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She sat forward, willing him to understand.

“It’s not been easy, Leo. At the moment I am living my life as openly as I can.

As I’ve been advised; I’m not in hiding or doing anything that could be construed as secretive, immoral, underhanded, or illegal, but I also choose not to advertise my situation for reasons that should be obvious, and that is my right. ”

Her heart raced and her face and neck felt like they were burning. Usually, the moral high ground felt more comfortable, but right then it just felt lonely and isolating.

Unsure of where his head would go after that declaration she watched him.

Saw his mouth twist and roll, like he was turning over word selections—choosing some, discarding others.

Did he think she didn’t trust him? That was as far from the truth as it could be, but surely, he could see this was bigger than just her casually sharing her backstory?

He’d leaned forward, elbows braced on his thighs, his hands, smoothly tanned, but still worker’s hands, dangled between his knees.

Side-eyeing her, he finally nodded. “You’re right.

That’s entirely your business. And I can’t even begin to tell you how rotten I think this whole situation is, and how sorry I am that you’re living it.

It’s every kind of moral injustice. But running right alongside that is the safety of my daughter, and any threat to her safety is my business.

” He chewed on the inside of his cheek. “So, in light of all that I’ve got two things I have to say.

One is, that if there is anything I, or the Halligans as a whole, can do to help you, then you gotta know it’s there.

You just have to say, and we will put every resource we have at your disposal.

And I know you have legal teams working for you, but don’t forget Evie is a lawyer. ”

She hadn’t known exactly what to expect, but it hadn’t been such generosity. Grateful, she nodded. “Thank you, that’s incredibly kind, and I thank you for your understanding.”

“Yeah, well I didn’t get to the second thing yet.”

“Okay…” Ella braced herself, reasonably sure she knew what was coming.

“I guess I need to know if there’s anything else. Is there anything else that you think might be necessary for me to know?”

There’d been no surprise for her in his request, but still everything inside her froze.

It was a direct question. Her mind scrambled for a way to circumvent having to give a direct reply.

Perhaps if she analyzed his wording, she could find a way to respond without actually being untruthful?

Perhaps if she focused on the word necessary ?

There could be an argument made for answering out of respect, but sharing her secrets due to being of any necessity for him to know?

But this was Leo. Their acquaintance might have been short but never had she felt such innate trust in another person as she had in this man.

Attraction aside, there was a solidness about him that she’d never seen in Emile.

With Leo she felt safe—that he had her back, which was quite a wondrous thing to experience.

She’d never really had that before, despite all the trappings of a life of so-called privilege.

Tommy , the woman who’d practically raised her, had come the closest, but being in her father’s employ she’d had to act with caution.

Her father was never around long enough to offer her that kind of support, and Emile?

He’d always been there to talk to, but Emile’s life had revolved around Emile.

In their relationship, right from their early teens, she’d taken the role of supporter rather than the other way around.

Which all meant? That maybe she could tell him?

Confide in him? It would be a risk, but Leo Halligan was a good man—and he’d trusted her; shared with her things he’d never shared with others.

So, maybe it wasn’t necessary for him to know everything, but what was necessary was for her to return his trust and respect.

And if he rejected her because of it, a little voice posed. Severed their friendship, her employ? Distanced himself and Mia from her and Benny?

The very thought twisted her heart in way that it hadn’t hurt so much since the day she’d learned of Celine’s plan to get custody of her baby boy.

It wasn’t the first time she’d acknowledged the possibility, but each time it hurt more to think of not being part of Leo and Mia’s lives. To not see them every day…

However, telling him would remove weight she’d carried from the beginning of their relationship.

Was the risk too high a price to pay for a clear conscience?

But then again, was there any way to move forward with him if she didn’t tell him everything?

Their relationship, even simply as nanny and employee and deep down she knew they had way more than that , would continue to be built on untruths.

And untruths had a habit of crumbling—destroying everything in their wake.

She could wait no longer. It was time.

Girding herself, she drew in a steadying breath. “ Necessary? I can’t think of anything that—”

A noise stopped her. A sudden intrusion that prompted both to turn toward the front foyer, specifically to the sound of knocking. She went to rise but he held out an arm, eased her back into place. “I’ll get it.”

She heard his frustration; heard it in his muttering as he made to check out who was responsible for the untimely interruption.

The deep growl of another man’s voice filtered into the silence as she waited, thought she heard Melanie’s name mentioned, however, Leo returned alone.

It might have been a relief to see that his expression was no longer merely irritated.

Except that now his face was shrouded in… What? Disbelief? Shock?

It took her a moment to notice he carried a box; specifically, a large parcel.

“I believe you were saying something about there being nothing else you thought I should know?” His eyes never left hers as he handed over the parcel.

And with only a glance she understood his glare. Naturally it was from Abigail, and if she’d been able, she might have laughed at the timing. Timing had never been one of Abbie’s strengths.

Nor was listening. Ella had asked her friend not to address mail to her in this fashion, but generous as the woman was, she also mostly operated with her head in the clouds.

So, one more secret revealed… She’d be lying if she said it hadn’t brought a modicum of relief, and would help for what was to come, though she’d have preferred to choose a different method of delivery and ignored her own pun.

Still, her intentions were sound, and as such, she refused to be embarrassed or cowed by him. Lifting her chin, she replied cooly. “Well, yes… There’s this … I was about to t—”