Page 79 of Falling for Them

I stood up, unable to sit still any longer. “What do you want me to do? End my relationship? Pretend to be someone I’m not?”

My parents exchanged a look, and I knew whatever they were about to say, I wouldn’t like it.

“We’ll announce your engagement to Clara and do damage control if the photos from the weekend have spread wide. You’ll also return to work with me and begin working with a publicist to fix your image.” My father’s voice was firm and held no roomfor argument. He couldn’t be serious about controlling every aspect of my life.

“And if I refuse?”

Neither of them spoke, and that was all the answer I needed. Unlike my brother, I did want to take over things for my father and had been preparing for it practically my whole adult life.

“I see.” I straightened my jacket, my jaw set. “And what about what makes me happy?”

My mom reached out and took my hand. I should have pulled away, but she had tears in her eyes, and I was a damn sucker when she got emotional.

“How long would something like that really last, Leonardo?” She squeezed my hand, but it did nothing to comfort me.

I honestly didn’t have an answer to that question. Things had barely started between us, but I was already falling for them. But was I only falling for the idea of being loved too? Of having someone to come home to?

“How long do I have?” I couldn’t think with the pressure coming from all angles.

My father looked at his Rolex. “The statement has already been released.”

Fuck.

Chapter 28

Gorgeous

Ethan

My weekend trip with Leo and Libby had been absolutely perfect. So perfect that I wanted to spin around in my office chair and kick my feet, but I resisted. Not everyone appreciated such excitement on Monday mornings, especially not the man who just stepped off the elevator with a scowl on his face.

“Ryker, what a ball of sunshine you are this morning.” I took a sip of my coffee, trying to hide the smile on my face.

I’d worked for Ryker since I’d graduated college and decided to move to the city, and it had always been hard to get a smile out of him. These days, I had about a fifty-fifty chance thanks to the woman in his life, but today was not my day.

“My office. Now.” Was that a growl in his voice?

Either way, it had me straightening in my chair. “Am I in trouble?”

When he didn’t respond and walked down the hall toward his office, I jumped to my feet to follow him. There wasn’t asingle thing I could think of that would piss him off so early on a Monday morning.

In his office, he was staring out his window, his hands shoved in his pockets. “Shut the door.”

“You’re really freaking me out right now. Are you going to fire me?” I shut the door and sat down in the chair across from his desk, wondering what the hell was going on.

“I need you to be honest with me.” He turned around, his eyes concerned. “How serious is it?”

I raised an eyebrow. “What are you referring to? Your glowing personality? I would say it’s at a critically low level.”

That got a lip twitch, but it was quickly gone. “You, Libby, and Leo.”

“Uh… what do you mean?” I didn’t know if he was referring to the three of us living together, our relationship, or something else. I definitely didn’t want to tell him about the three of us if Libby hadn’t talked to him yet.

And I knew she hadn’t because on the way to work, she’d told me she was going to tell him later that night.

“The three of you…” He pinched the bridge of his nose and started to pace the length of the wall of windows behind his desk. “You’re together.”

“Define together.”

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