Kori and I decided to tell HR about our relationship in April, right around when her parents were going to be in town.

"Are you sure you're alright doing that while your parents are here?" I asked her one night at her house at the beginning of April, "I know they stress you out."

"I'll be fine," Kori said to me, "I appreciate it, though. There's no 'right' time to do it per say."

Kori was mindlessly stroking my hair as I cuddled up against her. She then said, "I did tell my mom about you. Not that I have to, being a 40 year old woman and all. I was talking to her on the phone earlier, and she asked me if I was seeing anyone. I told her that I was."

I looked up at Kori, "Did you tell her anything about me...like that I'm 13 years younger than you?"

"I mentioned to my mom that you were quite a bit younger than me. She said that as long as you're a consenting adult, that's all that matters, which kind of surprised me."

"Why did it surprise you?"

Kori looked lost in thought as she said, "My parents always have something to say about my life choices. They have, ever since I was young. It was like nothing was ever good enough for them."

"I'm sorry, Kori," I said, "That's really tough to deal with."

"Please, I know compared to what your parents put you through, it's nothing."

I sat up a bit straighter, "That doesn't mean that it wasn't difficult to deal with, Kori. Never feeling like you're good enough is hard to handle. And I'm sure it carried over to adulthood."

Kori nodded slowly, "It did. I have an MBA from Penn, and I'm an executive at a company, yet I still don't feel good enough sometimes. Thanks mom and dad."

I looked right into Kori's eyes and said, "You are good enough. You always have been."

Kori looked back at me with sincerity as she said, "Thank you, Ash. I really appreciate that."

The next night, I had a girls night with Addison and Alyssa, at my apartment. Trey decided to join us for it. Rachel was covering a night shift for a coworker, so she unfortunately couldn't.

"I'm so honored to be invited to the Davis sisters girls night," Trey smiled at us, "Even though you all kind of had no choice but to invite me since you're in my apartment."

Alyssa laughed, "Trey, you're always welcome."

"You can be an honorary sister," Addison said.

"You know," Trey said, eating some chocolate covered popcorn that was in a bowl in front of us, "I'm an only child, and I always wanted siblings. So that means a lot to me."

"You're always welcome to hang with us," I looked at Trey.

"That makes me happy," Trey smiled, and he then turned his attention to Alyssa, "How are you feeling? How many weeks are you again?"

"I'm 11 weeks along," Alyssa said, "I'm pretty nauseous, hence why I'm not eating much, but otherwise I feel good."

"Are you going to do the blood test where you can find out the gender?" Trey asked, "I know they can do that at like, 10 weeks."

Alyssa smiled, "I think we're actually going to keep the gender a surprise until I have the baby."

Addison's jaw dropped, "You didn't tell us that!"

Alyssa nodded, "That's the plan. I want to be surprised."

"I'm in full support," I said to Alyssa, "Whatever you want to do."

"Who knows, maybe I'll change my mind? But for now, keeping it a surprise," she said, and she then looked at me and asked, "How's Kori? You know I want to meet her, right?"

I chuckled, "I know. She's great, though. However, I'm a bit apprehensive. We're going to come clean to HR about us dating and see if I can maybe move departments. I just hope that goes as well as possible."

"I think that'll be great for your relationship," Trey looked at me, "It can finally be out in the open. That'll be a relief."

"A relief, but a bit terrifying," I said back to Trey.

Trey chuckled, "I don't think you have to worry about anyone saying anything to you about dating Kori. From what you've told me, if anyone crosses her, she'll rip their head off."

I laughed because while that was true, I didn't see that side of Kori as much.

She has a soft spot for me. I'm used to her being sweet.

On the first night that Kori's parents came into town, she had dinner with them at Charley and Mike's place. Afterwards she called me on her drive home.

"How did dinner go?" I asked her.

"Not bad. My parents asked me quite a lot about you. Apparently, Charley told them how great you are before I arrived, and they were all hanging out."

"Oh, that's so sweet of Charley," I said to Kori, "I hope you didn't mind answering questions about me."

"Mind? You're my favorite topic," Kori said to me, "I love talking about you. And...after tomorrow I'll get to do so more freely."

"Tomorrow? Is that when you're planning on talking to HR?" I asked Kori, my heart starting to race.

"I am. If that's okay with you. I want to get the conversation over with. I'm pretty close with Jose, who is the head of HR, so I really don't think it'll be too bad."

"I hope not," I said to Kori, "I'm nervous, I won't lie."

"It's going to be fine," Kori reassured me, "I'll talk to Jose, and we'll take it from there. You can likely just go back to working up at the front. Are you okay with that?"

"I am. The ladies up there are very nice."

"Okay, good," Kori said back to me, "It's all going to be fine, love."

My heart skipped a beat when she called me "love" and I said, "I trust you."

The next day at work was a Wednesday, and I was nervous at how the conversation between Kori and Jose would go. I wasn't sure what time of the day she was planning on telling HR, but I was hoping it was earlier in the day. I was very aware that this was likely my last day in my department.

At around 10:30 AM, Kori texted me to come to her office.

I got up from my desk and walked over to Kori's office. When I closed the door behind me, she already had a coffee ready for me.

"Thanks," I smiled at her, "You truly do think of everything."

"Just covering our bases for the last time," Kori said, "I have a meeting with Jose at 1 PM. I just wanted to make sure you were okay?"

"I'm okay," I said to Kori, "I just hope the conversation goes well. Are you sure I shouldn't be there with you?"

"I think it would be best if I spoke to Jose alone. Of course, if we need you, we'll send you a message. But I'm just going to keep the conversation short and sweet and not go into too much detail. I'll tell him that our relationship has expanded beyond being professional, and that you will likely need to switch departments."

"I'm going to miss being up here in IT," I said to Kori.

"You're more than welcome to stop up here anytime, Ash. I love you, this is all going to be okay."

To my surprise, Kori leaned in and gave me a gentle kiss on the forehead. Even when we were in her office, she never kissed me or touched me at work.

"I love you too," I said to Kori.

"I'll let you know how it goes with Jose right away," Kori said to me as I made my way to the door.

However, when I opened it, someone immediately stumbled back.

Someone who had been very close to the door.

I looked to see Lisa taking a few steps backwards and I couldn't help but to say, "Whoa. What are you doing?"

A pit in my stomach immediately formed, as I just had a feeling she had been listening to mine and Kori's conversation.

I just know it.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Lisa flipped her hair behind her shoulder and said, "I'm here to see Kori."

Before I knew it, Kori was already behind me, and she said to Lisa, "Now isn't the best time. I'm about to be on a call."

Lisa looked between Kori and I and said, "Well. Now I know your little secret."

Kori's voice was fierce, not fearful, when she asked Lisa, "What are you talking about, Lisa?"

"I overheard you and Ashley talking," Lisa said in a smug tone.

"The only way that you would be able to listen to any conversation going on in here is if you had your ear pinned to the door," Kori said, still in the same tone.

I looked at Lisa, heart pounding, "That's what you were doing, wasn't it? You stumbled back when I opened the door."

Kori stepped in front of me now and I looked up at her. I could feel the anger radiating off her.

"Are you kidding me, Lisa?" Kori said, "You were listening to a private conversation in my office that had nothing to do with you?"

Lisa looked at Kori, "I'd be careful if I were you. I know the information that you are dating your direct employee."

"Information that as you heard, I'm telling HR today," Kori crossed her arms and glowered at Lisa.

Yeah. I wouldn't want to get on Kori's bad side. That's for sure.

Lisa's confidence and smug nature faltered for a moment as Kori looked at her, but she responded, "Like I said, I'd be careful if I were you."

Kori opened her mouth like she was going to say something, but she then shook her head and said, "It's not worth it. You're not worth it."

Lisa looked offended after Kori said this, and then with one final glance, she turned on her heel and walked away in a huff.

"Don't pay her any mind," Kori said to me, "She's not going to say a thing."

My heart was hammering as I said, "I really hope she's not going to."

Kori looked down at me, "She wouldn't dare. Don't worry, Ash."

As I walked back to my desk, coffee in hand, my entire body felt shaky. I still had a pit in my stomach, and it wasn't going away.

I could hardly concentrate on my work when I got back.

Then, about a half hour after I got back to my desk, I got a Teams message from Jose.

It said: Hi Ashley. Mind coming down to my office as soon as you can?

My heart dropped when I read the message.

Kori's meeting with him wasn't until 1.

Lisa absolutely said something.

It's time to face the music.