Chapter 6: The Office Gossip

Harper Hayes had never considered herself a particularly superstitious person, but as she stepped into the sleek lobby of Blackwood Enterprises the following Monday, she felt an ominous sense of foreboding. The glittering chandeliers above seemed to cast a harsh spotlight on her as she walked toward the elevators, the chatter of employees rising and falling like waves around her.

Today would mark her first day back in the office since the gala, and she had braced herself for the inevitable. The whispers, the glances—she knew they would come.

The last few days had felt surreal. The engagement was public now; articles were circulating online, complete with photos of her and Nathan at the gala. But as Harper scrolled through the comments and opinions from strangers, she felt a creeping sense of anxiety about facing her coworkers.

She pressed the button for her floor, trying to keep her expression neutral. As the elevator doors slid closed, she took a deep breath and reminded herself of her resolve. She was Harper Blackwood now, at least for the next six months.

When the elevator doors opened, she was greeted by the familiar buzz of the office—ringing phones, the tapping of keyboards, and the low hum of conversation. But there was something different in the air. A tension.

Harper stepped into the open floor plan, her heels clicking against the polished tiles. Heads turned, conversations paused, and she could practically feel the weight of their stares.

“Look who’s finally back!” someone called out from the far end of the room. It was Jessica, one of her colleagues, standing with a small group near the coffee station.

Harper forced a smile, though her stomach twisted. “Hi, everyone.”

The tension in the room shifted slightly, and she could hear the whispers starting up again.

“Did you hear about Harper?”

“I can’t believe she’s actually engaged to him!”

“I wonder how long it’ll last.”

The remarks floated through the air like daggers.

Harper made her way to her desk, but not before catching snippets of the ongoing gossip. Jessica’s voice was particularly loud, laced with both envy and disbelief. “I mean, one day she’s just another consultant, and the next, she’s engaged to the CEO. It’s like a fairytale, right?”

“More like a fairytale gone wrong,” someone else chimed in.

Harper set her bag down, her heart racing as she opened her laptop. She had to focus on work. She couldn’t let the gossip get to her.

But it was impossible to ignore. The murmurs continued, a low drone of speculation and judgment.

“Harper, can I talk to you for a second?”

Harper looked up to see Jenna, her friend from accounting, approaching with a concerned expression.

“Sure,” Harper replied, pushing aside the swirling thoughts in her mind.

Once they were out of earshot from the others, Jenna leaned in. “Are you okay? I heard what happened at the gala.”

“I’m fine,” Harper said, though her voice felt shaky. “It’s just part of the arrangement.”

Jenna nodded slowly. “I get it, but the way everyone is talking… it’s intense.”

“Trust me, I know,” Harper said, exhaling slowly. “But it doesn’t matter. I have to keep my head down and focus on work.”

Jenna studied her for a moment, concern etched on her face. “Just be careful, okay? There are people who will use this against you.”

Harper nodded, grateful for Jenna’s support. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”

They returned to their desks, and Harper tried to immerse herself in her work. But it was difficult. Every time she glanced up, she could see the sideways glances from her coworkers, the whispers trailing off when she approached.

Just when she thought she could settle into her routine, Nathan stepped into the office. He was a force of nature, tall and confident, commanding attention the moment he entered the room.

“Morning, team!” he called out, his voice booming.

Everyone straightened, their demeanor shifting. Harper watched as the office fell silent, all eyes turning to their powerful CEO.

“Harper!” Nathan said, his gaze locking onto hers. He approached her desk with an easy smile that sent a ripple of whispers through the room. “I need you in my office for a minute.”

Harper’s heart raced. “Sure,” she said, standing up.

As they walked toward his office, she could feel the stares of her coworkers piercing through her.

Once they were inside, Nathan shut the door and leaned against his desk, crossing his arms. “How are you holding up?”

“Honestly?” she replied, her voice dropping. “Not great. The gossip is relentless.”

“Let them talk,” he said, his tone dismissive. “You’re doing your job. That’s what matters.”

Harper sighed, rubbing her temples. “I just didn’t think it would be like this. It’s hard to focus when everyone is scrutinizing my every move.”

Nathan straightened, his expression serious. “The best way to deal with it is to lean into the engagement. Show them you’re confident, that you belong here.”

“Easier said than done,” Harper muttered.

“I know it’s tough, but if you give them a reason to doubt you, they will,” he said firmly. “Don’t let anyone undermine your position.”

She met his gaze, his blue eyes intense. “I won’t. I promise.”

“Good. We’ll have a team meeting later to address any concerns.”

Harper frowned. “You think that will help?”

“Absolutely. If they see us together, it’ll reinforce the engagement. People are more likely to believe what they see.”

“Right.” She hesitated. “And what if they still have doubts?”

“Then we’ll address it head-on.” He paused, his expression softening. “You’re stronger than you think, Harper. You’ve handled tougher challenges than this.”

The way he looked at her sent a surge of warmth through her. “Thanks, Nathan. I appreciate your support.”

He nodded, a flicker of something deeper in his gaze. “Let’s get through this together.”

---

The Team Meeting

Later that afternoon, Harper found herself in the large conference room with Nathan and the rest of the team. The air was thick with tension as employees filed in, casting wary glances in her direction.

Nathan stood at the head of the table, commanding attention as he began the meeting. “Thank you all for coming. I wanted to address the recent engagement announcement and reassure everyone about our team dynamics.”

Harper felt the weight of their stares, their curiosity palpable.

“I understand that change can be unsettling,” Nathan continued, his voice steady. “But Harper is an integral part of our team, and her work is invaluable.”

He gestured toward her, and all eyes turned. Harper felt her heart race as she forced herself to meet their gazes.

“Her engagement to me will not change our professional relationship,” Nathan said. “This is a personal matter, and I expect everyone to treat it as such.”

The room fell silent, and Harper could feel the tension in the air. She cleared her throat, pushing herself to speak. “I appreciate Nathan’s support. I understand there may be concerns, but I’m committed to my role here. I won’t let personal matters interfere with our work.”

A few people nodded, but others remained skeptical.

“I have a question,” someone spoke up from the back. It was Ryan, one of the newer analysts. “How do we know this engagement is legitimate? It seems rather sudden.”

Harper’s stomach sank, but she met his gaze head-on. “I assure you, it’s real. Nathan and I have been together for a while now, and this is just the next step in our relationship.”

“Is that so?” Ryan pressed. “How can we be sure it’s not just a publicity stunt?”

Harper felt Nathan tense beside her, but she held her ground. “It’s not a publicity stunt. This is my career, and I wouldn’t jeopardize it for something like that.”

Nathan stepped in, his tone firm. “The engagement is genuine. It benefits both of us professionally and personally. I expect everyone to respect that.”

The murmurs in the room grew louder, uncertainty lingering in the air.

“Look,” Nathan continued, “I understand that you may have doubts. But I promise you, I wouldn’t put this team or Harper in a position to fail.”

Harper felt a swell of gratitude as she glanced at Nathan. He was fighting for her. Fighting for their arrangement, even if it was all based on a lie.

“Let’s focus on our upcoming projects and move forward,” Nathan concluded, glancing around the room. “If anyone has concerns, my door is always open.”

With that, the meeting ended, and people began to file out. As the room emptied, Harper caught snippets of conversation—some still skeptical, some more accepting.

But one thing was clear: this wasn’t going to be easy.

As she gathered her things, Nathan approached her, his expression serious. “You did well in there.”

“Did I?” she replied, her voice shaking slightly. “I felt like I was on trial.”

“You held your own,” he insisted. “That matters more than you realize.”

She exhaled slowly. “I just hope this gets easier.”

“It will. Just remember to lean into the engagement. Confidence is key.”