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Her anxious eyes meet mine for a moment before darting back to him. “Do you really think that holding me hostage like this is the way to win my affection?”
I fully expect those words to disarm this entire situation, but I guess I underestimate the level of Sterling’s delusion. The man is dangerous. His expression darkens as he glares at her.
“I’m going to get my revenge.”
I feel her fear as he speaks. “I’m going to tell everyone, and you’ll both get fired. Then you’ll have no choice but come crawling back to me, Emma. And I’ll laugh. Laugh in your face... I might not even take you back.” His words send an icy shiver down my spine. He’s lost touch with reality, and I can hear it in both his words and his tone.
“That’s not love, Sterling,” she says. “That’s abuse.”
He seems to realize she’s right and his face twists into a fuck you expression.
And in that moment, I see a flash into our futures where Emma is fired, judged, shamed. I can see the hurt in my dad's eyes and the damage done to his firm, his legacy to me. I can see the scandal making headlines, and my father’s already fragile health suffering more with the emotional blow and turmoil.
We finally started to make amends; I don't want to disappoint him, betray him, or fail him.
But I also don't want to give up on what Emma and I have, because as time ticks by, I start to think this might be the real deal.
Still, if her attempts to defuse the situation only inflamed it more, I'm not sure what chance I have.
“My dad already knows, and we have his blessing. If you take this to anyone else in our company, I will make sure that the whole world knows that it's just in retaliation for me beating the crap out of you in front of everyone.” I watch his anger rearrange his features yet again with a sense of satisfaction. “Everyone knows you were humiliated that day, so anything you say now is going to sound like retaliation.” I hate to lie and mislead people, but it's definitely better than anyone getting hurt.
“So maybe it's time for you to give up, get a life, and move on.” I can only hope that my words are enough to change his mind.
His eyes roll heavenward, and I can see him internally contemplating what I've said. For a moment, I'm actually hopeful that maybe this will make a difference and be the moment that makes him back off. Hearing that he has been leaving notes for Emma just makes my blood run cold, and I'm afraid what kind of behavior he'll escalate to.
But as a moment ticks by, and then another, he finally seems to make a decision. Beside me, I feel Emma hold her breath.
“I don’t think I will,” Sterling says, offering a mocking salute to us. “Good luck and good riddance.”
Chapter Twenty
Emma
I want to be with Clifton, even if it costs me.
Right now, I'm looking at it costing me my job, reputation, and my integrity, but he’s still worth it. The thought of a relationship costing me my peace, my security, or my stability weighs heavily on me, but only because I’m not sure Clifton feels as strongly as I do.
I'm the Sterling in this situation; I dove right in, headfirst, and I might have done so in the shallow end of the pool.
But my feelings for Clifton run deeper than I ever thought possible. Even if it costs me everything, I think I want him. I might even love him, as crazy as that makes me sound.
Of course, I know that we need to keep things secret at work. We can't let anyone know about us, especially Clifton's dad. The man lays down the law, even from a hospital bed. I doubt he'd be okay with his son and I blatantly breaking the rules. We're setting a bad example for everyone else who works there if our relationship comes out.
I understand the reason why people shouldn't date in the workplace, because if they break up, keeping things civil is often impossible. But Clifton and I are different... which I'm sure every couple in the history of time who has done this have also said to themselves.
Thet reality of the situation is that Anton is not strong enough to deal with such an emotionally charged blow right now. He’s fragile, still in the hospital healing, and doesn't need the fear of his firm crumbling down around him to be added to his already delicate mental state. Nobody needs that stress - but especially not him.
I'd never forgive myself if that news was the news that tipped the scales out of his favor. The man is healing up beautifully. He doesn't need to know that his son is dating his employee. He doesn't need to know that we're breaking the rules, and he doesn't need to know that we're risking our career and the integrity of the firm.
Maybe I'm just being selfish.
But Clifton is the best thing to happen to me in a long time and I'm not willing to let him go without a fight... unless he wants to walk away.
Right now, I want Anton to focus on his recovery; he needs to rest and relax and heal so he can come back and lead this firm, because as good as Cliton will be, I see the weight and strain on his shoulders. I'm not sure how long he can put up with the weight of keeping the firm afloat and his father's health crushing him before he can’t take things anymore.
I wander around my apartment and inhale the scent of flowers and feel absolutely lost. I open the fridge, as if looking for something to eat before closing it and wandering away again. In my room, the shadows of my and Clifton's time together dance around me, torturing me with what ifs.
We can hide our relationship and pretend that we're just colleagues or friends, or that we're not together, but for how long?
