Page 160

Celine turns to Darcy. “This is an at will state, no? I can terminate as I please.”

I turn to Halston. “That’s still wrongful termination, isn’t it? And harassment.”

Our lawyers sigh.

There’s a small chance we’ve broken them.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

VERITY

The apartment is pitch black.

I’m curled up on the sofa, knees to chest, and gnawing on the skin around my thumbnail. I really should stop, but the anxious energy within me is bursting for release.

My mind hasn’t stopped whirling, but I’m trying to keep some of my sanity. I need a clear head for when he—

The telltale beeps of Cullen pressing the code to his apartment set me on alert. I think I stop breathing for a few seconds as I whip my head to the door and watch for him to enter.

“Verity?”

He comes bursting inside, and my chest squeezes at his state of dishevelment that still somehow looks sexy. His hair has clearly been messed up from running his hands through it, and the top button of his shirt is undone, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The desperation of my name passing through his lips matches the worry in his gaze, which softens slightly when he spots me on the couch.

“Oh, thank God, you’re here.” He tosses his expensive leather bag to the floor, not even bothering to take off his shoes as he rushes over and cradles me in his arms.

It’s hard not to waver as his scent fills my senses. My body is trained to relax under his touch, the rigidity in my muscles softening.

He lets me go, rocking back on his heels and cupping my cheeks. He searches my face for something, his brows frowning to create thick wrinkles.

“Verity, I’m so sorry.”

My heart drops a fraction.

Please tell me he is apologizing for her lies and not because he is married.

Please.

“I don’t know what Celine said to you, but I swear I can explain.”

I open my mouth to speak, but instead draw in a deep, shaky breath. I swallow thickly, trying to right myself.

“Okay.” My voice is small and hesitant.

It feels like I am walking the perimeter of a rooftop, placing one foot in front of the other as I teeter on the precipice. The risk of falling to my death is close, but safety isn’t far either. My fate lies in how this conversation plays out.

“I want you to know that she can’t fire you. Well, she can, but you would have concrete grounds to file for wrongful termination. My lawyer assured me that there’s no chance you would lose the case.”

I wince slightly.

Celine’s threat still echoes in my mind, but with everything going on, I’ve become slightly numb to the whole situation. It doesn’t seem real. But there is no denying the nausea that spins in my stomach at her shifty ultimatum.

She threatened to terminate my employment if I didn’t stop seeing Cullen, but I don’t see any situation where I would win. Even if I did break up with him and she let me keep my job, I doubt things would progress as normal. She holds grudges. She would probably make my life hell. I’d be relegated to shitty projects, or my career would stagnate with no promotions. Andeveryone would still find out. We are a tiny company, and I would always be the girl who slept with her boss’ ex.

It is over.

I can taste the fear on my tongue, and my heart starts to speed up as my brain pounds with racing thoughts.

Oh God.