I get home and my parents already know I was with the pastor. He must’ve called, letting them know I visited. But due to their lack of anger, I can tell he didn’t tell them about the content of our visit.

I’m thankful for that, but it still feels like my movements are under scrutiny. It’s like there is no trust. I’ve never done anything, until now, to warrant such surveillance.

They always say, “It’s not that we don’t trust you, we don’t trust the world.”

That doesn’t make my life feel as if it’s any less under lockdown. But maybe I need to be reined in. At the first chance, I made a mistake and let my boss touch me. Not just touch me, but spread my legs and lick me all over.

That's not the best way to inspire my parents’ confidence in my goodness. And it's also not the best way for me to accomplish my own goal of not thinking about Jameson, and all the delicious things he did to me.

The next day, I manage to avoid Jameson for the first half of the day, but after lunch I have to deliver some files to all four partners. I save him for last, starting with Mr. Mack. When I get to his office, he’s on the phone, so I silently place the envelope on his desk.

I hear him talking to someone on the phone. “I would love it if you could start right away,” he’s saying.

I try to hurry out so he doesn’t think I’m eavesdropping. But before I leave, he puts his hand over the receiver and motions for me to wait a second.

“You’re Erin, right?” I’m surprised he even knows my name. I nod. “I’d suggest treading carefully around here. There are some real vipers.”

He goes back to his call, effectively dismissing me and I’m left to wonder what his enigmatic warning means. I head to Mr. Marks’ office next, but he’s not in, so I just slide the file under his door. The next stop is Mr. Sanchez and before I even knock on the door he opens it and invites me to take a seat.

“Hello, Erin. I was hoping to have a little chat with you.”

Wow. Two partners in one day. I wonder if I should be worried. We both sit down.

“Yes, Mr. Sanchez.”

He leans back in his chair and gives me a smile. There’s something off about it though. He looks as if he’s about to give me a lecture.

Oh, great.

Maybe he’s heard about Jameson and me after all. Doesn’t he know I just purged myself of the sin by confessing to my pastor? Then I remind myself that there’s no way he could know that, and that hopefully he doesn’t know much else, either. I tap my foot impatiently, willing myself to hear him out.

“I noticed at the party the other night, you left with Jim. Mr. Reed, that is.”

Oh no. He does know what happened. I am about to be fired for being a slut.

“I also saw you were in his office yesterday," he continues. "Would you mind telling me what you two did?”

Maybe he doesn’t know. Another lie can’t hurt, right?

“Mr. Reed was showing me around the office. I was like a deer in headlights at the party and he picked up on it. He thought if I got a look around, it would all seem less intimidating. And I had to go to his office the next day because I’d left my notepad behind. He was nice enough to personally return it to me.”

I look at Mr. Sanchez, praying he buys my excuse. I have gotten very good at lying over these past few days. I don’t even want to know what this indicates. Mr. Sanchez doesn’t say anything for a minute, but then he leans forward, extending his hand.

“I want to thank you for letting me know.” I accept his hand and shake it. “Sorry, if I seem nosy, but I just want to make sure you feel safe here.”

Safe? I highly doubt it.

But for some reason, safe isn’t what I wanted to feel with Jameson. I wanted to feel dangerous, daring, sexy.

Mr. Sanchez drops my hand and stands. I follow suit. He comes around his desk and leads me to the door.

“If anything untoward happens between you and Mr. Reed or anyone who works here, I want you to feel comfortable enough to tell me.”

Untoward? Like I’d tell him. Something untoward definitely happened, and seems to be continuing to happen, in my head at least. But that is nothing I will mention to Mr. Sanchez or anyone here. The last thing I need is to get fired so soon after starting to work here, or for Jameson to get into trouble.

I mumble a thank you and leave. I make a mental note to try not to go into Cameron Sanchez’s office when he’s there. His stern admonishments are the last thing I need in the middle of whatever it is that is going on— or not going on, I tell myself— with Jameson Reed and me.

I head to my last destination– Mr. Reed’s office. I knock and hope he’s not here, but I’m not that lucky.

Or am I?

“Come in.”

Yes, Boss, I can’t help but think. Take me. Now.