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“I’m not that gullible, Marcus. Not when my daughter’s future is at stake. If this is your doing, you make it right,” she ordered fiercely. “Go in and tell Bo that it was you. Get me my job back. Otherwise, we’re done.”
I shook my head in disgust.
“For the last time, Celine, it wasn’t me. When you cool down, and the fear recedes from your mind slightly, you will realize I’m telling the truth. I practically moved into your house to protect you when I didn’t even know you. I know you will get there, but when that realization hits you, it will be too late, because we are over.”
Her nostrils flared in distress and her lips wobbled, but she held her head high.
“You’re right, Marcus. Itisover,” she admitted.
“My assistant will pick up my bags, and our firm will arrange for some security for you in case Monani comes back.”
“That’s not necessary,” she argued. “I can take care of myself.”
“I’m sure you can, but I have a feeling Tia is soon to become part of my family. And if you’re close to her, you’re part of the Donovan family too and we always look after our own.”
I hesitated a little because I didn’t know if it was appropriate to ask, but I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye to Rose. She had her chubby little hand firmly wrapped around my heart, and I was going to miss her as much as I missed her mother.
“Can I say goodbye to Rose before I leave? I don’t want her to think I disappeared on her.”
Tears filled Celine’s eyes, but she blinked them back stubbornly as she shook her head.
“She’s too young to care about all that. And I can take care of my daughter, thank you.”
I stared at her in bewilderment. Had it really come to this?
Just this morning, I had sent her off to work with a hug and a kiss. And now, she was cutting me out of her life so ruthlessly. As if I were a cancer she couldn’t wait to be rid of.
I forced myself to turn around and walk away from the woman who held my heart.
As I drove back to our mansion on Lennox Hill, I wondered if Brandon was behind Celine’s dismissal. But why? What did he expect to gain out of it?
CHAPTER 16
CELINE
Igot home with Rose, and for the first time since I bought the house, I didn’t feel like setting foot inside my home. Because it didn’t feel like home, for some reason.
I told myself I’d had a lucky escape. Marcus might have seemed like a great guy, but underneath that smooth exterior, he had turned out to be as manipulative as Brandon. And to what end?
I couldn’t believe that the man who had cooked for me in this very kitchen, the man who had fed me ice cream so tenderly, the man who had read out stock prices to Rose like a fairy tale would do something so nasty. But I had seen him talking to the man who got me fired with my own eyes, and if I couldn’t believe the evidence of my own eyes, what could I believe?
I forced myself to move because I might have no appetite left, but Rose needed her dinner. After I fed her and put her to bed, I browsed the internet for jobs in my area. Tomorrow, I was going to check out restaurants around me to see if they wanted a waitress without a reference. There was no point in trying any of the licensed strip joints, and I had no intention of going to the illegal ones.
I was about to give up and go to bed when my phone rang. It was Brandon. When I rejected his call, he called again. I wondered why he was calling so late. I answered this time because he’d just keep calling until I answered.
“I’m not in the mood for your threats, Brandon,” I said wearily.
“Actually, I called to help you,” he replied.
“What do you mean?”
“I heard you got canned today.”
My skin crawled at the smugness in his voice.
“Where did you hear that?”
“I have my sources. I can help you out, Celine. Only if you help me, of course. It needs to be a two-way street.”
