Page 57 of Silver Fox's Christmas Scandal

But something about her assumptions, combined with the day's emotional turmoil, made me desperate to claim some small piece of happiness, even if it was fictional.

Lucian told me I was his the last time we had sex. If only for a moment, I could cling to that, right?

"You are? Tessa, why didn't you tell me? What's his name? What does he do? How did you meet?"

The rapid-fire questions made my stomach clench with panic. I'd committed to a deception I couldn't substantiate and she was going to push me to prove it.

"It's… complicated, Mom. We work together, so we're keeping things quiet for now."

"Oh, an office romance! How exciting. Is he single? Please tell me he's not married."

"He's divorced. Has been for years." At least that part was true, but tell that to my poor bottom lip that I worried between my teeth.

"Good. I can't stand men who cheat on their wives. How old is he? Is he serious about you?"

The questions kept coming, and I found myself painting a picture of a relationship that existed only in my most optimistic fantasies—someone who cared about me, who saw a future with me, who might actually want the family I'd been planning to create alone.

"He sounds wonderful, honey. I can hear it in your voice—you're happy. That's all I want for you."

Mom continued to badger me for a few more minutes and after I finally ended the call, I sank onto my couch and let the tears come.

I'd lied to my mother about being in love with my boss, created a fictional romance to avoid admitting that my real life was desperately lonely and on the verge of falling apart.

The man I actually cared about was probably planning how to end whatever this was between us, while I was spinning fairy tales about happily ever after.

I should never have gotten this involved or convinced myself that Lucian Cross—billionaire, father, pillar of Chicago society—could want anything lasting with his assistant.

I had been royally stupid.

I'd risked everything for a man who'd never promised me anything, and now I was going to lose both my job and my heart in one devastating blow.

The worst part was knowing that I had no one to blame but myself for believing that this impossible situation could somehow have a happy ending.

16

LUCIAN

The air was thick with tension in the boardroom at our quarterly catch up, more so than normal.

I listened to Robert Vaughn's quarterly presentation with half my attention, the other half focused on the undercurrents of tension that I'd been carrying around since lunch with my daughter four days ago.

"—and while our client retention remains strong, we need to ensure that all partnerships maintain the highest standards of professional conduct," Vaughn was saying as he made a point to make eye contact with me across the table. "Avoiding any conflicts of interest that might compromise our fiduciary responsibilities."

One of our longest-serving board members nodded approvingly. "Absolutely crucial, Robert. Our reputation depends on maintaining clear boundaries between personal and professional relationships."

Another pointed look in my direction.

I kept my expression neutral, but fury burned in my chest.

They were hinting at my relationship with Tessa without naming her.

They didn't even have the respect to address it directly and ask me what was happening.

They'd gotten information from someone somewhere, and they ran with it and never bothered to substantiate any of the claims.

"I couldn't agree more," said Harrison Webb, the board's newest member and one of Viktoria's social circle connections. "Public perception affects investor confidence. Any appearance of impropriety can damage stakeholder trust."

I listened carefully to every one of their comments, and some of them I agreed with and voiced as much to them.