Page 69 of Heart of The Night

‘I know, I’m sorry. Work has just been so hectic. I promise I’ll visit soon.’

‘How about later today? Your dad and I would love to have you over for dinner.’

I hesitated, my mind racing. I had a date with William later, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to divulge that. Telling my parents about him felt like a significant step. Was I ready for that? I could already picture their curious faces, the barrage of questions they’d have, and the intense scrutiny that would follow. Did I really want to open that door?

Adding to my hesitation was the fact that William was my boss. I knew my parents would be concerned about the potential complications of dating someone from work, especially someone in a position of authority over me. They’d worry about my professional future and the implications of mixing business with personal life.

Still, perhaps it was time to be open with them. I was an adult, capable of making my own decisions and handling the consequences. And, if they knew about William, it would save me from the stress of hiding things from them. They might even understand the complexities of my situation better than I expected.

Taking a deep breath, I decided it was time to be candid and tell them what was going on.

‘I’d love to,’ I said, ‘but I’ve actually got plans tonight. I’ve… been seeing someone, and we’ve got a date.’

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line.

‘What?’ Mum asked, her voice thick with curiosity.

I rubbed my forehead, huffing. ‘Yeah.’

‘Who? Do I know him?’

‘No, but I’ve mentioned him a few times.’

‘Who?’ she repeated, and I couldn’t tell whether she was excited or wary.

I swallowed hard. ‘Remember Jason’s brother? William?’ I strategically mentioned him in that light, hoping to temper the fact that he was also my boss.

Mum was silent for a moment. I could almost hear her thoughts whirring. ‘William Night?’

‘Yes.’

Another pause. ‘Isn’t he your boss?’ Her scepticism was clear, making me wince. This wasn’t going the way I had hoped. Heat climbed up my neck and flooded my face.

‘Only temporarily,’ I said, clearing my throat.

She was quiet for such a long time that I went on, ‘I really like him, Mum.’ But the words felt strange on my tongue, like a shadow of a greater truth. They felt inadequate, as if they barely skimmed the surface of my feelings. They didn’t convey the way his eyes, with their tender intensity, could dissolve all my worries, nor the thrill that surged through me at his mere presence. They didn’t capture the exhilaration that coursed through me at the sound of his laughter, or the indescribable comfort of being enveloped in his strong, protective arms. Saying I liked him didn’t reflect how my heart raced when he entered a room, how the sound of his voice could calm the fiercest storm within me, or how complete and at peace I felt whenever he was near, as if the universe had finally aligned.

No, I didn’t just like William. I was in love with him.

The realisation struck me like a sudden, brilliant dawn breaking over a restless sea, flooding me with a luminous clarity and a tremor of fear.

It was love. Deep, consuming, and undeniable.

I was still absorbing the shock of my epiphany when Mum’s voice cut through my thoughts, anchoring me to reality.

‘Cara, if William is anything like his brother, I’m sure he’s an absolute daydream, but I won’t lie – I’m a bit concerned about the boss-employee dynamic.’

I groaned, collapsing sideways on the bed and covering my face with my hand. ‘Mum, I’m already halfway through my vacation scheme. After that, he won’t be my boss anymore, and this whole thing started before we even knew he would be my boss.’

‘What? How long has this been going on?’ she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

‘It’s complicated, but kind of since April.’

She went silent again, and the pause stretched out, filling me with anxiety.

‘Mum?’

‘I’m just processing, dear.’

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