Free A Clandestine Corporate Affair by Michelle Celmer Page B

together,” she said. “I remember them being really happy together.”
    Her father had loved her mother so much, in fact, that he never got over losing her.
    â€œI don’t think mine were ever happy,” Nathan said.
    â€œSo why get married?”
    â€œMy mom was looking for a rich husband and my dad was old money. I was born seven months after the wedding.”
    â€œYou think she got pregnant on purpose.”
    â€œAccording to my grandmother she did. As a kid you overhear things.”
    She didn’t even know how to respond to that. What a horrible way for Nathan to have to grow up, knowing he was conceived as a marriage trap.
    Ana would make it a point to assure Max that even though his parents didn’t stay together, he was wanted and loved dearly from the minute he was conceived. Which was exactly what Nathan’s mother should have done, whether it was true or not.
    Then she had a thought, one that actually turned her stomach. “This is why you thought you wouldn’t be a good parent, isn’t it?”
    â€œI haven’t had the best role models.”
    He sure hadn’t. And why was she was just hearing about this now? Talk about being self-absorbed. Why hadn’t she asked about his family when they were dating? Why hadn’t she tried to get to know him better?
    She thought she loved Nathan, but the truth was, she hardly knew anything about him. Had she been so self-centered, so busy having “fun” that she hadn’t even thought to ask? Or was she just too busy talking about herself?
    No wonder Nathan had dumped her. If she were Nathan, she would have dumped her!
    â€œI’m a terrible person,” she said.
    He looked genuinely taken aback. “What are you talking about?”
    â€œWhy didn’t I ever ask you about your family before? Why didn’t I know any of this?”
    He laughed. “Ana, it’s not a big deal. Honestly.”
    â€œYes, it is,” she said, swallowing back the lump that was filling her throat. “I feel awful. I remember talking about me all the time. You know practically everything about me. My life is a freaking open book! And here you had all this…baggage, and I was totally clueless. We could have talked about it.”
    â€œMaybe I didn’t want to talk about it.”
    â€œWell of course you didn’t. You’re a guy . It was my responsibility to drag it out of you by force. I never evenasked. I didn’t even try to get to know you better. I was a lousy girlfriend.”
    â€œYou were not a lousy girlfriend.”
    â€œTechnically I wasn’t even your girlfriend.” She got up from the couch and grabbed their empty cocoa cups. “I was just some woman you had sex with who talked about herself constantly.”
    She carried the cups to the kitchen and set them in the sink.
    Nathan followed her. “You didn’t talk about yourself that much. And besides,” he added, “it was really great sex.”

Seven
    A na swiveled to face Nathan, not sure if he was joking or serious, if she should laugh or punch him. And whatever his intention, it hurt.
    â€œThat’s really all it was to you?” she asked. “Just great sex?”
    Only after the words were out did she realize how small and vulnerable she sounded. Way to go, Ana. Why not just blurt out how much you loved him, and that he broke your heart? Why not throw it all out on the line so you can look like an even bigger fool?
    â€œWhat difference does it make?” he asked, his eyes dark. “You were only using me to defy your father.”
    Ouch. She should have known that remark would come back to bite her.
    â€œAnd for the record,” he said, stepping closer, trapping her against the edge of the counter, “it was not just about the sex. I cared about you.”
    Yeah, right. “Dumping me was certainly an interesting way to show it.”
    â€œI ended it because of how I