Unlocking my Boss’s Heart (Romance in Sweet Comedy #4)

29. Celia

Chapter twenty-nine

Celia

D uring my first week at work, I was told Anton hosted dinners for big cases that were won. So, after Mei Shau’s agreement to settle her case, everyone on my team received an email inviting us to dinner this evening.

At the appointed time, four members of my team, including me, waited for the ride that was provided. We were picked up by a chauffeur driving a small black limousine. “Courtesy of Anton Waltons,” the driver announced when he arrived.

We grinned at each other, pleasantly surprised, and settled into the car. Our destination was a nice four-star restaurant at the edge of Manhattan. When we got there, the ma?tre d' led us to a large private table where Anton was already seated.

“The Aiko Osaka case huh?” Otis, one of the attorneys, asked.

Anton nodded, signaling for us to sit down. I ended up sitting beside him by pure luck or, because no one else wanted to sit by the boss.

“But it’s not as huge as the Eucalyptia Pharmaceuticals lawsuit, and you didn’t host a dinner when we won that case,” Otis observed. He was an ambitious but friendly lawyer.

“I think it’s up to me to decide which case we’re celebrating,” Anton replied.

I beamed at his authoritative voice.

We ate and chatted about various topics, and while I would’ve rather been alone with Anton, we had a good time. I ended up laughing more than I ever had with my colleagues.

While waiting for the dessert, Anton stood up, a wine glass in hand. “I think you already know who the lawyer was that facilitated Mei Shau’s case settlement.”

All eyes turned to me as they nodded.

My heart pounded. I felt so exposed. I had no idea Anton planned to make a speech about me.

“And you might have heard the rumors surrounding Attorney Adams and me,” he continued.

There were a few more nods.

“I’m here to address these rumors.”

My eyes widened as I braced myself for what Anton would say next. Since getting back together, I’d expected him to address the rumors, but I didn’t think he would do it so soon or in such a public setting.

He took my hand, and I stood beside him, feeling shy under their unwavering gazes. “The rumors are all true. We’ve been dating for the last few weeks, but I assure you she was hired based on her competency and not for any other reason. I don’t need to list her qualities—you all know them. She has proven herself through her performance. If anyone feels intimidated by our relationship, then, unfortunately, this firm may not be the right place for them. We want only those who will go above and beyond to support each other.”

Otis hooted and began clapping, and the others followed suit. I grinned at Otis, silently grateful that his small action eased the awkwardness.

“Would you like to leave?” Anton asked after dessert.

I nodded, remaining silent—not because I wasn’t happy, but because I was overwhelmed with gratitude and needed to keep my excitement under control. There was no need for public displays of affection, especially among our colleagues.

We walked out of the restaurant hand in hand. Once we were out of sight from our fellow lawyers, Anton took me into his arms, dipped me slightly, and kissed me.

I laughed as we parted, glancing around at the curious passersby. “Anton,” I lightly scolded, “People are watching.”

He cupped my face, his eyes burning into mine. “I don’t care.”

He kissed me again. At that moment, I forgot that we were on the street and wrapped my arms around his neck. He lifted me off my feet and twirled me around. My lips parted, and his tongue found its way between them. Suddenly, it was imperative that we find privacy.

The valet brought the car. We got in and drove away.

I felt content, constantly stealing glances at Anton. No matter how hard I tried not to smile, my lips curved upward. I felt giddy and didn’t care how childish it seemed.

His gaze flicked away from the road to focus on me for a second. “What’s so funny?”

I sighed, leaning back in the seat. “I’m just so happy.”

He grinned. “That makes two of us.”

He walked me to my apartment building, and we climbed up the short flight of stairs leading to the lobby entrance. He held the door for me, his eyes roving over me the entire time. Every bit of me tingled under his gaze. Even though we had spent the whole day together, I wanted more time with him. I had a feeling I would always want more of him.

At the apartment door, I faced him. “Do you want to come in for a cup of coffee?”

The door swung open behind me.

Maddison peered out into the hallway. “I thought I heard you out here. Come in,” she said, her eyes dancing with excitement. “I've been waiting for you.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the apartment.

I gasped as I looked around. The room was filled with pink balloons, and a banner hung above the couch with a simple message printed on it: “Happy Anniversary. Be my girlfriend, Celia.”

“Happy four-month anniversary! So, what do you say?” Anton asked behind me.

The happiness I’d felt on the ride here poured out of me, mingling with tears welling in my eyes. The door closed behind me, and I turned back to Anton. “You planned this?”

He nodded, his cheeks flushing slightly, as though embarrassed.

I wrapped my arms around him, standing on my toes to press my lips to his. He returned my kiss, then pulled back, still keeping his arms around me.

“So, is that a yes?”

I beamed. “I had no idea you would do this. In my mind, we were already official. I didn’t peg you for an old-school guy.”

“This is how I make it official. If that makes me old-school, I’ll take it.”

Maddison started cooing from the corner of the living room. “Shall I give you guys some privacy?” she teased.

We pulled apart, chuckling.

Maddison was the best cousin, cheerleader, and bestie anyone should have in their life.

Then I noticed a chocolate cake on the kitchen counter.

“You got cake, too? You’re so sweet.”

He was much more romantic than he had ever let on before. Maybe I was the only one who brought it out of him. The thought warmed my insides.

I walked over to the counter to take a closer look at the cake. Swirls of dark, rich chocolate surrounded a simple red heart with our names piped in white icing, like they had been carved into a tree trunk.

“Because you are my heart,” Anton said.

Tears welled up again, and I swallowed them. “What if I’d said no?” I asked, shifting the focus away from my emotional state. “Would you take the cake back?”

He took my light-hearted teasing in stride. “I never doubted you would say yes.”

He was right. He knew me so well.

On Saturday morning, I padded out of my room in nothing but my undies and an old, oversized T-shirt. Maddison was in the kitchen, her back turned to me. She startled when I came in. I poured myself a cup of coffee, as she stared wide-eyed at me with a newspaper clutched in her hand.

I laughed. “Sorry. I didn’t know I was such a travesty to look at in the morning.”

She cleared her throat, looking nervous. “It’s not you, sweetie.”

I was instantly on alert. She only used that nickname when something was wrong. “What is it?”

“I’m sorry, Cel, but….” She held up the paper. “Brace yourself.”

I set my cup of coffee on the counter and took the paper with shaking hands. My eyes search the headline. One of them read, “Famed NY Lawyer’s Baby Scandal.”

I felt all the warmth and color leave my face, my knees going weak.

“What is this?” I asked. But there it was in black and white on the front page of The New York Quotidian .

I read aloud, “In an interview, Reeva Smith told reporters that she and Anton Waltons had been in an exclusive relationship for six months. Until recently, she and the well-known son of Anton Waltons Sr., of the tech giant company, had been planning to take their relationship to the next level. We quote, ‘When he found out I was pregnant, he disappeared. He found new love in the pretty junior lawyer he hired a few months ago. I suffered a miscarriage as a result of stress and depression from Anton walking out on me.’”

“What?!” I yelled.

My hands shook as my eyes fell on a small photograph of Anton and me locked in an embrace outside the fancy restaurant after the celebratory dinner with our colleagues. I kept reading.

“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, but this ?

“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.

Now, it’s over.

“Celia, wake up.”

I opened my eyes to my mother gently tapping my shoulder, the familiar scent of her lavender perfume enveloping me.

“What?” I said groggily.

Judging by the way the sun angled through the windows, it might be approaching noon. Not surprising. I’d spent the night wrestling with my thoughts, the noise of New York gossip still ringing in my ears and didn’t fall asleep until this morning.

“There’s a man downstairs who wants to see you. He says he’s your boss,” Mom said after giving me a minute.

“My boss?!”

It couldn't be Anton.... He wouldn’t have left New York with what was sure to be a firestorm in the media. But who was I kidding? Did I recently have two bosses?

“I’ll be down soon,” I told Mom, and she left.

What was he doing here?

My heart thumped, loud and heavy with so many emotions.

I got ready quickly and walked downstairs.

The morning light filtered through the gauzy curtains of the living room, casting a soft glow over the assorted family photos and well-loved furniture. My steps were hesitant as my gaze landed on Anton standing awkwardly in the center of my parents’ living room. The warmth of home was suddenly replaced by a sharp pang of anxiety.

His eyes locked on mine.