Page 60 of Unlocking my Boss's Heart

I pinched myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming after what had just gone through my mind. But the more I thought aboutit, the more it made sense. I had been so focused on the chaos Reeva brought into my life that I hadn’t seen what was right in front of me. Celia wasn’t just an exceptional attorney or a reliable colleague—she was the one I could see by my side, not just in this mess, but in everything that came after.

The truth hit me like a freight train: I was falling for her, and maybe, just maybe, I already had.

Chapter twenty-three

Celia

While getting ready for work this morning, I resolved that no matter how I felt about Anton, I would continue to be an exemplary colleague. It’d been more than two weeks since I encountered him in the print room, yet each time I turned a corner at work, I felt the same throb in my chest, as if my heart anticipated meeting him again.

I found myself jumpy; my emotions shouldn’t jeopardize my job or any other aspects of my life. My colleagues depended on me. Also, my relationship with Maddison had suffered due to my romantic entanglements. She had been very supportive, but I hadn’t returned that support as a friend should. Since moving to New York, it seemed all our conversations had revolved around my issues.

I recalled the rules I had set on my first day at the firm. The second one was:Avoid him like the plague. That rule had quickly fallen by the wayside, along with rule number three:Stop thinking about your new boss. But starting today,I was determined to reinstate both. I would stop seeking out his presence, which only triggered confusing feelings, including anger at myself for ignoring my common sense.

So, it was with a newly determined step that I left home.

To my dismay, when I reached the firm, Anton was standing in front of my desk, waiting for me. All the resolutions I made a few minutes earlier started to chip away. I was acutely aware of his broad shoulders and chiseled jaw, and my heart began cadencing.

Why did I have so little self-control over my emotions around him?

I had to hold myself back from giving in to the impulse to hug him.

“Hey,” he muttered, his expression curiously blank.

Ouch. I hadn’t realized how much his indifferent tone would sting.

“Hey. Is there something I can help you with?” I approached my desk, set down my things, and busied my hands to avoid looking at him.

He raked his fingers through his hair. “No. I know you want to keep things professional, but I just learned something this morning and had to tell you.”

I took a step closer and searched his face to read the feelings in his eyes. “What is it?”

“Reeva lied about the baby. It isn’t mine.”

“W-what? Are you kidding me? What good news to start the day with!” Happiness for him burst through me. I quickly hugged myself to keep from hugging him.

He exhaled heavily, as if a hot air balloon that had been filled and compressed into his lungs, suddenly burst. His shoulders relaxed slightly, from the weight that had been lifted, but there was still a tension in his posture. His eyes softened with a mix of relief and lingering disbelief; he was still processing the newshimself. He didn’t need to say a word for me to know how much of a burden this entire ordeal had been on him. I was so happy for him.

The fact that Reeva had to track me down to warn me off him told me what a handful she must have been for him. I was appalled that Reeva would deceive him like that—trying to coerce him into taking responsibility for a child that wasn’t his. He had to deal with this additional stress on top of his father’s health crises, all based on an elaborate lie.

Anton took a step back, likely feeling the heat between us and the need for a hug, which I continued to restrain myself against.

“I'm sorry, that was an unprofessional speech this early in the morning.”

I shook my head. “No, Anton, I’m glad you wanted to share this news with me. I’m relieved for you. What a heavy weight off your shoulders!”

His breath came heavy again.

“Thank you…. Well, I need to get back to work and let you focus on yours.” He left.

I stood there, thinking there were a million things I could’ve said, but nothing came to mind. Finally, I sat down and dove into work, more lighthearted than I’d been in a while.

That lightheartedness didn’t last. Work was pure torture today. I had a hard time focusing on the Aiko Osaka case that Anton had assigned to me, but my mind kept drifting to him. So much for my resolution this morning.

Now, back at home, all I wanted was to sleep. All day, I’d avoided analyzing what Anton’s news had done to my feelings.

The sound of me closing the front door behind me got Maddison to look up from her laptop.

She peered at me through her glasses perched on the tip of her nose. Those glasses made her look like some high-power executive assistant.

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