<b>Chapter </b><b>62 </b>


    -CELINE-


    Sleep didn’te easy that night.


    I tossed and turned, the mysterious text message haunting me every time closed my eyes. By morning, I had read it at least fity times, trying to crack who could have sent iL


    “Mommy, you’re making funny faces,” Caesar <b>said</b>, giggling as he watched me from across the breakfast table.


    I forced a smile, “Am I was just thinking about something, sweetheart.”


    “About Mr. Hunter?” he asked innocently, mouth full of cereal.


    My cheeks warmed. “No, not about Mr. Hunter. And don’t talk with your mouth full.”


    Caesar swallowed his food. “I like Mr. Hunter. He’s nice to me.”


    I sighed, running a hand through my ubed hair. Hunter had been nothing but kind to Caesar, which only confused me more. The man who could be so cold to me showed such gentleness with my son.


    My phone buzzed <b>again</b>, making me jump. Another message from the same unknown number:


    Don’t forget. Noon <b>today</b>. Come <b>alone </b>or everyone will know your secret.”


    My hands trembled as I put the phone away. I needed to go, but I could not <b>take </b><b>Caesar </b>with me. And I didn’t trust the staff with him, not with all the


    media attention.


    <b>“</b>Caesar, how would you like to spend the day with Caroline?” I asked, trying to sound casual


    His face lit <b>up</b>.


    “Yes! Can we go to the zoo again?”


    “I’m not sure. But I bet she has something fun nned.”


    An hourter<b>, </b>after speaking with Caroline, who thankfully agreed without asking too many questions, I was helping Caesar put on his shoes when a knock sounded at the door,


    I expected to see Caroline, but instead, Hunter stood there, his expression unreadable.


    “Hunter,” said, his nameing out breathier than I intended.


    “Celine,” he replied formally, <b>his </b>eyes not quite meeting mine. “I need to speak with you about the press situation.”


    Caesar ran over,


    ver, hugging


    Hunter’s legs. “Mr. Hunter! I’m going with Caroline today!”


    her, okay?”


    Hunter’s <b>face </b>softened as he looked down at my son. He ruffled Caesar’s hair. “Is that so? Well, you be good for h


    “I will!” Caesar promised.


    Hunter’s gaze finally met mine. “My office, ten minutes.”


    Without waiting for my response, he turned and walked away, leaving


    me staring after him. Ten minutes


    That would give me just enough time to hand Caesar over to Caroline and make it to Hunter’s office. <b>But </b>it would also mean I had less than an hour before I needed to leave for Central Park.


    When <b>I </b>arrived at Hunter’s office, he was standing by the window, phone pressed t


    sed to his ear. He motioned for me to sit <b>as </b>he finished his call.


    “Find out who’s behind it,” he said briefly before hanging up. He turned to face me, his expression guarded. “We need to discuss what happened yesterday”


    My heart skipped a beat. “The tabloids?”


    “That,” he said,ing around to lean against his desk in <b>front </b>of me, “and the other thing


    I swallowed hard. “The other thing? <fncd86> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? FindN()vel</fncd86>


    “Don’t y dumb, Celine. It doesn’t suit you.” His voice was cold, but his eyes held something else…something that made my skin tingle.


    “You kissed me,” I said, deciding to confront it head–on. “And then your


    ran away


    His jaw tightened. “I didn’t run away. I <b>had </b>business to attend to


    “Right,” I said, unable to keep the hurt from my voice. “The <b>important </b>business of avoiding me.”


    Hunter’s expression softened almost imperceptibly, “I’m not <b>good </b>at this, Celine. Whatever this is”


    “And what is this, Hunter?” I asked, suddenly tired of the games. “One minute you’re cold and distant, the next you’re kissing me like… like


    “Like what?” he prompted when I trailed off.


    “Like you can’t help yourself,” I finished my


    y voice barely above a whisper.


    He pushed away from the desk, moving to stand directly in front of me. “Maybe I can’t”


    My breath caught in my throat as he leaned down, his <b>face </b>inches from mine. For a moment, I thought he was going <b>to </b>kiss me again. But instead, he straightened up, resuming <b>his </b>professional stance.


    “We need to be careful,” he <b>said</b>. “The press is looking for any hint of scandal. If they were to find out about what happened yesterday…”


    “Nothing happened,” I cut in, suddenly angry. “You made sure of that.”


    Hunter’s eyes darkened, “Nothing? Is that what you call it?”


    “What would you call it?” I challenged.


    He opened his mouth to respond, then closed it, seeming to think better of whatever he was about to say. “It was <b>a </b>mistake” he finally said, the words falling between us like stones. “One, I would make sure not to repeat”


    I nodded, ignoring the ache in my chest. “We are going with that again, a mistake again…I sighed. “Is that all, Mr. Reid?”


    His face hardened at my formal tone. “For now, I’ve arranged for extra security around the house. Don’t leave the grounds <b>without </b>informing Baron or me. The press is persistent”


    I nced at my watch. 11:15. I needed to leave soon if I was going to make it to Central Park by noon.


    “Actually,” I said, standing up, “I need to run some errands in town <b>today</b>.”


    Hunter’s eyes narrowed. “Errands?<b>” </b>


    “Yes,” I said, standing my ground. “Personal errands.”


    “Send someone else, he replied dismissively, “It’s not safe for you out there right now


    “I can handle myself,” Linsisted. “And these errands can’t wa


    He studied me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine. “What are you not telling me, Celine?”


    Chapter <b>62 </b>


    I kept my expression neutral, though my heart was racing. “Nothing, just need some things from the drugstore.”


    Hunter didn’t look convinced. “Take Baron with you.”


    “I’d rather go alone.”


    “That’s not a request,” he said firmly. “Either Baron goes with you, or you don’t go at all”


    I bit back a retort, realizing I had no choice. “Tine. But I need to leave now


    Hunter nodded, seemingly satisfied. ‘T’ll let him know.”


    I turned to leave, but Hunter called my name, stopping me at the door.


    “Celine?”


    I looked back at him, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach when our eyes met.


    “Be careful,” he said, his voice softer than before.


    I nodded and hurried out, my mind racing. How was I going to meet this mysterious person with Baron tagging along? The text had been cleare alone or my secret would be exposed


    As I walked down the hallway, I pulled out my phone to send a message to the unknown number<b>, </b>exining that I couldn’te alone. But before could type anything, another text came through:


    ‘Change of ns. Bethesda Fountain. 12:30. Shake your bodyguard.


    My blood ran cold. Whoever this <b>was</b>, they were watching me. They knew about Baron


    I found him waiting by the front door, car keys in <b>hand</b>. “Ready to go, Miss Brown?”


    I forced a smile. “Ready,”


    E