Chapter Sixteen - The Boiling Point

"I know," Deonna said, relief flooding through her at his reaction. "But the rumor is everywhere. I think... I think I know who started it." Understanding dawned on James's face. "Logan Maine," he said, his voice hard. "I've heard about the trouble he's been causing you. This is a new low, even for him." Together, Deonna and James crafted a plan to address the rumors head-on. They scheduled a meeting with HR (excluding Deonna's team to avoid any conflict of interest) and explained the situation. They provided a detailed account of their limited interactions and vehemently denied any romantic involvement. The HR representative, a no-nonsense woman named Gloria, listened carefully to their story. "I appreciate you both coming forward with this," she said when they had finished. "Spreading false rumors of this nature is a serious violation of our company's code of conduct. We'll conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate action." As Deonna left the meeting, she felt a mix o