Yes, Erin York is blackmailing me.
It all started when I installed her in the elegant clinic in London, assuring her that the expenses would be on me.
'Of course they will!' Your fiancée pushed me down the stairs and I believe that characterizes an accident at work!
I had rolled my eyes, already tired of all that litany she'd been screaming from the four winds since the accident. Erin was convinced that Natasha was some sort of bad afternoon soap villain who pushes bosses down the stairs.
Not that I believed it. Natasha was somewhat unbalanced, given to exaggerating her wild stories and quite prone to getting into trouble and accidents, but boss killer didn't fit her personality.
“I'm sure it was an accident, Erin,” I replied calmly. “And no, it wasn't an accident at work, as I wasn't at my place on business. I still feel responsible, so don't worry about anything. She'll be fine here until she recovers and gets back to work at DBS.
- That simple? Don't you see what Natasha's intention was?
Here we go.
“Erin, I think she's taken too many painkillers and is delusional.
- I'm not! And you're defending that freeloading nymphet because you're sleeping with her!
Okay, that was too much.
“Erin, you're my employee and you're debilitated, so I'll take your offenses to Natasha. But I wish she would stop. Now! I won't allow you to talk like that.
- Sure! It was to be expected! I'm just not going to stand here with my arms crossed, or rather with my legs in casts, waiting for Natasha Romanoff to take my place.
“No one will take her place, Erin…” I tried to talk her out of those stalking thoughts, but she was beyond reason.
"You're going to fire her!"
- What?
“You have to fire Natasha Romanoff! Or I'll tell everyone they're screwing around DBS hallways like rabbits!
“We're not screwing around in the hallways like rabbits. “Well, not in the hallways, but in my office… Anyway, that was none of Erin's business. “What you're talking about is absurd. Me and Natasha Romanoff are engaged. It has nothing to do with her work at DBS. That's why we're acting with discretion, I don't want everyone talking.
"I'm sure you're quite worried about your pretty ass, Mr Rogers!" Erin spat angrily. — And with that nymphet! Of course they would comment! They would gossip for a whole year and you know damn well it wouldn't be the worst! If it got to shareholders' ears, you'd be in deep trouble!
Okay, she had a point.
And that worried me greatly.
That's exactly why I had a strict rule not to get involved with female employees. I took my position very seriously. My career very seriously.
Then came Natasha Romanoff and turned everything upside down.
Now the seemingly crazy Erin York was exposing my worst fears.
"Oh, you're worried, aren't you?" What did you think? That he was going to fuck Natasha around the corner for the rest of his life and no one would find out? Well I found out! And I won't keep my mouth shut! However, I can be nice to you. Fire Natasha and I won't say anything.
And that's how Erin made it very clear that she was blackmailing me. And I didn't doubt for a minute that she would carry out her threat. And if that shit got to shareholders, my position at DBS would be seriously compromised.
Until that afternoon I hadn't understood why Erin was so worried about Natasha Romanoff. Okay, I knew she didn't like her assistant, and I could understand it, given Natasha's penchant for not taking her job too seriously. Hence the musing that Natasha was plotting to take her place was a bit much.
So when I saw Natasha so passionately defending her project at the meeting, a project that she redid from scratch in a few hours and turned out great, I finally understood. Erin was scared. She had already realized that Natasha was too smart, even if she didn't try very hard. And if she started to stand out even if she didn't want to — it's worth remembering the episode in the presentation text of the new application — what would happen if she really decided to try? Erin knew her limitations, though she wouldn't admit it.
She knew perfectly well that Natasha Romanoff could excel.
And she was right.
That's why he wanted to take her out of circulation, demanding that I fire her so she could continue doing her mediocre job without anyone threatening her position.
God, it was a ridiculous strategy, to say the least, which ended up becoming a major problem when Erin found out about my involvement with Natasha. She knew she was cornering me.
Only I was fed up with Erin York and her repression.
I wouldn't allow him to threaten me, let alone harm Natasha.
- Are you serious? Mark looks at me confused. “Why would Erin blackmail you?
I take a deep breath and fill Mark in on all my involvement with Natasha. Not the real version, complete with fake engagement and cubby bonesto which they break, but a shortened and perfectly acceptable version.
"Fuck, Steve, was that you then?" “Mark's jaw dropped. “I mean, pardon the swearing, but… holy shit! So Billy from security was right in the bet?
“Yes, he saw us in the elevator. I talked to him afterwards and warned him of the need to be discreet.
"And does anyone else know?"
— Alan Felton.
— And I came to think that he was Natasha's fiancé, because everyone knows he's fallen for her...
- No, it's not. “I can't help but get angry. “Now Erin found out too and asked you to fire Natasha.
“She didn't ask. She demanded! And she threatened to tell the shareholders everything if I didn't give in to her blackmail.
“Why does Erin want me to fire Natasha Romanoff? I do not understand!
“Because she's afraid Natasha will take her place. Mark frowns in disbelief. “I know, it sounds like a silly thing, although in Erin's mind it makes a lot of sense. And the thing is, Erin is right, Natasha is really going to take her place.
“Wait, are you going to fire Erin and still put Natasha in her place?
“Natasha is competent enough to take the job and I can't just sit back and agree to blackmail! And not to keep Erin in the company after her deplorable attitude.
- I agree, then she will tell what she knows and will harm you in the same way! And what will it look like if you still give her job to Natasha Romanoff?
Steve, this is not going to work!
Shit. Mark is right.
I'm screwed and I don't know how to get out of the situation I put myself in.
“If you agree with Erin, I'll have to fire Natasha.
"And would it be that bad?" Maybe it's the only solution—Mark ends up venting my most secret thoughts. If Natasha wasn't a DBS employee anymore, she could be my fiancée no problem. No more secrets. Problem solved.
Hell, I knew it would be a solution.
But how to fire Natasha?
“I know it's a drastic solution, but how did you think you were going to solve this issue, Steve? How could he keep this secret for long? Or is his involvement with Natasha Romanoff temporary?
Therein lies the issue.
The truth is, I still hadn't stopped to think about Natasha in permanent terms. Okay, I had proposed that we turn the fake engagement into a real commitment. For the simple reason that I'm crazy about her.
And I think even my parents' party, where everyone seemed to be taking part in a large wedding ceremony organization, I hadn't really imagined that if we were engaged, a wedding was expected to take place at some point.
Marriage implies "forever".
Right now I can't imagine my life without Natasha Romanoff's craziness. However, will I always feel this way? The truth is, I'm too sensible a guy to blindly believe in feelings and "happily ever after".
Okay, it can happen. Take my parents, for example.
But Natasha and I have only known each other for a short time. And I have no idea where this is all going to take us.
“I think that's the question to ask. If it's a passing thing, maybe you don't need to fire Natasha Romanoff. You just need to put an end to this relationship. After all, as I understand it is still recent. And it would be ideal to nip it in the bud. “I feel like telling Mark to stop putting my involvement with Natasha in those terms. She's not a weed that needs to be pulled out of my life. However, my rational side knows that Mark's words contain an unfortunate truth. “If it's the other way around, you'll have serious decisions to make. And, if I may ask a board, the first thing you should do is convene the shareholders and tell the truth. The company gossip will happen one way or another, but it will pass.
On the other hand, shareholders may not approve of the company's CEO getting involved with an employee and their relationship turning into a scandal. And I think you know very well. In that case, the only solution will be to fire Natasha Romanoff so he can stay with her.
Yes, Mark is right.
I have an important decision to make and simply getting rid of Erin is not the solution.
Maybe I need to get rid of Natasha.
One way or another.
And the question is, which way will I choose?