The office buzzed with whispered conversations as Alison walked through the hallways. Ever since the tension between her and Henry had intensified, so had the rumors. It wasn't just the usual office gossip anymore—people were genuinely starting to wonder about their relationship. Alison could feel the stares, the speculative glances, and the low murmurs that stopped abruptly whenever she passed.
She tried to ignore it, but the weight of the attention was suffocating.
As she reached her desk, her phone buzzed with a text. She picked it up, half-expecting it to be from her employer, but it was from Jessica, one of the assistants in the office.
_"Is it true?"_ the message read.
Alison sighed. Of course, the rumors had reached Jessica, too. Jessica had always been a bit nosy, but harmless. Still, Alison knew better than to engage in any sort of gossip—especially about Henry.
She typed out a quick response: _"There's nothing to talk about."_
