Page 32 of Unlocking my Boss's Heart

Celia

Since returning from the Waltons’ estate a few hours ago, I hadn’t accomplished much. My thoughts kept drifting to Anton. I had a feeling he wouldn’t want to talk about his father’s illness or show any emotion, especially not to me, but this had been a big scare for him.

I’d felt the urge to wrap my arms around him in a tight hug to make him feel better, but I was glad I stopped myself on time. That wouldn’t have been appropriate for a boss-employee relationship.

Despite the vulnerability of the moment, he was still my boss. That reason, however, didn’t stop my heart from fluttering and my stomach from tingling. His quiet voice had rumbled through me like water cascading down the mountain, settling in the pit of my stomach. Then, inappropriate thoughts about our current relationship accompanied those feelings, curling my toes with excitement.

Going to see him had been a bold and foolish move. I couldn’t stop thinking about the slight smile on his tired face and how good it had felt to be by his side and talk to him. I was tempted to text him to find out how he was doing, but I didn’t even have his number.

Perfect, Celia. This is a good way to get him out of your mind so you can concentrate on work.

When I opened our apartment door, Maddison was watching TV. She paused the show. “Hey, how was work?”

“Not very productive. My thoughts have been scattered since we spoke before I went to Anton’s family home.”

Maddison frowned. “Yeah, you don’t look so good.” She patted a spot near her on the couch for me to sit. “What’s wrong?”

I sighed and sat beside her. “I’m confused.”

Out of nowhere, tears welled up.

I hardly ever cried. Why these tears now?

Maddison wrapped her arm around my shoulder. “You’re confused about what?”

The reason sounded stupid to me, so how much more foolish would it appear when spoken aloud to someone else? But this was Maddison. Whatever it was, she would be there for me. She would support me no matter what.

“I think I have feelings for Anton.”

Maddison's eyes widened in surprise, and a slow smile spread across her face. She leaned back against the couch, a look of amused disbelief lighting up her features. Her lips parted as if to stifle a laugh, and she shook her head slightly before raising her eyebrows in mock exasperation.

“Girl is that all?” she exclaimed, making me feel more stupid. “I knew that ever since I saw him in this apartment. The sparks were flying between you two.”

“Really?”

“Yes. If anything, I’m surprised it took you this long to admit it to yourself.”

“I don’t–”

“Youbothhave feelings for each other,” she insisted.

My heart did a little flip-flop.

“You think Anton likes me? It doesn’t seem so. He’s proper all the time.I’mthe one constantly forcing his hand. Maybe he just tolerates it because he’s polite.”

She had a huge grin on. “The whole reason I moved here is to practice law, Maddy. And rise to be one of the top ones. Those were your exact words.”

I frowned. “What does that have to do with anything? That goal is not to the exclusion of…” I trailed off, not having a clear idea of what I wanted with Anton.

“Of having feelings for your boss, of dating your boss, of straddling your boss, of having sex with your boss, of—”

“-stop, Maddy.” She stopped.

Her words brought warmth to my cheeks, a surge of embarrassment washed over me. I crossed my arms defensively over my chest, trying to protect myself from the overwhelming vulnerability this conversation brought on.

“You’re all talk, no action. One would think you have this huge dating profile, but you don’t. You work your life away—normal full-time job, then trying your hand at acting and auditioning when you’re off. How aboutyouput yourself out there and date so that you can actually speak from experience?” I asked her.

“My turn will come,” Maddison stated simply. “Right now, we’re talking about you. You should tell him.”

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