Chapter Text
After all the drama with the administration change, Bea and I had more time to spend together. This week was our first date finally away from the office and in a public setting. Aaaannd… on a special day!
Valentine’s Day!
I was so excited she’d finally let everyone else know we were dating. Bea had been worried, that even our friends would think I was getting special treatment if they knew we had something going on. But now that Crimson and probably Duretti knew and Bea would no longer be Editor Chief, the pressure and fear had dispersed.
Now we could have more freedom to walk through the office holding hands, smiling at each other... no more sneaking around to the rooftop and almost causing an electrical disaster in the building.
No more pretending we were just work buddies… no more Bea and her fear that everyone would find out because I was too obvious.
… No more Bea, being Boss Bea…
Too worried, too strict… those times she got too frustrated and said mean things to everyone…
I sighed. It was so easy for her to apologize and see what was wrong with what she had said. I really admired that about her and I understood what she was going through at the time, so I gave her another chance when she asked for it.
Though the way she had to make it up to me started off as a joke and she'd actually done it, leading to Lilith and Camila finding out about us…
But we were okay now… better than okay. We were about to announce our relationship to our friends and go on our first open date and finally be able to enjoy each other more.
“Why do you keep smiling? Beatrice got fired.” Mary suddenly said.
What a weird thing to say… “Can’t I smile for something else? It’s not like I'm happy she got fired.” I said back.
Mary gave me that raised eybrow look that said ‘oh really’ and was about to throw out the facts.
“That’s not what everyone thinks…” She said. “We all kind of thought you were Duretti’s new spy until Crimson came into the picture. Don't make us believe that again."
“Why would anyone think that?” I looked at Shannon for help. She seemed taken aback, kind of like she wanted to avoid that conversation.
“well, you kind of sabotaged Beatrice’s events…” She cringed at her words. “and well, you two never hid your dislike for each other…”
“I have never purposely sabotaged Beatrice’s… anything!” I was offended by her comments. “those were unfortunate events…” and they had been, completely accidental...
“And you always kind of do the opposite of what Beatrice tells you to do.” Mary added. “We kind of thought she didn’t fire you because you might be Duretti’s niece or something and Vincent always defended you… it was weird”
"You still think that?"
Shannon shrugged. “Duretti made it clear that he dislikes you. And Bea hadn't fired you because she was trying to prove to him she could handle Ava Silva."
“But that is not remotely true an it also doesn’t mean I don’t like Beatrice!” I sulked int my seat.
“What are you guys talking about?” Lilith and Camila sat next to the other two.
“Why we think Ava hates Beatrice.” Mary said. Shannon shook her head. “Lilith was the one that made us realize you had a thing for bothering Bea."
“You thought that?”
Lilith made a face to hold her laughter. “I'm excluding myself from this conversation…” she took her plate and walked away. “Vampires, vampires everywhere.”
I looked at Camila in silent question... she shrugged, but I understood that little nodd. She had also thought I disliked Bea.
I felt awful, I hadn’t realized how everyone else saw our dynamic. How everyone else saw me...
What was I doing?
What am I doing?
Why does everyone think I hate my boss?