I couldn't believe the new situation I was in. I'd finally realized who I was meant to be with and now this. I hadn't thought about whether or not I would stay working for Paul once I told him but now it looked like the decision was being made for me. I resisted the urge to slam my fist against the armrest and instead just leaned my head back and closed my eyes.

I sat there for a while longer, swinging back and forth, the sounds of the city pa.s.sing me by. I didn't hear him come up behind me and jumped when I felt his hand on my shoulder. He gave it a squeeze then came to sit down beside me.

"I thought I'd find you here," Ethan said, joining me in pushing the swing back and forth with our legs.

I continued looking forward. "Why were you even looking?" I asked.

He sighed. "I went to your office to ask Paul a question on the Glendale project and noticed you weren't there. You still weren't there when I walked out so I asked him where you were. He told me he didn't know, but told me what happened with Mr. Hammond."

The tears finally came, and I put my hands over my face. I felt him pull me close, wrapping his arms around me and letting me cry. He didn't say anything as he held me, continuing to push the swing with his feet.

We stayed that way for what seemed like hours, neither of us uttering a word. I finally stopped crying. I was sniffling and doing my best to stop my nose from running. The thought of not working at Pierce Homes anymore was killing me, but I didn't see any other way.

Ethan turned me to face him. "You okay?" He was looking at me with such love and tenderness.

"No, but I know what I have to do," I answered.

He gave me a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"

I let out a sigh and started twirling my hair around my finger. "I am going to resign."

His eyes widened. "You're what?"

I started nodding. "I have to, Ethan. I will not be the reason Paul loses one of his biggest benefactors. My mind is made up."

He held onto me. "You listen to me. This is ridiculous, and I know Paul would tell you the same thing. You should never give into blackmail. You need to stay strong. Paul has plenty of benefactors, he will survive if Mr. Hammond follows through on his threat."

I shook my head. "But I can't be the reason why he withdraws his financial support, Ethan. I can't. I'm going to go tell Paul right now," I said, starting to stand.

Ethan pulled me back down. "Don't, Aly," he said. "Listen to me, don't do anything you'll regret. You're upset. Plus, with what just happened between us at lunch, you're going to have to deal with Paul soon anyway. We don't know if you'll continue working here after you tell him about us, just don't do anything right now.

"I have to, Ethan. Don't you see? I'm going to be hurting Paul when I tell him about us, I can't be responsible for him losing Mr. Hammond's funding too."

Ethan sat back and sighed. "I understand why you feel that way but I still think you shouldn't make a decision this big until after you've told Paul about us. Mr. Hammond is an a.s.s to do this as well, don't give into that."

"I hate that I have to, believe me. But I cannot live with myself for being the reason Paul loses such a big benefactor, especially when I will be breaking his heart. Trust me, I know what I'm doing."

When I stood to leave, Ethan didn't stop me. I leaned down and kissed him. He held onto my hand and finally dropped it when I walked away. Looking back, I could see him staring after me, sadness on his face.

When I got back to the office, Paul was on the phone. When he saw me, he stood. "I'll have to call you back," he told whomever he was talking to.

I went to the doorway and stopped. "Do you have a minute?" I asked him.

His eyes softened. "Of course I do," he said, walking around and perching himself on his desk.

I shut the door and walked toward him. I stayed standing and smoothed out my skirt. I raised my head to look at him, and saw him watching me.

I took a deep breath. "I've thought about it, and I feel it best that I resign," I stated firmly.

His eyes widened in shock and he started to shake his head, coming toward me. I lifted a hand and backed up a few steps. I couldn't do this if he got any closer.

"Aly, no. I won't let you," he said quietly. Although he'd stopped walking toward me, he reached out his hand. "Please, it kills me you were even considering this. I won't let you," he said again.

I stayed strong. "Well thank goodness it's not up to you, Paul. I've made up my mind. I refuse to be the reason your company loses a huge benefactor. I cannot have that on my shoulders."

He shook his head. "Aly, please. You're taking this way too far. Pierce Homes will be okay without Hammond's money. It'll be a hit, sure, but we'll be okay. Don't give into his ridiculous demand."

I thought about it for a minute, but realized I had to do this. "I'm sorry Paul. My mind is made up. My resignation takes effect immediately. I'll just go clean out my desk."

I turned to leave when he called out to me. "Don't do this, Aly. I don't accept your resignation."

I stayed turned away from him. "I'm sorry you don't, but it's for the best. It kills me to leave, especially before Hidden Creek even begins, but I won't be the reason Mr. Hammond takes away his funding, Paul. I won't."

He was suddenly in front of me, grabbing onto my shoulders. "You are so stubborn. Hammond can take his money and shove it up his a.s.s. I don't care. I can't lose you, Aly. Please don't do this."

His eyes were pleading, begging me to change my mind. He looked frantic and it almost broke me. I started to doubt my decision, wondered if I was letting my emotions get in the way.

I looked up at him. "I don't want to leave, I really don't, but I also can't handle being the reason why he withdraws his funding. I can't emphasize that enough."

He drew me into a hug, running his hand along my hair, my back. "I don't care what his reasons are. I refuse to go back to Casey and I refuse to let you go. I don't want someone like that involved with Pierce Homes anyway. I promise you, the company will be fine. I promise."

As we stood there, I began to think he was right. Maybe it was stupid of me to let Mr. Hammond get his way, without a fight. Also seeing the pain in Paul's eyes, I couldn't do it, not when I knew I'd be causing him pain for a different reason soon enough. Ethan was right; I couldn't do this right now.

"You're right. I'm not going to let him bully me into leaving. Forget what I said. I won't resign." Yet, I thought to myself, my heart sinking.

He crushed me to his chest, in an extremely tight hug. I felt him nuzzle his face in my hair, then run his hands up and down my back. He rested his head against mine, his hot breath fanning my face.

"Thank you," he said in relief.

I smiled, just standing there, letting him hold me. The day's events were catching up with me and I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was go home and crash.

He lifted his head and smiled down at me. He looked around and took a step back. He put his hands in his pockets and shuffled his feet. It was when he looked back to me with his dazzling green eyes that I saw just how relieved he really was.

"Thank you," he said, barely above a whisper. "I honestly can not stand the thought of you not working here, of not seeing you every day."

He didn't know but he was killing me with his words. I felt awful for keeping him in the dark about us, but I didn't have a choice. "Well, I realized I was being foolish, but I will be honest and say it makes me sick what he's doing. He's letting his personal issues cloud his judgment and I can only hope he realizes it someday."

He gave a ghost of a smile. "Don't count on it." He winked at me then walked back to his desk, sitting down.

I knew he was right, but it still angered me that this man just waltzed in here demanding heinous things of Paul. Why on earth would he want a man who obviously no longer wanted his daughter to take her back? Didn't he want his daughter to be with a man who truly loved her?

I sat down across from him. "So, what are you going to do?"

He looked at me as if I should know the answer to this. "I'm going to tell him to go to h.e.l.l, of course."

I blinked. "Are you sure that's such a good idea? I understand you not wanting anything to do with him but he's a very powerful man, Paul. You don't want to burn anymore bridges."

"To h.e.l.l with bridges. I'm a powerful man, too. I don't need Walter Hammond or his idiot cronies. I refuse to play his game and I'm d.a.m.n well going to let him know it."

I gave up on trying to convince him otherwise while he was still so upset. He was a big boy and could handle this on his own. I just hated that this was basically over me. Weary at those thoughts. .h.i.tting me again, I stood.

"If you don't mind, I'm going to call it a day. I just want to go home and forget this ever happened."

His eyes looked at me from across his desk, and I could tell he wanted to say more than he was going to. "That's fine, baby. I've had it too. Go home and get some rest. We have the meeting tomorrow with Halliday to be ready for."

Ugh, the Halliday meeting. The reason I was letting him think we still had a chance. Guilt clawed at my insides and I suddenly felt like I was suffocating. I had to get out of there.

"Yes we do. I'll review some things tonight and be here first thing in the morning. I'll see you later, Paul."

He looked up at me and smiled. "Have a good night," he said softly.

Smiling weakly, I left his office and grabbed my things. I walked out and headed toward Ethan's office. I wanted to tell him I was leaving for the day, and to let him know I didn't end up quitting.

He was on his phone when I walked in. His eyes lit up when he saw me and he motioned me to come in. He gave me the one-minute sign with his finger and I nodded as I took a seat.

I sat down and waited for him to finish his conversation. When he finally hung up, he came around his desk and stood in front of me. I looked up and saw his hazel eyes filled with worry.

"What happened? Are you okay?"

I sighed and sat back in the chair. "I didn't do it after all. Well I did, but then I changed my mind. Seeing him so upset over my resigning, I realized you were right that I shouldn't do anything for now."

He let out a breath and sat down. "I think that was wise babe. You don't know what will happen after you tell him about us so not resigning right now was the right thing to do."

I nodded. "I know. All I want to do right now is go home. I'm so tired. I know I told you to come by and get me at five but I told Paul I needed to leave early. I don't suppose you can join me?"

He let out a groan. "Oh, Aly, you're killing me. I wish, babe, but I have to do a few more things before I can leave. I'll come over as soon as I'm done, though."

I scooted up in my chair to hug him. "You better."

When I got home I dumped my stuff on the couch and ran for my closet. Peeling out of my clothes, I pulled on my favorite yoga pants and t-shirt. There was no way I was going anywhere tonight, my couch was the furthest I'd be.

I called my favorite Chinese take out and plopped on the couch. I mindlessly flipped channels on the television while thinking about the day's events. My blood still boiled at Mr. Hammond's actions and I had to keep telling myself to let it go.

When I heard the knock on my door I grabbed my wallet. Thanking the delivery guy for the food, I handed him the money and his tip then shut the door. My dinner smelled delicious, I couldn't wait to dive in.

Dropping the bag on the coffee table, I went to the fridge and grabbed a beer. I flipped it open and sat back down on the couch. Seeing a rerun of 'Seinfeld' was on, I immersed myself in the silly antics of Jerry, Elaine, Kramer, and George.

I must have dozed off because pounding on the door awakened me. I got up and once again, looked through the peephole. I was shocked to see Paul's face. Unlocking the door, I opened it, staying at the threshold.

"Are you okay?" he asked, breathing hard. "I've been calling and texting and you never answered."

I opened the door wide to allow him to come in. He stepped inside, staying close to me. I turned to face him when I shut the door, leaning back on it.

"I'm sorry, I fell asleep. I'm fine," I told him.

He swiped a hand through is chocolate waves and uttered a sigh. "Thank goodness. It was so hard for me to let you walk out my office today, but I knew I had to. I know I need to give you your s.p.a.ce and act professional at work, but I was worried, and had to know you were okay."

"I'm fine, Paul. Really."

"I'm glad. Walter shook us both up today and I hate him for it. I never really liked the man anyway, but today just solidified it. I'm sorry you were dragged into it and that I told you what his condition was. That was a moment of weakness and I apologize. It was never your battle to fight and I shouldn't have ever opened my mouth."

I shoved myself away from the door, walking toward the couch, but deciding not to sit when I got there. Being around him now was torture; I wasn't sure how much longer I'd last. Remembering what he'd just said, I turned to face him. "It is my battle in a sense as he wanted you to get rid of me. Don't you see that? He was possibly going to affect my livelihood, the job that I love. Of course it's my battle."

"But it's one I could have saved you from had I just told him to go to h.e.l.l right there and then. He caught me so off guard that he took advantage and told me he'd be in touch to see what I'd decided. I beat him to it and called him after you left, telling him I'd made one. I'm on my way to meet him right now. I wanted to do it in person."

My face paled at that. "Don't do anything stupid, Paul. Please."

He walked to stand before me, and brushed the back of his fingers along my cheek. I drew back a bit but it didn't seem to faze him. "You have nothing to worry about, sweetheart," he said. "Walter deserves everything I have to say to him. It's been a long time coming."

Nausea a.s.saulted me and I knew nothing good would come of this. "He can break you, Paul. He can railroad the company. You could lose everything."

He smiled. "You're being over-dramatic. No one is that powerful and you seem to forget whom you're talking to. I too have connections and I won't hesitate to use them if needed. I'm tired of being bulldozed by Walter, dear, and it's time to put an end to it."

I knew I couldn't convince him to change his mind so I just nodded, looking in his eyes. He brushed my face one more time then drew his hand back, resting it to his side. He leaned over and kissed the top of my head then headed to the door.

"I'm glad you're okay," he told me as he opened it. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Wait," I called out to him.

He turned, looking at me.

"Please call me after your meeting with Mr. Hammond. I can't wait until tomorrow to hear what happened. Please."

He nodded, gave me a wink, then was gone. I wrapped my arms around my waist, bending over. My nerves were on overdrive and I couldn't shake the feeling that not only would things change when I told Paul about Ethan, but that everything I knew and loved would never be the same again.

I forced myself to not think about Paul's meeting with Mr. Hammond and looked over everything for our meeting tomorrow with Mr. Halliday. I knew I was prepared as it was all I could think about for work, but I had to get my mind off of Paul. When my phone vibrated, I hurried and grabbed it. I smiled that it was Ethan, but also hoped it was Paul.

"Hey," I answered.

"Hey there. How are you?" he asked, his voice calming me instantly.

"I'm good. Are you on your way yet?"

He laughed. "I'm actually just leaving the office. Got caught at work on the Glendale project, but everything's good. I'm on my way babe."

"I can't wait. Hurry," I told him.

"I'll be there in a few."

We hung up and I sat back on the couch, waiting for him to come over. My nerves were going haywire worrying about Paul's meeting. I needed him.

When my phone vibrated again, I sighed thinking it was Ethan telling me something else. When I saw Paul's name light up on my phone, my heart started pounding. This is it, I said to myself as I pushed the b.u.t.ton to answer.

"Hey, what happened?" I didn't even greet him, I just dove right to the point.

He chuckled. "Well h.e.l.lo to you too, sweetheart," he said.

I rolled my eyes. "I've been dying. Please tell me what happened."