Page 33 of The Alpha's Broken Oath

Julie is the first to break. “We didn’t ambush you. We were dying to see our nephews.”

She’s always been a bad liar—almost as bad as me.

“While I agree with Julie that we wanted to see your boys, and I actually missed these little munchkins, this is the only way we could get you to talk without you giving us excuses,” Luka says.

My salty pretzel almost chokes my throat as my spine stands ramrod straight. Oh Goddess, did they find out about what happened between Deacon and me in that elevator?

“Winter, we know there’s something going on between you and the boss,” Julie holds my hand as she delivers her statement.

“Either that or the boss might be a bit possessive over you.” Whatever Luka says has me confused as ever.

“What do you mean?”

Please. Please. Let it not be that everyone saw the footage from the elevator. I mean, Howard said he’d delete it, but what if he didn’t?

“He sent every guy an email. The email it clearly states that if any guy is seen talking to you, laughing with you, or getting remotely close to you, he’ll get fired. Hell, I’m risking my job talking to you right now, Winter.”

Color immediately drains from my face.

No, he didn’t. Deacon wouldn’t…

Shit. He did it.

That bastard sent every guy in the company an email with the subject being “Winter Cavanaugh is off-limits” in bold letters. Going to the company message thread has the little food in my stomach sloshing dangerously.

I think I might throw up.

Malicious rumors pile up in the texts, and there’s no stopping them from running wild.

I can see where this is headed.

Julie and Luca know about my boys because they are practically my best friends. Most of the people I work with in Bracken Holdings know I live alone in a sad, dingy apartment downtown. But then there are the others.

A year ago, I ran into a couple of guys from the marketing department while I was out in the park with my boys. I had to lie to them that Ash and Addie were my nephews.

Looking back now, what if the same guys add the little information about me having nephews to the rumor mill?

What if Deacon hears about my supposed nephews and puts two and two together about Asher and Adrian being my sons and he being the father?

“You didn’t know about the email?” Luka asks in realization.

“No, I didn’t. I have to stop the rumors before they reach Deacon.”

“Winter…”

“The boss can’t find out I have kids, Luka.”

Maybe it’s the fear written all over my face, or maybe it’s the way my voice wobbles, either way, silence falls between us before Julie’s face turns a shade pale, her eyes going wide as well. “Deacon Cross is your ex. He’s Asher’s and Adrian’s father, isn’t he?”

I nod. I’m too tired of keeping this from them.

“Wait, wait. I thought you said Ash and Addie’s dad died and abandoned you.”

I fumble for the right words, and all that comes up is,” He isn’t dead, but the abandoned part was true about him. He rejected me before he knew I was pregnant. If he finds out about my boys, he could take them away from me, or my boys’ hearts could get crushed if they know they have a father who doesn’t want anything to do with them.”

Surprised faces and judgy eyes—my friendship with them hangs in the balance, that is, until Luka speaks up.

“We have to stop the rumors. Ashley and a few women in the office are digging about your past due to jealousy, and soon enough, they’ll be telling your ex… I mean our douchebag of a boss, everything about you so he can fall out of love with you.”

---