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."

spoke again, "Felicia, when are you

night before, Conrad had been staying with Haley. Was his sudden invitation for lunch a guilt trip for bailing on me the

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

heavy, perhaps catching the sarcasm in my voice, then fell silent

if he could walk out on me the

drag personal matters into it. "I'm busy right now. If there's nothing

didn't respond, so I ended the

and on-site inspections. After wrapping up the discussions by ten in the morning, Deborah and

of monitoring all its phases. Eighty percent complete, my task was to ensure the final output matched the

blueprints were unlikely, given the partner's compliance, I had to make the trip as part of the process. Walking the site left my feet swollen and my toes

place to sit and rest, and Deborah noticed my discomfort. "Felicia, are

a sore foot," I didn't hide it. If we weren't in the field, I'd have loved

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

gestured to her face.

anyone. And when a woman's mood was off,

be PMS," I found an excuse, then pretended to be busy

chatterbox, and I feared her probing would

shadow loomed