Chapter 27 Twenty Seven
Antonia slipped into the apartment quietly, toes barely touching the tiled floor as she eased the door shut behind her. Her shoes were clutched in one hand, her handbag in the other, every movement careful—calculated.
Too careful.
The living room lights were dim, the television muted but still glowing softly. Relief loosened her shoulders.
Maybe she’d make it to her room unnoticed.
She had taken only three steps when—
“And where exactly are you coming from this early in the morning?”
Antonia froze.
Her sister’s voice came from the couch—alert, curious, unmistakably awake.
Slowly, Antonia turned.
Helen sat there with her legs tucked beneath her, arms crossed loosely, eyes sharp in that way that said she had already noticed everything: the bare feet, the crumpled clothes in Antonia’s grip, the faint tension in her posture.
Caught.
Antonia forced a small smile. “You’re up early.”
Helen raised an eyebrow. “You’re avoiding the question.”
Antonia sighed softly and stepped farther into the room. “I… stayed over at Sarah’s.”
Helen didn’t respond immediately.
She simply stared.
Then she said, very calmly, “That’s interesting.”
Antonia’s stomach tightened."We closed late from work yesterday, and being that her house is closer to the office, I decided to spend the night at her place."
"And you couldn't call to inform me?"
"My phone battery was flat, and Sarah didn't have the charger," Antonia responded, quietly amazed as how the lies rolled out of her mouth.
"I'm sure Sarah has a phone, couldn't you have used hers to call?"
Her sister pressed on.
"I...don't know why I didn't think of that. I'm sorry, Helen. It won't happen again."
Helen sighed, “Anyway, Sarah stopped by yesterday evening,” she said, her tone deceptively casual. “She said you forgot an important file at the office and asked me to give it to you.”
Antonia’s breath caught.
“She stayed for a bit,” Helen added. “Long enough for us to talk.”
Silence stretched.
Antonia felt heat crawl up her neck, embarrassment blooming fast and merciless. There was no point pretending anymore.
“I’m sorry,” she said quickly, lowering her gaze. “I shouldn’t have lied.”
Helen’s expression softened just a fraction, but her eyes remained intent. “So?”
Antonia hesitated, then exhaled. “I didn’t spend the night at Sarah’s.”
Helen nodded slowly. “I figured.”
Antonia shifted her weight, suddenly very aware of how exposed she felt standing there. “I just didn’t want questions.”
“And that usually means there are answers you don’t want to give,” Helen said gently.
Antonia looked down at her hands. “I’ve been… seeing someone.”
Helen blinked. “Seeing someone?”
“Casually,” Antonia added quickly. “It’s not serious. We haven’t put a label on anything.”
That was only half a lie—and somehow, it felt worse than the first one.
Helen studied her for a moment, then leaned back into the couch. “Okay.”
Antonia looked up, surprised. “Okay?”
“Yes. Okay,” Helen said. “You’re an adult. I’m not here to interrogate you.”
Relief fluttered briefly in Antonia’s chest.
But then Helen spoke again.
“Just make sure you’re being careful.”
Antonia stilled.
“Protection,” Helen continued. “Especially if things aren’t defined yet. You don’t want complications.”
The word landed like a blow.
Antonia’s heart skipped—then began to pound.
Protection.
Her mind raced backward in a blur of panic and disbelief.
Last night.
The heat.
The closeness.
The way she’d stopped thinking entirely.
The pills.
Her stomach dropped.
She hadn’t taken them.
Not last night.
Not recently.
She had stopped after the breakup, meaning to restart once things settled, once her life felt less… unstable.
And she hadn’t told Kennedy.
Hadn’t even thought to.
How could she have been so careless?
So foolish?
Antonia’s fingers tightened around her shoes, knuckles whitening as fear crept in quietly, insidiously.
Helen was still talking, unaware of the torturous feeling her sister was going through. “I’m not judging you, Tonia. I just want you to be safe.”
Antonia forced a nod. “I know.”
Her voice sounded normal. Too normal.
Helen smiled faintly. “Just… don’t let feelings cloud your judgment.”
If only she knew.
Antonia swallowed hard. “I’ll be careful,” she said softly.
Helen stood and walked past her toward the kitchen. “I’m glad you told me—at least a little. When you’re ready to talk more, I’m here.”
Antonia watched her go, her chest tight.
She didn’t say anything else.
Didn’t confess.
Didn’t admit that last night had been anything but casual. That it involved her boss. That it had been unprotected. That the consequences were suddenly looming like a shadow she couldn’t outrun.
\----
Later, alone in her room, Antonia sat on the edge of the bed and stared at nothing.
Her heart raced with every possibility.
She pressed a hand to her stomach, barely breathing.
Please, she prayed silently.
Please let nothing come of this.
But even as she closed her eyes, fear lingered—quiet, relentless.
Some choices couldn’t be undone.
Or could they?
She could take morning after pills.
That could do it.
Quickly, she made a mental note to stop by the pharmacy on her way to work and buy the pill
But just as she got ready for work, she got a message from Sarah.
"Check your mail. We've an emergency meeting with the CEO this morning. Don't be late."
Antonia stared at the message on her phone, the words blurring for a second as her pulse spiked.
Emergency meeting. CEO. Don’t be late.
Her fingers tightened around the device.
Kennedy.
Of course it had to be today.
She lowered herself slowly onto the edge of the bed, phone still in her hand, her thoughts scattering in too many directions at once. The pharmacy. The pill. The meeting. Him.
Her chest felt tight, like there wasn’t quite enough air in the room.
Okay. One thing at a time.
She glanced at the clock. There was barely time for her to get to the office early. She wouldn't be able to stop by the pharmacy before heading to the office as planned.
Get through the meeting.
Avoid him if possible.
After close of work, get the pill.
She clung to that thought like a lifeline.
As she stepped out of the apartment.