Page 79 of Unlocking my Boss's Heart

“It seems like the great Anton Waltons would have more of a sense of justice, being the owner of a leading law firm in this city. But perhaps his judgment has been tainted by said new attachment.”

I couldn’t read anymore.

My head swam, and I had to grip the counter to keep myself upright.

“My word!” I gasped. Reeva had done it. Anton told me she’d threatened him with consequences, butthis?

“I’m so sorry, Celia. Can I do anything?” Maddison wrapped me in a hug, and it was a good thing because I was about to faint.

“No,” I said dully.

Reeva had done her worst, and no matter how false her claims, it would be all over New York that I had been the couple wrecker. My heart dropped; I just couldn’t handle such publicity. The law firm would take a big hit, too. I should have known better.

I moved out of my cousin’s hold, walking as if in trance back to my room.

“Celia? What are you going to do?” she called.

I didn’t answer her because I didn’t know. All I knew was that my life had been so much simpler when I lived back home. Moving here and dating a high-profile man had turned my life into a wreck. I couldn’t stay here.

That night, a taxi I took from the airport pulled into my parents’ driveway. After the bombshell news article, Maddison had gotten me a standby ticket, and I was on the next flight home.

Reeva had done her work and done it well, twisting every shred of truth in her article. How could Waltons & Associates survive this? And Anton? Wouldn’t he be shut out from all his connections? His world was so different from the one I knew.

I stepped out of the cab and almost collapsed in the driveway, but I steadied myself and pulled my suitcase.

Mom came out the front door. “Celia! What a surprise! We had no idea you were coming home!”

I let her hug me tightly, feeling the tears prick in my eyes. “It wasn’t planned.”

She leaned away so she could see my face, no doubt hearing the sadness in my voice. “What is it, honey?”

My dad, who had followed Mom, came over then, and we had a moment under the driveway lamp post. He smelled of sawdust and sweat, just like he always had. “Good to have you home, Celia Weelia.”

Despite how gray I felt, the childhood nickname made me smile. “Thanks, Dad.”

He took my suitcase, Mom took my hand, and we walked into the house together. This was what I didn’t have in New York, the calm and serenity around here and my parents' reassuring presence.

We got to the living room.

“Tell us about this surprise visit and New York,” Mom said. “You want something to munch on?”

“Something to drink? A glass of wine?” asked Dad.

I shook my head to both. Anton’s face floated before my eyes, and I choked back a sob. This was going to be a long conversation. My parents knew about my job, but I hadn’t told them about my relationship with Anton yet. I was planning to call Mom sometime these days to tell her about him. Tonight wasn’t ideal to tell them about him, the story was too devastating, and I was bone tired.

“Honestly, Mom, can this wait? I could use a shower after that flight.”

She sensed my hesitation and wrapped her arms around me, then let go. “Of course. You shower, and we'll talk about everything over breakfast.”

I went to my old room, got in the shower, and stood under the warm jet, letting it soothe me. As the water poured over my head, the events of the last twenty-four hours replayed in my mind.

It was clear from the beginning that I wasn’t and couldn’t be part of the elite Big Apple crew. I couldn’t live life the way I had since meeting Anton. Dating him had been a nonstop whirlwind of emotional ups and downs, with office drama and stress. I moved to New York to rise up the ladder in law practice, which in itself wasn’t bad. But here I was, emotionally burned out, after only six months there.

How deceptive life could be.

Tears mixed with the shower water ran down my face.

I had loved Anton.

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