create some space between her and Kevin. "I think everyone heard the yelling. I'm very embarrassed over the whole thing."
"Lovers' quarrel?"
Jewell momentarily lost the ability to speak. She realized her jaw had fallen open and looked away from Kevin's smug expression to regain her composure. When she again met Kevin's stare, an all-knowing grin spread across his face.
"I'm sorry?" she managed to ask, her dry throat making it hard to speak.
"It's certainly not a secret, Jewell," he said. "Everyone has noticed the little glances and subtle touches that pass between the two of you. Anyone in attendance at the dinner party a few weeks back had to be blind not to see the chemistry. You looked very hot that night, and Benjamin wasn't the only one taking advantage of the view." One eyebrow bobbed up and down suggestively.
Jewell stood up, no longer feeling comfortable sitting below his line of sight. "You are mistaken, Mr. Burke," she stated, stressing her return to the formal address. "You and everyone else who believes there to be anything but a professional connection between Mr. Roth and myself."
"Everyone there saw the two of you on the dance floor?—"
"We weren't the only ones dancing?—"
"Have you forgotten how I caught the two of you on the balcony? Looked very cozy to me, Jewell."
"I needed some air," she exclaimed, annoyed at the high-pitched twinge in her voice, and his insinuation.
Kevin smirked. "You arrived together and you left together. Benjamin Roth has never spoken to his EAs outside of work, let alone taken them to formal dinner parties." He leaned forward and winked. "Not that I blame him."
Jewell struggled for words. Why was it she could so easily counter Benjamin's arguments, but when this jerk tossed out lewd and vulgar comments, she had nothing? She was in shock. The man took some very innocent, very meaningless events and made them into something scandalous.
"We both know you two were doing more than reviewing some numbers that afternoon I interrupted you. B.P.’s been around enough. He should know better and lock his door before getting you on your knees."
It was all Jewell could do to keep from slapping the lecherous smile off his face. She bit down hard, focusing on the heat in her cheeks and steadying her breathing again before she spoke. Jewell took a step toward him, and the look on her face had to be enough warning to Mr. Burke because he slid off the edge of the desk and stepped back, giving her plenty of space.
"Mr. Burke," she said, stressing the formal address. "I would like to remind you that sexual harassment in the workplace is an offense that I understand Bulwark takes very seriously."
