Page 92

“Brian!” Heart exclaimed loudly, pushing past me. “It’s not what it sounds like.”
“Really? Because it sounds like you had sexual relations with a business associate.”
“I can explain,” I said.
“Don’t,” said Heart sharply, whipping her head around.
“Addison?” asked Brian.
She turned to face him and I could see her body tremble as she took a deep breath.
“I’m so sorry, Brian. I just…lost my head for a second.”
“Well, unfortunately, that is not a good enough reason for going against our ethical business practices here at Leading to Learn. I’m so disappointed in you, Addison.”
“But, if you’d just—”
Brian held up his hand and shook his head. “I think it’s best you start looking for another job,” he said. “One that doesn’t trade sex for money or donations.”
He turned to leave, but not before looking to me and giving me a solemn nod.
“Mr. Jacobs,” he said, closing the door behind him.
Heart kept her back to me. She was so still, I couldn’t tell if she was breathing or not.
“Heart,” I said softly, reaching out and putting her hand on my shoulder.
“Don’t touch me,” she said.
I removed my hand. “I’m so sorry. Let me talk to him or—”
She turned quickly and faced me. “No. Haven’t you done enough?”
Tears welled in her eyes and I wanted nothing more than to wipe them away, and pull her into my arms. I had made such a mess of this. Of everything.
Chapter 33
Addison
It felt like all the tears I had been holding back the past few months because of this man in front of me came pouring out of me. I didn’t bother stopping them or wiping them away. I just let them come. I didn’t care what I looked like or how I sounded. I didn’t care if I looked weak. I let everything go right there in my office, while Daniel stood close by and watched because that was all I would let him do.
My whole life had changed in the course of a few minutes in this office that I had worked so hard to earn, and wouldn’t be able to call mine anymore. I wished I could put all the blame on Daniel, but he was right. It did take two, and I was every part to blame in this tangled web we had weaved together.
I wished I could go back and change the trajectory of where we had ended up. I would have called in sick the day of the meeting. If I did, he would never have recognized me at that fancy bar and ordered another round of drinks that would continue back at his place. If I did, I wouldn’t have got so caught up in him and let go of my inhibitions, resulting in a very real baby that was growing inside me now.
But I couldn’t go back in time. Instead, I had to live in this moment.
This moment of my boss knowing everything, or at least enough to know that this was bad. Really bad. I was mortified that Brian knew some of the most intimate details of my life. Even more so, I was devastated that it had cost me my job.
It was all too much. I leaned my back against my desk and slid down to the floor, putting my head in my hands. I felt Daniel sink to the floor beside me. He wasn’t leaving, and I wasn’t sure if it pissed me off or if I found it slightly endearing.
I lifted my head from my hands and looked at him. “Why did you come here?” I sniffled.
“I was desperate to see you. To know what was going on.”
“And you thought coming to my work was the best idea?”
“Like I said, I was desperate,” he answered softly.