Chapter 40: A Hidden Crush

"Oh come on, you can deny it all you want, but I know there's something going on between you two," Sarah said confidently, her voice laced with a teasing certainty.

 

*What?!* Claire's heart nearly stopped. If Sarah—the office's unofficial gossip queen—picked up on her connection with Lucas, the whole company would know by lunchtime! *What am I supposed to do?* Claire thought, frantically searching for a way to deflect.

 

"Alright, Sarah," Claire began cautiously, leaning in closer. "But you have to promise me you won't tell anyone."

 

Sarah's eyes sparkled with excitement as she eagerly nodded. "You can count on me! I won't say a word."

 

*Sure,* Claire thought, sighing internally. *Like that's ever worked before.* She could only hope that, just this once, Sarah would keep a secret.

 

"The truth is… Lucas is a friend of my father's. Our families go way back, and he's kind of looking out for me because of that. That's all. So, he wasn't mad because of me, he was worried that woman might be… you know… uh, 'interested,' and didn't want me to get hurt."

 

"Oh! So you're childhood friends!" Sarah nodded as if it all made sense now. "I knew it! You've got to be connected somehow; no rookie would get into the company that fast without some strings pulled." She smirked, handing Claire a napkin, but then suddenly added, "But… does the boss like you?"

 

"W-what?" Claire stammered, almost choking on her tea. *Did Sarah have to be so direct?!*

 

"Come on, don't look so shocked. He was all wound up over you! Anyone could see it!" Sarah said, rolling her eyes. Even a blind person would have noticed how intense Lucas's gaze had been back in the store.

 

"You're imagining things," Claire insisted. "That's just how he is—possessive about his… stuff."

 

Sarah raised an eyebrow, leaning in closer. "Claire, do *you* like Lucas?"

 

Claire felt her cheeks heat up as Sarah's question hung in the air. "You're making things up," she said, her voice a bit too defensive.

 

"Am I, though?" Sarah smirked, taking a sip of her tea. "Your face gives it all away. We've been here all this time, and all you've talked about is Lucas."

 

"Talking about him doesn't mean I like him," Claire replied, glancing away as she tried to calm her racing heart.

 

"But you light up every time you mention him," Sarah pointed out, laughing quietly. "Like a cat in heat, honestly," she added to herself with a grin.

 

Claire's mouth dropped. "Wait—do I really light up when I talk about him?" she asked, eyeing Sarah skeptically.

 

"Oh, totally!" Sarah's grin widened as she watched Claire's reaction. "Just like now. It's like he's the only thing that exists in your world when you talk about him. Should I grab a mirror from the counter for you?"

 

"Oh, stop it, Sarah!" Claire quickly put her head down, her face burning. *This is so embarrassing!*

 

"So you're admitting it, then?"

 

"Fine… I… I like him," she whispered, barely able to get the words out. "But it's just a crush. Lucas doesn't know I feel this way, so it's… you know… a secret."

 

"A secret crush?" Sarah's voice rose a little too loudly, drawing the attention of nearby diners. Claire's cheeks flushed, and she scrambled to pull Sarah up and rush out of the restaurant, mortified.