Read Online A Private Affair by Dara Girard - Free Book Online Page A

his smile.
    ***
    At home, Carissa sorted through her mail trying not to think of how relieved she was that Riverton was reconsidering Clyde or how nice he looked when he smiled. He’d been dreaming about her pineapple cake? He’d never had split pea soup before? She could just imagine the look on his face if he got to try her version where she added…
    No, no, no. She could not think about him. He was her boss and they had nothing in common. She was about to throw most of her junk mail away when she saw a lovely invitation tucked in among the pile. She started to open it when the doorbell rang.
     
     
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    She opened the door and saw Morris holding a box, his face a mask of anger. “Who is he?”
    “What?”
    He pushed past her and stormed inside. “You lied to me.”
    “About what?”
    “You said you weren’t seeing someone else.”
    Her voice cracked in shock. “I’m not.”
    “Then who were you eating lunch with today? I saw you.”
    Carissa nearly laughed at the misunderstanding. How could anyone picture her and Riverton as a couple? “He’s my new boss.”
    “The one you hate?” he challenged.
    “Yes.” Sort of. “Then why were you laughing with him?”
    “I don’t have to explain that to you.”
    His jaw twitched. “No, I guess you don’t.”
    “You didn’t have to drop them off,” she said reaching for the box.
    Morris let it go. It fell to the floor with a sickening crash and she knew whatever valuables were inside had been broken. “I trusted you. I can’t believe you did this to me.”
    “I am not seeing anyone,” Carissa said in a quiet voice, staring at the box on the floor, wishing Morris didn’t have such a vindictive streak. “I nearly got fired. I had to make him feel good.” She folded her arms hating that he made her feel guilty for something that didn’t happen. Why should she have to explain herself? Had three years come down to this?
    “Looks like he has more money, is that it?” he said in a sour tone.
    She sighed. “There is nothing going on between us. And that’s all I’m going to say.”
    “I want to believe you.”
    “Then try. I’ve never lied to you before why would I start now?”
    He reached for her. “I’m sorry.”
    Carissa stepped back and squatted down to open the box. “Just go.”
    He bent down and touched her shoulder, his voice filled with remorse. “I hope it’s not—”
    She shrugged his hand away. “Goodbye Morris.”
    He stood for a few seconds longer, but when she didn’t move—didn’t look at him, didn’t open the box just stayed crouched down—he took the hint and left.
    Once he was gone Carissa ripped open the box, her heart twisting at the thought of the extent of the damage. As she feared, a beautiful picture frame with a photo of the two of them on the beach, had been broken. But that hadn’t hurt as much as seeing the delicate vase she’d bought herself after her first promotion. It was one of the first luxury items she’d treated herself to. Something she’d given herself as she rebuilt her life after the failure of her second marriage. Morris had known what it meant to her. Although he’d teased her about her ‘ugly’ little vase, he’d let her put fresh flowers in it when she came over to his place to stay.
    For the first time Carissa let herself realize that Morris wasn’t just petty or vindictive, he was cruel. She felt hot tears gathering, but blinked them away. She wouldn’t let him hurt her more than he already had.
    She stood and went back to sorting her mail then picked up the strange envelope and opened it.
    She checked the label and saw her full name: Carey Vanessa York. She gasped at the sight. Few people knew she’d changed her real name at eighteen from Carey to Carissa. Who could it be from? Who knew her real name? She never used it anymore. She grabbed a letter opener and swiftly cut open the gold lined envelope. Inside was a handwritten note on expensive parchment paper