No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

Chapter 11



"Felicia, Mr. Wagner's on the line for you." Deborah Walker, who had tagged along with me, extended the phone toward me.

I had underestimated Conrad's persistence. In such a situation, I could only take the phone and respond formally, "Mr. Wagner, what can I do for you?"

"Felicia," Conrad's voice was deep, laced with evident remorse, "Why did you leave so early today? I got home, and you weren't there."

Realizing he wasn't talking shop, I stepped away. "Went out for breakfast."

Conrad apologized to me. "Sorry, I... got held up last night. Couldn't make it back."

A chill ran through me, my lips curling into a mocking smile. "And why was that?"

Conrad was silent.

I held my breath, giving him a way out. "Couldn't find a caregiver?"

Conrad replied calmly, "Yes."

"Felicia, when are you

we last had a meal together. According to what Jimmy had said the night before, Conrad had been staying with Haley. Was his sudden invitation for

up by lunchtime. Besides, aren't you always busy with

tone grew heavy, perhaps catching the sarcasm in my voice,

if he could

drag personal matters into

respond, so I ended the

discussing with partners and on-site inspections. After wrapping up the discussions by ten in

of monitoring all its phases.

I had to make the trip as part of the process. Walking the site left my feet swollen and

and Deborah noticed my

weren't in the field, I'd have loved to kick off my shoes and give my

observed my face. "Felicia, you seem off, not just

Deborah gestured to her face. "You

that to anyone. And when a woman's mood was off, no amount of makeup could hide

excuse, then pretended to be busy on

was a chatterbox, and I feared her probing would

shadow