"Hi, you havent answered any of my calls I wasnt sure you were back," Steve says walking up to my desk.
"You filed a complaint against her" I say, hoping he would tell me he hadn't, but instead he sighed, "Do you have any idea how many meetings i have been pulled into just today and asked if shes been inappropriate?"
"I can explain."
"I'm waiting."
"You wouldn't file the forms your brother told us about, I was afraid she was saying things to you that-"
"I told you why, If we signed those forms she would be one of the first people to see them. She's my friend and I knew she would feel betrayed by me not telling her about us."
"She isn't your friend, She forced you to listen to her have sex in that office and that is not appropriate. She would treat you better if she was your friend."
"She treats me fine."
"Just a couple of months ago you were thinking of leaving and getting a new job, now you won't stop defending her. I'm sorry, but this doesn't make sense to me," He stresses.
"So instead of asking me you went straight to HR to report your ridiculous concerns?"
His response was interrupted when the elevator doors opened to Natasha coming back from her meeting.
"Morning," I smile at Natasha as she walked in, as usual she was dressed amazingly and her hair flowed behind her.
She threw me a look and kept walking towards her office, closing the door a bit harder than she usually did.
We had ended our trip fine, we even talked the whole ride back on the plane so I didn't understand why we were back to this stage.
"In here please," She calls out, "Both of you."
"Can I get you anything?" I ask as soon as I walk in.
"No, step inside."
Steve and I look over at each other, unsure on what would involve the both of us but we go in anyway.
She typed away at her computer before saying anything.
"I made myself clear, i think," She announces.
"About what?" Steve asks, being brave enough to speak up.
Almost as if she was waiting for the question she her desktop around to us.
It was stuck on a frame of my desk, and I gasped. My clothes was beginning to be pulled up and his lips were on mine. There was no way to explain it, there was nothing innocent about it.
My eyes snap to hers which were already looking back at me.
"How did you get that?" Steve asked. Her eyes slowly peeled away from me to look at him.
" Security informs me of any bad behavior," She explains calmly.
"All of us? or do you focus specifically on that camera?" Steve asked angrily. Now she had a look of fire in her eyes, she didnt like being challenged.
"You can clear your desk, youre fired," She says sternly, sitting up straighter.
I wait for her to tell me that I am fired to, I wait for her eyes to land on mine and expect those very words to be said to me.
"Get back to work Y/N, You have a lot to do," She says, to my surprise and to Steves as well telling by his head whipping over to me.
"Are you serious?" He scoffs a laugh.
"Dont make this ugly, clear your desk and leave. Your latest payment will be mailed to you and should arrive by tommorow," She explains.
I was stunned silent.
"I thought your rule implied that anyone caught in a relationship would be terminated, why does she get to stay?" Steve asked in an outburst.
I had the same question but I couldnt vocalize it. I didnt know whether to be angry with him because he was trying to get me fired or glad that he said aloud what I was thinking.
"You are more easily replaceable, there is a IT expert better than you that is ready to start tomorrow."
"Anyone can file papers and make calls, you know exactly why youre keeping her and it has nothing to do with-"
She quickly stood up and it was enough to shut him up.
"Thats enough, you can leave now by yourself or be forcibly removed and embarrass yourself," She said.
He sighed and mumbled curse words under his breath but stormed out.
I was left there with no idea what to say or any idea as to why she was doing this. Is she just waiting for a replacement hire?
"You can get back to work Y/N," She said just barely above a whisper, sitting back down and turning her computer back to her.
"Natasha, Im sorry," I start.
"You will have your own set of consequences, but for now just get out of my sight," She says, her eyes now hidden behind the screen.
I slowly get up as if it would hurt physically to leave in this state. I keep my eyes on her, silently begging her to look at me, but she didnt.
I sat in my chair for the rest of the day letting the work I had to do pile over. I couldnt focus on anything but how I was still here.
"You can go home now, you didnt have to stay late," Natasha says, emerging for the first time from her office, ready to go. I look at the time and only then realized it was 30 minutes past my time, but again I couldnt move quick enough.
"Can we talk?" I heard myself ask.
"We dont have anything to discuss."
"Please," I say, pleading her for any kind of attention. She starts to walk over, "not here."
"Would you like to go into my office?"
"No, Come to my place."
"I told you that it isnt appropriate for us to-"
"Fine then, Natasha," I give up, "Tell me what it is you want from me."
"I want you to do your job, follow the rules."
"And you can just break the rules yourself?"
"I havent slept with a coworker, much less in this very office," She speaks louder.
"Sure, but I cant even count the women you bring here to fuck and I was subject to listen to. You can handle watching me fuck one," I yell.
"No, I cant," She yells back and walks away.
"You dont get to do that," I follow her, "You cant just end a conversation with me like that-mm"
She was quick to turn around and almost as if it were instinct she grabbed my face and kissed me hard. I could smell her winter fragrance much better now, I could taste the mint tea on her lips. I was only just starting to reciprocate when she pulled back and I opened my eyes to a terrified look on her face.
"I shouldnt have done that," She whispered taking steps back.
"Natasha," I try to stop her, "Its ok-"
"Im so sorry," She says and rushes out.
