Cornelia said, "I still have to prep some meeting materials. If you're not needing anything else, I'm gonna bounce."
Yolanda, not wanting Cornelia to leave, quickly reached out to stop her, "Hold up, girl."
Cornelia asked, "What's up?"
Yolanda hesitated, then said cautiously, "I'm sorry."
Cornelia raised an eyebrow, "Why are you apologizing?"
With people often passing by, Yolanda didn't want their conversation overheard, "Can we talk in your office?"
Cornelia said, "Follow me."
Once in the office, Yolanda finally said, "While you were out, I gave it some thought. You're not that kind of person, playing dirty. You and President Hartley, there might be reasons you don't wanna talk about. As long as you promise to keep your distance from President Hartley, not be the home-wrecker, I'll keep this secret. I won't spill the beans to anyone else."
Yolanda never held bad intentions towards Cornelia. Her previous doubts about Cornelia were only because she saw her as a very talented, hardworking girl.
She knew better than anyone that Cornelia became President Hartley's assistant because of her abilities, not because she was sleeping her way to the top. If rumors about Cornelia and President Hartley were to get out, people would make a mockery of Cornelia's hard work. Yolanda didn't want to hear people saying Cornelia got where she was by selling herself.
Cornelia said, "Believe it or not, I've never been the other woman. I can't really explain the situation with President Hartley right now, but one day, you'll understand."
Yolanda said, "I believe you."
Cornelia smiled, "Thanks."
Yolanda said, "Cornelia, it's tough for us women to hold our own in the workplace. You've come a long way and you can't let anything make people think you got here because of special relationships."
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