Page 46 of Under Ground

I force a smile. “I guess he just wants to make sure he’s up to date with the markets. It’s kind of his job.”

Turning, I sigh and I approach his door. I love the days when he just leaves me alone to do my job and the majority of short conversations we have are work-related. But I’ve just got a feeling.

As I enter the room, he looks up from his desk as if he’s been there working the whole time.

“Close the door and come in.”

I suppress an eye roll but do as he asks, then plonk myself down on the chair opposite him.

“Have you got something to tell me?” he asks.

I shrug. “Nothing that’s any of your business.”

He turns his laptop around. Sure enough, there’s the link on display that Anna showed me a few moments ago. “This is my business.”

A prickle runs up my neck.

“It’s really not. You made that decision a long time ago.”

“Melanie sent this to me. She’s at home resting after her first IVF treatment and she was excited to see you were happy. And then she cried because she’s a big ball of hormones and you have a beautiful little girl.”

Crossing my arms, I lean back in the chair. “I’m sorry to hear that, and I hope IVF works for you two. But you opted not to be a part of Casey’s life, and this has nothing to do with you.

His nostrils flare. But he’s got no leg to stand on. It’d be better for him if Casey and I left, but we’ve never had anywhere else to go, and he knows it.

“I don’t need this. Not right now,” he says.

“Neither do I. This is the last thing I wanted. But it’s for me to sort out.”

“Make sure you do,” he snaps.

Frowning, I rise, circling to stand behind my chair and lean on it. Things have been pretty amicable between us so far, and he owes me—not the other way around. But if he wants to get aggressive, I need to stand up to him now—not later.

“Gareth, you made the decision not to be in Casey’s life. And I’ve been fine with that because your wife doesn’t deserve what you did, and neither did I. According to that site, there’s speculation Casey is Alex’s, and if anything, that benefits you. Maybe you should be grateful it’s happened.”

He splutters. “Are you serious about this guy?”

“I am. Not that it’s any of your business either. And Casey loves him. So, I’m not going to stop seeing him.”

Besides, I love him too.

Gareth’s Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard. “Just be careful.”

“I am. I’m not about to set myself up like I did last time.”

He blinks a few times and then drops his gaze, shifting it to the folder in front of him on his desk. “Good. That’s all.”

With that, I’ve been dismissed, so I leave his office, returning to my desk.

“Are you okay?” Anna asks.

“Why?”

“You look pissed off.”

I shake my head. “There are some things that Gareth just has to sort out himself. I’ve got work to do.“

“Are you going to do anything about these photos?” she asks.

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