Free Take a Chance by Annalisa Nicole Page B

employees knowing we are dating.
    “ It must be nice dating the boss. Such a shame about his wife though, isn’t it?” the woman says again.
    Immediately my heart sinks in my chest. What, he’s married? He never indicated he was married and none of his brothers or sisters did for that matter. I sat at dinner with his family and not one of them said anything, or even looked like it was wrong that I was there. What is wrong with these people? I can’t even look at this woman, I’m so embarrassed. I can hear the blood pounding in my ears as I get off the elevator on my floor. I’m just heartbroken and angry beyond belief. Walking to my desk, I throw the flowers in the trash, knock on Amelia’s door, and crack it open just a little. She looks pleased to see me.
    “Amelia, I’m sorry but I need to go home. I’m not feeling too well,” I tell her barely holding in my anger.
    “Willow , what’s wrong? Do you need me to go get Asher?”
    “NO! No, in fact please don’t tell him I’m leaving, please. Don’t bother him. I’m really sorry I’m leaving on such short notice. I’ll make up the hours, I promise.”
    “Willow, don’t worry about it. I’m not sure if I’m comfortable not telling Asher though. You know he’ll be worried about you. But if you insist, I won’t say anything. I hope you feel better. If you need tomorrow off too, just let me know.”
    “Thank you, I will be here tomorrow . I just need to go right now.”
    I need to get far away from all of these people and think. Think about how I can get out of coming to work tomorrow, maybe I should pick up a paper and check the want ads. I can’t believe he’s married. If that woman knows about me then so do a lot of other people. I must be the laughing stock of the company. Poor cancer girl who thinks she’s dating the owner of the company, but she’s the idiot, because he’s married and I’m being played.
    I close Amelia’s door barely keeping myself from sobbing hysterically. Once I get to my car, I can’t hold it together any longer and start sobbing, uncontrollably. I was really starting to fall in love with him. How can he be married? I didn’t notice any pictures at his house last night. How could I have missed that? Wiping my face with the back of my hand, “Get a grip Willow,” I say aloud.
    Just before five I text Asher:
    4:47 PM Sorry have to cancel dinner tonight something came up. W
    4:48 PM OK, did you still want me to come over later? I can still help you do the grocery shopping. A
    4:49 PM No, sorry. I’ll just talk to you later. W
    4:50 PM Are you feeling alright? A
    4:50 PM Yes. Fine. W
    4 :51PM OK sweetheart, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. A
    Ugh , with the sweetheart. I’m never speaking to him again, and now I have to start looking for a new job.
     
    Asher
    That w as strange for Willow to cancel. I hope she really is feeling alright. I wonder what could have come up. She doesn’t have any family or friends here that I know of. I’ll ask Amelia if she looked OK when she left.
    “Charlotte , can you get me Amelia on the phone before you leave.”
    “Yes , sir,” she replies politely.
    “I have Amelia for you . Is there anything else you need, sir, before I go?”
    “No thank you Charlotte, have a good night .”
    Picking up the phone , I say, “Hey, Amelia, look Willow just texted me and cancelled our plans for the evening. Did she look OK when she left?”
    “Asher , Willow left hours ago. She asked me not to say anything, and I wasn’t going to until I went to her desk to grab some files. I saw a beautiful arrangement of flowers in her garbage. She left right after lunch saying she didn’t feel well. What’s going on, Asher, did something happen at lunch?”
    “No, we had a nice lunch. I don’t know what could have happened. How did she look, did she look sick?”
    “She only poked her head in my office for a few minutes, but she looked like she was about to cry. I was worried. I asked her if she wanted