Kayla
Joan hesitated, clearly debating how honest to be before finally exhaling. “People have been whispering, Kayla. You know how this place thrives on rumors.”
A knot formed in my stomach. “Rumors about what?”
Cameroon shifted awkwardly while Joan exchanged a glance with him.
“It’s mostly the obvious assumptions,” Cameroon explained cautiously. “You married the CEO, and not long after that, you got promoted. People are connecting the dots the way they want to.”
I crossed my arms tightly, irritation bubbling beneath the surface. “I nearly lived in this office before any promotion happened. I sacrificed weekends, stayed late almost every night, handled impossible projects—none of this was handed to me.”
“We’re aware of that,” Joan said immediately. “Anyone who has actually worked bes
