Auden could sense the whispers from her co-workers throughout the day, though no one confronted her about the now viral magazine article. It seemed to be spreading like wildfire, and Brigid forced Auden to turn off her phone to avoid spiraling once again. Instead, she patiently waited in her office for Charles to meet with her over her budding romance with Cillian. She was determined to stand up for herself, her career, and her privacy.

She was laying on her office couch, a wet cloth over her eyes, as she fought off a tension headache during her lunch break. Auden had turned off all the lights, with only the sunlight streaming from her windows to light up the room. Her eyes were closed, but she heard her click open and close.

"Brigid," Auden said without removing the cloth, "I told you I need like 30 minutes of silence."

A deep chuckled rang in her ears. Auden yanked the cloth off of her eyes to see Cillian, head covered in a dark hood from his sweatshirt and eyes covered behind dark sunglasses. She blinked at the sight of him.

"Why are you dressed like that?" She asked, pulling herself into a sitting position on the couch, "You look like the Unabomber."

Cillian pulled his sunglasses off, revealing a pair of bright confused eyes, "The what?"

"You know, the Unabomber. Ted Kaczynski?" Auden stared at Cillian for a moment who stared at her blankly. Realizing that he was too out of touch with American crime history to understand her reference, she shook her head. "Never mind, but you look like a creep."

Cillian laughed, removing his hood. "I was trying to be discreet. You have some jerk-offs loitering outside the gallery trying to get a good look at ya. I had to come in the back entrance."

Auden sighed, her headache pounding behind her eyes as she buried her head in her hands, "So you saw?" She felt herself dip slightly on the couch, indicating that Cillian had sat next to her.

"First thing I saw this mornin'," He clicked his tongue, "First thing my agent sent to me actually."

Auden scoffed but said nothing. She didn't know what to say, but Cillian seemed awfully relaxed about the situation. He bumped his shoulder against hers, "Hey, we knew it would happen eventually."

She removed her head from her hands, turning to him, "Why are you so calm about this?"

The corner of his mouth perked up slightly, "I was more upset earlier. But then I thought to myself, I've dealt with this before. You haven't," Cillian placed a hand on her thigh. "How are you handling it?"

Auden wasn't used to people putting her emotions above their own. Typically, she was the one doing it, and Cillian's tranquility and inquiry threw her off a bit, "I don't know. I have a lot of anxiety."

"What are you anxious about?" Cillian eyed her, slowly rubbing his warm hand up and down her thigh. The energy flowing between her thigh and his touch was a bit distracting, and she was becoming increasingly nervous as his blue eyes bore into her.

Auden looked away to regain her composure, "I don't know."

Cillian, however, had other plans. He reached up and grabbed her chin gently, turning her eyes back to him. "You keep saying that but I don't believe ya."

Auden was never good at expressing herself unless she was intoxicated. The booze gave her the confidence to let her words tumble from her mouth. But when she was sober, she felt the words cramp up in her throat, refusing to escape. That's exactly what was happening now.

Cillian drew his eyebrows together in concern as Auden remained silent, their eyes staying locked on one another. "Auden, seriously. What's bothering you?"

Auden shrugged lamely, "I - I just — I don't — I can't lose my job." Auden stuttered. She wanted to say so much more. She wanted to say to him how she was afraid he would change his mind now, that maybe he realized he made a mistake, that he should be with somebody older. But Auden's thoughts just wouldn't come out. Auden knew why she struggled so much with putting her emotions on display — she grew up with a father who found affection difficult and she suppressed the grief of losing him almost everyday.

"Charles won't fire you. I won't let him. It's not his business anyway," Cillian responded as he moved his fingers to push Auden's hair behind her ear, his icy stare growing somber. "Have you changed your mind about me?"

It always shocked Auden to notice how Cillian and her were often on the same wavelength mentally yet he was the only one who had the ability to be open about it. She touched the side of Cillian's face softly, and she felt him lean into her hand, the stubble on his cheeks tickling her palm, "I haven't changed my mind about anything."

"Good," He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. He sighed, standing up from the couch before helping Auden up as well, "I think I know who talked."

"I think I do too," Auden said, just as there was a knock at the door. Her and Cillian glanced at one another.

Before Auden could say anything else, Charles opened her office door and walked right in. His eyes looked over Cillian, his face neutral to the fact that he was in Auden's office.

"Well, I can't say I'm surprised to find you here Cillian," Charles said, staring directly at Auden.

Cillian shifted awkwardly. shoving his hands in his pockets. He tilted his head forward, greeting his long-time acquaintance, "Always good to see ya Charles."

Her boss moved his black eyes to Cillian and sighed, "Seems you caused quite a mess."

Though the pair were similar in age, Charles looked much older. His heavy set build and salt-n-pepper beard made him age about twenty years. But from what Auden had gathered, Charles and Cillian had a long history that directly linked them both to Jenni.

Cillian's jaw clenched, "I don't think I know what you mean."

"Right," Auden noticed Charles's mouth flinch slightly as if he were holding back a smile. He turned his attention back to Auden, "Listen, normally I try not to concern myself with what my subordinates are doing within their private life. However, this," Charles gestured between Auden and Cillian, "has caused quite a stir in the media and for some reason my name has been dragged into it."

Cillian stepped forward, "I don't know who took those pictures — probably one of my blockhead neighbors. But you already know who talked to the press," He crossed his arms. "It was Jenni, I guarantee it. Her publicist has been jumping at a chance to make me look bad."

Charles held a hand up, "I won't speak badly about Jenni. She's a dear friend of mine. But what I'm suggesting — No, what I am telling Auden to do is get it under control."

Auden gaped, "How is this my fault?"

"As my employee, you represent my gallery both inside and outside this building. I can't have petty drama linked to it," Charles gave Auden a stern look, crossing his arms, "This is a serious institution, and I thought you were beginning to understand that Auden."

Cillian took another step forward to defend Auden but she held her hand out to stop him. She didn't need him making it worse.

"Sir, I do understand," Auden felt herself beginning to panic. This is what she was afraid of, "I'll fix it. I'm sorry — It won't happen again."

It was quite for moment, as Charles stared at her, analyzing her face, "Is this what you really want Auden?" His tone mimicked one that reminded her of her father's voice when he felt concerned for her well-being.

Auden glanced at Cillian who had his eyes on the floor. She could tell by his tense stance that he was anticipating the worst response. Waiting for her to suddenly change her mind about him. Auden's small hand reached and interlaced her fingers in his, giving a reassuring squeeze. She felt him squeeze back, comforting her anxious state slightly. Auden locked her eyes with Charles once more, giving a slight nod.

Charles eyed them, before rubbing his hands across his face, heaving an exhaustive sigh, "I'm happy for ya both, really," Charles looked back up, his eyes full of remorse, "Not everyone is as understanding. It's gonna be a long road — people are gonna say nasty things. Just keep that in mind and please keep your work out of it."

Charles flashed Auden a look that she's only ever seen from her father. She felt her heart shattered at the thought of her dad. As Charles exited her office, Auden's headache returned and she was left with a troubled feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had a feeling this was only the beginning.