All Chapters of Chasing The Boss: Chapter 51 - Chapter 56

I remained kneeling for what felt like an eternity, the ring box heavy in my hands, trying to process what had just happened. The woman I thought I knew, the woman I'd been about to promise my future to had just revealed a past I'd never even suspected.Abandoned by her father at eighteen. Loan sharks. Her mother died of cancer while she worked three jobs. Threats about unpaid columbarium fees.How had I not known any of this?I stood slowly, closing the ring box, and looked at Lexi. She was standing straight and proud despite everything that had just happened, but I could see the pain in her eyes. The same pain I'd seen glimpses of before but had never understood."Everyone," I announced, my voice carrying across the silent ballroom. "I think we should call it a night. Thank you all for coming to celebrate Lexi."There was immediate movement as people began gathering their things, offering quiet words of support as they passed. Some looked shocked, others sympathetic, a few seemed un

I'd punched the mahogany table so hard that my knuckles were bleeding, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. I stood alone in the empty ballroom, surrounded by the remnants of what should have been the perfect evening, and felt like my world had just collapsed."Sir?" Marcus appeared at my elbow, concern evident in his voice. "Do you need medical attention?"I looked down at my bleeding hand like I'd forgotten it existed. "It's fine. Just get me out of here."The ride back to my penthouse was silent. Marcus knew better than to try to make conversation when I was like this. I stared out the window at the city lights, replaying every moment of the evening, trying to understand how everything had gone so wrong so quickly.Back in my apartment, I poured myself three fingers of whiskey and sat in my study, staring at the ring box I'd set on my desk. The family ring that was supposed to symbolize a promise, a future, a commitment.Now it just looked like eviden

I stood on the sidewalk long after the cab’s taillights disappeared, replaying every moment of our conversation. For the first time since I'd met her, I felt like I'd actually seen the real woman, not the carefully constructed version she'd been presenting, but the person underneath.And I was completely, utterly in love with her.The drive back to my penthouse gave me time to think about everything she'd told me. Her love of terrible reality TV, her dream of teaching, the literacy center where she volunteered. How had I missed all of these essential parts of who she was?Because I hadn't asked, I realized. I'd been so focused on impressing her, on showing her my world, that I'd never bothered to really explore hers.When I got home, I poured myself a drink and sat in my study, but instead of reviewing contracts or checking emails like I usually did, I found myself thinking about park rangers and mountain cabins.Had I really wanted that life once? It seemed impossible now, sitting in