Page 23 of My Wildest Obsession

“Well, you’ve been avoiding my calls. I wanted to check on you and invite you to the Children’s House Gala this weekend.”

“I’ve been busy,” I say, and she smiles softly.

“Of course. You’re always so busy, but there’s more to life than work, Theo.”

I swallow hard.

Cheryl found me right after I had turned eighteen. She was the one who paid for my college and law school.

She had no idea I existed. My mom had been cut off from her family for years before I was born and they never thought to look for any kids that she might have. She helped me when I needed it, but not when I needed it most. That makes my feelings for her a little confusing and hard to manage.

I wish that she had found me earlier, before my mom got really into drugs and selling herself. Before she had a never-ending stream of men coming in and out of the house. Before I spent nights on the street, hungry and scared.

“So? The Children’s House Gala?” She asks as she straightens some papers on my desk.

“Of course I’ll come.”

“Good! Bring Clara too, will you?” She asks, and my mouth dries out.

Speaking of complicated feelings…

“I’ll see if she can come.”

Do I want Clara to come? It doesn’t have to be as my date, it will just be to support the charity.

I shouldn’t. I’m getting too attached to her already. I love being with her, but it can’t be more than this. Friends with benefits or whatever we are.

“By the way, I love the new chair,” my aunt says, and I shush her, looking around wildly as I pray that Clara didn’t hear that.

“Don’t ever say that again. I can’t have Clara hearing. She’ll never let it go,” I explain.

“You seem like a great boss,” Aunt Cheryl jokes. “Now I wish that I had taken you up on the assistant job when you first started.”

“Do you want it? I think there’s going to be an opening soon,” I say as I see Clara step back over to her desk with my friends right behind her.

She gives me a dry look and I bite back my grin.

“Nah, I’m too busy with my charity work.”

“I could make it worth your while,” I tell her.

“Oh, so there is room in the budget for a pay raise,” Clara says and I shake my head at her.

“Sorry, not for you,”

She makes a sound that reminds me of a bear before she heads around to her desk. I watch her go, unable to tear my eyes away from her.

“Well, maybe Clara should give your office a makeover. Really brighten the place up in here,” Cheryl says, and I groan as Clara pokes her head back into my office, an excited grin on her face.

“I’m on it, Bossy!” She says, and I just sigh.

Adrien and Levi laugh as they move to greet Cheryl.

“It’s nice to see you again,” Levi says.

“Can’t wait for this weekend,” Adrien adds.

“Yes, it should be quite the event. Alright, I’ve got to get back to things, but I’ll see you all on Saturday night!”

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